CONCEPT · BALL STRIKING INTERMEDIATE FOCUS
A proper release allows the clubface to square naturally through impact for effortless power and accuracy.
Skill split
01 · Overview
~2 min read
The release might be golf's most misunderstood fundamental, yet it's the critical moment that determines whether your ball finds the fairway or the rough. Most golfers think release means flipping their hands through impact position, but this common misconception creates more problems than it solves—including that persistent slice that plagues so many players.
Porzak Golf demonstrates how proper connection through the downswing prevents the compensations that lead to poor release patterns, while Dan Grieve shows how controlling trajectory and spin starts with understanding how the clubface moves through the hitting zone. The key insight many golfers miss is that release isn't about hand action at all—it's about maintaining the relationship between your body and the club throughout the swing.
What makes release so challenging is that it happens in milliseconds, making it nearly impossible to consciously control during your swing. This is where targeted practice becomes essential, and drills like the lead arm only drill can help you feel the proper motion without the interference of your trail hand. When you understand how club path and face angle work together through release, you'll finally have the tools to hit consistently solid shots with the ball flight you actually intended.
4 components that build the move
01 · CLUBFACE ROTATION
The clubface rotates from slightly open in the downswing to square at impact through natural rotation. This happens automatically when the hands and arms work correctly.
02 · WRIST UNHINGING
The cupped trail wrist from the top of the swing gradually flattens and extends through impact. This unhinging motion generates clubhead speed while maintaining control.
03 · ARM EXTENSION
After impact, both arms extend fully away from the body in the direction of the target. This extension creates width and helps the club release properly through the ball.
04 · FOREARM ROTATION
The lead forearm rotates naturally through and after impact, allowing the trail arm to cross over. This rotation is the engine of proper release and prevents holding off the clubface.
02 · The Reference
3 of 688 · hand-selected
Editor's Pick · #1 · 2:28
Tiger's effortless swing demonstrates the stretch-rebound sequence that creates natural release without forcing it.
RotarySwing.com Golf Instruction · intermediate
Editor's Pick · 0:31
Shows exactly how release timing affects ball flight characteristics — height, spin, and distance control.
Dan Grieve · advanced
Editor's Pick · 0:41
The loose hands experiment proves that tension kills release and demonstrates the feel of proper clubface rotation.
The French golf coach · beginner
04 · The Experts
3 perspectives · same drill
04 · Practice it
3 drills
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 10 videos.
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 10 videos.
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 6 videos.
05 · FAQ
Answered from the library
According to experts like Porzak Golf and The Art of Simple Golf, slicing often comes from holding onto the club too tightly and not releasing properly through impact. Focus on letting the clubface naturally rotate through the ball rather than trying to control it with a death grip - this allows for the proper release that eliminates that frustrating slice.
Release refers to how your hands, wrists, and clubface rotate through impact to square up and deliver power to the ball. As Dan Grieve demonstrates, proper release controls both the direction and trajectory of your shots - it's essentially how you let the club do its job rather than forcing it.
Dan Grieve explains that even with a decent swing plane, if your clubface is turned over (closed) at impact, the ball will go left regardless. The key is working on your release pattern so the face arrives square rather than closed through the hitting zone.
Marcus Edblad emphasizes that effortless power comes from proper technique rather than muscle. Golf-Ed also notes that real power isn't about flipping your hands aggressively - it's about creating the right sequence and release that allows the club to generate speed naturally.
The Art of Simple Golf specifically addresses senior golfers, emphasizing that the fix starts with the release - stop holding on so tightly to the club. This effortless approach allows older golfers to achieve better ball flight without requiring the physical strength they may have lost over the years.
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06 · The Library
YouTube-indexed · expert-graded
Video · 1:32
James Wiltshire
Video · 15:10
James Wiltshire
Video · 0:30
WhyGolf
Video · 16:52
Warren Bennett Golf Academy
Video · 1:04
Meandmygolf
Video · 4:36
The Art of Simple Golf
Video · 0:47
Jimmy Ballard Golf 2.0
Video · 1:00
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 17:32
Steve Pratt Golf
Video · 0:26
Scratch Golf Academy
Video · 0:36
Alistair Davies Golf
Video · 11:51
Steve Pratt Golf
Video · 34:27
Shawn Clement's Wisdom in Golf Lessons
Video · 24:04
Easiest Swing
Video · 0:41
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 0:09
Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach
Video · 2:59
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard
Video · 2:26
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 14:22
Warren Bennett Golf Academy
Video · 0:09
Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach
Video · 0:16
James Wiltshire
Video · 12:33
Good Golf Coaching
Video · 1:00
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 10:59
AlexElliottGolf
Video · 0:46
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 0:16
CK Golf
Video · 1:01
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 1:00
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 0:34
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 35:34
Meandmygolf
Video · 1:16
Matt Fryer Golf
Video · 1:34
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard
Video · 1:28
Tropicana Entertainment
Video · 0:34
Golfslump
Video · 10:42
Ashley Knoll Golf
Video · 0:07
Kerrod Gray Golf
Video · 15:07
Athletic Motion Golf
Video · 2:21
The Juju Swing™️
Video · 1:23
Jimmy Ballard Golf 2.0
Video · 11:41
Face First Golf
Video · 18:25
Athletic Motion Golf
Video · 0:59
Todd Graves
Video · 0:09
Dan Grieve
Video · 0:36
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 19:28
Dan Grieve
Video · 13:45
Easiest Swing
Video · 0:33
TS Golf
Video · 3:00
JChownGolf
Video · 14:20
GRF Golf
Video · 1:02
True Swing by Erika Larkin
Practice the fundamentals with targeted drills designed to ingrain proper release mechanics.
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