How to consistently strike golf balls!!

[remmy100]

Question: Is it okay if my left wrist cups AFTER impact even though I have a forward leaning shaft and lag retention?

[mjb9ab]

Cmartin....thanks for the vid. I appreciate and watch all of your stuff. I have a chronic, CHRONIC, problem of coming in too steep right from the top. In my transition, my hands go out, and the shaft gets steep. Even when I feel like my hands are going down and the shaft is flat, they're really going out and the shaft is steep. I've spend hundreds on lessons and swing aids, and I can't stop it. If I REALLY try to get flat, then the club gets stuck, and I have NO power. Can you help???

[jkpassage]

No one has ever explained this like you have. Thanks

[ROBTGBBSS]

mr martin this game is fun when u hit it solid and obv pretty miserable when u hit poorly.....im 41 and havent been very good.....i will play for awhile than just give up....i feel that i have potential....ive been messing around with my grip and ill hit good for awhile and than just lose it....even though ive played for years i still consider myself a beginner...do u have any words of wisdom...i know there are many that are like me

[cmartingolf]

@ROBTGBBSS Rob, words of wisdom... get your hands on the club properly. Please don't take this lightly. A sound grip helps so much. The second thing would be to keep you backswing on the shorter side. Hitting it far is sexy, no doubt, but hitting it solid is really what the game is about once you can get the face on the ball with consistency, you will be able to "heat" things up to add some yardage. Third; allow your swing to touch the ground at and left of the ball. Fourth; 80% power works!

[tubularsensation]

@cmartingolf, true, I can't think of one either that has impact hand location, however, do you honestly think there's a definitive speed difference in a two inch hand position difference at address?

[cmartingolf]

@tubularsensation Do I think there is a speed difference? Yes. I think you can load the shaft better by staring with "address" hands as opposed to "impact" hands. I'll have to do some testing and let you know. A definite benefit from "address" hands is that it reduces folks from whipping the clubhead inside and provides a better chance of a simple on-plane backswing.

[samthehatter]

Thanks for the advice you have helped my long irons shots a great deal with this video. Another video recently helped improve my driving consistency as well. Who needs lessons when you have youtube! Thanks alot.

[TheItchyPizza]

David's pants are way too short!

[tubularsensation]

I have a question. Why wouldn't you just pre-set that impact position at address? Obviously, you might not be able to total pre-set an impact position, but why would you want to complicate your swing with such a different hand position at address -vs- hand position at impact?

[cmartingolf]

@tubularsensation Great question: why not set up at impact and return there? You can, I've seen some effective players do that and to agree with your point, Nicklaus, maybe the best ever, did a version of that setup. In most cases, starting at "address" and returning to "impact" provides much more energy and dynamics to the strike. I can't think of a current Tour player who sets up in an "impact" hand location? They drive through impact with a club ripping to align with the lead arm.

[remmy100]

@cmartingolf Hmm i would think Steve Stricker would be pretty close..

[GOLFGURUJIM]

Hi, this is a great demonstration & insight for amateurs to understand the concept of impact etc. I think you should however include some info on obstacles that get in the way. For example, if the face of the club has been closed & therefore de-lofted in the back swing. If you achieve the aim point you describe that balls gonna go low and left left left

[jdmars011]

Martin: you must be one busy golf instructor.You know yer STUFF! I am finally hitting my irons. Everyone said I was moving(bobbing) my head up and down.

As you say not aiming correctly and protecting my body! Yer comments about pivot point, lag and front quadrant aiming, etc are spot ON! I have the "tour striker" and can know use it better thru your instruction and dowel rod techniques.

I finally understand the sweet mystery of the swing!

[cmartingolf]

@jdmars011 JD, thanks for the nice note! I'm glad you are playing better and enjoying my instruction. I had a lot of great mentors over the years. Hopefully, I'm making them proud.

[tonellocody]

hey martin...I find when I let my hands lead the club that opens my face and I am hitting my shots left (being left handed), and very high, any ideas?

[cmartingolf]

@tonellocody Lean is only half the equation. Being a lefty, you also have to rotate your right forearm so you can square the face. The two have to work in unison. Check out my sand drill video. It will help you figure it out. Great question. Cheers, MC

[benjams115]

Does this only work in the sand or is this for all iron play? Nice video by the way.

[cmartingolf]

@benjams115 All iron play. I like to do the drills in the sand because it is like an "etch-a-sketch" and it is better for your balance. Besides, you know if you have flushed it or not.

[INTENSESHAWN]

The most useful golf tip video I think I've ever watched

[cmartingolf]

@INTENSESHAWN Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.

