Golf Swing Transition; #1 Most Popular Golf Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[wastl67]

Shaw,

I’ve practice your swing method (hammer, pendulum, kid’s swing, etc), it’s working great for LW to Hybride. Using the driver/ W3 it’s working when I swing (very) slow. When I try to accelerate to generate more power it’s ending up in more or less everything. I’ve watched your clips in regards to driver, downswing etc and tried to find a solution. Is there one clip with a drill how to perform a continues smooth powerful downswing with the driver which I haven’t found on your Channel ?

[clemshaw]

@wastl67 The videos you want to watch are "Rip the driver; shawn clement", "How to feel your swing plane; Shawn Clement" and "Swing plane update; shawn clement" Enjoy!! When you are done with those, see "rhythm warm up; shawn clement" which will also get you the rhythm differences between short irons and driver...Shawn

[dschultz6072]

Working very hard on this at the moment. The feeling is like I'm "centering" my pivot and getting my weight 50/50 again. For this to work really requires some in depth posture self-analysis. With proper posture, this becomes much easier. Don't neglect your setup!

[jkiene]

The reason you are a great instructor is you use analogies to convey your message and the fact that you provide drills which don't complicate the golf swing. Thank you for your great instruction...capturing what one "feels" in the golf swing...

[cockywatchman1976]

Shawn, I find this is the biggest hurdle I face now-transition. My hip bump/squat-transition move, always seems to cause my head to get infront of the ball and my shoulders to open. This results in some inconsistency-when I get it right its nice, when I get it wrong it can be pretty painful. And this make me want to hit from the top as I get fearful of the consequences-I know the only answer is practice, but any ideas n how to perfect it better?

[clemshaw]

@cockywatchman1976 I have uploaded some really insightful videos recently to help here; please see "golf pro lesson ridiculously easy" part 1 and 2 as well as "golf pro lesson tilted twirl"

[golfwolf]

Shawn - regarding your swing analogy. Makes sense if you're swinging the proper distance, but what if you swing to far back? You lose the tension and effect of gravity so you'd need to catch the swing and pull if forward. I guess this is like overswinging on the backswing. Do you have any videos (or it not can you look into posting one) on the proper knowing when to stop yoru backswing and how to avoid overswinging? Thx!

[clemshaw]

@golfwolf Great question; see "golf pro lesson takeaway and starting the swing" part 1, 2 and 3 as well as "golf pro lesson tilted spiral part 2", "golf pro lesson tilted twirl" and "golf pro lesson get great rhythm"; technically, the other is "golf pro lesson proper spine tilt angle" Shawn

[lfishtx]

This is a great explanation. Thanks.

[TheBobilly]

The "person on the swing" analogy is the best I have ever heard and is spot on for perfecting your golf swing. You can actually superimpose the 2 to feel exactly where and how you focus your body shift and impart your energy in the swing. Great video!

[Fidler288]

Your analogy comparing the takeaway with pulling and pushing the kid on the swing is so completely accurate and understandable. Thank you for all of your videos, they've helped so many of us. Must be nice to know that so many golfers are thinking about your methods when they practice/play.

-Brian

[jherwitz]

Shawn -- this tip probably changed my game the most, especially with the driver. My problem used to be bringing the club too far behind me (and on a flat plane), and the idea of moving the handle first keeps the club in front of my body.

I know you mention it in the video, but is it really OK to swing with the hands all loose and the arms quiet, similar to the hickory-club style? I look at my takeaway and the club handle is pointed at my right thigh before the clubhead has even moved.

[clemshaw]

I would continue on this path yes; then continue to make it more and more seamless untill it looks like mine; you will still see a hint of it in my swings...very important to feel the abandon to centrifugal force in the backswing; Shawn

[brown547]

Great info Mr. Clement...I worked on this and it was and improvement as far as striking the ball, I understand the reason for the squat is to shallow out the swing plane. In doing the squat right, I felt my inner thigh outer thigh abductor muscles as I moved into my left side. In making this move I'll be more consistent. I realized in failing to make a consistent squat I was hitting inconsistently.

[clemshaw]

Fun realisation no? Other videos to help with this are the "Golf pro lesson swing sequence", "Golf pro lesson sequence power drills", Golf pro lesson downswing weightshift" and "Golf pro lesson 2008 golf swing review part 2"; Shawn

[451mnu]

@clemshaw This video alone is head & shoulders above anything else I've seen anywhere. brown547's comment is poignant as I'm coming to terms with the squat & pull. Is it correct to say, planting of the left heel, squat & pull starts the FS before the club has begun its journey down & through?

