8- Baton Twirl Drill

[@troyugrich9720]

One of the better understanding of how “let the club do its job” videos I’ve seen in years!!! Thank you MA keep the videos coming please!!

[@MartinAyersGolf]

Glad it was helpful!

[@steveng8727]

Love this- "The proper sequence is to lead the club back, then once it begins to swing you follow it to the finish. That way you never have to stall and wait for it."

[@ramboronkim]

Brilliant. This drill helped me learn how to release the club

[@dwallaby]

This right here...this drill...was the lightbulb moment for me. I always believed that the swing was around in a circle. This has shown me it's linear in an arc. I am ever so grateful. It's transformed my whole game: chipping, pitching, bunkers, even my putting. I think differently now as I let the club show me the position(s) it needs to be in to deliver optimum performance for whatever shot is required. It's so much easier than placing the club into positions, it's natural. I have a VHS of Bob Mann from 1983 who sold "Automatic Golf" in which he adheres to the principle of the baton twirl...it just wasn't explained in this way I'm seeing here. The communication of all tutors is different. This is the one that's resonated with me...even though it was touted to me 40 years ago. Oh, how I wish I'd stuck with Bob. I live on the Gold Coast and I'd love to catch up with Martin sometime. He seems to be on my level of thinking on a number of subjects. It would make interesting & stimulating conversation. This baton twirl drill is my 'go to' in every shot and the enlightenment it has provided has opened a portal in my mind to now trust 'reverse engineering' in all things.

[@macdaddyblues1]

Just be the ball Danny. lol

[@dwallaby]

Lol

[@dwallaby]

(Chevy Chase) Flalalalalala…

[@kipkapper3014]

i learn balls , but i love listening to ayers.

[@rayhickey6768]

Same here - straight to this from BBG.

[@ArchieBallCat]

Here because of Be Better Golf

[@DC-ln8wp]

Same

[@DinkandDunk]

Do you understand his philo?

[@markbusch1721]

Same

[@gitbse]

​@BuffEverett I'm trying, and it's starting to click. Honestly, what helps is actually physically trying to feel what he's describing. Also, using something that weighs like a club, but doesn't have a head, like an Orange Whip. It allows my brain to see what he means by end over end better without a head.

[@Orthoshooter]

I just did 10 minutes of the baton drill. So interesting! I seemed to gain speed and feel the more I did it. I tend to steepen the club and have to early extend to shallow it. As a result, my path gets way too far in to out. My path on the GC Quad was -1 to + 1 with very little ball curvature. Excited to keep working on it.

[@johnmcgiv1]

Wild Bill Methorn did similar grass cutting its more difficult when using 2 hands slight restriction. Great video, many thanks.

[@patrickgiles-ou1dp]

Reciprocating forces… one feeds of the other… backswing then downswing… all caused by the “twirl”… love it 👏👏👏

[@MartinAyersGolf]

Like a pole and a vaulter 👍🏻

[@patrickgiles-ou1dp]

@@MartinAyersGolf have followed your vids from when you worked with Elk on this curling process, tried it but didn’t understand it till this vid with JH… the modern trend towards body release is hard work to take into later life… the “twirl” isn’t …in physics the law of Conservation of Energy roughly states that the energy in any closed system remains constant. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it just shifts from one form to another… this is what you have tapped into and seemingly perfected… it truly becomes effortless power instead of powerful effort… and as you have pointed out, many of the top players actually do a version of your “twirl” without actually knowing what they are doing… Freddy being a good example… love your work.

[@Orthoshooter]

I think Jake Knapp illustrates your swing principles nicely! Easy power👀

[@3st1mat0r]

Everyone should use this drill in their warm up, brilliant.

[@lancejordan6953]

I think I can do this move now and understand it which like you said is the biggest part. But I feel like when the club drops behind me and the club head is leading the down swing I lose my pressure or my spiral up from my feet through my shoulders. Seems like I'm suppose to be still pressured to the right. Do I just work on letting the club fall and that will give me distance because right now I can only hit a 6 iron 150 yards. Also I tried that holding the club up before it turns me over and completely understood the putting more in because that is exactly what it felt like, it seemed to give me a lot of leverage which felt awesome. But I just need to know what I need to work on. I know I got the first crossroad down just feel like I don't have leverage when it turns me over or I don't understand what brings the speed on the second part of the swing. Maybe I need to just practice more of the falling behind me?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

You nailed it in the middle there. Keep pouring on the backswing, until it turns you over. This drill has shown you how well you can follow the club once it’s leading you.

