To release the golf club like a pro golfer, it’s essential to recognize the nuances of a good golf club release.
Any hitches in your golf release will ruin your performance on the golf course. This happens all the time to golfers and it’s not a pretty sight. You either end up losing too much power with your golf swing or shanking the golf ball.
This is why learning more about the release of a golf club is imperative.
The release of a golf club is essential in generating power, control, and distance. A golfer can choose between three types of golf club releases – push releases, crossover releases, and slap hinge releases.
The best golf club release is based on your golf swing technique, experience, and requirements when hitting a golf ball.
To avoid failing to release the golf club, it’s important to refine your game based on what works best for your needs.
This guide is going to look into the release of a golf club, types of releases for golf clubs, drills for releasing golf clubs, and which golf club release is best for you.
This is key information for those who want to learn more about releasing the golf club through impact and seeing great results.
What Is The Release Of A Golf Club?
The release of a golf club refers to the unlocking of the wrists during the downswing of a golf club. This can be seen when the top of the golf club moves closer to the chest as the wrists “release” during the downswing.
If this didn’t happen, the top of the golf club would remain locked in place making it almost impossible to hit a golf ball with power.
It’s important to learn about how to release a golf club the right way. This is how you are going to optimize your golf club’s downswing and make sure you are timing the golf ball properly.
Learning how to release the club in golf is a must. The release in the golf swing is one of the most pertinent elements to study and see how it can be adjusted. This is how you are going to hit the golf ball further with more impact.
Types Of Golf Club Releases
1. Push Release
The push release in golf refers to leaving the golf club face open during the downswing and then quickly locking the wrists into place. This acts as the “release,” which allows the golf club to propel toward the ball smoothly.
This is one of the more common types of golf club releases available to those who want to optimize how they are swinging a golf club.
Those who deal with an early release in golf tend to prefer this method. Releasing a golf club too early is not ideal and that’s where this method shines.
Benefits Of A Push Release
One of the advantages of a push release in golf would be the consistency of the swing. You are going to find it a lot easier to time the golf ball when it comes to your downswing using a push release as a golfer.
The push release is ideal for getting the hang of your golf release rather than needing to work out the issues all the time.
This is a common method that is used by professional golfers as it helps generate a good amount of power and consistency.
Anyone that has a great swing speed can dominate with the help of a push release in golf.
Cons Of A Push Release
One of the negatives of a push release for golfers is going to be the lack of power generation with a slower swing speed.
If you can’t generate a good amount of swing speed, it becomes a lot harder to hit the golf ball as far as you want.
It is also not easy to use a push release for new golfers. It will become much harder to release the wrists in golf and you are going to end up shanking the golf ball or not hitting it far enough.
Who Should Use The Push Release In Golf?
When learning how to release a golf club at impact, it’s essential to look at your skill level. This can help choose the right golf release for your game.
This option is often recommended for intermediate and pro golfers.
The push release has a “lag” to it, which is easier for professional golfers to manage. It creates almost a whip through the shot, which is ideal for those who can generate enough swing speed to create power through the push release.
A beginner is not going to be able to do this when using a push release in golf.
2. Slap Hinge Release
It’s time to look at the slap hinge golf release.
The slap hinge golf release is designed to be an easy-going option that is simple to pick up and is not going to take a long time to master. This specific type of golf club release aims to keep the hands flat and then the left-hand releases upwards, while the right-hand releases under.
The reason it is called a “hinge” is due to the release of the wrists from the golf club. This helps generate enough loft on the golf ball to get it into the air.
Benefits Of A Slap Hinge Release
One of the advantages of a slap hinge release for golfers is going to come down to it being beginner-friendly.
Most new golfers don’t know how to release their wrists and this creates all sorts of trouble as time goes on. Since this is much easier to learn and master, most golfers will begin with the slap hinge release in golf.
As you figure out when to release the golf club, this one is the easiest to calculate. Your timing isn’t going to be off with the slap hinge golf release.
Cons Of A Slap Hinge Release
As you consider the negatives of a slap hinge release in golf, you need to understand this is not going to be easy to manage for distance.
The positioning of your golf club is not going to make a difference when you are playing with a slap hinge release in golf.
This is one type of golf club release that is going to make it harder to get enough distance on a golf ball. Instead, the golf ball is going to go higher into the air, which is good for ball flight not as ideal for hitting the golf ball further.
Who Should Use Slap Hinge In Golf?
The slap hinge golf club release should be used by beginners that have a decent golf swing speed and want something easy to learn.
It is not going to be confusing to use this type of golf club release and that’s what matters the most to those who are starting off.
You won’t have to deal with a late release with the golf club and it’s going to be simpler to time.
The proper golf club release is one that works for your game. This is why the slap hinge golf club release is popular for senior golfers too. It simply works and it keeps things as straightforward as they need to be while golfing.
