4 Weeks To Better Ball Striking | Week 1: Release Like The Pros 

I am a 60 year ex teaching pro. Last March I had a major spinal cord operation in April told that I would never Walk again but walking again and playing golf. I lost all proprioception below the waist. My handicap has gone up to 18. The feeling in my left hip came back 3 weeks ago and it had to change my swing again and I was looking for a drill to help with the timing through impact. I have done about 4,000 reps since this came out. Yesterday I played in a medal and shot 81 so congrats on a great video 😊

Why has it taken me so long to find this type of instruction? Thank you!

2 days ago, as fate would have it, FB randomly showed me this video of Chris, I watched it and felt the SANTORI (a sudden moment of enlighment). In my living room , on the carpet, I just practiced the first movement, which is from hip high to hip high with the R palm about 35 to 45 degree to the right. Then as usual, I forgot about it. Came yesterday afternoon, I went over to my club's ptractice range , the first 30 minutes was my old swings, inconistency abound with shots going right , hitting fat, and /or weak low ball flights. Then I remembered about Chris's metholodogy. Same old swings but adding the right palm at 45 degree and keep the R elbow infront of the rib case. Then all of a sudden, the balls flew straight and high, more smashing sounds. I tried with my old nemesis, the 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3 Hybrids, and they became much more friendly , went rather where I aimed. I then went to putt for awhile and before leaving, I hit a few more balls with my P to 70 to 90 yards target, and the balls went very much toward my aim. I drove home with a big smile on my face and cannot wait for the next practice and the next match this coming Tuesday. My index is now at 14 and will see what it will be in the next 4 weeks. Chris, THANK YOU for posting your methodolgy. I am very much of a mechanical , not feel, golfer. Your methodology is quite extraordinary, Your step processes infuse new muscle memory technique, that many golf teachers out there do not know how. No wonders, much time and money after lessons and lessons and the golf scores do not change for many of us. A case in point, I signed up for a 1 year lesson plan with a golf guy in Cincinnati using Dr Kwon methodology, unfortunately the man , with a Master in Bio MEchanics , did not show me how to introduce the swing mechanics and to infuse the new swing muscle memory. After 1 years, my swings continued to stay erratic and the index did not change - because I worked very hard on my short game to compensage. We usually go to Ft Myers for 2 weeks in April and 2 weeks in Nov. You are in Orlando, right ?. I am hoping this year to be able to drive up to your shop for some lessons, and hope your processes will also help my wife as well.

This is excellent presentation. There won't be a lot of people who follow this because it isn't a shortcut BUT those who do, especially new golfers, won't waste their time unlearning a bunch of bad habits which ultimately is the greatest shortcut you can have.

I’m 68 years old, Han some back and rotator cuff surgery, haven’t played for 4 years and thought my golf game was gone forever. I started your 4 week program and not only hit a few nice shots but, now I have expectations of playing again! I can’t thank you enough for your straightforward instructions and look forward to playing with my old friends again!

You have to learn to crawl before you learn to walk. Put in the work this week and next week gets really exciting⛳

I really am taking your instruction very seriously. I have never seen such comprehensive exercises. Many online coaches appear to be trying to offer quick fixes. Though having played for 25-years, with little improvement during that time, I am taking your advice seriously. Just listening and watching this instruction is really helping me to sort out many issues with the release. I believe your instruction has to be watched a number of times to fully grasp what you teach and to embed it into the brain and into the swing. I really thank you for your time in presenting the content.

Refreshing new content in the huge ocean of RU-vid golf instruction. Looking forward to more of this. 👍🏿

Hey Chris, near scratch player here. Just want to say that your teaching on the release is phenomenal. Been working the weekly plans for the past month in the backyard net. Went to the range today and all I can say is… wow…and thanks. Sincerely. The ball just rockets off the face. 💪🏼

Chris, I’ve been going through your videos - I’m grateful that I came across your channel. I can always use a new way to look at the swing…..in regards to this video, I had to restart it twice cause I couldn’t get past them birds.

Very detailed and informative instruction. I like how Chris focuses on the impact area of the swing- what you should be doing in the hitting zone. I needed some help in this area and find his instruction to be very beneficial in this and all areas that he teaches.

I’m invested, glad I found you coach!

Awesome video!

Absolutely Great Stuff. I’ll do my work for the week and can’t wait for more good stuff! Many 😊

I'm all in coach!

