The Twist Away Method For Better Contact And Compression 

I tell ya what... there is a golf instructor at our local 9 hole, retired now... but he didnt' even know what was square for clubface! It blew my mind. I showed him what the real look should be... as if it were on a shelf display. I mean that is why they do that. His game changed that week immensely. Good tip here folks. It really brings everything together.

Your best video yet Eric, this tip is given by every instructor but your explanation is easier to follow. You showed closing the club face at set up to see "what closed looks like", but said don't set up that way. Why not? It seems like if you set up that way, you don't even have to think about twisting on the way back or down. Thanks!

I remember closing the face with my pitching wedge at the range but didn’t continue to think about what you have brought up here. The shaft lean for better compression. What I had noticed was that I wasn’t hitting any balls to the right. But I worried about pulling to the left. Shaft lean was what I needed to focus on. Dropping my right shoulder also led to balls shanked to the right.

Okay......I went from hitting week shots to the right to hitting solid draws about 20 yards further with my 5 iron. Incredible technique!!! I am a very average golfer, this is probably the first time in my life I felt like I hit my irons like a good golfer.

This is the best tip, I had in 25yrs. Works great.

I was getting so much loft and absolutely no distance before doing this with my irons. After practicing this, much better connection with the ball and just feels overall so much better. I now understand what I’ve been doing wrong for so long! As always. You’re the best. 💪 Side note. You wouldn’t do this with a driver right? My club head speed is only 85-100 but i hit around 220 at the moment and typically pretty straight.

Twist Away in the backswing, and then Twist Away in the downswing, helps drive the trail elbow, impact with the hands forward of the ball, and stabilise strike, for consistent distance and ball flight! Sounds good to me, Eric! Just when I think I got all I need, having viewed your two Magical videos on why 1. tilt and 2. shallowing (with two different Guru assistants), are so important, I now find, ''twist away''! By the way I am hitting the ball beautifully, since understand and focussing on tilt in both the backswing and downswing, and understanding the importance of shallowing, of which the ''twist away'' in the downswing is a component! Many, many thanks Mate! P.S. Do you consciously use the ''twist away'' in the backswing as described in the video, in your personal everyday swing?

You are a very good golf instructor. I have learned so much and I’m playing better golf from watching your golf videos.

Great video! Better contact and also great forward shaft lean is achieved without even trying!

sooo glad the algorithm put this in my feed lol......good stuff

I loved the “absolutely nothing”. It clicked for me when you said that! I needed to hear that from you to believe it lol.

No nonsense No ego - just facts. Awesome tips and subscribed

Another great video Eric. I have seen this move on one of your videos or someone else’s and I use it for my driver a lot. I frequently hit a push slice that haunts me all the time to the point where I have even left my driver in the bag for the round jus so I don t take so many penalty strokes. This move has helped me. I push my irons to the right as well but don’t always slice with them. I try this twist away with irons and I hit left hard. Need to do more practice with it and fine tune it I guess. Keep up with the great videos!

Excellent lesson!

This is the best discussion of this topic of I have yet seen. Few golf pros teach this and I hope they don't; our little secret. Bowing the wrist also promotes a better, higher, more balanced follow-through which is a free bonus. Great job Eric. You were born to teach,

Thanks for the video fighting this now

Another awesome video Eric!! Question, What would cause my divots to get long? They usually look like a dollar bill, but then get like alot longer.....Drives me crazy.....thanks for the help

Hi Eric, another great video thank you. This appears to be the hand action that is used in the Square to Square golf swing method. I was looking into the Square to Square swing a while back and that is where I came across your RU-vid channel. You have several videos on this method. I gave up on that swing method as I could never get my hands and arms in a comfortable position at the top of the backswing. I did find other swing videos that show using this twist method on the downswing to properly close or "square" the club face. That has been working well for me as I naturally seem to want to open the club face on the backswing.

I seem to recall that Ben Hogan did this just before impact which kept the forearm muscles from tightening up too early...

Eric. Great tip, just one question... Can this be applied with the driver as well ?

Absolutely correct... It's called the' reverse wrist break.' I've been using it for 5 years now and my ball striking went from non- existent to pretty darn good. Actually it made the game fun again. It's the BEST tip ever, there's an entire book on it, "Four Magic Moves" by Joe Dante. Best golf book ever! If you really want to know what the hands are doing read the book. Thanks to Eric for bringing this tip out! He is so correct.

It is great !

You are absolutely correct, what a great explanation. I try to do this every shot. Great drill. Thanks

So are you twisting with both right and left hand?

Who would EVER want to look like DJ, Koepka or Hovland?!? Oh wait....

Just my 2 cents. Why not just have the club turned in to the left a few degrees when taking the club back. Will eimnate timing the club to go left when coming down.

