Golf Instruction - No Slide on the Downswing

[tonyguckian]

I've been playing for twenty years and had so many lessons, but this guy puts it in a nut shell.

Listen to him! It's solid gold.

[fourdulai]

Sir, I have tried your method many times and found that nothing really trigger the downswing. I used my left bottom to push a little bit to the left side and that did trigger my hip and shoulder to turn before I accelerate my swing. At the same time, my left side hip was clear for the coming downswing. Powerful and smooth. I am confused which concept is right ?

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@fourdulai You want to feel that your "Left Hip" is being pulled behind you, unwinding. The left hip does NOT slide to the left first. If you feel the need to slide to the left first as the first move on the downswing, you setup with too much weight right to begin with or you moved off the ball on your takeaway. This will help, start with 60% weight on front foot and keep it there on the backswing so there is no need to slide to front foot because you are already there just unwind.

[thegonz9]

I love the thought of the left shoulder leaving your chin behind.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@thegonz9 You got it!! It is even easier if you just keep 60% weight on the front foot, like an anchor, push the takeaway straight back and up using the front shoulder, then just fire the hips on the downswing.

[thegonz9]

@DUPLESSISGOLF

Thanks so much for your help. I wasn't even expecting a response from my comment. As soon as the weather warms up a bit I'll head to the range.

[timc424]

Hello, I am trying this and it does help...but i am also pull hooking. What i think is happening is that my arms are turning with my body to much(staying out front) and at impact I am coming slightly outside in with my hip turn and forcing my hands to release. Please help.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@timc424 You pull hook for only 2 reasons. 1, your arms and club are passing your body rotation too soon, or your body turn is stopping too soon and the arms and club have to pass. 2, you are flipping or hitting with your hands. This closes the face. Answer, use your hips to pull your elbows back down in front as you keep turning. Look at the video here called the "Ross Move" it is really working great for my students.

[andytoy]

I'm new to golf and I've been taught to "shift my weight forward". This technique doesn't seem to use any forward momentum. Have I been taught incorrectly?

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@andytoy Well, I was taught the same thing, but found that not shifting your weight and restricting the lower body creates much more power and makes it very easy to hit the ball solid while turning through to the finish (not hitting with the hands). Knowing this and teaching thousands of lessons over the last 20 years, easily convinced me that this is a much more repeatable, athletic, consistent golf swing. You be your own judge ... Ross

[lonejack17]

hi .. this is a very important video to me ...i hv always wondered how long should i hold my head and dear coach hs given me a very good cue/indication as to when i can start 'releasing' my head .. TQ TQ TQ ...

[MMmm97vO]

At finish hips seem to line up with front foot. That is, a line drawn from tip of left shoulder to tip of right shoulder would be paralell to a line drawn from middle toe of front foot through heel.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@MMmm97vO Where you finish would directly relate to the amount of speed generated in the turn. If you turn very fast and hard, the shoulders will actually pass the point your mentioned. One thing on a softer shot with less speed the shoulders still are pulled around by the body rotation to a complete finish, knees touching and totally up on the back toe. This would mean the hips had released completely (good thing). If not, the arms will pass the body too soon and pull the shot.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Great! I can also just capture your video if you're on YouTube or Vimeo, then I will talk over your swing as I scroll it to different points in your swing. You will really learn a lot about your setup and where you might be losing it.. Remember, send 2 swings, front view and from behind looking down the target line... thanks, Ross

[Patchkaa33]

Awesome, I just went to your site, I will join your membershi this week and send you a video of me to take a look at!! Look forward to hearing from you!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Pulling the club down first does not work, it is weak and the wrong sequence. You would never throw a ball by starting your arm first. You would start your lower body first to unwind your arm through. Your stiff back is caused by one thing. YOU LET YOUR ARMS AND CLUB PASS YOUR BODY ROTATION AND THAT PULLS THE REST OF YOUR BODY AROUND. Your knees must be touching at the finish, back foot up on toe. Start the downswing using the hips and unwind from ground up, all the way to the finish.

[timc424]

Great video. I have a stiff lower back usally half way through the round, and start to find it difficult to initiate the downswing with the lower body, any ideas how to put less stress on the back, and is it possible to be consistant with the hands pulling the club down first, thanks.

[Patchkaa33]

I am having trouble with this, I not sure if you slide just a fraction to move your weight forward or just turn the hips, wouldnt your tip promote spinning out on downswing? I found that when I turned my knee and hips first in downswing I spun out!!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@Patchkaa33 You don't slide forward, because you should not have slid back to begin with.  On the takeaway if you restrict your lower body and keep 60% of your weight on your front foot, your shoulders wind up against a firm lower body. Now, on the downswing your weight is already on your front, so you can just fire your hips. My golf swing hits the ball with a body turn, not the hands. The "Center" does not move. Wind up, then unwind the downswing,hands passive, very powerful and repeatable.