[@keithdavis9476]

Is this "The Twirl" that you've spoken of in the past? If so, I've never understood it until now, but this video does an excellent job making it clear! Thank you!

[@dagreatstoney.5869]

Vow , this is fantastic, for me this is your best content

[@briantimlin2650]

When you start to feel problems in transition even though using alignment and drag is that the need to practise the baton drill?

[@colmgriffin6358]

Hi Martin great stuff. The baton drill sounds a lot like Mike malaska philosophy aswell regarding end over end . His phrase for that was pivoting the golf club . There was also a book Martin that I got a hold of . Reg whitcombe who won a British open in 1938 at Royal St George's in horrendous conditions. The book was called golfs no mystery. He talked a lot about one handed swings that should show you how the club swung. I practised it and got better and felt effortless golf shots but then got worse . But I do feel if you read his book you would interpret it a lot better with your knowledge . Thanks

[@love2flash]

so it seems like the twirl is on the back side on the down swing and your body is just following?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@love2flash correct 👍🏻 It’s following in sequence even though we all know it and see it as the downswing being led by the lower. Visually from caddy view , it looks that way, which is why so many decent players get ahead of it and then have to stall.

[@mikechack]

Love the concepts. For me and possibly many others the baton drill feels very natural when performed with one arm. Introducing both hands connected starts to reveal physical limitations and constraints that make the motion much more challenging. Any hints/thoughts regarding how to address this?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

Hi Mike. I would bet that the main issue is less to do with limitations and more to do with your current swing "pattern" short circuiting the action. My advice would be to begin with NO tension, then introduce the alignment fundamental and drag tension/pressure from there. Hope that helps.

[@lancejordan6953]

Could you tell me why I say hit and go and do a little press forward and then back I crush the ball for me. I might have been dragging the club back when trying it the first couple of days. I just said hit and go and something happened. It looks like Matt wolf or feels like it. anyway.

[@MartinAyersGolf]

The hit and go you described is what I detail in video #1. It stabilizes both ends of the club prior to the swing taking off. This stability is felt in your hands and will remain with you in the swing unless you do something to mess it up. 👍🏻

[@joegomez5807]

Great video. Around the 3:15 mark is classic as Martin gets after JH.

[@MartinAyersGolf]

To be fair at 3:15 I'm having a go at everyone, including my former self. We all bring some of our own brand of unnecessary bullshit to this game. The sooner you accept that and overcome it the better off you'll be :)

[@joegomez5807]

@@MartinAyersGolf I sorry and did not mean to be disrespectful. It is funny as JH starts to do his own thing and you rein him in. I am trying to get back into golf and watching a lot of videos and stumbled on your system. There is a lot of Ben hogan Moe Norman count Yogi, JH in your system. Thanks.

[@troyugrich9720]

One of the better understanding of how “let the club do its job” videos I’ve seen in years!!! Thank you MA keep the videos coming please!!

[@goathumper111]

​@@MartinAyersGolf good to see you and JH collaborating again.

[@markcampbell1708]

Here because of Be Better Golf. This is hugely resonant of Ernest Jones’s ‘swing the club head’ theory to me, and then after him Manuel de la Torre. What I like about this drill though and Martin’s take is that the baton twirl feel gets my wrists working properly whereas EJ’s method didn’t correct my tendency to bow the left wrist in the first move and have a flat shaft in my backswing. Question: as someone who has battled with a shut face and steep shaft in transition for years, when I try this and adopt it in my swing, my hands actually feel quite steep or vertical on the way down - is that a good feel for me?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

Provided it feels like a straight shot , so that you don’t need to reroute it, then yes!!

[@markcampbell1708]

@@MartinAyersGolf Thank you Martin. I think it feels this way to me because as an over the top swinger, my hands have to come straight down to effect the twirl instead of moving towards the ball horizontally at the top. It feels great and yes it feels like a straight shot, except for driver. Driver is a weak push right generally so I feel like I have to correct it. I must be doing something wrong. I also love the lag feel in the first move from other vids, hit and go, and was crushing 2 Irons off the deck with that. But Driver seems to be the weird one, maybe I am ruining it with body movements somehow? Be more patient and wait for the club to swing me?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@markcampbell1708 In part it could be sequence for sure. But to adjust to Driver primarily you need to not only know how long it takes, but where you need to be and how to arrange yourself to prepare for it. Let the motion guide you to the right place rather than give up the motion to fit the place you put yourself.

