Blog

Body Release is Driven by Momentum

Body Release is Driven by Momentum

By Dr. T. J. Tomasi, Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research

The body’s role in the release of the golf club is passive, in that you don’t force your body to move when you’re playing on the course. The movement is a result of being in the correct position as you start down and then letting momentum take it from there. This graduated release drill will help promote a good release:

  1. Tee up a ball using your highest lofted fairway wood (a 5-wood is perfect), then take your normal address position, except that your hands are split on the grip.
  1. Cock your wrists and turn your shoulders as you swing to the top.
  1. In slow motion, hit the ball by bringing the clubhead to the ball using your body. The split-hand grip will over-rotate your forearms, but don’t worry about the ball flight; what you want is the feel of releasing the clubhead.
  1. Then go back to address and do it again, but now at full speed.
  1. Hit five balls with this slow-motion swing and split grip, then hit some at normal speed with your regular grip.
  1. Once you get the hang of it, alternate between your normal grip and the split grip, focusing on the correct release. If you start to lose it, go back through the steps of the drill.

Body Release is Driven by Momentum 1Body Release is Driven by Momentum 2

In her prime, former LPGA Tour player Brandie Burton was an extremely long hitter, and you can see why by looking at her body coil (shoulders turned twice as far as the hips) in the first photo. Then look at the body release through the ball and up into her finish in the next photo. This is what is called a full-body release, where everything she owns is looking at the target — her knees, her belly button, and her nose, to be specific.

If you’d like to study with Dr. Tomasi and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today.

1 comment

  1. Excellent words for the budding golfers. Thank you Keiser University for such beautiful and informative blogs.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Comments are moderated. If you don't see your comment, please be patient. Required fields are marked with *.