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Follow through to stop that slice!

Balance and high finish is crucial


Posted: 15 October 2008
by Bob Warters

golf followthrough
Charles Howell, perfect balanced follow-through

It's a fact that nine out of 10 golfers have little to no follow-through in their golf swing.

It seems a very high figure but then while photographing Golfmagic members teeing off at Rutland Water this week for the forum's latest golf day, sure enough, almost everyone didn't finish their swing and I immediately realised how this can lead to a load of problems.

By not finishing your golf swing, you will never get your hands turned over and this will almost inevitably lead to the clubface being left open at impact - causing a fade or more likely, a slice.

golf follow through
Practice swinging with your right hand only

A further result is more spin and a lack of distance.

I discussed this with a local PGA pro recently, who gave me a simple little drill to help all amateur golfers finish their golf swing with a solid, balanced follow through and high finish.

The result will likely be additional distance with less effort. You won't be swinging the golf club harder but, if you're a slicer, the drill will help reduce, that most destructive of shots.

"If you're a right-handed golfer, make practice swings with the club, just with your right arm only, taking the club only as far as parallel with the ground in the back swing through swing. Momentum and weight will force your right hand and forearm to turn inward over as you come through the address position.

"Take a full swing with one arm and finish it over your left shoulder and feel your right wrist rotating. After several attempts it will feel natural and you can hit some golf balls with your one-armed swing, keeping a smooth tempo.

"By practice-swinging the club with two hands ensure you swing all the way through and finish the follow through high over your left shoulder. The golf club should be hanging down almost touching your back. Repeat the move several times concentrating on feeling your wrists rotate

golf followthrough
See how the right hand rotates through impact

"Now hit balls with a full swing, feeling the rotation of your right wrist and forearm as if throwing the club underarm down the target line as centrifugal force keep the clubface travelling square to target then up and over the left shoulder. Remember that after impact, there's nothing you can do to affect the ball flight as long as you let the right wrist and forearm turnover naturally at impact and don't allow the clubface to remain open causing a slice.

"By keeping the clubface angle square to the target after impact breaks down the left wrist and restrict rotation of the left arm. "

Finally, he told me, golfers must commit to the shot, keep their balance and let the follow-through happen naturally.

Now check out this forum thread and enjoy a series of forum members completing their follow-through off the first tee. Feel free to comment and make 'helpful' observations, which I'm sure they will appreciate.


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Thought it might be fun over the next few days to put up the swing finishes of a handful of forum members - who attended the Autumn meeting  - to enable them to get some feedback on their style from those unable to attend.

Don't know where the ball finished  but with some you might be able to tell from the body language...

No.1 - Boanerges (handicap 6)

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutboa.jpg



Posted: 15/10/2008 14:50

Taz (handicap 14):

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutalan.jpg



Posted: 15/10/2008 14:52

Tim Ellis (h'cap 9)

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/ruttimi.jpg


llis (handicap 9):


Posted: 15/10/2008 14:56

Mal Smith (h'cap 14)

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutmal.jpg



Posted: 15/10/2008 14:58

Bob

One of my STINGER drives into a nasty left to right cross-wind

Of course you have caught me just before the COMPLETION of that elegant swing!


Posted: 15/10/2008 15:00

Nice extension though, Boa
Posted: 15/10/2008 15:11

23rdman

What IS extension?!

I must be doing the right thing by accident after 58 years!


Posted: 15/10/2008 16:16

I am extremely confused as to how Mal Smith got into that position

Boa with a 6 handicap? <victor meldrew voice> I DON'T BELIEVEEE IT!</victor meldrew voice> ;)


Posted: 15/10/2008 16:25

nickGT

I can say in my defence I came second with 33 points behind the brilliant Black Cat. Perhaps I may have to cut his handicap before Weston Turville


Posted: 15/10/2008 16:28

Mal is a leftie - right?


Posted: 15/10/2008 16:30

Bona,

I like the finish, hands in front of the torsoe, controlling the flight. Very nice for an old guy.

You appear to be the only one trying to rip it.  


Posted: 15/10/2008 16:38

Pengwyn

Funny way to spell DRIP it


Posted: 15/10/2008 16:44

Right...Mal IS a lefty - and doesn't spare the horses!

Taz looks composed but as for where the ball went...don't ask!


Posted: 15/10/2008 17:02

Tom Wilkinson 9 wrote (see)

Mal is a leftie - right?


Yeah he has a LH driver but his legs look a bit strange. Might just be me... working in a crappy office all day does weird things to your head !
Posted: 15/10/2008 17:03

Looks like you have spent some time Spey casting on a fine Salmon river Boa

 All I can say is thank God nobody posted any shots of my swing finish


Posted: 15/10/2008 17:04

S&F

I take that as a real compliment. I only wish devoutly that that was my sort of lifestyle!


