Unlocking a powerful, accurate golf swing often comes down to one critical moment: the release. Understanding how and when to turn your hands over through impact is the secret to squaring the clubface, generating effortless speed, and finally taming that pesky slice. This guide will break down what a proper release truly is, why it's so important, and provide you with actionable drills to start feeling it in your own swing.
First, let's clear up some confusion. The phrase "turn your hands over" can be misleading. It conjures up an image of actively and forcefully twisting your wrists at the point of impact. This is not what we're after. A forced, wristy flip is a recipe for inconsistency, leading to vicious hooks or thin, "scooped" shots.
A proper release is less about the hands and more about the forearms naturally rotating through the impact zone. Think of it as a release of stored energy. As you unwind your body from the top of the backswing, your arms and the club lag behind. Through the impact area, your forearms naturally rotate in response to the momentum of the swing. The trail forearm (right forearm for a righty) rotates over the lead forearm. This isn't an abrupt, jerky action, it’s a smooth, powerful acceleration through the golf ball.
A better way to feel this is to think about throwing a ball underhand or skipping a stone. You don't consciously flip your wrist at the last second, your arm and hand naturally rotate to generate speed and direct the object toward your target. The golf release is the same athletic principle. It’s what allows the clubface, which is naturally opening on the backswing, to rotate back to a square position just in time for impact.
Mastering this correct forearm rotation is more than just a minor tweak, it fundamentally impacts the three things every golfer wants: power, accuracy, and consistency.
The "crack of the whip" effect is a great analogy for clubhead speed. The handle of the whip moves relatively slowly, but the tip accelerates to incredible speeds. In your golf swing, your body is the handle and the clubhead is the tip. The smooth, fast rotation of your forearms through impact is what accelerates that clubhead, creating a massive burst of speed right where you need it. This is how players who aren't physically imposing can still generate impressive distance. They're not muscling the ball, they're using the kinetic chain efficiently and releasing the club's energy at the perfect moment.
The number one killer of accuracy for amateur golfers is an open clubface at impact. Why does this happen? The majority of the time, it's a failure to release the club. As you swing down, if your arms and body "stall" and you don't allow those forearms to rotate, the clubface is left wide open, putting nasty sidespin on the ball that results in a weak slice. A proper release ensures the clubface rotates from open to square just as it meets the ball. When the clubface is square to the swing path, you get straight shots.
When you learn to release the club correctly, you get rid of the two most frustrating misses in golf: the smothered hook and the weak slice.
By learning a-body-led, natural release, you find the middle ground: a consistent, powerful draw or a straight-as-an-arrow ball flight.
Feeling this movement is far more effective than just thinking about it. Here are some simple drills you can do at the range to engrain the feeling of a proper release.
This is one of the best drills to feel how the hands and arms should work together.
What you'll feel: With your hands separated, you can't use your muscles to force the club. You'll naturally feel the clubhead wanting to "release" or turn over through impact. Your lead arm will feel like it's guiding the swing, while your trail hand and arm will feel like they're releasing and adding the speed. After hitting the ball, your trail arm should be extended and your forearms will have rotated.
This drill isolates the impact zone and gives you clear visual feedback on your release.
What you should see: At the 3 o'clock position, the toe of the club should be pointing straight up to the sky. This is proof that your forearms have fully rotated through the ball. If the clubface is still pointing at the target or even towards the ground, it means you're "holding on" and not releasing.
This drill helps you get the feeling of "bowing" your lead wrist, a common trait in great ball strikers that promotes a powerful, compressed strike and a full release.
What you'll feel: This move closes the clubface, so you'll feel like you have to rotate your body hard to keep the ball from going left. This is a good thing! It forces you to use your big muscles to power the swing, which is the engine for a proper release.
Your journey to a better release might hit a few bumps. Here are the most common issues and how to think about them.
Learning how to properly turn your hands over - or more accurately, allow your forearms to rotate - is about syncing your body and arms to deliver the clubhead with speed and precision. It’s not a forceful move, but a natural unwinding that squares the face and creates power. Working through the drills consistently will build this athletic motion into your muscle memory and transform your ball striking.
Sometimes, seeing what's happening in your swing provides the biggest breakthroughs. If you’re struggling to feel the release, I can help. With Caddie AI, you can upload a video of yourself doing one of these drills, and I will analyze your movement instantly. I can point out if you’re releasing too early, holding off, or if your forearms are crossing over perfectly, giving you the specific feedback you need to turn frustrating practice sessions into real progress.
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