This month marks a celebration of 23 years Jeff Coston Golf Academy at Semiahmoo Golf Club! Being here with the members, staff and this super facility has been my honor and privilege! Thank you Semiahmoo for allowing me to spend much of my life here and hopefully much more.
Everyone wants to hit the golf ball further, no doubt! Hitting the golf ball straighter helps also. These last 23 years most everyone communicates, “I want to be more consistent; hit it farther; hit it straighter.”
We have, and will continue to, write about the proper plane, path and club face. We often over these 23 years have focused on shallowing the shaft on the downswing (most golfers have to steep an approach).
We have and will continue to communicate most golfers would be benefit with a slightly stronger grip in the fingers. Golfers also aim thier feet to the right of target and shoulders left; where feet left and shoulders right would be a better habit.
These non- Negotiables being stated, here goes your extra credit:
Most golfers release the club to early. Some call it casting. No matter what, it is a power leakage which is mostly caused by to steep an approach to the hitting zone and or to early of a hip rotation. Notice Bill Hass in the photo above Bill slides his hips as he moves his arms, hands and butt of the club to the golf ball.
Again, most golfers clear their hips to soon and thus release the club to early to catch up with their hips. Approach the hitting zone with hands and arms and a shallow shaft angle! You will have more “lag” and less casting.
Check out this “wall drill” in the photo below.
Stand a little more than arms length from a wall. As you hinge early; swing your arms down on a shallow approach without releasing early and striking the wall. Weird feel? Give me a call!
Coston out
Jeff Coston is a 21 time Pacific Northwest PGA Player of the Year. Coston is a member of the Pacific Northwest PGA Hall of Fame. He can be reached by calling Semiahmoo Resort at 360-201-4590.