You're Probably Releasing the Golf Club All Wrong!!

Are you struggling with keeping your arms straight through impact and releasing the club properly? If you’ve been told to keep the club face square to the target or to avoid an “early release,” but still feel like you’re not getting the consistency or power you want, you’re not alone. In this post, we’re going to break down how to effectively release the club, keep your arms straight through impact, and eliminate the misconception that keeping the club face locked open leads to straighter shots.

The Importance of Releasing the Club

When it comes to golf swings, particularly with the irons, understanding how to release the club properly is key to making solid contact. A lot of golfers—especially amateurs—tend to fight the natural rotation of the club during the swing. They try to keep the club face square to the target for as long as possible, thinking it will result in straighter shots. In reality, the golf club is designed to rotate through impact, and the key to better ball striking lies in allowing that rotation to happen naturally.

If you’re trying to keep your arms stiff and locked in place, you’ll likely notice your arms starting to bend and the dreaded "chicken wing" appearance at impact. This results in weak shots and poor consistency, no matter how much force you put into the swing.

Understanding the Concept of Club Release

A crucial concept to understand here is the release of the club. When we talk about releasing the club, we’re referring to the rotation of the wrists and arms as you pass through the impact zone. This doesn’t mean “flicking” the club or casting the club out in front of you, but rather allowing the club face to rotate as your body and arms move together.

Why does this happen? Well, the golf swing is a circular motion around your body. As your body rotates, the club must rotate too. Trying to force the club face to stay square to the target during impact is only going to lead to a stiff, inefficient swing that can feel unnatural and lack power. Instead, trust the movement, and let the face rotate through the ball.

The Frisbee Drill: A Simple Way to Understand the Release

One of the best ways to feel the proper release is to compare the motion of the golf swing to something familiar—like throwing a Frisbee with your lead arm. When you throw a Frisbee, your lead arm follows through in a natural, fluid motion, and the hand releases the disc. The same applies to the golf swing. If you try to force the club to stay locked and square through impact, you’ll end up guiding the ball rather than letting it fly naturally.

To demonstrate this point, let's look at a common mistake many golfers make: keeping the arms too rigid. In a freeze frame of a professional’s post-impact position, their arms are straight, but they’ve allowed the club face to rotate through. The key here is that their arms are not "locked" in place. Instead, their arms stay straight as a result of the release and the natural follow-through.

If you try to keep your arms stiff, like a robot, you'll run into trouble. Not only will you risk hitting weak shots, but your body will likely overcompensate with other movements, making it harder to generate consistent power.

Drills to Improve Your Club Release

Frisbee Throw Drill

Setup: Start by imagining you’re about to throw a Frisbee with your lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers).

Execution: Focus on the feel of your arm extending naturally through the motion, with your wrist rotating as it would when releasing the Frisbee.

Tip: This drill helps you understand the natural release of the club and allows your lead arm to lengthen through impact, which will improve your ball striking.

Backhand/Lead Arm Drill

Setup: Place your backhand behind your lead elbow as you set up for a shot.

Execution: Take a few swings with this setup, feeling the club release through impact. This will help you feel the natural rotation of the clubface and understand how to let it release.

Tip: By using your backhand to guide the swing, you encourage a more natural rotation of your lead arm, which will help you avoid a “chicken wing” and improve your follow-through.

One-Handed Swing Drill

Setup: Grip the club with just your lead hand.

Execution: Take a few swings, focusing on the release of the club. Even though you’re swinging with only one hand, feel how the club face rotates and allows your arm to extend naturally.

Tip: This drill isolates the motion of the lead arm, helping you feel the proper release and how to keep your arm straight post-impact.

Avoiding the Scoop and Cast

A common issue that causes weak ball striking is when golfers scoop or cast the club—meaning their hands get too far behind their body during the downswing, trying to catch up with the rotation of the chest. This is a huge cause of weak shots, as your hands are no longer in sync with the body.

Here’s the key: If your hands, arms, and body are working together in sequence, you won’t need to “release” the club early. The natural release will happen as your body rotates, and the club face will rotate along with it.

Conclusion: Let the Club Release Naturally

If you're struggling with keeping your arms straight through impact or releasing the club properly, the most important takeaway is to stop forcing it. Instead of trying to lock your arms in place, think of your front arm moving like you’re throwing a Frisbee. This natural release will not only help you keep your arms straight but will also lead to more power and consistency in your shots.

Remember, the key to great ball striking isn’t about overcompensating or trying to “force” the club to stay square—let the release happen naturally, and trust that your body will produce the power and accuracy you need. Practice these drills, and you'll see improvements in your consistency and overall game.