This might be the most important video of yours i've ever watched. I was recently watching an Altus Performance post on Instagram, and they had a guy "curling" his left knuckles under on his takeaway, essentially doing a twist away. This might be the holy grail tip i've been looking for. Can't wait to practice it.

Eric please explain the unfolding of the right arm on the way down. What does it feel like to you? To me that’s the key to mastering this move.

In the 1920s, Bobby jones related another player of that era that used what they called the shut face method, bobby used what they called the open face method, meaning one method it was closed at the top and the other it was ooen at the top. Someone asked him what the difference was at impact if both where done correctly, he said nothing, they both are square at impact which is correct. This is the best way I've seen to have a shut face swing, easily done and only one swing thought.

I love your videos and am almost always amused by the folks in the background that need your lessons so badly... haha.

While I would normally disagree with this, in my experience it has some merit. While I was advised by a local pro to do this early on, what I found is that as one develops as a skilled power golfer it becomes automatic. There is no twisting manipulation needed. Skilled players naturally keep the clubface square to slightly closed (or open) throughout the swing just naturally. Those with long swings may open it, but shut it back down long before impact. John Daly does that as seen in actual photos. Back in the day, Golf Digest called this non-manipulation as "Square-to-Square" and promoted it for a long time. They cited Nicklaus's swing as an example. But to get the idea in the first place, manual twisting is a method that will work. Shy of that, one may NEVER get the basic concept of the necessity to get the clubface back to square at impact.

This can be a dangerous swing thought....wish I didn't see it. I'm not saying its a bad instructional video. But if you've already grooved your takeaway without any swing thoughts...BEWARE !

Brilliant video Eric and so easy to implement. I gained 10 yards off each iron. It worked on the Hybrid too. Will try it with the fairway wood and Driver tomorrow. The best part is that it worked from the very first swing I tried. A big thumbs and thank you!

Would a good feeling on the downswing turning the back of my left hand toward the ground?

Stripping the ball off of the tee, struggling horrible with the irons. Club face open everything is going right this drives me crazy. I’ll give it a try Eric , thanks for the tip.

Thanks so much. This was the tip given to me by my local pro during my third ever lesson. You just solidified it in more detail telling me why I’m smacking it way left (keeping my early release from my old swing). You mentioned you need to do less at the bottom. Any more recommendations as to what that means? Do less with the release at the bottom but does that means a change in hip and arm timing and sequence? Having a hard time with this. Thanks!!

The big problem by performing this twist away method is that you start hitting extreme draws/hooks.

OK - someone has to ask. Why not do this twist at set up? Wouldn't it be simpler there than to try to incorporate it during the swing?

This video would be great if you could zoom in on what’s the hands are doing.

I get why the closed face is good but why go through all that manipulation during a swing....why not set up with the face closed and the hands neutral. Surely that's easier to do and less work to get done in the swing process....or have I missed something? Do you get better compression if the back of the leading hand is rotated that much rather than neutral?

This is really helpful -- coming from a scooper/flipper.

I have a tendency to separate the right hand from the club on the backswing, which results in poor contact. Will this help with that tendency?

I absolutely disagree that you want a closed club face at the top of your backswing. If you want to slam a door shut, the more the door is open the harder it can be slammed shut. Slamming the door is what creates power and allows one to compress the golf ball. This is not a flip move either.

And there it GOES! This small adjustment and I gained 10 yards plus accuracy! Always heard about cupping the wrist but your demo made it easier to understand and do. I was struggling only with my irons and this unlocked the zip, accuracy and 10 yards per club. Keep these videos coming, my man!

Hey Eric..how long does it take to get this drill to the point where it’s just second nature and you don’t have to consciously do it all the time? I’ve been working at it for about a year now..but I did temporarily give up on it halfway through the year. Great video as always!!!

You must have watched my swing and made this video for me.

Very well explained and detailed can’t wait to try

The best tip I've had. Used this since the first time you posted this. Thanks Eric

Isn't this twist in the opposite direction to what Hogan did?

This is a good vid. I get it, and can do it. Still scared of misses left. My hope for your next vid is, "You Get Twist Away, Here's Detail On How To Hit Straight With It"

Great video Eric and solid contact, but I found it hard to follow the changes in your hands during the swing - some slow motion clips would help us more!

Can you use twist away with driver and fairway woods?

Do you have any golf schools?

I know this teaching is accurate because every pro I've watched in slow motion does it. It is very difficult to execute though and I imagine it could take a long time to master. When I do it the ball just gets smother pull-hooked and that's because my normal release pattern is a stall flip which Eric went over and clarified late in the video.

