Tour Radius – The Key to Consistent Impact
“The Radius Dictates Your Consistency”
One of the major keys to having a consistent golf game is to be able to strike to the ball the same way time after time.
This doesn’t mean that you should have the same ball flight on every shot. You can, and should be able to, modify the trajectory and curve of your shot based on the situation at hand. It just means that when you step up to a shot you can be certain that you will strike the ball solidly.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve spent most of my time determining the fastest ways to help golfers achieve a consistent point-of-impact.
So much of every lesson is about solid contact.
It’s the very first thing that must be learned once the player understands the physics of ball flight. I’ve found different ways of explaining it over the years and I’ve finally found a way to say it in a concise manner that everyone can understand.
The more consistent the radius of the swing arc through impact, the more consistent the contact. That line sums it all up. But, if you want to know how to take this basic fact and apply it in your golf swing, have a look at the video.
I’ve done my best to explain it fully and clearly.
For those of you who have not seen the two videos I have referenced, feel free to have a look at two of my most popular lessons.
It’s what allows me to continue to find new ways to help golfers reach their true potential in this game.
Happy Golfing!
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39 Comments
Sam,
Great video! Do you have any suggestions for exercises or drills that will strengthen and add speed to the raising of the left shoulder and the turning of the torso? I think that is a great image to keep in my mind during my pre shot routine. Also, it would be helpful to see you swing at your normal playing speed with various clubs. Helps those mirror neurons!! Thanks!
Rob B.
Absolutely Rob.
For now (until I get some more swing videos posted) watch swings from steve stricker and Zach Johnson.
If your plane is more level watch ZJ, more upright Stricker.
Sam, Awesome video as always. Is it possible to demonstrate the content so we can see full speed how it should look? Thanks again.
Absolutely Michael. I just need a camera-man to come to the course with me 🙂
I promise to get some swing videos up soon!
Great video Sam. Ties in lovely with the Stop Flipping one you did a few years back. Does the angle of the shoulders have any effect on how easy or difficult it is to drive that left shoulder? I have a very flat Hogan-esque top of the swing that I’m trying to steepen and it looks as though driving the left shoulder from a flatter position would end up blocking shots or being forced to flip? Am I better to sort out the shoulder turn first and get that steeper before the left shoulder piece?
Great question! I actually had a two-day one-on-one session with a player last week who has a hoganesque plane.
For him, the easiest way to visualize the move was to think about the shoulder and body turning through more “from the side” than up and down.
His feeling was that his chest was facing the target at impact (clearly not the case but a great feeling for flatter plane swingers).
If you’re naturally more flat, find feeling that matches that plane and you’ll find faster results. If you try to steepen your plane you will have a hard time teaching yourself the kinematic sequence. Use what you have and stay within the laws of physics and you’ll be perfect.
Happy Golfing!
Thanks Sam, For me, that really helped explain the square to square swing with the driver. The concept of the hub in the lead shoulder was an eye opener. I believe I was too focused on my hands.
Thanks again,
Steve
Awesome! Glad to have helped!
Happy Golfing!
Your description of the slow down, flip and resultant early extension are spot on. This now seems to be a thing of the past for me after 3 years of trying to cure it. Shoulders shoulders shoulders… After incorporating elements of S2S, my shoulder turn still slows down but much later in the swing and in general after impact. Having said that I find if I swing too swiftly and cut the through swing off too early it puts pressure on my right gluteus and lower back. A more conventional finish and release (not like Zach Johnson) seems to help my back. Also, slowing down gives me a better chance at compression. But, that’s hard to do in tourneys and weekend matches. Thanks for your work Sam!
Awesome Freddie!
Thanks for posting and I really do appreciate hearing your comments. It’s very helpful as I continue to simplify and perfect the message.
Happy Golfing!
I think the terminology “Tour Radius” is useful, if nothing else as differentiating buzz term, but the video was less useful than your other free content. I think mostly because the visual presentation never held the alignment with the left shoulder, and the angle that was used in demonstration, combined with the shoulder lift presented an image of a swing that would bind up and fail to release.
