Feet Together-One Leg Drills Updates; #1 Most Popular Golf Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[h0ss66]

Hey Shawn, I've been having some trouble with my swing and I stumbled across your videos when looking for drills to clear the hip. So far I'm loving your stuff! One question, I've started doing the feet together and one leg drills and I was wondering if you had a suggestion for a particular practice routine. I've started by doing 50 reps for each drill (back and forward being one "rep") without a ball but I was hoping you had a suggested routine. Thanks!

[clemshaw]

@h0ss66 I am coming out with a specific training video in the next couple weeks with 2 music rhythmic tracks written by Grammy Award winning writers "Jordan Evans and Matthew Bennett; stay tuned!! Shawn

[steckleinjr]

I see some eddie merrins influence in your teaching. is that a fair assessment?

[clemshaw]

@steckleinjr I have his DVDs...:) The video that has his stuff is the "Golf Pro Lesson chicken wing across the line" where his "swing the handle" has helped prevent going too far across the line at the top; great awareness exercise! Shawn

[ansinkhh]

Hi Shawn, a couple of questions: 1) Is there a reason why my one legged drills produce straighter and longer shots? Is it the hip rotation as you said? 2) I live in Taiwan. Can I order your DVD? I want to thank you for your videos. I picked up the game last month and I can't believe I'm hitting balls better than people who've been learning for a lot longer and with coaches! I hope I can meet you in person and get a feel for all that you've explained so well on youtube =) Thanks Shawn!

[clemshaw]

@ansinkhh Yes! My students experience this all the time; especially the ones who try too hard to shift their weight and end up swaying too much which causes them to get off balance; think about a washing machine spinning; would it spin faster or slower if the clothing was all bunched to one side and the center was getting pulled around in all directions?

Yes, you can order the DVD and I now have a mobile version available on my site for $29.95 that you could watch today! :) Shawn

[NikeGolf118]

Shawn in all of your takeaways you incorporate a "twist away" in the wrist; the left one breaks early, will you do a video on this?

[clemshaw]

@NikeGolf118 I am in the process of weeding this out so it looks like the takeaway you see in the "golf pro lesson takeaway and starting the swing" video; this is a remnant from bad swinging for the first 18 years of my career; hey, nobody is perfect! :)

Shawn

[CosmicSPC]

@clemshaw golf pro lesson takeaway and starting the swing" so you dont recommend this video ???

[mjs0039]

@Shawn, I have been doing these drills and have incorporated the piston action into my swing but I am not sure whether the up and down movement is same(consistent) every time. How does one ensure the consistency. Thanks

[clemshaw]

@mjs0039 One must include the twirl to a very specific target! :) And the definition of target is the complete picture of where you want to start the ball and where you want it to end; and then connect the picture to the action or send the action of the twirl into the picture and not the ball! "Golf Pro lesson tilted twirl" is the video you are looking for as well as the "golf pro lesson ridiculously easy" part 1 and 2; Shawn

[granitizer67]

Shawn,

Great videos. I have learned so much from you. I love this drill. I seem to have problems swinging my driver. I keep on hitting the back of the turf before I strike the ball with my driver. Do you recommend this drill for a driver or is there a better drill that can help me swing my driver better.

[clemshaw]

@granitizer67 Just like the answer I just gave mjs0039; you want to feel the action going to a target and the feel of the action is the "twirl" of the swing to a target; see the videos I listed in that response; All the best! Shawn

[vjwmd]

2 comments/observations--- on the PGA Tour, KJ Choi has the most noticeable piston type action --do you agree with this observation. Secondly, I've noticed on this vid that your arm follow-through is very high....the club crosses actually above your head...looks like P.Harrington's. Is this a consequence of the straightening of the left leg... or what is cause? Could you comment in general on the configuration of the arm follow-through...I've heard much about shot shape and arm followthru

[clemshaw]

Great observations! KJ does have this in his swing; as far as the follow through, as the body turns out of the way, the arms get pulled towards the target like when a washing machine spins and propels the clothing to the perimeter (this applies in both directions but prevails more in the finish because there is way more pull of the arms away from the clearing of the body); see "golf pro lesson allow the arms to swing" and "golf pro lesson timing and tempo update"; Shawn

[hackfest4]

It looks like you are raising up out of your posture in the swing, but reestablish it at impact. Is this what is happening or is it an optical illusion? Or are you just exaggerating for purposes of illustrating the drill? Great tilted spiral, though.

Dan

[clemshaw]

@hackfest4,

There is a natural slight up and down movement of the head during the swing. Think of a downhill skier navigating the moguls, there is a distinct plant-extend-pivot. Also, a person's natural walk has the same type of "head bobbing" motion. Just remember that this is a natural motion and not something to worry about. Have a look at "Golf pro lesson Head Bobbing" for further clarification. Hope that helps!

-Matt Blois

[clemshaw]

Exactly! Thanks Matt; also have a look at "golf pro lesson get more power and club speed" it will be the cherry on the sunday for this train of thought! Shawn

[GolfDegenerate]

Shawn, I cant do feet together drill properly. Using impact tape I'm hitting the ball thin most of the time at the bottom of the club face left of center towards the toe. I feel like I'm going outside-in and sometimes hit the ground early. When I do hit it somewhat solid it goes slightly right. Impact tape shows I hit left of center towards toe. The arm motion feels unnatural like I'm slapping at the ball with my wrists at impact. Have seen DVD and all videos but still having major problems.