My handicap index is 12.4. The last ten rounds on my par 72 home course were 87, 91, 93, 93, 87, 83, 84, 86, 84, 86. I watched the twist away video this morning, hit about 30 balls on the range before my round and proceeded to shoot the lowest score ever on that course - 75. Who knows if it will stick but for now, I’m a believer. Thank you Mr. Cogorno!

I like your approach - this is a nuance based instruction that you rarely see on the tube.

Ben Hogan was arguably the best ball striker of all time, opened the clubface in BS and kept it open in DS. He eliminated hook and pull /hook by letting his body rotation square the clubface at impact. The club caught up to his rotation torso, past impact, when knees, hips, elbows and shoulders were parallel, LEVEL LEFT. His key was right palm facing the sky at the top of BS(not twisted closed) and keeping the right palm facing the sky to impact.(as a hitter in baseball), with right arm bent at impact.

If I start thinking about and/or trying to manipulate the club face with my hands on the way back, I’m headed for Shank City and I’m the Mayor. Just me, but I square it better when I concentrate more on taking the club back with my shoulders and keeping my right arm glued to my side.

Hogan went back wrist cupped and shut it as hard (twisted) as he could on the downswing His words... "The faster I shut the face the farther and straighter the ball went." But that may be for some, and takes lots of timing. One can see how that could become a good procedure. But why complicate it...right. Twist it as it goes away. Watson felt this was keeping the face square to the arc... Agree? Hitting it left could also be caused by failure to rotate hips. Also, and unmentioned is that the Twist pushes the trail elbow into a good position, supporting the club. Good vid....thanks Eric.

Hi Eric. This was a great tip! Incorporated it in my round today and my contact was greatly improved. Quick question. Would the same principle apply to hybrids, woods and the driver? Thank you again for the tip.

Strange when you explain the clubface position at the beginning you profess the clubface should be closed slightly. When you hit the ball your clubface is square, at address.,.Why?

'It looks like DJ, Keopka & Viktor Hovland' - all guys who play fades. I've used this exact example on the range all summer to show guys who ask for my help that contrary to what they believe and have been taught, that the best Pros in the world actually play a fade from this historically taught 'closed' clubface. They have built a swing that in order to control their fade, they actually get to swing faster with their body as opposed to slowing the body down, robbing power, to buy enough time to square the face. {Chubby Checker - Twist 'away' - 1961}

Hi there. This is the opposite of Hogan’s twist which opened the club face “as hard and as fast” as he could. Maybe a comparison video to explain how both work ?? Thanks for all the work you put in to making great videos with great explanations.

It's funny, but this something I've been doing lately to stop slicing. I was thinking this is wrong and shouldn't be doing it. It works for me and seeing your video re-enforces that it is okay to do it. I started to do it because I remember a video saying to turn the gas handle on a motorcycle. I can't find that video. Was this yours? If so can you re-post it?

Advice on changing the release pattern for someone who's used to more of a timing release pattern? I've been trying to do this unsuccessfully for a while and go back to my old release pattern because I mostly have one miss and that's left.

My favorite channel combined with athletic motion golf channel. Great stuff as always Eric.

Thanks Eric. I have been fellow your tip on the range, but adding the hand motion(twisting) is kind of taking a extra step in my swing. Feeling more knowledge to process while swinging. I think I need to practice more to build that skill. Quick question, can I set the club face slightly close at setup position? Any side effects?

With driver this move , without changing path, can turn a major slice into a playable fade...fix path with this move and you can hit tiny or power fades easily..

Eric, what’s your opinion on using the hands to square the face (this video) versus closing the face by getting the body more open (eg Golfletics)? Using the hands requires less body/hip opening, whereas body opening requires less hand action. Horses for courses, or do you think one technique is better??

Went and played today in the cold just to be able to give this a try. Hit the ball SO well. Definitely had to be careful with the occasional pull, however I hit the ball probably 15% longer each club. Shot 3 over for the day in rough conditions which is about 4-5 strokes lower than normal. One of the best rounds of the year. Thank you for the tip as it really made a huge difference in my game!

Is this used with a neutral or strong grip? Thanks!

Hi Eric, so do you maintain the "twisted" position until ball impact or you straighten your wrist back to its normal position before impact?

Im having more success doing this initially than starting it at the top like 1 of your other drills. Im pulling it a little more but think i can straighten once i slow downswing. GREAT DRill!!

This subject is something that will help most amateurs. It forces you to turn you body more on the back swing. What we all need to do more.

