Throw Your Clubhead

Down For Better Golf

While we will discuss every aspect of the swing, beginning with the grip and stance, all the way through to the complete follow-through, with stops in between for the waggle, take-away and downswing, you will discover that we are putting the use of the hands back into the golf swing.

A lot of golf instruction over the past decade or so has emphasized the use of the upper body and relatively inactive hands. It is the latter, in particular, that we are interested in changing. The hands are the source of motion in the golf swing, and our emphasis will be on their use. Also, in the process you will learn precisely \how to develop the correct body pivot and coil for added support and consistency to the hands.

The beauty of the Peter Croker Path to Better Golf program is that the same principles apply for everything from the shortest putt to the longest drive. The learning process will include:

1. Definitions of the mechanics of the swing.

2. A step-by-step approach to developing the total swing.

3. Drills to build feel and understanding of the powerful, but orthodox golf swing we teach.

To take this journey with us, you will probably have to unfix some of your swing theory ideas and move onto a new paradigm or model. You will undoubtedly discover you have been playing golf with certain illusions and principles that are just not workable for you. Here are some of the basic concepts you can look forward to in this series:

Golf is a "hitting" game. By definition, a "hit" is a collision of one object (the clubhead) with another (the ball). Webster's definition takes it a bit farther. A hit is: (A) to strike by throwing - this is applicable to golf and takes the clubhead's point of view; (B) to be propelled by being struck - which is the golf ball's point of view.

For our purposes, to make the game really simple and rise above thinking about a lot of swing mechanics, think of "hitting" every time by throwing the clubhead at the ball. To do this effectively, we had better define how to throw the clubhead.

To throw an object is to propel it away from you. In our context, it is the clubhead being thrown, which is a pushing action. For a throw to be effective, you need a direction in which to throw the object. Thus, from the top of your backswing you throw the clubhead down at the ball. To do this, there must be a release of the wrists. This will occur naturally as your right arm straightens during the downswing and you thrust the clubhead toward the ball.

That release of the wrists can (and we think, should) begin at the very beginning of the downswing. We will discuss that at length later. For now, here are some drills to give you a gradual and graduated feel for the throw of the clubhead.

1. From the top of your backswing, without a club, throw your right hand down at the golf ball. Feel as though your right hand is going to fly off your arm. (Warning! Do this throw with a low to medium thrust so as not to strain your right wrist, arm or shoulder. Try to maintain a relaxed attitude and allow your aim and release to become more natural.)

2. Next, take a golf ball in your right hand (left, for left-handers) and hold it between your thumb and fingertips. From the top of the backswing, gently throw the ball at a ball on the ground where it would be for playing a shot. Try to hit the grounded ball.

The purpose of both of these drills is to educate your right hand to throw the club in the correct direction and in the correct manner.

3. Now, take a club in both hands and hold it by the clubhead. Again, simulate a throw of the clubhead at the ball. You will notice that at the completion of the throw, the shaft will move into line with your left arm. First, make the throw with an enormous motion with only your hands and arms moving down toward the ball. Then, let your body release all the way to the finish of your swing. Then, let your body release all the way to the finish of your swing as your hands and arms dictate.

4. The next graduated step is to grip the club halfway down the shaft (with the clubhead in the conventional position) and repeat the previous drill.

5. Finally, take a full grip on the club and throw the clubhead at and through the ball to a full follow-through.

You are now on the Path to Better Golf. Over the course of this series, as it continues in subsequent issues, we will take you on a journey of golfing freedom." You will have permission to "grip it and rip it" with a driver, or just "assist gravity gently" In hitting soft, finesse pitch shots with feel and control. Until next time.