3. Crossover Release
The crossover release in golf refers to the hands “crossing over” at the point of impact.
This means the right hand will follow through to the impact of the golf ball while the left hand is going to cross over as the wrists rotate near the bottom.
What you are doing is opening the club face and then closing it at the time of the impact. The crossover golf club release is an ideal option for some golfers and it is effective depending on your tendencies on the golf course.
Benefits Of A Crossover Release
When learning how to release the hands in a golf swing, the crossover golf club release is enticing.
Anyone that has a weak golf grip is going to want to take the time to put this at the top of their list. It is going to take the grip out of the equation as the hands are going to be crossing over and the right hand is going to remain in place during the impact.
This ensures the golf ball is easier to hit even if you are someone that does not have a good grip on the golf club.
It makes it a lot easier for those who are still learning how to grip a golf club properly.
Cons Of A Crossover Release
Releasing the wrists in a golf swing is not always easy to do and that’s why mistakes are made by golfers.
In essence, the issue with this type of golf club release comes down to not being consistent. It is not easy to get the timing right with this type of golf club release and that’s a major hurdle.
You can end up releasing the golf club too late and a late-release golf swing is not ideal. In other cases, you can end up releasing the golf club too early and that is just as bad.
This is a concern that is seen with all skill levels in golf.
Who Should Use Crossover Release In Golf?
When releasing the hands in a golf swing, the crossover release for golfing is going to be intriguing.
Who should be using this type of golf club release?
We recommend golfers who have a weak golf grip should take a look at this option. It is also good for those who hit a draw as it is going to be easier to manage.
How To Choose A Golf Club Release
To choose a golf club release, you will want to start with the basics.
There are a few variables that are going to play a role in deciding which golf club release is best for you.
These variables are going to include:
- Your Skill Level (Beginner, Intermediate, Pro)
- Age
- Grip Strength
- General Tendencies (Fades, Draws)
Look into these variables and then checks the pros/cons of each golf club release to see which one is best for you.
For example, a golfer wanting consistency is going to look at the slap hinge golf club release while a golfer with a weaker grip is going to take a look at the crossover golf club release.
What Happens If You Don’t Release The Club?
Failing to release the golf club causes the wrists to lock up. This means the top of the golf club does not come through closer to the body, which makes it almost impossible to hit the golf ball efficiently. Instead, you end up shanking the golf ball, missing it, or seeing a massive reduction in power.
When looking to hit a golf club as far as possible, releasing the golf club is a must.
This is why it’s important to head to the golf driving range to practice your golf club release.
How To Release Golf Club Drill
Going through a few practice golf club release drills is never a bad idea.
There is one drill you are going to want to work on.
The drill is going to include the following steps:
- Set A Stick On The Ground
- Place One Foot On Each Side Of The Stick
- Hold The Golf Club And Practice Swinging It Back And Forth
- Look To Create An “L” With The Backswing
- Do This While Maintaining a Looser Grip
Golf Early Release Vs Late Release
An early golf club release causes the golf ball to be hooked, shanked, or looped into the air without too much distance. In comparison, a late golf club release keeps the ball low to the ground and doesn’t offer enough distance on the golf shots.
It’s essential to choose a golf club release that allows for consistency.
This is why many golfers stay away from the crossover release as it is not as easy to be consistent with this particular release.
Golf Release Slow Motion
How To Release Golf Club For Power
To release the golf club for power, it’s essential to use a push release. This is the most recommended release for pro golfers with a fast golf swing speed. It creates what’s known as a “lag” which acts as a snapping motion during the downswing.
This snapping motion is what helps create additional power with the help of the faster golf swing speed.
This is not as easy for beginners but the pros will want to use this when releasing a golf club for power.
Do You Release Club Before Or After Impact?
The release of a golf club occurs slightly before the impact of the golf ball and is then completed post-impact. This is a timing mechanism that has to be done with the right strategy to make sure the golf ball is not being skewed.
Remember that an early golf club release is going to cause you to hook the golf ball.
This is why it’s important to learn how to time the releasing mechanism of your golf club release so it’s slightly before the impact.
How Do You Release A Golf Club Without Flipping It?
To release a golf club without flipping it, the most important thing a golfer has to focus on is their weight transfer during the downswing. This allows for the body to lean along with the shaft, which ensures you end up with a no-flip golf release.
It will take a bit of time to work on this but it can be done.
A flipping golf swing is not ideal and you will want to work this out of your game. Golf flipping does happen but a golf flip is going to ruin your swing.
Work on releasing the wrists on time with the help of the body leaning during the downswing.
Final Thoughts
These tips will help as you focus on the release of a golf club.
To release a golf club, this refers to when the wrists are opened during the downswing. A golfer can choose between a crossover release, a push release, or a slap hinge release. Each one has its pros and cons.
Take the time to look at these releases to see which one is ideal for you.