Great video, this is something I'm currently working on exactly. I struggle w/ hooks and I think I am steepening the club w/ this move. So at 7:04 or so you say, "twisting and adding extension." Don't you mean "flexion" there? Please elaborate, thank you!

thanks for the vide,. unfortunately we are in Covid lockdown so cannot play proper golf but I managed to erect a net in my garden to practice. I have tried your " twist method " and I was astounded at the differance to my strike. Even in the net I can tell just by the sound the strike is much better. Thanks a lot

Its interesting. I've played like that before. I always use this on punch outs and will use it on approaches within 100 yds. I like to play with lower trajectory punch shots.. But my driver and three wood go out the window. Sometimes i rehearse turning the left hand down and bowing. Kind of what you are doing. I just can't make it work. I went from a very shut player to neutral. Its a good think to do though. It shows you what a compressed hit should feel like. Also makes the "get the right elbow in front of the hip" lightbulb go off. I personally can't make it work with longer clubs.

I’ll play around with us but why do you recommend this over a simple twist to square the face prior to Impact?

Very interesting. This just goes to show there are so many different solutions for different swings. Hogan did his version of the twist just the opposite where he opened the face and cupped his wrist. Guessing Hogan's version fit his particular swing and strong wrist rotation.

Would it help if you had a little forward press at the ball with the clubface slightly closed just before takeaway.?I currently have it slightly open.

How does it work with the driver where you need to hit the ball on the up swing? How do I point the club face of the driver down and release it at impact?

Excellent video Eric. This is exactly what I do, and it’s transformed my ball striking. I set up with a slightly strong grip with both my hands... with a square face at address. I’m a right handed player. I take the club back and think “put it in a tray position at the top.” I feel like I instinctively twist the club when I think this. On the downswing, my hands do nothing... yet stay twisted. I get a lot of shaft-lean and nice compression. Everything on the downswing is precisely as you describe. You’ve nailed this. Thank you for your analysis!

To much talking get on with it

When you start to twist your wrists like that on the back swing it may close the club face more but it makes it more difficult to swing your arms and you would tend to get stuck with a very flat swing. I would suggest that this move be made at the start of the down swing after allowing your wrists to open the club face a little ( toe to sky) to ensure your club face closes at impact. It may work better then.

I learned this mostly from your videos back probably a year or two ago because I was desperately trying to get my ball striking better and I won't lie, it was very difficult for me to do with any power and accuracy at first. Now though, after realizing that the only way to get good at it was to drill it over and over, I can absolutely crush em. It feels good too. My main problem now is hitting the ball too far. Not a bad problem to have. Lol. My advice for anyone else who isn't doing this, work on it until you get it to feel pretty normal and then keep building your speed. Practice it at home a lot. I hit those calloway foam balls in my yard. They are great if you want to see your ball flight without breaking anything. Don't give up on it. This and proper swing plane with good body action is the secret to annihilating golf balls long and straight.

Played with a closed face for 20 yrs really have to fire hips open , creates alot of club head speed , tough to do though when you get older.

Great video as I always seemed to do the opposite by habit. To facilitate understanding the twist away method, I found it easier to think of it this way. At address looking down the shaft at the club face, turn or twist the club shaft counterclockwise (to the left) to close the club face. So think of turning shaft counterclockwise on way back or coming down as you prefer. Avoids confusion on which way is which.

This video delivered me my best ever round a few weeks back. Then I lost it again. Owe you a swing EC... On the up though. It's going to be beautiful

Great video .love the twist on the backswing and the twist on the downswing I practice with a foam ball indoors this time of year and it seems I am getting better contact .can’t wait to try it outdoors .thanks you .you are the best .

Can you do a short video of this same “twist away” method with a driver? Interested to know if the same theory applies since the driver is not so much compressed as it is striking the ball on the slight upswing...

Fantastic video Eric. This will help me significantly. I am definitely hitting hooks or pull draws with this but I like what my swing looks like. I also feel like I am hitting it a bit thin. Is there another drill i could do for this ?

I started doing this on my own a few months back and hit it great but was worried I’d be ruining my swing somehow. Glad to know it’s a good method to use

Thought; cell phone in hand, face of phone in left hand at you, right hand, phone face away!!!

I tried putting an alignment stick in front of me to get the ball to start to the right. First swing, crushed one directly into the rod and shattered it.

Eric, Will be incorporating this into my training. Same concept with the driver? Obviously not trying to hit down on it but still use the same twist away method with driver?

i get alot of shots left with irons but with hybrid and driver its not working :(

Thank you love this idea. Will try it tomorrow to get rid of my slice and improve path to come inside

This is one of the best, if not the best techniques. You addressed this in the past and this one thing has helped my ball striking more than anything I have ever learned.

Bet this single video addresses greatest sins of bad players. Myself included.

Hi Eric! Great video! Question, is that graphite shaft on your iron? if so, how do you like it? I'm thinking of switching..thanks!!