Any golfer knows they can have good days and bad days on the course in terms of landing a ball precisely where they meant to or shanking it somewhere in the rough. The key to being great is consistency in your golf game, and a swing release helps you achieve that.
The three basic types of swing release techniques are the slap hinge, crossover, and push release techniques. The slap hinge and crossover are based mainly on timing, easy to adopt, and are geared towards new players; however, they are inconsistent. The push release is not based on timing, is more consistent, and is geared towards experienced players.
We are going to discuss in a bit of detail what a swing release is and why it is important, taking into consideration what factors will play a role in it. Then we are going to cover the three main swing release techniques, explain how they are adopted, and then also tell you what type of player should be using which one.
What is a golf swing release?
Many individuals define a golf swing release as different things. Some golfers will say it is the club swing through the impact of the ball that has complete rotation. Other golfers will stress that it is the club’s downward swing as their wrists unhinge, combining the golf club’s rotation to the square of the ball on contact. The swing could also be defined as the release of all the energy that you have built up in the swing.
This just emphasizes that there is no “one way” to swing a golf club, which is even apparent at the PGA level. If you spend 5 minutes watching the PGA tour, you will notice many different swings from some of the world’s best players.
Why is a golf swing release necessary?
A good golf swing release is what separates a good golfer from a great one, and consistency is the key. No matter what technique you may have and what fundamentals you may incorporate (grip and backswing) into your shot, if you want to be consistent at your golf game in terms of bettering your score, a consistent golf swing release is the determining factor.
This idea is where the face of the club meets the ball and determines the flight and spin. There are a few golf swing release techniques, but we first need to consider several factors that will contribute to helping you achieve a consistent golf release swing.
Your golf grip
As we said that a consistent release is the key to a better overall game; however, if you use the wrong grip with the improper technique, this can lead to very inconsistent results. Furthermore, it would help if you had your grip pressure locked in. That is to say, you must have enough grip pressure throughout your swing but not a grip that is too tight.
Your golf setup
One of the basic rules and fundamentals that many an avid golfer overlooks. Setting up your stance is one of the basics you always need to pay attention to. You can never aim to be consistent and better your game if you do not set your body up correctly before your shot aligning your body square with your target. Your stance, grip, and alignment play a crucial factor in determining your swing’s quality and release and cannot be overlooked.
Swing release techniques
There are three basic ways in which you can release your golf club, and we will cover them here. Depending on your
The slap hinge release technique
This technique is excellent for beginners because it is a technique that is easy to perform, but a drawback is that it is inconsistent. It is inconsistent because your wrists are overly active when you make contact with the ball, which leads to extra rotation of the club’s face.
When you get to the impact position, your hands should be flat, and your wrists should lead the clubhead. Once the club has made contact with the ball, your left and right wrists would release up and under, respectively.
The technique
The slap hinge will allow the wrists to unhook and become unhinged during the moment it counts most. This would then cause the clubhead to move into a vertical plane, and the loft of the clubface would be adjusted during the impact, which would then produce a higher flight (the ball won’t carry very far).
Who is the slap hinge aimed towards?
This technique works pretty well for golfers who do not produce a lot of speed in their swing. Hence it is opted for by seniors and beginners. It can, however, also work well for players with a relatively strong and neutral grip.
Consistency with the slap hinge technique
The primary reason that this technique will be inconsistent is that it all boils down to perfect timing. Techniques based on timing will produce unreliable results.
The crossover release technique
This technique works on the principle that your right hand (dominant hand) will impact the ball more so than your weaker hand. Put another way; the right hand will contact the ball and work its way over the left hand.
The technique
When applying this technique, the wrists should rotate on impact with the ball and force the club into a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the clubhead has to open at the beginning of the impact zone and close during impact. Hence, this will lead to a draw.
Who is the crossover aimed towards?
This technique is best suited for skilled amateur players. It is also geared to players with a neutral or weak grip.
Consistency with the crossover technique
Again this technique is based on timing and can lead to inconsistent results. On a day-to-day basis, your timing will vary, and even at a professional level, this can not be consistent.
The push release technique
This technique is the most consistent out of the three methods we have listed here. This is due to the fact that it is not based heavily on timing. This technique works on the principle that your wrists do nothing and don’t play a significant role as in the other two methods.
The technique
At impact, your clubface should be ever so slightly open. The approach can be viewed as square to square in terms of positioning and impact. In addition to this, the loft is never changing throughout your downswing. This technique will not add speed like the slap hinge will; however, it will offer greater distances and better overall consistency.
Who is the push release technique aimed towards?
This technique is not suited for beginners due to them not have much swing speed (remember that a swing can reach 100mph). This technique is also geared towards players with a stronger grip and who have some experience with the game. It produces a much flatter and more boring flight; however, it is the most efficient style to use.
Consistency with the push release technique
Due to the fact that it eliminates timing altogether, this makes the technique the most consistent out of all the release techniques. Thus this technique will make you more consistent over the long term, and if you are trying to break 80 or play competitively, then timing in your release just won’t cut it, and the push release technique has to be adopted.
Conclusion
We conclude that there are three basic techniques when looking at the release of a golf swing. Take note and remember that an efficient, effective, and consistent release will substantially improve your golf game.
Many individuals regard the release as being many different things; however, whatever their definition or yours, the principles and understanding that momentum, placement, and followthrough play a significant role in the ball’s trajectory and must be acknowledged.
The three types of release techniques are suited for different players at different levels who have slightly different playstyles regarding swing speed and grip strength. It is imperative to build the form on the one, progress as a player, and then adopt the next. Remember, consistency is the key, and jumping from one technique to the other will only see you revert back to the beginning and the fundamentals trying to build consistency from scratch again.