[RegistrationCop]

SEPTEMBER, EARTH WIND AND FIRE!!!!

[jpmccolgan1]

Bill Murray, is that you? Cinderella story here, outta nowhere. former green keeper, about to become the masters champion...

[dschultz6072]

was this before the tour striker?

[cmartingolf]

@dschultz6072 No. I had the TS in proto phase prior to this video.

[DarrenNormand22]

like the intro music to your lessons ;D

[mikefixac]

I vote for you being on TGC too. Good simple video, but full of wisdom. Thank you.

BTW, I've been playing golf over 30 years. A 7 index, but totally disappointed with my golf game.

[SwingItLikeMoe]

Divot after the ball usually works most of the time. The first guy had a closed club face at address.

[aeneas266]

When I do this drill without a ball, I can easily hit my aiming point. But when I try and hit a ball, I go right back to hitting behind the ball. Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong?

[cmartingolf]

@aeneas266 The reason you struggle with aiming point when a ball is present typically means that you subconscious knows that the clubface is wide open and you use your hands to try and square it. Thus, you chunk it and hit the sand early. Try the same drill but use the "closed face" excersise as noted in that video on my channel. Good luck!

[aeneas266]

@cmartingolf Yep, that was it. It felt weird at first, but it is hard to argue with the results. My swing feels immensely slower, like I have all the time in the world. At least until CF snaps my hands through the ball. But my distances are up and my ball flight is much more consistent. Thanks so much for your help. I bought a TSP and it is money. It is a good reminder to focus on lag and aiming my angles.

[aeneas266]

@cmartingolf Yep, that was it. It felt weird at first, but it is hard to argue with the results. My swing feels immensely slower, like I have all the time in the world. At least until CF snaps my hands through the ball. But my distances are up and my ball flight is much more consistent. Thanks so much for your help. I bought a TSP and it is money. It is a good reminder to focus on lag and aiming my angles.

[rtoyosp]

Great lesson, great teacher, it works¡

[cmartingolf]

@rtoyosp Thanks!

[pattyheno]

This guy should be on the golf channel.

This is how golf should be taught.

[cmartingolf]

@pattyheno Thank you:)

[mrsc300]

Great tip. After you learn this do you eventually go back and look at the ball? Or are you always looking ahead of the ball. Thanks

[cmartingolf]

@mrsc300 I'm always "looking" at the ball but my attention and peripheral vision is left at my aiming point. I'm anticipating the divot. Good luck and thanks for the note. - MC

[derosa149]

Thank you , this advice is rapidly improving my iron play . I wish someone had given me this explaination 20 years ago !!  can you give any advice on an aiming point with the driver ? Thanks very much.

[cmartingolf]

@derosa149 The aiming point moves a little closer to the ball as you work with the less lofted clubs. With the driver, I like to use the ball itself as the aiming point. It's the only club in the bag where an upward strike has benefit. Thanks for your comment and good luck:)

[clark2311]

Hi cmartingolf. I tried this drill, but I shank the ball 9 times out of 10. I know that means the club face is way open and the butt of the club is probably pointing at the target at point of impact. I understand I need to "release" my left hand, so do you have any tips to compliment this drill? Thank you very much in advance.

Clark H.

[cmartingolf]

@clark2311 Clark, you need to adjust your grip so the forward leaning strike presents a square face. It's shocking how closed the face needs to be at address with the typical amateurs golf grip. Watch my video posted last week or so about address. Cheers.

[6bateman6]

lol the thing everyone forgets is that u just need to practice an ass load to become consistent i played behind a group last week that had the worst technically speaking swings ever and im not kidding it was ugly to watch. however they all hit the ball consistent and staight and thats because they are out on the course 3 times a week (i know because i asked) so screw this just keep ur natural swing and play heaps u will get better its pretty simple.

[levigarret]

@6bateman6 the only problem with your logic is that it takes such a long time to find your "own" way to play golf in terms of being consistent. Incorporating different habits of your own leads to inconsistencies, in ball striking in this case, that take such a long time to conquer. From that, you would have to play three times a week to develop consistencies, which a lot of high handicap players like myself just dont have time for. Thats why having tips from polished professionals is helpful.

[6bateman6]

@levigarret the point of what i'm saying is practice is greater than technique not that having a good technique won't help you're game. even if you have the right technique if you don't practice you still won't improve because your hand eye coordination will not improve which is at the centre of ball striking. obviously technique makes it easier but practice is the key.

[zobo37]

Thank you, Chuck.  Great explanation and drill.

