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The 'Release-Action' is your Primary Source of Power & Direction
The very words say it all...'release' & 'action'. If you look the words up in Webster's here what they have to say:
re-lease \ 1- to set free from restraint or confinement. 2- to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses. 3- a. the permitting of a working force to be freed. b. the point in the cycle at which this occurrs.
ac-tion \ 1- a thing accomplished over a period of time. 2- the style of movement. 3- the product and expression of exerted force. 4- an operating mechanism. 5- the manner in which a mechanism operates.
 
    
Fig.1- Level 1 'Release-Action' has to do with forearm 'rotation' through the impact area
Release-Action is the third of the three Mechanical Laws and if you have a good 'release-action'...then you're capable of playing truely 'great golf'! Remember, the club is a tool and it is designed to be used in a certain way. We've mentioned the 'hammer and nail' analogy several times so far...well...here's where it gets 'tricky', 'cause now we're using a screwdriver!
In the hammer & nail scenario the action of the tool has to do with 'linear-leverage' (which is basically a force that is working in a straight-on direction). The term 'radial-leverage' (which is basically a force that is working around a central axis, like a 'screwdriver') is also used to describe how a golf club works.
The bottom-line here is a golf club is designed to create both 'linear-leverage' (which is your 'swingpath'), and 'radial-leverage' (which is your 'release-action')...with both of these forces essentially happening at the same time!
It's not as complicated as it may sound...(oh..sure, you say!), all we are really saying here is that your forearms need to be rotating as you swing your arms through the impact area.
Use The "Ready/Set /Go!" Drill to Feel and Develop Your 'Release-Action'
  
Position #1: 'Ready' Position #2: 'Set' Position #3: 'Go!'
 TGM Path - 'Mechanically speaking', it could be said that the 'release-action' is the most important part of our golf swing. It is the point in the swing that everything we have done in terms of creating power is 'released' into and through the ball towards the target! If the release-action is off...everything else in the swing will be 'off' as well. If the 'release-action' is the most important part of the swing (and we think that it is) it stands to reason that it might be the most difficult part of the swing to master (and it probably is!). Remember that 'brickwall' that we talked about? Well, the 'release-action' happens to be the 'bricks'!
The 'Release Board'
The 'Release Board' is a very effective swing training aid that will...we don't like to use the word 'force', but the board will practically 'force you into the correct positions' relative to what good 'release-action' is. (More to come on the effects of the 'release board)
  
Ready! Set! Go!
 
Set! Go!
 
Set! Go!
Without question the most important 'movement' in the golf swing is the 'release-action'.
Exactly what is 'Release-Action'?
As simply as we can put it... 'release-action' is lead forearm rotation with a flat wrist through the impact area (for a right-hand player the left arm, for a left-hand player the right arm). We would love to leave it at this...but we just can't...it deserves more attention.
1. Mechanical: At the 'mechanical level' release-action' is the 'unloading of angular momentum through the impact area' (which ,by-the--way, includes that white ball). We like to stress 'through the impact area' because the 'release-action' is a continuous motion that is happening before the club contacts the ball, as well as after the ball is gone! Quite often we see golfers who are 'swinging' at the ball as though the ball 'is the target'...the ball is just one of the tools...the target is always out in the distance somewhere. Therefore, the 'release-action' takes place 'thru the ball' to the tartget (Level 1 work).
2. Physical: At the physical level we're 'talkin about how the body supports and is involved with the movement of the club (here's where the truck delivers the bricks for the 'would-be' wall that lots of golfers build...'ever heard the term 'chicken wing'! Ugh...). But, we're not 'gonna build a wall here...we're 'gonna learn to 'release' the club...right?...right!
Physically releasing the angular momentum created by the 'angle set' of the arms and the club is the real challenge when it comes to swing development.
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Here is a wonderful look at angular momentum in action! Notice the 'angle' formed by the arms and the club. This player has successfully created a very powerful pre-impact position, sometimes referred to as the 'late hit', or 'late release' position. He has 'stored-up' energy in his swing in such a manner that the clubhead's speed will max out as it moves through the ball. His challenge at this point is to successfully 'unload' the 'angular momentum' through the 'impact area' towards the target. The 'unloading' involves a well-timed sequence of rotating his lower body, his torso, his shoulders, and his forearms through the impact area into the finish of his swing. |
As we begin to work on and develop improved 'release-action' certain things must be understood in order to 'breakthrough'.
- Because the swing is 'progressive' one position / movement will set up the next. Therefore it is required that the 'angle' (linear-leverage) be set properly as we make the backswing and also be moved through the transition into a swingpath that will allow for a good release to happen.
- In terms of how our bodies support the swing there are three primary parts: 1-lower body, 2- torso or middle body, and, 3- upper body.
- Level 1 Release- Action- At this point we are really focused on our upper body and want to keep our lower and middle body quiet so that we can really develop the sensation of our forearms rotating the club through the impact area. The club is a tool and we want to use it as it has been designed to be used. The club is designed to rotate as it passes through the impact area striking the ball (radial leverage, Fig. 1 above). Again, it is very important to sense that our forearms are 'rolling or rotating' the club through the impact area...not the hands! It's important to note that while the hands do play a very important role in the swing (gripping the club and thereby creating 'feel') we do not want our hands to become 'overactive' in this role. 'Feel' is a passive, soft sensation and will be negatively affected when the hands become 'overly tense and too active'. So, when working on Level 1 release-action; 1- 'feel' the correct 'set' of the angle on the backswing, 2- 'feel' the angle transition into a good downswing path and then, 3- 'feel' the forearms 'rolling over or rotating' the club through the impact area as shown in Fig.1 above.
(Please visit or email us for more on the importance of 'release-action')
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