A very comprehensive and clear presentation. I have saved a number of the videos to keep watching over. I have been playing for 25 years, and like many of us seniors I am still keen to improve. I believe your style of teaching will be very beneficial. Even from this video I am finding these exercises are just what I need at this point in time. I wish you well with the channel. Regards from the UK

I am a new golfer ( almost one year). I have already tasted the difficulty of hitting the ball exactly the same every time. I think this video shows a good way to build strong foundations. I am very happy to see it and will really follow from now on. Thanks

Great job! Thank you for sharing.

Great video, I am starting the work, I promise to stay with it. Thanks!

Great video Chris! Clear and easy to follow instruction. Putting in the reps today!

Chris this is Awesome!!!

What a terrific video! No shortcuts or magic bullets. Simple, clear step-by-step process. I intend to give this a try. Clarifying point #1: when you say "low point" I don't think that's what you actually mean. It's pretty well accepted that the Pros' iron swings have a low point 3-5 inches after contacting the ball - thus the divot. I suspect what you mean is "the point where the leading edge of the club contacts the turf" (and then continues downward for a few inches). Clarifying point #2: if I hold a club with a "standard" grip, then have the lead wrist flat, bowed and pointing down the target line at impact, my clubface is closed something like 30°! (It looks like you have a very "weak" left hand grip). I'm guessing that part of the point of this drill is to help the many of us who slice, have no shaft lean at impact and "flip" at the bottom - perhaps an exaggeration to break bad habits? Not trying to criticize or nit pick here - just looking for understanding. Thanks.

Great video as always, Coach!!

I am starting today, thanks Chris

I'm a 60-year-old new subscriber to your awesome channel. Like several other people here, I had a spinal fusion with hardware and have been very hesitant to really get my hips turning. Starting over again is not fun, and things do not come back as fast as I would like. However, I am excited to get back to the basics and move on. Keep putting out these excellent videos. Thanks

Best video on RU-vid for me as a brand new golfer!!! Thank you

Good stuff

Good stuff! Let's see what happens.

I will practise this drill..tq

IM READY TO DO THE WORK!

Hi Chris, I probably had about 800 reps in of this drill before my club championship occurred this past weekend. As you mentioned in your video, the visualization of the left hand and wrist movement is paramount in the actual swing. I took this feeling out on the course the first day and shot a 79, as I normally shoot in the high eighties. This really helped me with ball contact hitting most of my shots on the center of the club. Ended up coming in second in my division, but wanted to say the time investment definitely made a difference in how I’m striking the ball. I’m continuing to work on week two. Thanks for the great instruction!!!

Many thanks Chris for this series, formado Pau France

Best instruction on the planet! Thank you! Finally! Great instruction presented with honest expectations and work required. So tired of hearing "do this for a bucket of balls and you'll bet great!

Fantastic timing for me to take your lesson today, as I’m rehabilitating my swing after my arm muscle injury, and trying to revisit the proper method of release once and for all. Your instructions are very detailed but clear and concise. You are passionate, authentic and absolutely convincing. Now I have high hope I will succeed this time. Thanks!

Chris I am taking a new step in my golf journey, I watched other coaches pro's on RU-vid I have now deleted all of them and now just listen and watch you. You have made more sense of the golf swing to me in your break down and I am now climbing the ladder 1 week at a time . Keep doing what your doing your personality shines through

SCUD missiles! Love it! I've found cracks to the foundation of my swing, and I believe this will fill in the cracks and then some. Nice instruction, Chris, thanks!

Chris - Many thanks for doing this! I’m onboard.

Thanks!

I’m starting today! Pump and ready to put in the work. I am so looking forward to having consistency in my golf swing. Never knowing where I was going to strike the ball has ruined the game for me. I just know with you help I can enjoy the game and see some respectable scores in my future.

I went to the website but couldn’t find where to upload my video. Thank You I love the way you teach.

Key takeaway for me here-“Keep the tension levels down”… Good stuff 👍🏾👍🏾

Thanks Chris, see you next week 😅

Dude! I was totally having problems with my ground contact. After my first 300 reps, I now understand how to get the club hitting the ground in the right place consistently. I'm at 600 reps now and will keep on working on your program, I can't do it perfectly every time yet, but 70% of my strokes are perfect. The way you break down the swing into very manageable pieces is very powerful! Thanks for this!