Posted: 15/10/2008 17:09

Jeez! Remind me never to insult Mr Ellis ever again on this forum!!!
Posted: 15/10/2008 17:17

Monkeytaff wrote (see)
Jeez! Remind me never to insult Mr Ellis ever again on this forum!!!

I assume that's just in case I sit on you?
Posted: 15/10/2008 17:19

That's a mean finish face there Tim!
Posted: 15/10/2008 17:27


Taz
Bob Warters wrote (see)

Taz looks composed but as for where the ball went...don't ask!

 

I din' slice it
 

and I parred the hole

.... with the provisional ball.


Posted: 15/10/2008 18:21

Bob Warters wrote (see)
 
http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutboa.jpg




Is it me or does anyone else think Boa looks like Wilfred Bramble from Steptoe & Son


Posted: 15/10/2008 18:28

Bob Warters wrote (see)

Tim Ellis (h'cap 9)

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/ruttimi.jpg



llis (handicap 9):

If Tim says it's Tuesday, IT'S TUESDAY!


Posted: 15/10/2008 18:53

Maybe Tim is a distant relation of Bautista who plays a decent game too

http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/bautista.html


Posted: 15/10/2008 20:32

Boa

     Never a six handicaper with that swing !  didn't finish ? your walking. 

Ben Hogan must be turning in his grave


Posted: 15/10/2008 21:26

Here's a few more to get your teeth into:

Stickman (h'cap 15) -

'...a little pirhouette, there, Sticky!' 

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutstick01.jpg


Posted: 16/10/2008 09:04

Dave Summerfield (h'cap 16)

'...and he pulls it over mid-on for four!'

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutdaves01.jpg


  


Posted: 16/10/2008 09:10

Martin Boughton (h'cap 10).

The Greetham Valley Hotel CC &GC president has developed this Gary Player-style  'walk-through'  in his follow-through - not pretty but effective (allegedly). Anyone else tried it?

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutmartin.jpg



Posted: 16/10/2008 09:14

Chris Biggs (The Black Cat) - (h'cap 12, competition-winning 37 points on the day)

Not much can go wrong if you finish like this, surely...

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutchris.jpg



Posted: 16/10/2008 09:17

Bob Warters wrote (see)

Here's a few more to get your teeth into:

Stickman (h'cap 15) -

'...a little pirhouette, there, Sticky!' 

http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/rutstick01.jpg



Sticky drives the ball better than any 15 handicapper I know - leaves you thinking "bandit"....... until he hits his long irons! Seriously, there's a very good golfer lurking in there, definite single figure material.
Posted: 16/10/2008 13:29

good bad or the down right wierd!!! the main thing is to get that 'little white ball down zee ole'
Posted: 16/10/2008 16:36

Thank f**k I missed it!


Posted: 16/10/2008 18:04

not to be nit picky, as boas a better golfer than me but his foots rolled and head come up to early. just my opinion of course
Posted: 16/10/2008 18:13

Why don't you see Boas clubhead is there a parachute on the end of it ?
Posted: 16/10/2008 21:12

This was a golf event? Not the national fly swatting championships?
Posted: 17/10/2008 20:23

Can anyone join in??....

http://img4012.photobox.co.uk/118941206581524d92a317df4de2b4c54d4361d4927c31d70de9a797d014eb5f097a0403.jpg


Posted: 17/10/2008 23:27

wanputt

Just a quiet word. Does Jim Furyk LOOK like one of the world's best players? Once not long agp ranked 2 behind Tiger. Obviously you know very little about golf. IT's how many shots one takes that creates a handicap NOT having an elegant swing.

Could YOU have an official 6 handicap at age 72??


Posted: 18/10/2008 08:36

Josh The Nosh wrote (see)
not to be nit picky, as boas a better golfer than me but his foots rolled and head come up to early. just my opinion of course

Crikey Josh, at 72 I'll be grateful to be above the divots, not lying underneath them! 

I prefer to concentrate on the great extension of the right arm towards the target.


Posted: 18/10/2008 09:29

Bob

SO do I.

Actually, the swing did not stop there but finished in EXACTLY the way Tiger's "stingers" are played

As far as I remember my drive in the middle of the fairway of 250 yards,admittedly slightly downwind was utterly eclipsed by Crazy Face's 290 yard monster, although his did finish in a bush some 40 yards to the right of the fairway!


Posted: 18/10/2008 09:57

hey i said i was being picky
Posted: 18/10/2008 13:12

Boa

 Tom haliburton must have been a fly swatter.!


Posted: 18/10/2008 14:59

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