[Patchkaa33]

@DUPLESSISGOLF Ah ok, so you saying there is no need to weight shift, I always thought having weight on front foot would cause a fat shot, i guess this is a different swing?

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@Patchkaa33 This is Absolutely a different swing, because shifting your weight changes your center and there is NO BENEFIT, only inconsistency. The golf swing rotates around the front hip, why would you want to create a variable. Just keep your lower body anchored 60% weight on the front, wind your shoulders as the lower body restricts, then you are already in position to just fire your hips and turn as hard as you like. Shifting off the ball (takeaway) and flipping causes your fat shot.

[Patchkaa33]

@DUPLESSISGOLF H I tried this stuff and had some great success when I got it right, its new and I have the old habits. Just afew quick questions?? Do you use a strong or neutral grip?? Does this work for the woods and driver and do I need to adjust my set up when applying this swing to my woods and driver??

Thanks so much i am already seeing greater distance and power in my shots!!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@Patchkaa33 Stronger is easier to align shaft with the front arm. Now, setup for driver is key! Club head and front toe are in line 4" behind the ball. FORGET ABOUT THE BALL. This creates an ascending or upward angle of attack that hits the ball up and carries farther and rolls. You keep TURNING as you move the ball. If the ball pulls or hooks, it is because you stopped turning too soon and let your arms and club passed your body. Keep turning and Keep Hands quiet during the entire swing.

[Patchkaa33]

@DUPLESSISGOLF Hmmm so you are saying ball is 4 inches in front of front toe when using driver??? I;ve been using a neutral grip and it seems to be working with the irons, I found using a strong grip was causing a hook, but like you said it might be be not rotating!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@Patchkaa33 Strong grip only causes hooks when you flip or quit turning. AND, you will have to flip when you quit turning... A grip that remains constant is the one you want!! When the hands stay out of the swing, the athletic movements come back... unwinding like throwing a ball... from ground up

[Patchkaa33]

@DUPLESSISGOLF Hmmm so you are saying ball is 4 inches in front of front toe when using driver??? I;ve been using a neutral grip and it seems to be working with the irons, I found using a strong grip was causing a hook, but like you said it might be be not rotating! Do you have a video for setup of driver?

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@Patchkaa33 I do at my site... but, you don't need a video... just put the ball out there... get your front foot and club head in line... then unwind as hard as you like!! If you start the downswing with your hips and keep turning, and (don't flip), you will kill the ball down the middle!... every time. It is almost too easy once your hands are out of the golf swing. This takes practice... Move Less ... Get Good!... Ross

[Patchkaa33]

@DUPLESSISGOLF Tried this stuff on the course today and hit some great shots with my 4 hybrid!! I've never hit it so sweet b4, I'm even hitting my mid irons better and getting some easy pars!! Will certainly be joining your membership this week!!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

One other way to help keep this from happening to begin with, is to setup with about 60% weight on front foot and hold your front knee while you push back with the front shoulder. This restriction really creates great shoulder wind up without sliding on the takeaway, hence no slide on the downswing. Just start the downswing with the hips unwinding and keep turning. Huge power... but, if you flip the club head through impact, the ball goes left... keep hands passive. Move Less...Get Good!

[vn900]

This is a great vide. I've been struggling with the driver so I video taped myself and sure enough, I had this slide thing going on. Funny how you don't even know it's happening. Thanks for the tips. Aloha.

[503ganso]

This video is so much helpful for me.

[Gman6755]

A hip slide is a fatal flaw to a golf shot. If I do it, I will slice it everytime! Thanks for a good video!

[bazabollox]

Excellent simple advice, thanks very much

[rockthekasbox]

I have lots of problems with my swing  and this is great advise thanks

[stevenash4life]

Great instructor right here!!!

[calgarytower]

This was exactly my problem. i had someone point that out to me while on the range not long ago. Now I hit the ball solid. I wish he could have told me 10 years ago!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Just think of throwing a ball. It is an athletic natural move. Everything unwinds from ground up to sling the arm through. So in the golf swing, if you wind up from top down (shoulders move first, then the torso and hips last) ... you can easily unwind like throwing a ball from ground up. What this also does is, get all the non-repeatable sliding and arm lifting movements out of the swing. We use Large Muscles to control the swing (not the hands).

