Golf tips: learn to release

Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Neil Plimmer on how releasing the club through impact can add more power to the golf swing

Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Neil Plimmer on how to add more power to your golf swing

Golf tips: learn to release

Fault: you slice the ball, and your swing suffers from a lack of power.

Fix: The release is a golfing term that I find is often misunderstood - it certainly doesn't mean letting go of the club! Instead, what it refers to is the flow of the arms and body through the ball.

Rather than working on the release itself, I like my pupils to focus on sequence of movements through impact that will naturally cause the angle in your wrists to release through the ball.

Notice here how my arms work with the rotation of my body. This is the sequence that will effectively deliver both power and control.

Crucially, you shouldn't be trying to hit 'at' the ball. Get the sequence right and the club will breeze through the ball, accelerating as it goes.

Having made a full turn at the top of the backswing, begin the turn back through the ball with your weight moving in the direction of the turn. If your arms can work with your body here, you will master the release.

 

Neil Tappin
Editor

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. 

Throughout his time with the brand he has also covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points. 


Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons: PING Blueprint S (4&5), PING Blueprint T (6-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X