[clemshaw]

@451mnu Yes; but the key here is to do this without thinking and with instinct; for this you need to right command! Please see "golf pro lesson ridiculously easy" part 1 and 2, "golf pro lesson how to focus" part 1 and 2, "golf pro lesson feet together and one leg update" and "golf pro lesson tilted twirl" for a more complete picture; Shawn

[NickRoller]

3:48 hahaah

WITH THE SQUAT.

sorry it made me laugh so i had to point it out. :P

great video.

[tsmith109]

When r u going to grow the mustache back?

[rampantone]

I can fix my swine,,, i always hit it fat, PLUS i wag the dog so wth am i suppose to do?

[clemshaw]

Have a look at my "Golf pro lesson timing and tempo update" and "golf pro lesson perpetual motion drill" for starters; a great drill on top of this would be the "Golf pro lesson medicine ball drill" Shawn

[69Tonner]

Hi Shawn, I taped my swing to have a look at, and as i suspected, if yours is right then mine is miles off!! Mainly, in your swing, as the weight moves forward onto the front leg and through the shot you become very tall in your action, while i tend to just continue forward. Is there a way to easily break down this part of the transition in a little more detail please?

[clemshaw]

What you need to do is perfect the "One Leg Swing no weightshift" to feel the unwinding in the downswing around a solid brace against the left side; then see "golf pro lesson don't keep your head down" part 1 and 2 to make sure your head is not staying down too long; complete the package with "golf pro lesson downswing weightshift" tyhanks for the comment! Shawn

[dbatlarge]

I was wondering Shawn , if you are a person being on the large body size.Should you be using a upright or flat swing?

[clemshaw]

Because of what golf instruction has become, I get this question a lot; here is the answer: There is one plane for each club; then there is the plane you use for that particular shot with that club (Ball below feet, above feet etc); so how are you going to find that particular plane? See "golf pro lesson swing plane" for the answer; you will also enjoy "golf pro lesson arms falling down plane"; Thanks for the question! Shawn

[danic18]

Shawn, do you think the downswing must be leaded by the left arm as I have heard? This idea is really tough to me, however, when i did it with my right arm I tend to come over the top and cut the ball

[clemshaw]

Hey Danic;

Thanks for the question; I get this question a lot and the answer is none of the above; have a look at "golf pro lesson golf swing medicine" and "golf pro lesson momentum toss" part 1 and 2; then see "golf pro lesson arms falling down plane" and "golf pro lesson perpetual motion drill"; you will understand after this! :) Shawn

[danic18]

Shawn, i have improved a lot my transition by changing the weight to the left leg and then turning as fast as I can to the finish position, but I still release the hands too early in the downswing. How could I fix it?

[clemshaw]

Hey danic; thanks for the comment and question; what is happening is that you are still concerned too much about impact and it's relation to direction; see the "Golf Pro lesson weak grip or strong grip?" video and you will see what I mean;

I bet that if you were to see the "Golf pro lesson through the ball video and do the fishing analogy properly and film that, you would have all the lag you need; the key is to swing to the target and KNOW the ball is in the way...Shawn

[131313JT13]

this may be out of the topic, but i think u r much better than tht leadbetter guy!!!

[clemshaw]

I thank you for that vote of confidence!

Shawn

[rahickey002]

Yes , that was "Gravity Golf" with David Lee. he too had the "one leg","feet together","Step and swing" and a couple other drills for his system. The focus being balance and not overswinging.

[bmark6969]

Shawn, I learned to golf using the "gravity swing". You are the first instructor in 20 years who I feel I can trust to keep my swing on the right path. Your videos are excellent, and you explain things so well. I love my swing and have been looking for someone to help refresh my memory on the simple physics which make the full swing feel effortless - thanks agian :)

[clemshaw]

Thanks for the great comment! I wish you continued success and yes, David Lee has some very good nuggets in his teachings; Shawn

[jwsmith000]

Hi Shawn, Can you tell me the best videos for people who are hitting down behind the ball or fat?

[clemshaw]

I would start with the "feet together drill" video and the "one leg swing no weight shift" video; then check your arm motion with the "all about the arms" section on the you tube shawn page of my website; Shawn

[jdotson]

With the arms going to much in it results in an over the top. But with them getting across the line at the top, this would result more in a in to out (possible shank's ville) right? I noticed on my camera I'm a bit across the line at the top. Just curious of the normal outcomes so I can see how bad it really is. :)

[clemshaw]

Hey jdotson!

