learing how and when to swivel
 

Need help learning to swivel after hitting the ball. My shot start straight for a good distance and then at the end they fade about 15 yards (I guess a slice). I get good distance with my irons and woods but it just fades more then I would like. If it does not fade I push it straight to the right. When I try to do the swivel I end up hooking the ball badly. Lynn can you give me any kind of drill to help correct this issue.

Drilling the Correct Downstroke Motion
 

Welcome aboard, Timm. And thanks for this first post.

The Finish Swivel is not a 'thing apart' and can only be as good as the Downstroke that preceded it. For example, if your Right Forearm is coming into Impact high -- Off Plane -- you will find it difficult to properly Follow Through and Finish.

The cure is to learn a proper Downstroke. First, make sure your Start Down is On Plane. Do many Start Down Waggles to assure that you are pulling the butt-end of the Club directly toward the Plane Line. Then, take this motion through the Downstroke and into the Release area, making sure you Uncock and Roll while still driving toward -- not down -- the Plane Line. Finally, complete your Total Motion by Swiveling out of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position) and into the Finish. Make sure the butt-end of the Club points toward the Plane Line as you Finish Swivel.

A key reason that people can have issues with the swivel (as well as the flat left wrist) - is not having the grip 'under the heel pad' of the lead hand. A very important part of the grip that defines quite a lot of the rest of your motion.

Thanks for this piece. After practicing in my garden using the reflection of the windows as mirrors, and then spending some time at the range, yesterday, I played this morning and amazed my companions (a regular group of 5 foursomes) with my lowest score this year. I never once sliced the ball, it was always straight or with a slight draw (although not always in the correct direction). Not only where my shots straight, but longer, and I found myself mostly ahead of the others off the tee. I must admit that in 20 years or so of playing golf I have never quite understood the uncocking of the the left wrist -- until now. Thanks again.

What if you hook sometimes?
 

Is the swivel for everyone? I have a little hook that comes around to visit once every few holes. If I try to swivel more is that going to send it MORE to the left? Also, what are the advantages to the swivel. I was reading a post from Yoda where he has you practice the swivel by just making a fist. I never really understood it until then. Thanks

Chances are good that those left shots are the result of a breakdown of the left wrist. The swivel does two important things - it helps force your pivot to move through and it helps keep that left wrist flat. Unless you use a strong left hand grip, a swivel should not send the ball left.

Either way, experiment with a swivel that is aggressive until you can 'hear' your shots. If at that point the ball is going left, check that your left hand grip isn't too strong.

I'm going to the range tonight and give it a try. The "fist drill" really felt good and like you said keeps the left wrist flat. I wish I would have found it earlier, I've got a best shot tomorrow. I'll try to remember to let you guys know the results. Thanks

Helping Hands
 

Thank you for writing, Weightshift. As we all know, Golf is the most challenging game of all, and it always thrills me to learn that I've been able to help a fellow pilgrim along the way.

Speaking of writing...I know I've been doing less of it lately, but I promise it is not from the lack of 'want to.' I read everything you guys post, but time to do much of my own has been very limited. And that includes holidays and weekends. For example, last Memorial Day I spent the three-day weekend helping a junior golfer in Las Vegas. The reward? He shot a 72 to qualify for a major American Junior Golf Association event and then a 68 -- a personal competitive best -- in the first round. From there, I headed straight off to the Barclays Classic Golf Academy and the week at Westchester C.C.

Last weekend, I had a wonderful time working with a determined young couple who made the Swamp Trek from Illinois. The next three days, including the July 4th holiday, were spent with Meghna Bal, a budding junior champion from India -- Thanks Vik! :notworthy -- who will be competing this month in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship (at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California) and the USGA Girls' Junior (at Carmel CC in Charlotte, North Carolina). As I waved good-bye to her and her father yesterday in the mid-afternoon, I simultaneously waved 'hello' to one of my local students, an Atlanta real estate developer who was a 10 in March (at a very tough Atlanta National Golf Club) and who is now a 5. Today I had the continuing privilege of working with Brian Watts, 13-time winner in Japan and runner-up in the 1998 British Open.

So, everybody just keep on writin' and I'll keep on readin' and chiming in when I can. I do have some video ideas I want to get up before I head overseas in August. Stay tuned!

In Demand
 

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It sounds like people are starting to find out about Mr. Yoda. Time management is probably going to be tricky for him pretty soon, if not already. A nice problem to have!

Remember... Mr. Brian Watts nearly won the British Open a few years ago. I remember seeing him play at the old Sarazen World Open. He looked pretty good then.

I used to walk to school up hill both ways in the snow barefoot
 

The hell with all them juniors! They got nothing to do but sleep eat and poop golf . . . the most impressive of all is the developer who went from 10 to 5. Now that's some learnin' and some teachin'. What did y'all do? I love a success story from somebody in my camp. I'm not a real estate developer but I have developed a bad case of flatulence and fonky breath.

What's the process for the man with a real job and a real life? Hold on I'm on the internet everynight like little G.O.L.F. school girl . . . scratch the real life part.