Chris I remember you from your time at Rotary Swing. You had a very similar series there that was good stuff. Well my wife joined a CClub and canceled our local gym membership so I’m giving golf another shot. All the old crap is still there. Fat, skulls, slices, huge hooks and of course shanks. Who could forget the shanks. I took some lessons at the CC and the guy kind of gritted his teeth and gave some early extension and swing easier drills. I could tell he wasn’t real hopeful. I began your series in my garage with a drop cloth to keep from scratching the clubs then moved to the back range (where they send the worst hackers) at the club and eventually began hitting the small (20-30 yd) shots. Surprisingly, he noted that he had seen me doing these drills and said “that’s the way to do it”. Most of his students want to learn how to hit the driver. I feel good about my progress. I can feel the contact more centered on the club face and super slow and easy swings result in the ball occasionally going about twice as far as I expect. I’m encouraged and excited to keep at it. Thanks

Chris, a random search through RU-vid vids led me to one of yours. I'm 67, and used to play at least 3 times a week until my wife passed in 2016. From then until the beginning of this year, I stopped playing completely. I used to carry a 6 handicap, but now it's been a search for rhythm and timing, which I just couldn't come close to until finding your channel yesterday. The shallow swing and 30/60/90 vids had me so jacked that I went straight to the course and played trying to incorporate that timing. That's jumping the gun, but it was a dramatic improvement as my handicap is a 17. Will spend more time at the practice range now, knowing that the practice has a purpose, not just a continuation of guesswork trying to get back to a smooth swing. Thanks for what you do.

Managing to do at least 500 reps of each spilt about 50 a time. My left arm and shoulder a bit sore but going to do the full 7 days before going onto video 2. Im determined to start from scratch again to build the basics of a solid swing. Ive never been told before to put in so many reps and not to push on to hitting balls before i really like the idea of repetition and taking time to learn the basics. Its logical a bit like learning to drive. You dont just get in a car and expect to be proficient after a few weeks. It takes months just to be able to be competent. Thanks Chris. Im from the UK and it looks like a lot of people from around the world are going to benefit from your video instruction and concepts. Good job 👍🌍👌👏👏👏

Ok you’ve convinced me. At this point I’m willing to try anything

Tried this drill today….its magnificent….150/150/100 reps …then treated myself to 5 balls ….1/4 shots ….the sound of the compression was fab! Thank you sir

Interesting approach to building a swing, and I really like your sense of humor. Thanks for offering the series for free. BTW, what sold me is that 1) You didn't say something like: "THIS is the single tip that pros won't tell you that will make the golf swing as easy as it should be" and 2), much more importantly, all your moves are consistent with swings as taught by instructors I respect (e.g. John Dunigan, even the basics of the SP swing as taught by Kirk Junge). You just decided to do it in a much more organized, micro way. But (you knew there'd be a but, didn't you?) with a club in my hand and no ball I believe I can hit a low point consistently. As soon a ball goes down I hit it fat, even though I'm on my lead side. After some investigation it appears that when a ball is down the "little golfer" inside me tells my copilot (aka trail hand) to hit at the ball and I come down behind it. I discovered this by laying down an alignment stick an inch or two behind the ball (or I put a piece of tape down). I use an indoor mat. My copilot is VERY hard to control once I get two hands on the club and there's a ball sitting, waiting to be hit. I understand hitting the ball is not until Week 2, I am continuing with the Week 1 exercises, but this is going to be an issue as soon as I "graduate".

Love the video going to get started on the drills…is the first video in the series?

Your videos are great & really like your sense of humor! I started doing the exercises for your video "Hit The Brakes For Faster Clubhead Speed" a few days ago, then today ran across the "4 Weeks to Better Ball Striking." Much of the material in the 4 Weeks videos is also covered in the Hit the Brakes video. That said, am I better off doing the 4 Weeks in lieu of the other one, or do both - and if both, in which order? Thanks!

I love the idea of starting with small repeatable motions and feel like I learn the best that way. Quick question… would all that forearm rotation lead to an inconsistent club face angle through impact. It feels like it’s very timing dependent. Is this something that you explain later on?

Hi Chris, I’m going through the working reps now, and it does become very different with the co-pilot. I find to avoid cupping of the left wrist at the end of the movement I need to point the club head out towards second base if that makes sense. Just to confirm, my bowing doesn’t feel nearly as much as when I was going through the first two steps. Thanks!

