FinishBody Rotation Irons Intermediate ⏱ 19 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Golf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finish

Name: Golf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finish
Uploaded: 2025-07-10T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 19 min 24 s
Channel: Greg Jones
Description: Do you stop your body so you can swing with your hands? Greg Jones calls this flaw the “pivot stall” and teaches the part of the swing that people tend to forget: rotating to the left all the way through the finish. An open left foot, a continuous pivot, and three drills for hitting straight shots under pressure.

Do you stop your body so you can swing with your hands? Greg Jones calls this flaw the “pivot stall” and teaches the part of the swing that people tend to forget: rotating to the left all the way through the finish. An open left foot, a continuous pivot, and three drills for hitting straight shots under pressure.

▶

Greg Jones · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

8 minSame problemWeight on the front heel: the key to a stable finishSimon Camirand · Intermediate 14 minSame problemCollin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the TargetCollin Morikawa · Intermediate / Expert 7 minSame problemLack of extension after impact: the Marchildon exerciseCharles Marchildon · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

For Greg Jones, the key lies in three steps: turn right, center yourself, turn left. However, most instruction focuses on the first half of the swing. As a result, many players stop their bodies at impact and save the shot with their hands—which he calls the pivot stall. The image: a stone tied to the end of a string. If you stop spinning, the stone slips away; in golf, your hands compensate, resulting in fat shots that skim the ground, are thin, or veer to the left.

The most common cause is on the ground: a left foot too square which prevents the swing, causing the player to stand up or step back. The solution: after setting the club down and positioning your feet square to the face, Turn your left foot out 20 to 30 degrees, without changing the heel line. This foot becomes the “catcher’s mitt” that catches you. You then continue to rotate after impact, like Ernie Els does with his wedges, and control the finish using the heel-line exercise.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Place the club behind the ball with both hands, feet square to the face.
Turn your left foot out 20 to 30 degrees without moving your heel.
With the wedge, keep rotating after impact—calmly, just like Ernie Els.
Place a rod along the heel line and use a No. 7 iron set about halfway back.
End the stroke with the club parallel to the ground, above the clubhead, with the clubface square to the horizon.
If that's not enough, slide a baguette under your hands in the grip or hold the club halfway down the shaft, and rotate to bring it behind you.
Check your form at the finish: full weight on the left foot, right foot on the toes, right knee against the left knee.

Key Takeaways

The complete pivot: turn to the right, realign, turn to the left.

Stopping your body to hit with your hands results in a fat shot, a thin shot, or a ball to the left.

A left foot that's too square blocks the rotation.

Opening your left foot by 20 to 30° does not widen your stance: your heels remain square.

After the impact, we keep spinning, but we don't go any faster.

At the finish: right shoulder toward the target, right knee against the left knee, on the ball of the right foot.

Mistakes to Avoid

Stop rotating upon impact to strike with your hands.
The left foot is perpendicular to the line of play.
Back up or reverse downhill if there isn't enough room to turn.
Land on the ball of your right foot, with your weight shifted backward.
A release that's too “flippy,” which closes the clubface.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

Pre-shot routine: club in place, feet square, left foot turned out
Wedges that continue to spin after impact
7th Form, Mid-Distance, Heel-Line Drill
A wand in both hands or a club held halfway down the shaft

Your Questions

Does opening my left foot mean opening my stance?

No. Greg Jones insists: the heels should remain parallel; only the tip of the left foot should turn out 20 to 30°. This gives you room to turn.

How does the heel line exercise work?

A stick is placed along the heels. Using a 7-iron swung about halfway through the swing, you finish with the club parallel to the ground above the stick, with the clubface square to the horizon. The balls fly straight.

Do you have to turn faster to avoid a pivot stall?

No. The key word is “continue”: after impact, you keep the swing going without forcing it, just like Ernie Els does on his wedge shots.

Could my shoes get in the way of my finish?

According to Greg Jones, flexible shoes with mesh uppers encourage you to land on the ball of your right foot, leaving weight behind and putting strain on your lower back. He recommends a sturdier model for landing on the balls of your feet.

Learn More

All “Finish” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Body Rotation” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Bending Your Knees at the Address: Use the Shoelaces as a GuideBending your knees too much restricts rotation: two guidelines—the club held at the tip of your knee should fall in line with your shoelaces, and the grip should point toward your navel. Weight on the front heel: the key to a stable finishPlacing a ball under the front heel helps you learn to turn by leaning on that heel rather than pushing sideways and ending up on your toes. Same speed on the upswing and downswing: slow down your swingMove up and down at what feels like the same speed, then hold the finish position for three seconds: an imbalance at the finish indicates that your body is moving too fast. Greg JonesAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Greg Jones). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.