See the "golf pro lesson chicken wing across the line" video and then see the "Golf Pro Lesson grip awareness" video; it will help what you are doing a lot! Also see "Golf Pro Lesson Hooks and slices" and "Hunter Mahan Power Fade watchdog blog" and practice the power fade; it will help polish the plane without having to think about it; Shawn

[crimn]

i have had good results using hogans backswing in 5 lessons where club starts followed by ,arms,shoulders which pull the hips around. i like his pictures of it, seems like a logical sequence. do you agree with that or are you saying turn everything all at once including the hips?

[clemshaw]

Hey Crimn; take a look at the "Golf Pro Lesson Hogan power move and hogan power drill" videos; then go to the "You tube Analogies" page of my website and see the first subject and the videos associated with them; it will clear things up more for you;

Shawn

[MikePedersenGolfTips]

This is exactly what I am working on! I'm trying to remove the tension in my arms during the takeaway, and trying to keep my arms passive in the transition and downswing. This is a very new feeling for me, but yesterday at the range it seemed to work!

This body of knowledge I think is one of the KEYS to great golf. For us amateurs, the transition becomes crucial to golf swing sequence, consistency and ultimately power.

This video is excellent!

[clemshaw]

Thanks Mike!

Shawn

[tganley1]

The hickory shaft takeaway really encourages some of the important fundamentals of the backswing; tempo, staying centered over the ball, keeping your elbows close together, swinging up behind you instead of around your body. It helps you find the right backswing speed(if you do it to fast you can tell right away), most important, it gives you the 'float'. This is what I use when I go beyond 'redline'. It really brings things back together quickly. Why not use it all the time? More moving parts?

[clemshaw]

Great description of the benefits! Of course you would want to use this all the time!! I use a more seamless version of it but if you look very closely you will see it in every one of my swings!

See "golf pro lesson bilateral golf swing"

Shawn

[tganley1]

This is really a coincidence. I was practicing last night (I have a little cage in my garage), switching back and forth and realized the proper backswing is the same thing. The hickory shaft swing is more exagerated, that's all.

[alicerose]

this vid is really important to me. thank you!! It helped me to change my pull slice into a draw (sometimes) i start upswing and downswing with my lower body only.

My backswing now only starts with my left knee pushing a bit to the right, and the rest feels like gravity work.

Now my question. didn´t hogan say you must start your backswing with your upper body? because now my lower body might roll too much and may loose tension between upper and lower body or may overswing..how do you do it?

[clemshaw]

Hello Alicerose!

Thank you for your question; a couple of great videos which are a terrific complement to this one; the titles are: ""golf pro lesson timing and tempo update", "golf pro lesson bilateral golf swing" and you need to see the "golf pro lesson perpetual motion" that you can combine with the "One leg drill" and the feet together drill"; this will help continue to boil things down until you are left with simply letting effortless and powerful momentum go to your target with RHYTHM!

[ottsompol]

You're a good instructor. You described how it feels along with the image you metaphorically refer to. Thank you. I think this is one of the best video on golf.

[williedla]

Wow..that Hickory swing was executed amazingly...Looked like gumby golf but made smashing contact

[clemshaw]

Hey it worked very well for Bobby Jones and many many more from that era! :)

Shawn

[moefilbert]

You dont know how much this has helped me with my swing thoughts . When it goes bad I just watch it over again . Thank you Shawn

[daleby22]

This is a great video! I used to start my down swing down with my arms resulting in a horrible slice. Every once and a while I would luck up and hit a straight shot but not very often. Went to the range today and practiced the transition move in this video. WOW it works! I still sliced a few but not as many. Some of my divots were still pointing left. Is this because I am still swinging outside to in or because I am not rotating my lower body out of the way fast enough? What do you suggest?

[clemshaw]

This one has "Proper Spine Tilt Angle", "braced Tilt" and "Braced Tilt Part 2" videos written all over it! Have a look at those videos from the "You Tube Shawn" page of my website!

Thanks for the comment and question!

Shawn

[tigerwoods786]

Awesome - Im a Hogan disciple - no doubt the transitions occurs by the left leg dropping - in other words lateral movement - the key has to be to keep the right elbow pointed down - the feeling of ringing the bell. Mr Hogan was light years of anyone on this planet. 50 Years later everyone is learning Hogan - the best ever. Great Coverage

[clemshaw]

Thanks for your comment!