I have to say your swing thoughts, preset impact and left shoulder initiation have been very useful to me, especially around the greens. (not so much with driver). When worked in conjunction with Rob Bernard’s Center of Gravity Golf concepts it has worked well.
Hope to see more video’s on your tour quest posted. Enjoy following you, as well as Rich Sheils and Peter Finch in the UK, who have a similar quest going in the UK, to make the British Open.
Thanks for your insight Arthur. I like the term as well. Sometimes having a “buzz term” is really helpful when communicating specific philosophies. I think the biggest disconnect in the release question comes from the common belief that the wrists need to roll and close the face in order to hit a straight shot or draw. We are finding more and more examples from the PGA tour of swings that get the face square to the arc very early in the downswing and then allow the player to drive the body and club through impact with no wrist roll. Players like Zach Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and even Jim Furyk.. they all have the face square to the arc when the club is about parallel to the ground (or earlier) on the approach to impact.
Thanks again for posting. These insights often help more than the person who writes them and they definitely help me define my approach and get better at explaining it.
Happy Golfing!
I have been following your square to square swing for years .It works but then I lose it.When I start my down swing with driving my front shoulder up I must be lifting my body up I hit a lot of thin and topped shots with my irons.Should I try a flatter swing plane.
Hello Ed. Thank you for writing in.
do you have an idea of where your alignments are at impact? Are your hands in line with your lead shoulder and your shaft? From face-on, do you see some flipping happening?
Since I posted this I have watched the three free videos on grooving your swing which I have been doing and now I am getting better.That is a great drill.Thanks Sam.
Awesome Ed! Glad to hear it!
Fell free to ask any time you have questions. I have been using all the great questions and feedback from you guys to help shape my lessons and courses.
Thanks again for your comments 🙂
Happy Golfing!
Hi Sam, I have been following your videos for a year or so and I finally jumped in. I have to say , I finally feel the ability to be consistent playing this game. I played baseball through college , was a pitcher actually, and used to throw in the low 90’s, so I know what its like when you groove. This swing brings me back to that feeling. Feels great to be able to hit a golf ball at a target ..lol I still have some kinks and about 3 to 4 million golf ball to hit .,,, but I think I’m getting there. One other thing… I have only been playing for 5 years or so ,,, why is it that when you mention this swing to alot of golf pro’s they immediately dismiss it …. I would love to do a live session or two to really iron out your concepts
Hi Brian, Thanks for writing.
Really glad you have found some good things with the swing.
I’m not sure why golf pros don’t know how this swing works. It could be that older pros have heard of other “square to square” swing methods that are not sound. If you ever need to prove the method to anyone just mention Zach Johnson or Steve Stricker.
As far as a live session, are you interested in joining “The Ulitmate Experience” golf school in November? I have two spots available for this 3-day golf school.
Let me know if you’d like more details.
Sam
Thanks great video,
to maintain the radius or alignments at address, I think, the locking of wrists at the start of backswing is so important. However, I think there can be some individual error to lock the wrists, Can you tell me some more detail about the locking of wrists?
Jae
Thanks for the kind words Jae!
As far as locking the wrists, it’s not an absolute but more of a suggestion. I see a lot of players who are able to add wrist hinge and then release it nearing impact but the most consistent players are able to create a consistent arc through impact.
A great visual example of this is Steve Stricker. Watch this video to see what I mean. https://youtu.be/DsgVW-_5PYo
Sam. great concept that really pulls everything together. I have also incorporated the tour radius concept in with the chips, pitches and putts as well to help me find the bottom of the arc. I can achieve consistent contact by “locking” in the front arm and keeping the arms connected with the body.
I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the front arm in the swing in context of the tour radius and potential “dynamically” shortening of this radius in full swings i.e. keep the front arm straight or slightly bent discussion? I think I get a slight bend in the arms in the back swing, possibly due to the momentum of the club, that seems to carry through to impact. A shorter back swing has helped!
