Dan Martin's downswing feel/move.

[Deadaimz]

I found this video from Dan Martin downswing feel interesting. Has anyone tried this as a reaching swimming move? 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

Whatever works is the answer, I guess.

 

Seems to me like once he gets past the "hook" of reaching, which doesn't resonate with me, and goes into the split hands bit which has been out there forever the whole "reach" really goes out the window.  Contrived to me, but no golf wizard here.

 

But many are commenting it's brilliant and was a revelation so you never know.  

[virtuoso]

Not my cup of tea.

[Chip Duffer]

I think it’s interesting. Clearly intended for a new golfer or someone who is really putting too much movement into the swing. 
 

The “hockey swing” really is about staying centered and balanced and allowing the club to release through the bottom of the swing.

[PedronNiall]

Shawn Clement-esque in terms of trying to help people relate to an action they already know as a shortcut to the golf swing. Entirely possible for someone brand new to it this may help avoid some common swing flaws. Clement shows students of his at different levels utilizing what he teaches and seeing this one in action would go a long way to showing that it's in the same wheelhouse, especially for better players. From some of the comments it at least does it for certain people so maybe something to keep in the box as a potential light bulb moment for new or struggling golfers. 

 

For myself, like others above it doesn't resonate with me. 100% on board with the reach with the trail hand from standing or from a backswing turn position but nothing of it feels natural or easy trying to "reach" with the split hand drill or with a normal grip. The split hand drill helps with a natural downswing arc assuming someone has made a good turn to begin with but reaching? Eh.

[Hawkeye77]

Honestly, the best feel I ever got and needed at the time was Monte having me hit a shot with a (very large) range bucket between my legs - I was chuckling when he was having another forum member do it, then "oh, this is for you, too!"  

 

Maybe that wasn't worded as artfully as it could have been, lol, but . . . something simple that worked, not trying to come up with something just to come up with something.

[Deadaimz]

I still yet to try it as a feel but I have tried the pulling an arrow out of the quiver feel which has produced at times. This one to me seems like it would be a steeper approach. 

[jaffabell]

On 3/3/2025 at 2:10 AM, Hawkeye77 said:

Honestly, the best feel I ever got and needed at the time was Monte having me hit a shot with a (very large) range bucket between my legs - I was chuckling when he was having another forum member do it, then "oh, this is for you, too!"  

 

Maybe that wasn't worded as artfully as it could have been, lol, but . . . something simple that worked, not trying to come up with something just to come up with something.

Can I ask what that was for/ to fix?

[Hawkeye77]

2 hours ago, jaffabell said:

Can I ask what that was for/ to fix?

Keep my right hip from firing early and out, pelvis moving properly, weight transfer in transition - at least that was my take on it.  

Edited May 20 by Hawkeye77

[jaffabell]

8 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Keep my right hip from firing early and out, pelvis moving properly, weight transfer in transition - at least that was my take on it.  

I'm trying to imagine this drill... so the bucket was placed somewhere between the knees?

[Hawkeye77]

12 minutes ago, jaffabell said:

I'm trying to imagine this drill... so the bucket was placed somewhere between the knees?

Here's something along the same lines if it helps - we just happened to have a large and very wide range bucket handy at the time (not a normal one).

 

 

Edited May 20 by Hawkeye77

[RayPlan]

3 hours ago, jaffabell said:

Can I ask what that was for/ to fix?

Probably this:

 

 

What say you, sensei? @virtuoso

 

 

[virtuoso]

The drill just encourages external rotation of the hips/knees. Some need it, some don’t.

[RayPlan]

6 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

The drill just encourages external rotation of the hips/knees. Some need it, some don’t.

Huh. I figured the squeeze necessary to keep it in place would have created internal rotation, at least at first.

[jaffabell]

18 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

The drill just encourages external rotation of the hips/knees. Some need it, some don’t.

Do I need it? That's all I care about 🙂 

[virtuoso]

1 hour ago, RayPlan said:

Huh. I figured the squeeze necessary to keep it in place would have created internal rotation, at least at first.

Well, you're supposed to keep it here in the backswing and then let it fall at the beginning of the downswing, so not exactly what i think should happen. Skips over a critical phase.

Edited May 20 by virtuoso

[virtuoso]

1 hour ago, jaffabell said:

Do I need it? That's all I care about 🙂 

Bad drill for you.

[RayPlan]

3 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

Well, you're supposed to keep it here in the backswing and then let it fall at the beginning of the downswing, so not exactly what i think should happen. Skips over a critical phase.

Oh, I didn't watch the beach ball video, so I assumed it would stay squeezed at least through transition. That's goofy.

 

I recall AMG had a video pointing out that that most pros measured in GEARS actually get their knees closer together exactly at the point where this drill would have you spread them apart.

[jaffabell]

27 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

Bad drill for you.

Please detail why that is if you get time, to help me understand why 🙂 

[virtuoso]

26 minutes ago, jaffabell said:

Please detail why that is if you get time, to help me understand why 🙂 

External rotation of the hips facilitates torso rotation, and thus shoulder rotation. You already open up too soon and then stand up out of it. What you need is deeper hip turn going back, deeper arm swing, more pivot compression as you start down with more club shallowing, and more delay on hip and torso rotation as you shift your pelvis slightly more left. That drill wouldn't be that bad for you if you felt your butt sitting down away from the ball as you did it, but if it triggered rotation before you shifted pelvis, it would be counter productive.....and it would initially make your arm swing too steep based on where your arms are now at the top.

Edited May 20 by virtuoso