I am happy you dropped in, you have some good Hogan vids that you have found! Thanks, Shawn

[Antoino13]

Shawn,

What do you suggest when the drill for getting your elbow down first to try and lag the club creates a really open club face at impact from a inside out swing? Should you attempt to supinate your hands down through impact to square up the face? I play with a neutral grip with 2 knuckles showing on my left hand.

[clemshaw]

You will see from the "Golf Pro Lesson Arms Falling" that you do not need to try coming from the inside; this should happen by itself...Then check out "Golf Pro Lesson Pronation Supination" "Golf Pro Lesson Contact and Spin" and "Golf Pro Lesson Arm Motion"...they are all on my website at shawnclementgolf dot com

[RUJENHAL]

Shawn, With sincere gratitude, you are a gifted teacher. I have shaved several strokes off my game and I'm now down to single digits. Your perfect analogy's have made things so clear. I ask my self why other teachers make swing mechanics so difficult. Your a cult hero here in Dallas Texas....!!!!!

[gojipoj]

How would you generate power or extra power on the follow through please. Love your videos, can't wait to get on to the driving range. Thanks mate.

[clemshaw]

Check out "Golf Pro Lesson Hogan Power Move", "Hogan Power drill" and "Golf Pro Lesson Catapult Power"...

Thanks again for the comment! Shawn

[RiverRaid2]

Your lesson help me a lot. Thank you very much!

[larbo8]

good stuff!

[jkduser]

jkduser again!

I've been working on transition and the power move. I am getting the feeling that my wrists are hinging or re-cocking more on the downswing allowing me ti swing right through the ball. Is this something I should be looking for? I am thinking now of the way Garcia swings and he is often criticized for hinging more on the downseing.

Thanks in anticipation.

The video's are awesome.

Thanks for taking the time to post these videos and especially for sharing the information

[clemshaw]

Thanks for the kind words!

Yes, as gravity and the returning of the hips pull the arms into the downswing, inertia is still pulling on the club head and this in turn will create even more lag on the downswing; you will see this in just about all long hitters on Tour to varying degrees...mine too! :)

Shawn

[jkduser]

I have been looking at your videos and I am very impressed. Thanks a lot for the information you are conveying through youtube - it is appreciated.

Now - a question on transition! What are your thoughts on the idea that the downswing begins (lower body) before the backswing finishes?

[backbones88]

Hey Shawn. Thanks for the articles on leverage and compression on your new website...seems to complement what your teaching here in the videos.

[nj2190]

What do you think about the hip slide? I hear a lot of instructors say to start the downswing with a hip slide. I just don't get the results I want doing that.

[clemshaw]

check out the "Golf Pro Lesson Hogan Power Move" and "Golf Pro Lesson Hogan Power Drill" Videos; they have the exact answer for you! All the best, Shawn

[maop99]

Hi Shawn, maybe this is connected to the other questions, I tried out your "squat move" and it help a lot in the transition, I think this is what is missing in my swing, it makes the transition automatic! My question is, is there a danger in "over-squatting"? I might end up hitting fat or hitting behind the ball?

Thanks!

[clemshaw]

Not if you maintain the stacked feeling that you could support a lot of weight on your shoulders with no sign of collapse; for many, this feels exaggerated...a simple video of you making a practice swing towards the camera (no divot :)) will show you what is going on;

Shawn

[maop99]

Thanks Shawn, got it...its like keeping the muscles tense, like you're carrying something on your shoulders no collapsing...I'll also try to video myself to see. Last question, When you squat, do you automatically do the hogan power move also? or how do you combine the hogan move with this squat?

Thanks!

[clemshaw]

The Hogan Power Move is the squat;

Shawn

[maop99]

Ooh, WOW! now I get it! Thanks! You da man, Shawn!

[nj2190]

Do I even need to do the squat?  It kind of feels unnatural to me. What feels natural to me is turning the lower body first and let the upper body follow. Is this an alright thing to do? Thanks again

[clemshaw]

To many golfers, simply doing what you described will feel like a squat; overdoing it is not good but to most it will feel very protruded since most golfers we see tend to loose their spine angle by quite a bit;

Thanks for the comment, Shawn

[nj2190]

Hi Shawn thanks for the video. When I try the squat to begin the downswing I take out to much dirt. Could I be squatting too much?