[a8figureman]

hey thank you this is great stuff love the instruction and the way you should feel you are looking while you strike the ball

[yamidaka]

6-E-2 is about release timing, therefore you can either change your pp3 thrust direction, or changing the stance line in order to change ball to hand distance. You are explaining what Ben's version of aiming point. which is not aiming point technique, but it is just simply impact hand...I presume you learn that from Ben, are you? As u are teaching your student in the Sand bunker. great wall of china

By encourage beginner student to use Impact hand principle.. it will stop their pivot to rotate.

[cmartingolf]

@yamidaka Thanks for the note! You presumed right. I'm a big fan of Ben Doyle. Prior to this drill, I teach beginners about the pivot. Cheers.

[kr4yzi32k]

He's hitting the ball first and taking the divot second. Which is exactly what you are supposed to do. If you drop your hands on plane, do not cast, and acutally turn, you will almost always do this and never hit fat.

[cmartingolf]

@kr4yzi32k Those are a lot of if's! You make is sound pretty easy.

[shark4880]

Love your drill - how do you ensure you don't hit down too much and hit it fat?

The other question is I have a huge problem pulling and hooking my irons

how do i alleviate thatand square the club at impact?

Thanks

[cmartingolf]

@shark4880 If you hit it fat, you haven't committed your aim point far enough ahead of the golf ball. Everyone is different, but we all must "aim" our thrust ahead of the ball so the lever aligns properly. Poor players aim at the ball. Great players, whether unconscious or not, have their thrust aimed beyond the ball.

Squaring the face is a combination of things. First, build your grip around the impact condition and not address. That will help.

[xXxDylan8milkxXx]

dude at the begining you club face was closed

[cmartingolf]

@xXxDylan8milkxXx Your club face at address has little to do with you club face at impact. If it did, we'd all hit the ball straight.

[slashdazz]

Excellent video, helped me understand the impact zone book!

[hitmanhawky]

this is very nice lessons by the way teaching hands in front at impact, i didnt hear a word he said though i almost deaf, golf lessons at my channel thanks

[hitmanhawky]

learn to proper way to get consistent distance and spin, you do this from learning to hit it with a forward leaning shaft at impact , most people make contact with the shaft standing straight up and down then throw in shaft flex and ball rolls up the face of the short irons causing inconsistent distance and contact noticed in shrt irons because they have so much loft to start with , check out my lessons i have one for solid contact and forward leaning shaft i know will help thanks hitmanhawky

[bonerfull]

e-v-e-r-y single one of the Pro's & students grass (scuffs) divots came from the outside-in (across their bodies! ( Look again in relation to their practice stick ). And what was the point of going into the sand ?! You could do the same drill on grass using tee's laid on the ground or a simple towel. And both these guy need to move the ball way back in their stances before they master rotation.

[cmartingolf]

You are right. Divots should go left of the intended target line. The point of practicing in the sand is to highten your precision. A towel is a good prop as you noted. You'll have to educate me on your theories of rotation. Based on the comment, I disagree. Why move the ball back? In my case, I compress the ball at my target. Moving the ball back will promote shots that go to the right and deep divot. No thanks.

[seeget]

your student has no hip rotation and is trying to scoop the ball to get it away

[cmartingolf]

You are right. The hips won't rotate unless he knows how to use the club. It's a chicken and egg query.

[redone5555]

thanks a good tip

[devonreds]

dude you hooked all 3 of those shots

FACT

[cmartingolf]

Dude, you need to get your facts straight. All of the shots were pure with very little left to right curve. FACT :)

[tarkstar99]

tip , don't use video that records interlaced , like 1080i, when you slow the video you see about 4 golf clubs , use a camera with progressive filming 1080p or 720p , look for the "p" in a camera

[cmartingolf]

Thanks for the tip! I appreciate it.

[BrngBckOldCOB]

Good stuff man. I've been golfing for two years and you come to realize how much more enjoyable the game is when you relax and make a simple, smooth swing.

Hopefully that student of yours can calm down and release that back side.

[TheGolfShank]

This is exactly the video I have been looking for. I have been constantly hitting them fat and not getting all my distance out of my shots. I can't wait to get to the range tomorrow!

[tetherowgolfclub]

Good luck! When guys add shaft lean and forward hands it may require a modification to your grip so you deliver a square face, rather than an open face. If you start shanking or push-fading shots, you know you need to adjust your grip.

[stevothestiff]

just came from the driving range after watching this video and it has helped me very very much im shocked how this slight adjustment has helped me to hit it longer and straighter with the irons and the driver! now i can see where i was going wrong cheers from stevo in England

[cmartingolf]

Absolutely! I try and take divots with my 3-wood and hybrid. I don't, but I try. The lie angle is flatter making the odds of divot much less likely.

