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Irons: Compress the BallImpact Position Irons Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 8 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Shaft Lean at Impact: Brake to Release

The “lean at impact” concept is all over YouTube. Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, finds it annoying: it’s just a snapshot of a single movement. He suggests the opposite—pushing with your hands and slowing down at impact so that the clubhead accelerates.

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Padraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

5 minSame problemJustin Rose's Tips for Making More BirdiesJustin Rose · Intermediate19 minSame problemHands in front of the clubhead at impact to compress the ballGabriel Anglade · Intermediate / Expert7 minFrom the same proPre-shot routine under pressure: HarringtonPadraig Harrington · Beginner / Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

Padraig Harrington begins with a criticism: the lean of the club shaft is shown as a static position, hands in front of the ball. Yet this is just a moment in a movement. The club relaxes most effectively in the manner of a pendulum: If the top of the swing moves, the head doesn't accelerate. Pushing your hands toward the target causes the swing to “drift”: you lose speed and contact, and end up with a flip and hooks with the driver. Conversely, you need to hit the brakes: Pull your hands upward, like a handbrake in a video game, to launch the clubhead.

Lag isn't a problem worth investigating: he mentions very few modern players who “cast.” To detect lag, he suggests “jelly-like” arm”, very relaxed during the backswing. But in actual play, the instruction is simple: take a three-quarter swing, shoulder to shoulder, then pull through and stop at impact with your body, hips, arms, and hands. He assures us that his hands will still be ahead at impact in the still image. He also demonstrates that you can release the club to hit a fade just as easily as a draw.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Take a few very relaxed swings, with your arms “as loose as jelly,” to feel the lag.
  2. Go back to a three-quarter swing, shoulder to shoulder.
  3. On the downswing, let the club drop without trying to maintain the angle.
  4. Upon impact, brake: your body, hips, arms, and hands come to a stop and are pulled upward.
  5. Let the clubhead swing through and relax.
  6. Finish with a three-quarter finish, keeping good form.
  7. On the course, play without overthinking it and let yourself relax.

Key Takeaways

The "lean" of the handle is a snapshot of a movement, not a position to be copied.
The club swings like a pendulum whose top remains anchored.
Pushing your hands toward the target causes you to lose speed and contact.
We “pull the handbrake”: the hands pull upward upon impact.
Keeping your arms relaxed during the backswing creates lag without even thinking about it.
You can release the club for both a fade and a draw.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Copy a static impact position with your hands pushed forward.
  • Let your arms drift toward the target.
  • Holding the angle too long: flip and hook at the end of the stroke.
  • Do everything possible to avoid “casting.”.
  • Practice full swings instead of three-quarter swings during practice.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. “Jelly-arm” swings for that lag sensation
  2. Three-quarter sets, shoulder to shoulder
  3. Slow down and hold the finish on every ball
  4. A few fades and draws by letting the club go

Your Questions

Do you have to push your hands in front of the ball to get a lean?

No. According to Padraig Harrington, pushing with your hands causes the swing to drift: the clubhead accelerates less, contact suffers, and you end up losing your composure. Instead, you need to slow down at impact.

What does “pull the handbrake” mean?

This is how it looks: at impact, the hands pull upward and the body stops. Like the top of a pendulum that’s been anchored, this deceleration causes the clubhead to accelerate.

Will my hands still be in front of the ball?

Yes. Harrington says that in the still image, his hands are in the right position at impact, even as he’s trying to swing the club as hard as possible.

How can you experience lag without causing it?

Keep your arms very relaxed during the backswing—as if they were “made of jelly.” The more flexible your arms are, the longer the club trails. This is an exercise in feel, not a way to play.

Learn More

All “Irons - Compressing the Ball” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Impact Position” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Hands in front of the clubhead at impact to compress the ballCompression comes from dynamic loft, not a steeper angle of attack: grip end toward the hip crease, timing, hands forward, left wrist bowed. Justin Rose's Tips for Making More BirdiesFrom the drive to the putt, Rose provides a tip for each shot: maximum speed after the ball, shift your weight to the left to compress the ball, and use your upper body when hitting wedges. Viktor Hovland's Ball Striking: Height and TriggerOn the driving range, Hovland explains how he gained speed, how he gets the ball higher or lower with his 7-iron, and what trigger sets off his swing. Padraig HarringtonAll of his lessons

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

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