[@markcampbell1708]

Thank you again Martin. Gave it a go in the net, feels good but a bit slow - 5:6 mph slower than normal. Will give it some more work, follow up question is: if the club determines shape of the downswing how do we add speed? With the hands?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@markcampbell1708 once you get the sequence , there’s no reason to wait for anything. As Hogan said you can go straight to the finish. If you accelerate out of order, you have to wait for the club, or try to square the club. If you’re in sequence there’s nothing to wait for.

[@jpkeating8059]

“ if you bring your particular brand of bullshit to that “ 😂 - Martin you are a legend 🤣

[@rickmiller8893]

Dude.. As soon as I heard that, I was like "I'm gonna quote that in the comments."... Then I look down at the rotating commentary...and damn.... You messed up my own brand of bullshit by not making it just my own. I just now heard him say "shitton"...lol

[@jpkeating8059]

@@rickmiller8893 🤣🤣🤣

[@williamreichert4798]

" End over end". Is that the same as "swing the club head". "Feel the club head" instead of. "swing your arms' shoulders or hips"?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

It means swing the clubhead and the grip end, end over end. Hence the name “Baton Drill”

[@neddward]

What he's trying to say that if he loses his center or sways then he ruins the end over end

[@naveedmanazir-z6m]

Is this not the same as Mike Malaska " best drill" where the objective it to let momentum do the work..?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@naveedmanazir-z6m While what you just said is a part of what is being conveyed here , the important context that this sits in is the fundamental sequence. Which was explained in other videos.

[@geoffw8565]

Ernest Jones was promoting this in his book of 1920 !

[@MartinAyersGolf]

Everything worth knowing was known in the first 15 minutes. The problem is all the stuff you know that isn't true. Credit Mark Twain for that idea too.

[@geoffw8565]

@@MartinAyersGolf Weird response ! So did you think I was being critical of you with the Ernest Jones comment ?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

not at all

[@MartinAyersGolf]

I was using the Royal "You" as in "We" all know stuff that isn't true.

[@geoffw8565]

@@MartinAyersGolf Ernest Jones was a golf coach way ahead of his time. He came to my attention from Ryder Cup player and twice Open runner up Mr Jimmy Adams who I used to play golf with on a regular basis in the late 70's - early 80's A lovely man who played against Hogan in the Ryder Cup. Great memories of him and great stories about Hogan, Snead, Player, Von Nida ( great story ) etc etc. Met him when he was a fit 68 year old but then MND got him a few years later. Anyway a bit of info for you ! Best Wishes

[@sunday272]

if you hold the club upside down and grip the shaft lightly and swing the club will twil 3 times with no interference from you .just try it and tell me what you think

[@jamiebraden3248]

My thoughts are Mr Hogan was the best at swinging the club end over end. I see no way to achieve his action w/o a free swinging club end over end. I feel it as a complete release of both arms to allow the club to do what it is designed to do. I've yet to achieve it but I'm still going North.

[@goldengate8287]

Maybe it’s my DNA … but I wish I would have started out this drill when I started golfing.. it just makes sense …

[@s3gts]

Fantastic stuff.

[@gordonsmith1113]

just exactly what Moe Norman said all these years ago I LET THE CLUB CONTROL ME that's what I take from this tip

[@MartinAyersGolf]

I've never heard that quote, but it's a very good description.

[@briantimlin2650]

Does this create the trail side strike as well?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

Makes it possible

[@briantimlin2650]

Cheers Martin, it feels very good and makes sense.

[@briantimlin2650]

On the trail side video Martin what does ‘you staying inside and underneath it’ mean? Is that not coming out of the shot, to retain or increase forward bend?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@briantimlin2650 Inside and underneath the left arm, from your point of view over the ball (key point)

[@briantimlin2650]

@@MartinAyersGolf I get the keeping the left arm high and trailing as long as you can so it's being pulled by the body before it slings off. I might need to see a video on staying inside and underneath the left arm to understand what that means. I think it means don't back away from the ball or get ahead of the ball but I'm sure.

[@lorenzundschmidt]

it looks so easy and effortless as long there is no ball in place

[@lungchan1729]

i can do that whole day too without ball. not buying that.

[@Mk-oy9ns]

The Real 'SECRET' is................the Ball ISN'T the Target!

[@williamevans6142]

The ball simply gets in the way

[@abs828]

i love this drill. don't think john has quite caught on to the twirl. once you get it. john can you work this twirl into channel lock?

