In this video, PGA instructor Warren Bennett explains the common mistake of 'falling in love with the ball,' where golfers move their hands out toward the ball too early in the downswing. He introduces a tiered progression of drills, most notably the 'Shut and Shift' move, which trains the hands to drop vertically while the body shifts laterally. By exaggerating these feels, Bennett helps golfers transform an outside-in slice path into a clean, inside-to-out release.
The first half of the downswing should feel like the club is moving down and away from the ball, not toward it.
Falling in love with the ball refers to the hands moving out toward the plane line too early, leading to slices or pulls.
The 'Shut and Shift' technique requires keeping the chest facing away from the target while the lower body shifts laterally.
Exaggerate the downward hand drop to 100% in practice to feel a 10% change in your actual swing on the course.
The clubhead should only start moving out toward the ball in the second half of the downswing, once the hands have dropped into the 'slot'.