What I have noticed is, at impact, is my arms are slightly bent and both arms are a little more apart than I would like. I’ve looked at Jordan Spieths 2015 swing and also notice his arms are slightly apart and bent at impact. Are there any timing implications or body adjustments that happen as a result…can they be eliminated to simplify the swing?
Great question. The big thing to me is that you have a consistent intention which should allow for a consistent result. If your intention is changing your swing will change. The coolest thing is that our bodies react to our intentions so well that we don’t have to get too picky about all the millions of movements occurring in that 2 second space. Just have a clear intention and let the mind tell the body what to do.
Hi Sam, I have one other question with respects to swing path and the tour radius that has come up in previous comments.
I recently watched a video where Justin Rose commented on “steeper” iron swings, you need to swing outside in where “flatter” iron swings you need to swing inside out. Also hear that Hogan had a flatter swing because of biomechanics i.e. short body, long arms.
You have given a great explanation of ball position relative to club path in other videos so I would like to hear more about the type of swing (steep or flat) relative to club path in S2S i.e. some refer to the D-Plane.
As always…appreciate your insights!
Great question. I wish I had the extensive knowledge of biomechanics to fully answer. I will say the our bodies will respond in the best way possible to the clear intention. If you have a tool to measure your swing and ball flight you can make a more educated decision when you’re choosing your intention. Hope this is helpful. At the end of the day, pay attention to your stats and you will make the right call for your body.
That’s actually a really good response that I put into my last nights practice session!
I also went back to your blog on “teaching vs learning” and watched your “covering the ball video” (for the 10th time;) where I saw you “demonstrate with intent” for the first time…very inspiring (the helmet in the door was also cool)! My practice was on different shapes and trajectories and each shot I set the intent for the shot (i.e. high draw driver), visualized the shot and most of the time delivered without any mechanical swing thoughts!
Simple yet dope:)
Awesome shonn! Keep it up!
Hey Sam great video, I have question on tee shots on par 3’s – should you still maintain a forward shaft lean and weight on lead foot when using an iron off the tee .
Keep up the great! Work!
Good question Andrian.
Unless you’re visualizing a higher shot, you can always set up with an iron with weight a little left. This may cause a little steeper angle of attack so keep that in mind when you are teeing it up. Definitely doesn’t need to be teed up very high if you are descending through the shot.
Thanks Sam
Will give it a try.
Having a lot of success on the range with your method,looking forward to taking it out on the course.
Keep the great videos going in 2016!
Hi Sam,
What a great video explaining about the radius, I’d never thought about having to maintain the constant radius arc, it really makes sense! I have the skypro all which shows me my swing and what it classes as areas to improve! The 3 issues I constantly have are my takeaway angle of 20 degrees which it says is very inside, at the top of my back swing the shaft direction is 19 degrees very inside and finally my attack angle at impact is 8 degrees (very down)! My swing at the top is short of horizontal which is a huge improvement for me and I’m getting a nice flight on the shot with decent accuracy! My question is are these improvement areas typical with the square to square swing or is it something that I really should focus on improving? Keep up the great work you make a difficult game a lot more fun!!
Thanks John! Would love to see a video of your swing. I’d be happy to help out. Do you have the ability to video a quick shot from down the line with an iron?
Hi Sam, I’ll ask my other half to film it at the range for me and I’ll send it over to you very soon
Many thanks
John
This is a great video. I was having less and less success with the S2S, but this got me back on track. I found I was moving my head back, among other things. So thanks, getting better. Still a high handicap though. One thing that I REALLY have to watch is my arms tensing. I find that concentrating on a very firm grip makes my arms tense, unless I really concentrate on relaxing, which is sort of counter intuitive. When I can keep the hands just a little firm, I can keep my arms and body more relaxed. May be just me, but I bet there are others that maybe could benefit from your thoughts on this. Another question I have is on your mastery course. I need help especially with my short game, chips and pitches. Is there a lot dedicated to this in the Mastery Course? Thanks so much
Thanks for writing Guy.