[littlebeep3]

obviousley you dont want divots with a driver or fairways really, but could you use the same drill with drivers and fairways and hybrids?

[cmartingolf]

Michael is a very good teacher. The by product of a good swing will find the driver reaching it's low point at the ball. New research (go to trackman's website) shows that most tour player have a level to positive (upward attack of 1 or 2 degrees). Very few good players have a negative attack (downward) on a driver. It's due to ball position beirng forward and the fact the left shoulder is going up so violently during impact.

[rockinar]

Michael Breed on The Golf Fix said hit DOWN on the driver and the mags are wrong.

[grantiscool0413]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[ruruman4]

thanks for this video. great!

[cmartingolf]

Hitting down with a driver is usually a result of a wide open clubface and a seriously OTT swing. Better players often hit too "up" thus the need to feel a downward strike, which is only feel. I wouldn't try and put a number on weight shift.

[DCo107]

DONT HIT DOWN ON A DRIVER! put weight on your back foot about 60% of it in fact. anyone know any helpful backspin vids?

[cmsima]

Does this concept apply to the driver too?

[cmartingolf]

Absolutely. The difference is we play the drive at or slightly ahead of "low point" so the head is level or ascending.

Aiming point is where you aim the thrust of your swing. The club wants to seek an alignment with your left arm and you can guide the thrust that eventually blasts the club into this alignment. The problem occurs when try and throw the club themselves. They often overdue the throw and lose leverage.

[cmartingolf]

Hello DrBass,

While I grew up in Toronto, I've spent most of my career on the West Coast and I'm unfamiliar with the teachers in NE Ohio. If I were you, I'd get on the golfing machine website and see if there is an AI in your area. You can generally count on them to provide accurate remedies. Thanks for your note. Cheers.

[DrBassMD]

THANK you giving me a REPEATABLE swing thought to take on the course. 'Hands toward a spot ahead of the ball' works tremendously. Tried it today. For the first time, didn't have to needlessly place the ball back in my stance for crisp contact. Hit fairway bunker shots cleanly. Played with confidence the entire round. Looking forward to getting out on the course again, rather than being afraid of it.

Any teaching disciples in NE OH? I'd take a lesson from YOUR teaching pros in a heartbeat.

[cmartingolf]

You're right. Guys on Tour don't need this lesson because their hands get to this critical spot consciously or unconsciously. This video isn't intended for Tour players, it's intended for golfers that have poor impact alignments (99% of them).

Hand Eye coordination only works if you know what to do with your hands. Most people haven't a clue, thus this video.

[cmartingolf]

That's great!

When I'm hitting iron shots, my eyes are on the ball and I'm conscious of the divot I'm about to take. See a dollar bill size patch in the grass on the target side of the ball and want my club to land there while the ball gets in the way.

Keep working on it and learn how to hit the ground in the same place.

Cheers,

MC

[BailedOut2008]

Martin: I went to the range today and set up a little drill...I placed a golf ball about 4-6 inches in front of the ball I wanted to hit, and just aimed for the forward ball. The compression worked great and the front ball did not move. However, when I removed the front ball, I could not repeat the compression. Any thoughts?

[cmartingolf]

Bailed..

Thanks for your comments! I appreciate it.

Martin (Chuck is my last name:))

[cerhome]

Hi Chuck,

Your ball striking drill is excellent to say the least. I've been playing for 7 years and never consistently hit the ball as solid as I do now thanks to you. Is your club available for leftys? Does the same apply for woods and driver?

[cmartingolf]

Hi Cerhome,

I appologize for missing your question. The Tour Striker will be available for lefties in 5 weeks. Thanks for posting.

Martin

[cmartingolf]

Hi Logan,

No, you don't actually look at your hands. Your eyes are on the ball. Your mind is in your hands, feeling the stress the club puts on your hands when you change direction. Drive this "stress," known in golf terms as lag pressure to the aiming point. There is a lot of trial and error for newbies, but this big "leap of faith" pays great dividends down your golfing road. Good Luck!!

[LoganCtube]

ok thanks. i tried this today actually and i kept topping the ball alot but i did get a few solid hits. i'll keep working on it

[LoganCtube]

so i got a little confused. at the moment of impact you're actually looking at your hands to the left and not down at the ball?

im just starting out in golf and i would love any tips anybody could leave me.

[wpaone]

The real key here is that the back of your lead hand is always facing squarely towards your target at impact of the ball. You can see what I mean when he is practicing what he is talking about at about 6:28. You will see his gloved hand, the back of it, facing down his target line.