Hi Chris, this series seems like something that could be very useful for me. I have been golfing for 25 years with very little improvement on my consistency and bad habits always seem to creep back into my game. Now that golf season is here I am out on the course regularly and have a simulator at home, so I golf a lot now. Would it be counter productive for me to follow this series and still golf a few rounds each week? My league starts May 7, so don't have the 4 weeks to completely dedicate my time all the way through. Thanks for the instruction and the great videos, you've got a new subscriber.

In this drill the position of the lead wrist is bowed into impact then stays in that same bowed position by just rotating the lead forearm to the finish point of the drill?...ie you are not wanting any cupping of the lead wrist to the finish point of this drill but only forearm rotation & the lead wrist still bowed but turned. Am I correct with this understanding?. Many thanks I am enjoying your lessons very much.

Hi Chris. Great video training on the release. I appreciate your passion to help others improve their golf game. I am 300 reps into the working reps and notice the inconsistency in my hitting the right spot just in front of the ball position - i hit it maybe 50% of the time within say an inch or less, and miss both in front and behind, sometimes thin, so noticing all miss types. No one is perfect. To "graduate" this exercise, what percent of the time should you hit the proper spot? I plan to do the 1500-2000 reps regardless of how it goes, or longer if needed to graduate - I want to get it right as this has been a struggle point for me my whole golf life. Thanks for your precious time!

This is excellent I love the presentation❤❤❤❤finally someone actually teaching of what to do instead of don’t do this and don’t do that… thank you very much.

Love the instruction! Could you explain what you mean at 2:37- " you can look down through your palm and see a hole in the ground".. not sure I understand what you mean by that statement..

Very well-explained video. Isn't the club designed so the club naturally releases if we don't interfere in the swing?

Loving your Series Lessons here. Very clear & specific. When you are doing these working Reps can you please tell me when I'm doing the Left heal Right heal reps do you allow the trail leg to straighten in the 1/2 backswing rep or do I keep some flex in it? Also I deliberately haven't jumped ahead to your other videos as I am really following your Series sequence 1st & foremost before I start to crawl. You are using the lead arm to direct & control these Reps & is that the way to do so in my full swing? I'm asking this because I am a Lefthanded player but very Right hand (my lead hand) dominate & find that using my lead Right arm the natural way for me to swing as opposed to using my trail very less dominate Left arm. Is this OK to let my lead arm dominate my swing?. Many thanks again & love your method of teaching these very basic & essential core elements of the Golf swing.

Working my way through the reps in Step 2, maintaining focus on the low point. I'd been told before to keep my eye on the back of the ball at address. Not sure how good that advice actually was, but considering the focus on the low point in the drills, from now on when playing should I be focusing on the front part of the ball at address instead? Thx.

Just finished Step 2, 600 reps. My question is about left arm tension. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much tension will there be in the elbow, wrist and hand? Also, I tend to feel a bit of a "snap" as I cup my wrist--should I avoid that or is it natural? Thanks Chris, I really love this stuff! Great video series!

What club do you recommend practicing with here in this step? Thank you!

Love this instruction but what about playing two or three times a week while doing all these initial repetitions. Any advice .

11:58. Your trail heel is not lifted off the ground when your weight shifts to the lead heel, or is it?

Chris what club is that you’re using during the working reps ?

I feel like this is gonna hook the ball

Hi Chris - Question: when my wrist reaches the check point where it's bowed and my watch is pointing down the target line - where is the clubface at that point. Is that where it's making contact with the ball or is the clubhead at a post impact point? Understanding this will help me internalize the drill better.

I have to admit, with the club in my hand and I get to the point that my wrist is cupped with my watch face pointing at the target, the loft of the club looks almost perpendicular to the ground. Am I getting the right picture? So much different than when I "scoop" it. Working with a 5I by the way.

Hey Chris! I’m sure you’re asked this all the time so sorry if you’ve answered it already …do you teach any in person lessons? If video is all there is I’ll give it a go, but nothing beats live lessons for me. I’m in Orlando, FL.

I'm down. Starting from square one.

