Jason Day has been focusing on an important concept lately to improve his swing – and it can help you too.
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When we hear that a tour player is working on some aspect of his swing, we naturally wonder why and how we can incorporate it into our game. After all, experts know best, right?
That's why after listening to a recent episode of The Smylie Show where Jason Day shared one of his key swing changes, I selfishly needed to find out more so I could up my game.
As Day explains in the clip below, he's been working on his release pattern, specifically, his hand technique.
“Basically, what I'm trying to do is create an upward spiral,” Day said. “Old school Tiger used to do it. Some of the best strikers in the world were doing that.”
Day says it's something he learned from his golf coach, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Chris Como.
“I want to be able to have a path, or a hand path, from the ground up,” Day said.
He demonstrates that this low-to-high hand technique helps him move his hips forward, create forward pressure and maintain his spine angle through the strike. This allows him to hit the ball high and bring his velocity to impact just past it – something we see from the biggest hitters in the game.
Check out this video of a golf game by Kyle Berkshire, the three-time Long Drive World Golf Champion. Notice how the fast point of his swing occurs after impact, and the ball appears to go into his team's path. It's similar to the mechanics we see in a baseball player swinging for the fence.
So how can you apply these principles to your swing to improve your hand technique and increase your distance off the tee? According to Addison Craig, GOLF's Top 100 Teacher to Watch, you have to stay connected.
When novices feel the talk hitting the ground, they tend to go too far in their swing and break their hands and arms from the impact. Which leads to loss of power and consistency.
Instead, Craig says think of your release as throwing a medicine ball down the target line. If you tried to throw the ball with just your hands, it wouldn't go anywhere. You have to stay connected to get the big muscles that will help you launch the ball.
The same concept applies to your golf swing, and you can practice this feeling with Craig's link practice.
Communication drill
To try it, grab the iron and place the grip end of the club on your belly button. Then, go into your normal setup. Take a few swings, taking the club back to center, keeping your arms straight and the butt of the club close to your body.
Craig says you should feel your body and hands rise naturally with the club. Finish with your arms facing your target and the club still attached to your body.
In addition to improving your hand technique, this drill will also help you understand where to bring your speed to your swing. As you swing back and forth, maintaining that connection, you should feel your pressure rise emotionally just after impact.
Use Craig's drill, or a useful training aid, to maintain your body connection and develop a low-to-high hand technique that encourages a powerful, consistent strike.
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