IN LAST week’s article we made a start at the most critical, but also the most unnerving part of the golf swing and area of the swing that really separates those that achieve their potential and those that don’t.

Last week we demonstrated the movement of the club head through impact. 

 As this is so important I want to do a bit more on this.

From last week - the unnerving thing is that the club goes from open to closed in a short space of time and is only ‘square’ to the target at the point of impact with the ball.  We would rather the club face were squarer for longer but, as we stand inside the golf ball rather than above it, straight lines are not suitable and to swing the club in a straight line would fight the natural and most effective swing path which is an arc.

Recapping, we need to LET the club head get left behind our hands as we start the downswing and then LET the club face catch up and overtake our hands through impact with the ball before it goes around our body and leads us into the follow through.

One thing that makes us reluctant to let the club head turn over through the ball is that initially it often results in a shot going left and the automatic reaction is that it is that rotation of the club head that caused it.   This is where we have to be very sure of what causes what - the likelihood is that in letting the club head release through the ball it has exposed that your shoulders are actually left at impact (see previous articles on alignment of the shoulders and importance of being interested in the ball until you hit it!).

The best plan of action here is to let the hands release, following which you will start to see how much distance is achievable with little or no effort and your ball will not be slicing any more - it might even be drawing a little.

That’s exciting but the novelty will wear off quickly if you are constantly looking for your ball in the trees on the left - next step is to get some help and book yourself a lesson.  

We will cover this soon but we need to get you before soon so as to explain why the ball is going left now.

In order to best get a feel for the club head releasing we need to make the shaft of the golf club lie even flatter - stand upright with the club head at waist high out in front of you.  

Now, with your hands and arms really relaxed, just turn your shoulders a little and allow your wrists to cock in taking the club head behind your body then, while keeping your hands and arms relaxed, allow the club to swing freely around and behind your body the opposite way (ie into the follow through). 

Did you feel the weight of the club head ‘roll’ itself over? 

Repeat this a few times until you feel that you are genuinely LETTING the club head release.  

There is knack in keeping the arms relaxed but not letting go with your fingers which must remain on the grip at all times.

Having done that a few times, now put the club back down on the ground and make a normal swing but still LETTING the club head release feeling that same rolling action.  

Then put a ball on a tee and allow the same and notice what happens to the ball - no slice, lower ball flight, surprising distance BUT the ball may go left - re-read text above.

Don’t worry if you mishit the first few as things are different and the timing is different - keep interested in the ball and good contact will come - now lower the ball onto the ground and test yourself further.

More on this next week.

Tony White is the Golf Operations Manager at Gibraltar Country Club, Bowral - it is very difficult to learn or relearn golf through text but if anything you read in my articles makes you think or question, book yourself a lesson or two as the rest of your golfing days could be made longer and that much more enjoyable.  

Tony can be contacted on (02) 4862 8615 or you can visit www.gibraltarbowral.com.au . 

Why not drop in and talk to him about Gibraltar’s ‘no catches’ two-for-one membership offer. Seven day membership from under $145pp through until January 2015.