[cmartingolf]

Absolutely! While that hand leads the clubhead. Good point.

[tflinn22]

How is my clubface not going to be open if I do this?

[cmartingolf]

Because your body turn squares the open face. If you didn't turn, you would hit it with an open face or "SHANK" it. Good luck.

[RdSoxFan618]

I can't believe it actually worked! I can't believe it! It worked today! I used this tip and finally! It feels so much better than hitting the divot behind the golf ball and watching the ball roll about 20 yards!

Here's hoping it works on the ACTUAL course, 100% of the time!

[cmartingolf]

Congrats on your success on the range. Take your time and be patient. It's a lot harder to "relax" into a solid impact condition when you are on the course!

[sessien]

Should you focus on the impact or should you focus on swinging completly through.

I was taught to never swing at the ball but through it. I think that's why most people don't take a divot. They are trying to hit instead of swing.

[812ekoms]

Martin, I can tell that you've been doing this a very long time because it show in your golf swing--a very beautiful swing, at that. However, I would like to have that beautiful swing too. Nevertheless, millions and millions of golfers just like me are searching daily for the right information that will put us on the right path to practice and play this game without losing the fun value of it. There is just too much information out there never permanently improves a golfers technique.

[cmartingolf]

You are right. There is a lot of "stuff" out there. The thing that I can promise you is that I don't care what "stuff" you believe in. Simply: can you have the same low point on all of your shots? If you can, you are a good player. If you can't, you'll continue to struggle. The illusions of the game make it tough to learn. Find your low point and make sure the ball is in the way before you get there!!

Good luck.

[snodgers]

Best demonstration of compression I have seen, instead of trying to throw my hands in front of the ball, as I do, rotation is the key. Thanks

[ambertch]

VERY nice! I have been looking for a way to train the bottom of my swing and this bunker drill is perfect

[brettisrock]

hmmm cool.. i like the mental points i put in my head by look'n at your swing . thanks dude. compress your swing boys! compress!!!!

[812ekoms]

Martin, I believe that if you explain to your students that their left hip needs to clear so that the arms can fall in front of them, then the information that you're imparting will clear their understand as to what you're trying to get them to do. The golf swing is very difficult to learn because of all the misinformation that's being generated by golf pros. Most of this information is all good in its intend; however, most pros do not know how to impart information well to their students.

[pecky1234]

could i ask, is it your job to tell everyone what shawn clement teaches?

[812ekoms]

Pecky, it is not my job to tell anyone anything. I'm only seeking information for my own progression of the golf swing--that's all. However, if I can help some else along the way, I am more than happy to do so. I don't like keeping all the fun to myself.

[pecky1234]

i know and i agree, but its as if you have directly quoted shawn lol you have to understand that no-one is correct 100% of the time

[delangcottonham]

Is this the same technique for driving and fairway woods? When I try to do this I hit a HUGEEE hook!! Any tips?

[cmartingolf]

Sorry for the delay! If this tip helps you compress the irons and delivers too much of a shut face with the woods, back off a bit. It's okay to feel as though the clubhead passes the hands at impact as long as they actually don't!!! I feel "trappy" with the irons and more level with the longer clubs. Good luck.

[johnnnie007]

I will certainly try this. I have always hit in fat (I play off 16)and sometimes I don't turn my hips fast enough. But the fats has always dogged me. When I hit it flush I pick it and don't leave a divot at all. Thanks for the tip. Keep them coming.

JH

[Redbeard007]

One thing I noticed about the first golfer's swing besides his hitting behind the ball is that his right foot does not come up after hitting the ball. Chuck's right foot comes up on the toes (as it should) after hitting the ball.

[Redbeard007]

Wow! Incredible video! This is actually one of the Holy Grail aspects of the golf swing. I have never seen anyone explain this aspect in such simple terms. Chuck, would love to see more of your teaching!

[cmartingolf]

Hello Redbear,

Thanks for the nice comments. If you really want to improve your ball striking, hit balls off a flat lie in a fairway bunker. It's golf's "truth syrum."

I'm working on another video that should help people understand the release of energy a little more clearly.

Cheers!

[KOC]

The golfing Machine...continues

[rw5791]

it worked! i got my hands to the forward impact position and took a crisp divot starting at least two inches in front of the ball. tried for years to get that but this tip was the key.

[cmartingolf]

Excellent:) Congrats, it's fun to compress the ball and not "pick" it.

[rw5791]

that's a great tip. the golf swing,dynamically broken down.

[cmartingolf]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.