@MyGolfDNA - Hi Chris, When I perform the drill with the club in my hands, the club face appears to be closed about 20 degrees through the impact zone. I assume this because I am using the exaggerated forward-rolled wrist position from the 300/300 drills I've been doing these past 3-4 days... and that I am currently over-cooking this? I appreciate it! 🤟

Chris, what does the lateral movement do? I have little lateral movement and mainly rotational movement.

Hi - is it ok to pre-bow your lead wrist before you let your lead arm drop.

Chris, i did this drill but noticed my club face us way closed when lead hand is at the very bottom. Im a strong grip and looks like your drill your holding the club neutral. Looks like to be squared my lead arm is 45 degrees less. So it should be different with every one that holds a different grip correct?

One pressure point question - if we want to go right heel -> left heel -> release, should our address begin with even left & right but at the heel position? I always thought at address it should be at the ball of the foot. :😕 confused :p

Hey Chris, when performing this as I get to left hand release and in front of left leg I have a very closed club face? My grip is neutral 2 knuckles on left hand showing. Is this right? Thanks.

In the working reps do I start at a ‘light impact’ position with weight on lead heal and hips slightly open?

Chris, why is the weight on the heels in the last practice and is that what I should get used to for full swings?

Is the rotation only occurring in the shoulder, or will the forearm and shoulder rotate (backswing and downswing).

I'm constantly arriving at impact with a club face that is too closed causing my ball to start left and hook. The bowing of my wrist makes this worse. Any type of rolling release makes this worse. I have tried weakening my grip and somehow it still happens. If i don't release or bow I tend to get steep and flip just after impact and then my lead arm bunches and pulls upwards. Not quite a chicken wing but close.

Damn. Starting over … again. Wondering if I just used my lead arm with club head would help? Every time I add speed in 4 week I lose it. 😮

What´s the trix to avoid arms comming to fast?

Question: where do you want my elbows both left and right? Inside of both elbows facing out? Essentially perpendicular to target line?

Ok so thank you for this series of videos looking forward to watching all of them but I do have a concern about this video which I'm sure many people can relate especially in the youtube world 🌎 so right now there is confusion about the small little lateral movement that some Pro players have and some don't and some have more than others, I guess that movement is called the recentering movement is this something that you consciously should be doing after you finish your backswing like you added here on this video ? I just recently sent a message to Adam Porzak who has a channel on RU-vid and is a reputable instructor and he told me that teaching this movement has destroyed many golf swings but then I see a lot of videos where instructors are teaching to consciously add this movement to your dwn swing, is there any way you can make a side video in response to this particular movement and if it should added to your swing and maybe the pros and cons of this because I know for a fact by studying pros in slow motion that some have this more then others , thank you.

No helicopters today? Keep up the GREAT info

Does release happen at the bottom?

Question-🤣🤣🤣As I’m going through this process with you do you recommend that I continue playing during the week/weekend?

Chris - I thought the club was designed to rotate properly “on its own”. If I keep hands/wrists passive - shouldn’t it release properly? I feel like I’m actively manipulating the club with this drill. Is my concept of a passive release misunderstood?

Chris, I noticed that you keep your right heel down on the "working drill". Is this important?

Can I send you a video of my swing for you to analyze. Thank You

How do i follow in order Ist, 2nd, lesson etc

Chris, I play left handed but I am right hand dominate. Does your course work for weirdos like me? The 1st drill seems easy bc it’s my dominant hand. Also, it’s tough to tell how open your hips are. It looks like you didn’t move them all. Please Help!!!

When you say 300 reps, is that daily?

So now I’m confused. I watched a video where you said the arm doesn’t swing, just goes up in the backswing, then back down in the downswing. Now we are swinging. Which is it?

If you look a still photos of most pros, there is some flexion in their lead wrist, But, well after contact. Their wrist are NOT flat. Are they flipping? I don't know. Yes the arms naturally rotate. But, if you focus on that alone, and not good body rotation, you will be a pull hooker like I was... losing 4 or 5 balls out of bounds left every round. It is just too difficult for the average golfer to time that move consistently.

Excellent content. Love the irreverence. Quick question: when I release the face seems very closed. I’m normally fighting hooks - could this make it worse?

Thanks for the great drill. Without the clubs, it seems I have to fix my posture to the impact position. Then, when I'm doing the raps with the club, is it okay to have little pelvis and knee movement? Or do I try to fix them?

Are you the Chris from Rotary Swing?

Ahhh Sand Cranes, I'm guessing your in Florida lol