Why Amateurs can't release like PGA players (golf swing tips)

I have been doing this backward :(

As a test for confirmation regarding left wrist extension, set up at position P-6 then swing to finish as fast as possible thinking only of wrist extension. Now try the drill without wrist extension and discover how much club head speed is lost without extension.

Good content. However for right handed golfers, it seems like focusing more on what the dominant (right) hand should be doing would be a better way to go. Attempting to flex the non-dominant wrist in a fraction of a second seems like a harder path.

Watch the South African pro Wilco Nienaber. He does this flexion to extension move Mark describes better than anybody — and he’s monstrously long off the tee.

Does anyone know what “Fletcher DJing” is?

Soften the wrists, you'll get a nice release. Do not release too early .

This should’ve been a 8 minutes video at most without 4 minutes babbling

Wonderful explanation, thanks! I'm using the Hackmotion wrist tracker to get to the positions you describe. It's not easy. In static positions, I get it right, but when I swing it's harder. Hackmotion measures my wrist angle at impact, and catches all the flips. Feedback is instant, and easier than trying to decipher my wrist angles on video.

I really appreciate the explanation of the dynamics of the wrist at release, that so many of us tend to fight due to the false impression that we will create a "fliippy" impact. I always enjoy your instruction and equipment review videos. Both you and Danny Maud are my favorite You Tube instructors. You both first explain the swing flaws that most of us immediately identify with and then provide the fix. Some instruction videos are so overly hand orientation focused that it's a struggle to interpret for us lefty golfers....I have no such challenges with your instruction. Thank you for helping me to lower my handicap from an 18 to a 12.

Logically - because if they could, they would be pga player? 😂

Very good one, especially the bit where you address this is not about flicking the club. And just for us non native speakers the simple matter of explaining extension and flexion. Still would have loved to see you frisbee a dozen of orange balls :-) (I guess that ended up an outtake but I think I caught you chuckling at the thought)

Nailed

This is a great video. After using this swing thought, I’ve never hit my driver better in my life the last half dozen rounds. Currently working on implementing this into my iron swing but I can’t believe how well I’m striping my driver now. Iv always known I “hold off” the club causing an open face but couldn’t consistently stop doing it until I changed how I release the club. I believe this is the main reason why most amateurs hit the ball better when they “swing smooth” because the “hold off” is less dramatic. Wish I would have tried this release years ago. Currently a 9 handicap and hoping to bring it down a few points in the next few months now that I’m finding fairways more consistently.

Thank you!!!!!!!!

This is such great information!!! I just added 15 yards to my 8 iron the sooner I released it the further it went and the dynamic loft went down. As they say golf is a game of opposites. Thank you Mark.

Brilliant Thank-you! I always knew that extension alos had something to to with getting my weight transferred properly..Thanks for explaining it carefully!!!!

Stellar teaching point about the frisbee. The right arm similarly follows that of a forehand frisbee throw I think. Great lesson!

Simply a great clip with one of the most important tips most players can use and don't realize it. Almost no instructors ever talk about the release but it's so important.

Sorry but many pro's do not release so much. See Zack Johnson and Tommy Fleetwood. Maybe Rory does, but for most amateurs your method is not working. Balls will go all over the place.

I see a lot of pros do this for long irons, BUT lower irons, you definitely see even pros "hold the line" because distance doesn't matter, accuracy does. I've always been a bit confused by this. But I doubt you do this with your 9 iron??? Or do you?

You all are just ruining everyone - focus on body. Take wrists out - hold angles … Focus on compression. No don’t - do the complete opposite of what we said before … content for content sake … at least have the decency to reflect on all the horrible advice

Yes, EXACTLY Mark, thank you for sharing! - I've been golfing for 10 years, and this year I finally realized that I've been missing the "release" concept...and that has kept me from getting better. All these years, coaches have been telling me to keep my arms connected to my body, get LAG and fire those hips, when in reality, I actually needed to do the opposite!! By relaxing, loosing up my arms, slowing my body down, and concentrate on my wrist movement, my entire game changed. Suddenly my ball striking is more consistent and I gained 10-15 yards on each club. Now I understand why it looks so effortless for the Pros. Golf is a lot easier if you learn to use your wrists!