1. your question about the grip: I prefer the feeling of a secure but tension free grip. It’s hard to explain but i would just say that you can find a grip that will be secure and not shifting around in the swing but it doesn’t have to be tight.
2. short game in the mastery course: yes there is a section on short game but I would also be happy to help you out directly with any questions you have. Feel free to send me an email or just reach out with a call. sam@samgouldengolf.com or 636-221-4133
Sam
This is a little off topic, but I have a question. Do you think that lag loading the hands on the back swing. ie dragging the club just slightly behind the hands, is a good way to ad power and backspin on the ball with the squares method. I have experimented with it and it seems to help keep the club square on the back swing. I have noticed in old tapes of Hogan that he lag loaded his hands as did several other old players of the past. I think it was a holdover move from the hickory shaft days but it is kind of interesting to see how it makes you slow down the swing a bit and it kind of helps keep you on plane, but I haven’t done enough of it to make a decision to incorporate it into my regular swing. Just wondered what you think.
Good Observation Gale. There is definitely a throw-back to the lag-loading from the old days. That said, it can still be used today effectively as long as you have an awareness for the forward low-point. I’ve found that it can complicate things – especially with shorter shots – so I don’t suggest or teach it.
Sam, I am a four handicap from Ottawa Canada> I have studied all of your Youtube material and anything I can get my hands on that you have posted. I have also been on a search to that elusive tournament swing that will deliver in amateur events in my area. Your S2S material has been very helpful, and bears some similarities to the S&T material that I have also studied. I am now 53 and have read hundreds of books and many different philosophies, in search of the “tournament caliber swing”. The tour radius was very helpful. I am a “digger” of the golf ball and seem to bring the club in too steeply with this method. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how I might shallow that tour radius out? Being a digger has physical consequences over time. I also struggle a little with the release, since I started the game as a roll release player, its so difficult to release without any forearm roll. Any tips to teach an old competitor how to do this?
Thanks for writing Norm.
I’m working with a very competitive senior golfer from Chicago who sounds very similar to you. We spend a ton of time just working on short swings and grooving the impact and body rotation to eliminate the rolling of the hands. A stronger grip is also essential to get your club-face more closed than normal – forcing you to rotate your body and arrive at impact with forward shaft lean.
As far as radius, being too steep is a rare issue and most common with better players so I don’t have much content on this. the main thing to understand is that your lead shoulder, lead hip, and golf club handle all need to rise and move left through impact. The more your lead shoulder rises and rotates the shallower the angle of attack.
Hope this helps Norm. Would love to see your swing in person some time.
Sam
Thanks Sam. My ball striking has taken on a new quality and sound…..provided I never roll-release……..absolutely no forearm rotation! With this swing It feels like the club is squeezing. The ball feels like it is on the club-face for a long time (just a feeling). Your covering the ball video is excellent. Your wedge system of 3 positions with each wedge was very helpful today with my distance control/confidence. I hit a 108 yard position 2 48 degree PW and tapped in a bird. Other wedges were great contact and trajectory. I work all winter (inside of course) with a Flightscope and understand much of the ball-flight laws. It will be great to see the numbers on this swing. It feels like the clubhead speed is down but smash is up and trajectory is flatter with good spin. Regarding the “too much down” in my swing, I am working to raise the left shoulder supported by the left hip, but not snapping the left knee as this would not be good long term (Tigers issue may be related to this). A strong left quad and flared left foot seem to help. I noticed that Spieth “chicken wings” a little to help the face stay square for a long period…and he’s not bad under pressure (quite the Open exhibition this year). Your video on keeping the sternum over the ball and not ahead of the ball seems like a good thought to maintain the “tour radius” in without too much down.
Anyway, thank you so much for the excellent Youtube videos, you are helping an old Canadian hockey player eh?
Norm