Casting ~ The Truth!
If you hit a good drive and it goes about 225 yards and you weigh over 150 pounds, I can pretty much assure you, that you are casting the club on the downswing. I weigh 155 pounds, I’m 5’9”, and can hit the ball 290-310 yards. So can you! (Sorry if that sounded like a cheesy infomercial off the Golf Channel)
Casting the club on the downswing is still the leading swing fault that leads to shorter drives and iron shots. Don’t know what casting means?
Casting refers to the pre-mature wrist release on the downswing. The move starts from the very top of the swing where the wrists are cocked, then, on the way down the player will release their wrist cock early. This move looks like a fisherman trying to cast his line into a lake (hence the name). Casting turns your golf swing into an armsy motion that lacks power. How does this move kill power? Think about it this way, what part of your body can you move the faster, your wrist or your arm? Since you can snapped your wrists faster than you can move your arm, your wrists play a huge part in creating more power.
The opposite of casting, known as creating lag, is more efficient in creating power because it uses the power in the larger muscles, and then transfers it to the smaller quicker muscles right before impact. The club speeds up tremendously in the last two feet before the ball. Take a look at these two pictures of my downswing. Now look at how far my wrists have traveled compared to how far the clubhead has traveled.
When a player casts the club, the club will be even with the arms from about hip-height on into impact. Take a stab at which swing would create more power. Then ask yourself… could I be hitting it further?
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Take Care!