[dschultz6072]

big problem for me. gonna go work on this. gotta get my knee working how you said. i've also heard of a drill where you place a glove under your trail armpit and hit small wedge shots without worrying where the ball goes, but rather getting your swing where the glove doesn't drop. my right shoulder likes to make a slide rather than a rotary movement. i've gotta stop thinking about my right side and have my left side pull everything around for me. get my left shoulder over my left knee.

[Jamison987]

Thanks I am pumped. I dont know if you are able but just click on my name jamison987 and its in my videos. I have two in there. If you cant get to it this way I can try and upload it in a bit, I need to figure out how. Im new to all this.lol. Just let me know and I will make it happen. Thanks again man.

[Jamison987]

Absolutely great advice, I am trying this but have been stuggling with coming out of the shot and hitting inconsistent. Could you take a look at my swing in my videos or give me some advice? I appreciate, thanks so much.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@Jamison987 Yes I will. You can attach your video here or, if you have your video on YouTube, send me the link. If not you can upload one to me. Send me a message and I will give you the link to upload your video.

[becto77]

Great advice! Thank you very much. Amazing how getting the 'simple' things right can make such a huge difference. Helped me out a lot. Cheers.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@becto77 Thanks, glad it helped...Ross

[misterpipification]

Can I just say thank you as I was suffering from all the issues you mention. I video'd myself and could tell that something wasnt right but could see it. As soon as I saw this it seemed so obvious. Cheers!

[termanator0000]

yea right

[kisaragiusa]

Thank you!!!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@kisaragiusa ... thanks for watching.

[thefightbeginswithu]

great lesson

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

@thefightbeginswithu ..thank you... Ross

[TheGolfr61]

I have a bad left hip and have limited turn potential consequently getting over the top. So I slide to compensate but mostly pull shots because of getting over the top. Please help!

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

So you can not make a turn allowing your back foot to release up on the toe, and face the target? If this is the case, that is exactly why you pull shots. If the body can not continue to lead the downswing and unwind to face the target, the hands and club will pass the body closing the face. The over the top move occurs when the body does not unwind from ground up. I've had many students with hip replacements learn how to trun and they did not think they could. Check your back foot :-)

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

A more repeatable, powerful consistent golf swing will not purposely slide or transition (as you say) on the takeaway. The lower body must restrict as the shoulders wind up against it. This creates tork (potential). Winding (not sliding) on the takeaway from top down is athletic and repeatable. It also sets up the sequence for the downswing to unwind from ground up. If you look over the years, the more modern players are sliding less and turning more. Ryder cup! turn players galore!!

[justjames1111]

What you call a slide I was taught and Jack Nicklaus called the transition, as did Ben Hogan. So what is the difference between their method which was pretty successful and what you're describing.

Thanks.

[theciskokidd]

@justjames1111 Because the timing is very critical when your center core "slides" off the center of the ball during the back swing. If you dont time the slide coming back to the ball just right, you will miss hit. Those guys you talk about had impeccable timing and dont forget they played golf every single day. The average amateur doesnt. This guy knows his stuff and has helped my sliding motion and fixed my inconsistencies. Just try it out and you will immediately notice the difference.

[woodthorpe1952]

after watching your video. trying not to slide. and get the feeling of the left shoulder leaving chin on downswing a big improvement!!! AS long as i donot rush and keep head still for afraction longer!

[secrettogolf]

What percent of body weight is on the front foot at impact?

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

The best way to understand this is for you to setup with a golf club against something (like a chair) as if the chair is the ball. Then...undwind from ground up a little towards the target using all of your body unwinding against the chair. The shaft must be in line with the front arm. Use your knees, hips, torso, chest, shoulders (but not hands). When you find the most powerful position... you are there. I think maybe 60% on front foot so you can still use the back foot to push...Ross

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

It does not matter as long as it is more than 50% so you can rotate in your front hip. Just like you were unwinding to throw a ball. You would not throw a ball with more weight on your back foot. To use your body power to hit a golf ball your weight must be slightly forward so you can ROTATE through impact. This also says something about ball position... NEVER IN THE MIDDLE always inside front foot so you catch the ball as you turn into the shot. Ball in the middle makes you flip (weak shot)

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

The best way to think about the wrists or Grip Pressure in general is... "You do not change your grip pressure at all during the swing" You do, however allow the wrists to hinge naturally due to the inertia from the shoulders turning on the backswing. If you do not actively hinge your wrists, then your wrists will just allow the club to hinge and unhinge squarely every time adn at the right time as you turn.

[secrettogolf]

Ross,

Hi,I was wondering if there is any uncocking of the wrists prior to impact to square the club face or will this cause a flip?Sometimes I have done this and hit the ball mile but it is very inconsistent.Please advise.

