I noticed at the range yesterday that when I was able to soften my arms and wrists my over the top issue mostly went away. All the results and ball path were much more as the should be, straight and even some draws. I have strong wrists and forearms. Does anyone have any tricks to get them softer at address?
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Why have I not seen this video yet? Did you guys CannonBall after the video? CannonBall some of that awesome cross Blue grass, Kentucky bluegrass, featherbed bent and northern California Sinsimella? Was it a little harsh?
@Craig the Builder i have been experimenting with the same thing lately. Tom has a couple good videos on this under the “members only golf tips.” Check out the tension management golf swing on auto pilot videos. He talks about noodly arms and hands. When I have been able to get it right, my shoulders and chest are initiating the backswing and once I get to the top I feel like I can just sling the club out to the ball. It is really the most effortless swing I have ever felt and the ball just flies. Check it out and let me know how it goes!
@Craig the Builder - Soft arms enable you to feel the weight of the clubhead and allow gravity to exercise its influence on it, thereby shallowing the downswing path. Now that you have felt it and experienced the results, it's best for you to develop your own "feels" for repeating it. In other words, just keep doing what you were doing in your range session and - as your name would suggest you are proficient at - "build" it into your swing!...😎
By the way, I like @mst_hokie's McLean method of determining grip pressure, as this is a variable that is unique to each of us. In other words, a "2" for one person may be a "7" for another. However, I would respectfully argue that there is no specific target pressure - nor a cap - that should be assigned. You can have a "firm" grip with soft arms, and vice versa. The key is finding your ideal grip pressure that enables you to maintain control of the club and achieve the desired ball striking results.
I'm figuring out the same thing. When I was younger I was always very strong in the upper body and used to muscle a lot of shots. Now that I'm older and have had 3 arm and shoulder surgeries, I am not as strong. I discovered this week that this is contributing to hitting differently at the course versus hitting off the mat. I tense up when playing on course and can't hit the ball to save my life. Thin shots, hits behind the ball, slices. When I come home I have to deprogram the tension in my arms, hands, shoulders and back. Once I'm relaxed, I start crushing the ball again in the center of the clubface. 2 times this week its taken about 10-15 shots into the net to relax again after playing 9 holes. I find that the more "jello" I make my upper body, the more my hip turn takes effect and I really "HIT" the ball. I also don't experience any pain. I am hoping that the work I'm doing at home on the mat and working on "2.8" will eventually take over on the course as well. I use a drill I learned from a Jim McLean video to try to get my grip pressure down to around a 3-4. After the 10-15 shots, I swear I'm hitting the ball better and my grip pressure is barely holding the club around a 2. This is when I hit center of the club the best with full arm extension and good hip turn and tuck after impact.
The drill is grip the club loosely so that the club starts to slip. This is 1. Then grip the club as hard as possible, This is 10. Now count down from 10- 1 loosening the grip until it slips again at 1 or zero. do this a couple of times. McLean would say never grip the club harder than 4.