Understanding the Club Release Through Impact
In golf, the debate between "releasing the club" and "holding the face square" through impact stems from a common misunderstanding of swing dynamics. The optimal approach is to release the clubhead fully and naturally through impact while ensuring the clubface squares up via body rotation and proper hand position—not by consciously holding or manipulating the face. This produces powerful, consistent ball striking, as seen in elite players like Tiger Woods, whose textbook release returns the clubhead squarely to the ball.
What Does "Release" Mean in the Golf Swing?
The release is the act of freely uncocking the wrists and allowing the clubhead to accelerate through the ball at impact. Key principles include:
- Full release through impact: Think of "throwing" the clubhead at the ball, as taught by Lane The Lever. Visualize brushing the grass with the clubhead—let it release freely without restriction.
- Consistent clubface control: Scottie Scheffler emphasizes maintaining a consistent clubface position through impact for reliable ball striking. This happens naturally, not by force.
- Rotation-driven squaring: Riley The Rotator advises that hands stay ahead of the clubhead through impact as rotation squares the face. Avoid hand action; let rotation do the work.
Holding the face square artificially—often by holding lag too long—leads to weak, open-faced shots or loss of power. Instead, maintain lag until late in the downswing, then release via forearm rotation.
Hands Ahead: The Foundation for Proper Release
A critical element is keeping the hands ahead of the clubhead at and through impact, creating forward shaft lean for compression:
- Sage The Stabilizer: Hands ahead ensures solid compression and control. Use a neutral to slightly strong grip for reliable face control.
- Jack Nicklaus: Hands stay ahead with a crushing, forward-leaning shaft (lag pressure), promoting a powerful release.
- Lane The Lever: Let hands and forearms rotate naturally through impact—don't fight face closure.
This position prevents flipping (early release) while allowing a full, high finish where the club wraps around the left shoulder, right shoulder pointing left of target (Nicklaus).
Step-by-Step Guide to Executing the Proper Release
- Backswing Setup: Take the club away low and slow with arms and shoulders in one piece; wrists cock late and gradually (Nicklaus). Clubface open with toe to ground (Scheffler).
- Transition: Feel the club falling into the slot—don't rush or force it (Lane The Lever). Maintain wrist lag late into downswing (Riley).
- Downswing and Impact: Hands lead the clubhead; rotate forearms naturally to square the face. Swing the clubhead, not the handle, feeling its weight (Nicklaus).
- Follow-Through: Release fully for a balanced, high finish.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Mistake: Holding lag too long. Fix: Trust rotation to release—practice "throwing" the clubhead.
- Mistake: Early flip or casting. Fix: Drill hands-ahead impact with forward shaft lean.
- Mistake: Manipulating the face. Fix: Neutral/strong grip and natural forearm rotation for squaring.
Key Takeaway
Release the club fully through impact for power and consistency, relying on hands-ahead position and body rotation to square the face naturally. Avoid consciously "holding" the face, as this disrupts flow and compression. Mastering this—through drills emphasizing rotation and lag—transforms ball striking, as evidenced by pros like Scheffler, Nicklaus, and Woods. Consistent practice yields straighter, longer shots.