[clemshaw]

@GolfDegenerate,

Make sure you feel your chest staying over the ball as you clear through to the target, you have to feel as though the ground is "in play" throughout the swing. Also, use the turn of the hips and shoulders to toss the arms into the backswing and then through to the target. Manipulating the arms will lead to poor balance and consequently inconsistent contact, especially with this drill.

-Matt Blois

RH Golf Learning Centre Assistant Professional

[clemshaw]

I love these extra insights from Matt; they are great! What you want to do to get to what Matt is saying is perform feet together with perpetual motion drill and get the proper rhythm going; feel HOW THE CENTER OF THE SWINGING ACTION OR TWIRLING ACTION STAYS CENTERED; and how the contact with your feet to ground stays intact; you should feel a nice pull on the shoulder sockets in both directions; then do this with the one leg drill too! Rhythmic Perpetual motion! Shawn

[GolfDegenerate]

There's a problem because I sometimes can't even do the perpetual motion drill correctly where I'm skipping the ground properly. On my normal swing of p. motion i do sometimes do it correctly but I also hit the ground very early when my wrists are trying to unhinge or rotate especially with this piston action. Also, how important is the return part of the perpetual motion because it's even worse where i often hit the ground before the ball and i feel like i'm going outside-in.

[clemshaw]

@GolfDegenerate See the "golf pro lesson student swing analysis part 2" on this one where I talk about the lag into the backswing; just like a tennis serve, you pull the racket back with the butt first and then lead again through the ball with the butt; same when cracking a bull whip; you will see this from players in the early 1900 era when they swung the hickory shafted clubs! Shawn

[tsmith109]

Shawn, what kind of irons do you use??

[clemshaw]

Titleist 695 MB; now that is a knife! :)

Shawn

[synckd]

(continued) I found my dispersion minimizes when I flow naturally upwards and downwards.

[clemshaw]

Right on!!

Perpetual motion did it for me a few years back...:)

Shawn

[synckd]

Shawn,

I'm starting to think this upward levitation of the body in the backswing with the conventional stance is not an optional power move. Rather if the knees are to extend properly, the body must be allowed to naturally come up a bit in order to keep balance and allow the hips to work properly.

[jacksonlui]

what should the ball flight be when hitting balls with the feet together?

should they hook or draw?

[clemshaw]

They should be straight with a hint of a draw; if you are hooking, check the grip is not too strong and watch your rhythm! Do not redline the swing; keep it smooth to the finish;

Shawn

[1tontomato]

Awesome!

I tend to forget about the stacked part over the left leg.

Thanks for refreshing my memory.

[plopp1231]

Hi Shawn , last question regarding impact...many people are telling me that I am not releasing at all. My left arm tend to pass too much past the ball...therefore not releasing in time...what are your comments on such situation...( for sure my focus is on my golf swing instead of hitting the ball)

[clemshaw]

plopp1231,

This is Matt Blois, one of Shawn's Teaching Professionals at the Richmond Hill Golf Club.

The feeling of a proper release in golf is like swinging a baseball bat, where the right arm crosses over the left through impact. Take a look at "Top 25 golf pro lesson Through Ball" at about [4:30].

-Matt

[plopp1231]

Hi shawn me again.. regarding momentum towards target (my shots pull slight straight left , very nice correct divot, happy distance)...Should i feel that i am pointing toe of club head to the target after impact, just after my right hand release over,therefore this create the feeling of mometum to target?..... If yes.. I am not gettiing this feeling?please help!! Any check point to know that u are sending momentum to the target?

[clemshaw]

It is a feel thing; See my "golf pro lesson alignment tweaking" as well as "Golf Pro lesson tilted spiral" part 1, 2 and 3; #3 has a very insightful section on PERCEPTION TO TARGET;

Matt gave you a great tip up there too; that snap feel in the baseball swing is very easy to feel and then you have something to look for in your golf swing release; Shawn

[plopp1231]

Hi shawn, this video is spot on, with all the details in slow motion. Thank you for your dedication in imparting your knowledge...I realised that my butt is not protruded enough at address.. causing many things falling apart...any analogies or drills for making my butt protruded at address...?

[gee8nats]

Nice stuff

[wiljanen]

Hi Shawn, the new two camera setup is great! I'm workin' hard on feet together and one leg, gettin' better. One comment, at the 5:57 mark (feet together, slo-mo) it looks like your spine angle is changing quite a bit (standing up). Is that just my rookie eyes playing tricks on me? It seems natural that the piston motion would make you stand up a bit...but how much is too much? As always, thanks for another great video!

[itsadryheat]

Great job. I really enjoy your videos.  Clear and simple instruction. Wish I lived closer to Virginia to some 'in person' lessons.

[winter76]

@itsadryheat I'm pretty sure Shawn lives in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario Canada

[itubeutude]

you make it look easy. good job on the video edit also.

[clemshaw]

I had a small glitch in the end but all in all for the first dual camera session I am pretty happy with it! :)

Thanks for the comment! Shawn

[MicrowavedHamster]

I just wanted to say how nice your videos are, and that I now play off +1.4. When I started watching your videos 2.5 years ago, I was 34.9 haha :P

Thanks a lot!