Thanks

boston George

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

The main reasons golfers Flip is throwning the club head into the ball with their back hand rather than keeping the hands passive and allowing their turn to impact. If the hands help take the club back (should be shoulders only) they will help on the downswing and generally throw the club head past the handle and the front wrist bends and there is no straight line down the front arm thru the shaft to the ball. Using the hips and your turn for power will over ride the hands. Turn don't slide.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

... for every action, you get an opposite reaction... so if you slide off the ball on your takeaway (I don't teach this but many pros do), you'll have to slide back...SOOO... on your takeaway, restrict keeping the weight inside your backfoot and up your leg (like a brace) and let the shoulders start first pushing the club straight back (not inside)... YOU WILL GET A GREAT WIND UP AND A TON OF POWER.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

(con't) The hips will eventually turn some but due to the shoulders bringing the hips over (not on their own). Then all you have to do is start the downswing with your hips unwinding and keep turning all the way to the finish. This is the most effecient wind up. Most important... keep your hands out of the swing. Let the big muscles control your arms and club. You will NEVER hit off line as long as you keep turning... Ross

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Anything that has to do with changing your speed will never be reliable. If you wind up right, you can unwind as fast or as slow as you feel for power or touch. When the big muscles control the takeaway (not hands) you can swing at any speed you want. Timing is never an issue once you learn the correct sequence on the takeaway and downswing... Ross

[MrAdamstevenson]

This all sounds great and I agree with most of what your saying, though would you not agree it's more important to talk about posture and creating good angles and balance. you can't expect a player to swing like you want to without good angles giving them a good chance of coiling and uncoiling like you describe while maintaining connection.

[spankbutt123]

Good tip!

I tend to slide forward instead of rotating the hips and i just realised that after seeing this.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

On the downswing... If you allow your body to unwind (best way to achieve this is to start downswing with your hips first turning left) ...this will keep your head in position and then your head will come up and out along with the back shoulder. This is a natural athletic move unwinding from bottom to top.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

This is NOT true if you do not slide on the takeaway. I do not teaching shifting or sliding on the takeaway... The older players you are talking about all shifted and slid to their back foot.. I do NOT agree. I teach that the lower body does NOT move only the shoulders on the takeaway (winding from top down) and the shoulder turn will turn the hips a little, BUT NO SLIDE TO THE BACK FOOT...Hense no need to slide to the front foot...JUST UNWIND. This is a much more reliable POWERFUL swing.

[Dorfenator1]

One of the problems I have with understanding instructors is when they say, "just stay back a little bit longer" The swing happens so fast, that anything lasting "a little bit longer" just doesn't translate for me.

[secrettogolf]

One comment that may make people understand the use of their hips better is that U don't slide to the left ,but prior to the turning of the hips there must be a weight transfer to the left foot(side).If U simply turn your hips as U describe timeing is emphasised too much Vs. reacting(falling in the slot)..All great golfers, see Nicklaus,Hogan and Mo Norman shift and then turn,not slide.Simply turning your hips will cause spinouts and over the top movements,lots of practice.

[brldvs]

A most common error. This is something I need to work on.

Thank for the tip - Burl

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

You bet... (read what I wrote to rw5791) and it will help keep you in position at the start of the downswing...Ross

[rw5791]

I think you're saying the head must stay in the same position.A slight lateral shift of the hips is ok as long as the head does not move,

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Yes the head stays still for a second. I don't like to use the word lateral (gives you room to slide) but the feeling is like someone is pulling your left belt loop from behind you. The downswing MUST start from your HIPS turning left ( the knees work too but much easier to think of the hips starting first and they keep leading all the way to the finish!

[bilalkhan97]

Excellent tip. very well explained too.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Thank you

[lexa0217]

great instruction

[tigerdude3]

great instruction...very nice

best i've seen on youtube

[tigerdude3]

great instruction..best i've seen

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Thanks, I appreciate the nice comment.

[dyejhs]

good

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Thank you.

[haoyunlu]

That is very true. Slide forward can cause chunking some grass which you can see the divots that is behind the ball. Good tip.

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Yes and throwing the club head with the right hand at the ball also causes fat and chuncked shots. Best bet is to keep hands passive thru impact and concentrate on rotating your hips to the left letting your hands and club come along with your turn... thanks for the nice comment...

[cjad2515]

very important tip, thanks

[DUPLESSISGOLF]

Thank you... If you have a specific problem, I will upload a video to answer that issue... Ross

[bugynites09]

I notice when I start slow on the down swing I get great contact....but i loose just a little distance will it retun when I get comfortable with this slow transition?  by the way starting slow keeps me from sliding.