[@robertshaw4109]

Do you have a web site.

[@MartinAyersGolf]

For now, it’s just this channel.

[@kawikaboy9154]

🤙🏽

[@ianmackinlay8925]

Australian physics terminology “shit tonne” 👍

[@MartinAyersGolf]

A “Shonne” for short. 💥

[@cdunne1620]

..sounds good BUT in the swings at the beginning the man did not wait for the club to act on him, he shifted early and acted quite strongly on the club coming down thus powering the ball. Nick Faldo would probably have been a better example although I doubt this is how a downswing is made, ie letting the club act on you as it were. I’ll never get those 6 minutes back, oh well

[@MartinAyersGolf]

I love how people project their own staggering ignorance onto others, in their comments on youtube.

[@cdunne1620]

@@MartinAyersGolf ..yes you would be better off just deleting every comment that disagrees with you. My staggering ignorance is immeasurable, how did you manage to measure it?

[@lageronimo8012]

JH? That you?

[@tlgtlg9072]

“If you twirl it, it twirls you.” In the same manner I twirl it to top, you’re using the same arm muscles to twirl it to impact. If I twirl it to top, it’s physically me and my arms/hands twirling it back to impact or the clubhead would not move. How is it that you and every other pro starts the swing back to impact with the lower body, and yet you’re making it sound like the clubhead is swinging you around.

[@MartinAyersGolf]

This is the only way you can screw up this drill . I’ve given it to pros, and people that have never picked up a club. The idea is to get the club swinging end over end and learn what it feels like to then match your motion to that club. This is an important part of any good swing, to respond to and balance the clubs swing at various speeds. It’s a pity that tigtig, you have chosen to intellectualise something that is designed to teach your body. To help you either unlearn old bad habits in the case of pros… or to learn to swing like a junior for a beginning adult.

[@Melted_Butter]

@@MartinAyersGolfis it more a case of ‘when the club twirls you’, the body does what it needs to in order to allow that to happen (ie weight shift, lead hip moves out the way, then arms, and finally wrist)?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@Melted_Butter the main thrust of your question … the answer is yes exactly. We all know we don’t have time to tell ourselves in real time to move all the parts. This helps you train to move all the parts in the correct order without needing to. The second part of your message, you got the order wrong. But that’s ok, because if you get proficient at this drill not only would you automatically have the order correct in your body, you could know what it is as well. 👍🏻

[@Melted_Butter]

@@MartinAyersGolf I’m a bit confused then. Because force plate and 3D data say it does happen in that order. of course there’s no real backswing and downswing, so the foot pressure etc start in the backswing - but you get what I mean. The only way I could understand the order from the apex [hands] down is that it’s the “intention” of the brain to use the hands from the top that sends a signal which triggers a response from the ground up. Else, your hands would outrace the rest of your body. Do you have a video that explains what you mean by the swing starting from apex down on the downswing?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

@@Melted_Butter Force plate and 3D Data has told you "a" truth. But not from where you experience it from...where you monitor it from, where you DO THE WORK. So it's not "the" truth. Your hands wont outrace the rest of your body because your hands have to move a lot, while your body is BARELY moving. Sure, your body changes orientation a lot...but it doesn't have far to go.

[@swisstrader]

Would have been good to see the other dude swing the club after getting new input.

[@MartinAyersGolf]

coming soon

[@nunyo7259]

Thats great for club path but the clubface is going to be all over the place.

[@jjpac2011]

Great lesson but JR doesn't need to say anything. He's off the mark most of the time. Breaks Ayers' rhythm and continuity while teaching.

[@b3u3g3g3y]

The guy he's with doesn't quite get it.

[@chuckross8839]

Martin , Is this an old swing of yours , where you rolled the face open ? I have been seeing where many have the idea you counter roll the club on the back swing . They can't figure how you do it . Well this swing of yours showing at the start is not counter roll . Ball being center ball on ground being 12 O'clock you moving hand/ wrist clockwise . When your saying you want them going counter clockwise. Feel will not be real .

[@MartinAyersGolf]

This drill is all about sequence. Most people follow the club that they move first to the top....then lead the club down. They then have to stall to allow the club to catch up. The proper sequence is to lead the club back, then once it begins to swing you follow it to the finish. That way you never have to stall and wait for it.

[@abs828]

yo chuck i dont think martin is saying what you are saying.

[@abs828]

hey martin exactly how much is a shit ton?

[@MartinAyersGolf]

A metric shit ton is the equivalent of an imperial shload.