If you listen to the pga tour announcers on tv one would think this is sacrilege 😂 it’s been a helpful tip for me though

I've only been golfing for a couple years, and this video did more for me than numerous lessons with multiple instructors and thousands of dollars wasted. I have struggled with a nasty hook for the longest time in trying to hold angles and a strong grip etc. Today I spent 90 minutes on a simulator and was hitting my 7-iron 160-170 yards consistently, and even watched the ball fade a few times which was fantastic!

thanks for the video Mark, can you please tell me where you aim to hit on the back of the ball? is it 6 or 7 o’clock for a right hander

Brilliant! I asked a question about release on another video and just saw this one... definitely something to bring to the range!

Don't cast, don't "flip" your wrist, but extend the club past your hands, not holding on too long through release. Clear as mud. 👍

I think loose wrists are key! Paul Wilson talks about this a lot. If your wrists are locked, you will never be able to release properly.

Hi Mark. I know you have many interests, but do you coach privately or online 1-2-1? Big fan of your coaching style

Glad to see pros are starting to teach on this again after 20/25 years maybe of no word on extension in the release. This is key to quality ball striking.

Super informative and just what I needed! I can easily work on this! Thanks so much!

Finally the way the lead wrist should work naturally, years and years of teaching the bowing of the lead wrist through impact which is really a weak and manipulated position. Nothing really new but everyone got fascinated with the Hogan supination that has led to years of problems.

Mark this lesson is just so good. I have now for a number of years been totally wrong about what release really is trying desperately to have the clubface 'square' thru impact with a flexed (bowed) lead wrist & hanging on to this position for as long as physically possible...in short causing really poor club speed & absolutely no natural closing of the clubface on its natural centrifugal arc if you get what I mean. If you are deliberately trying to hold the clubface square longer into & post impact in a nutshell you are just not releasing the natural arc & speed of a golf swing.
I have for quiet a few years now been swinging(?) the golf club without extension of my lead hand constantly thinking this was wrong. Without extension of the lead wrist thru impact you are not really releasing nor swinging the club.
My ball striking & speed has improved dramatically without any conscious effort to swing harder. In fact allowing this extension to happen requires you to just swing freely & let the centrifugal force of the swing to move on its natural arc in a closing feeling.
I'm so grateful that you posted this lesson & made it so clear as to what release & a golf swing really is. This to me is a very vital action needed to hit a golf ball straight with speed.
You throwing that Frisbee with your lead hand is just a perfect description of how this is done.
Best instruction I have found that really made a huge difference to my ball striking.

I am not one to shout 'eureka' every time I watch a golfing video.
We all know that there is no wonder drill that solves every golf issue.
However, I have to say, I watched this video and went straight to my home golf facility (AKA my garage) and practiced with a 9 iron. The results were spectacular, no getting away from it.
I am talking about 10-15 yards of extra carry when I got it right, compared to shots where I did my usual swing. I am going to be working on this, short irons, then longer, and then the driver.
Amazing tip, thanks

I like to tell the beginners to feel like they are trying to whip a towel. If you want the tip of that towel to travel the fastest, and make that "snap" you will let the towel severely lag back behind your hand with a flexed wrist, and then at the last second you will extend your wrist to make crazy acceleration.

I think a big part of the problem comes from modern day TV where we see slo mo sequences and freeze frame positions of tour players but it's always from front of the player. That left wrist flexion (for the right hander) is hidden so it's great to see this being explained. Well done Mark.

Too much time spent what poor shots look like. Eliminate 5 of the first 7 minutes. The remainder was excellent.

I’m always holding onto angles as I release my club and it’s killing my game. I know I do it, yet I can’t stop myself as I had a big problem hooking the ball. Golf is certainly a mental battle! 😂

Very useful. Your instructions on release are right on, completely in line with others I follow and think are very solid, like Eric Cogorno and Craig Hanson, and also the pro at my range. As Hanson said, people tend to think the release means the forearms have rolled and the club face has been closed, but that is not what actually happens.

Follow this if you want massive hooks

Great stuff Mark, thanks !

okay, you just fixed my swing. been struggling for weeks with blocks to the right. I started getting the club more shallow finally, but could not close the face. THANK YOU

Because most amature don’t practice enough swings to be confident the timing. So they rather hold the angle and make sure atleast they don’t miss the ball completely

Spot on. Padraig Harrington (Paddy's Golf Tips) refers to the need for active wrists. Great video.

I’m trying my best to pay attention but I find myself too distracted by the Whizzer in the background.

As Mike Malaska says, photos are frozen instances. At impact the position of the hands is a result of a journey, the hands are releasing before impact, at impact and after impact. I just realized this at 61, and now I know the downswing is a combination of two levers, arms and wrists, that are both releasing after the arms drop. I find it interesting how some get this told to them at 6 and others are sold books and some pros never realize this to teach it.