[clemshaw]

Just be aware of your squat staying "Stacked"; check out the "Golf Pro Lesson Hogan Power Move" and "Golf Pro Lesson Hogan Power Drill" videos as well as the "Golf Pro Lesson Stacked and Complete" Video;

Thanks for your comment; Shawn

[edmaximus]

Clemshaw, do you use that "hickory shaft" move in your takeaway? Do you actually feel the clubs gravity pull down as you go back? I played with that a bit and it really helps your tempo but not sure if it's something to develope. I take it back very naturally but was curious if you actually do that...if it's a swing thought of yours

[clemshaw]

Very much so! But it has become subconscious now...it's the same move in a tennis serve, cracking a bull whip etc...the perpetual motion drill taught me this; it should feel like you are already in motion at address and you are tossing the arms and club away with the turn of the body...

[screamingeagletim]

Hi Shawn, Great video once again. I was watching Mike Weir today and I noticed that his hips start forward while he is finishing his backswing. I like this method better but is there any advantage to that or did my eyes play tricks on me? Tim

[clemshaw]

The Arms falling video has the answer to that; you must have a platform to support you BEFORE you whip the club in the through-swing; so like the hogan power move, this is what you want;

Shawn

[backbones88]

Thanks for the informative videos Shawn. When you refer to the 'squat' in the transition is this the same as the Sam Snead squat?

[clemshaw]

Yes, you bet! In the Catapult power video and the Hogan power move and drill videos, when you return the left hip and knee, what you are doing is simply returning your counterweight (Butt) out of the way and using this to catapult your arms and club to your target; it feels like a big squat to someone who is used to loosing the spine angle or thrusting the right side!

[sak777]

Hi Shawn, thanks for all the videos. EXTREMELY helpful! Question, at any point during the golf swing is there a conscience effort to use the arms to swing the club rather than allowing the rest of the body create the arm swing. I don't know which holds true. Does the method hold true for both short swings/chips and full swings? Much appreciated!

[clemshaw]

Yes, but it is from feel; Feel like you are pushing someone on a swing...when would you push? The momentum would start it down then you would use the arms AND body to whip the club through the ball...max velocity would be well past the ball. Timing with the wedge through driver is like a swing with different length chains...the wait for the push gets longer as the chains get longer...

[hiroyoshi]

HI Shawn!!!wow this is great!!!i ve learn alot from yours videos!after 500balls i start feel the "effortless swing"!wondering is there any possiblity to see u in PERSON!!!since i ve inspired so much from u!i m currently studying in san francisco.thankyou

[grhutchinson]

Shawn - thanks so much for your series, I've watched them all. I have an instructor - but you're vids are super for providing me an understanding of what/how/why. Keep up the great work.

[juanqin]

Hi Shawn! I am a huge fan of your videos and I constantly show them to my golf buddies. Thanks for doing this!

I have a question that relates to the one/2 plane swing as featured in May/June 2007's edition of golf illustrated. I think I'm a 1 planer according to the descriptions but I don't think I agree when he said that a one plane swing releases the upper body first then the lower body second.

What do you think? Again thanks for all the awesome videos!

Jin.

[clemshaw]

Moe Norman was the greatest "one planer" of them all; he talked about how he felt his left knee rotating back towards the target to start the downswing; you need to set the platform to have something solid to hit against;

Shawn

[paulski5]

Good video Shawn. Good to see someone actually talking about a lagging clubhead takeaway for once. Most of the time it's "one piece" and "early set." Bobby Jones and Vijay did alright tho eh? Load the shaft more at the top.....

-PAUL

[clemshaw]

Thanks Paul!

Shawn

[Renton405]

One great way to feel this is to start the turn of the lower body(hips) and left knee towards the target BEFORE the backswing is full finished.. that way it guanrantees the lower body moves first and that momentum is never broken..

[AlanMM63]

So, it's ok to roll the front foot back and at the finnish?

[clemshaw]

Back yes, but the finish needs to be stacked through the left hip, knee and ankle; check out our video on "finish"

[clemshaw]

Hey Mark;

Glad you enjoyed it;

Sorry about the glitch at the end of the video;

I am still learning this editing program!

Take care, Shawn

[markse123]

Well check you out Shawn! That was a great presentation and confirmed for me I am on the right track. I appreciate so much you taking the time to do this for me. Just send me a bill. Thanks again buddy.