How I Hit Driver Straighter AND Added 8MPH CLUBHEAD SPEED!! Is Golf BACK for me??

Sounds to good to be true but it's exactly what happened. Poor driving of the ball led to me quitting competition and eventually barely playing even for fun. It's become a mission this year to get the driver working again so I'll be exploring over the next few months.
This video features a live lesson with Steve Furlonger in which we put to use his GASP Force Plates to cnfirm that what I'd been working on was a good thing. It turns out it absolutely was but also provided more speed! What a combination! Stev e then expanded on this path adding even more speed to my golf swing.
It's a long video so here are some chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:01 Warm up and background
5:15 The Move I've Been Working on
7:39 Analysis
15:04 Drills
21:43 Secondary Analysis
28:10 Conclusion

[@thecount1001]

this jumping and pulling the left foot forward is going to be an essential for me to drive effectively. the simple reason that i cannot plant and twist without hurting my knee which is sensitive to rotational forces. i haven't been able to find control yet with this approach (2 years playing) but i'm practicing this now.

[@stephenhenderson6029]

James. Thanks for this video. You are transforming my game. I bought your wedge matrix and have lowered my handicap 3+ down from 11+ to an 8. I took this video to the range and course and shot 78. I used the principles of pulling the grip off the club, and "tightly" turning the corner with both driver and irons. Works for both. The split hand drill gives the correct feeling. Still can improve more. I buried the club a few times in practice but that was a result of my nemesis of early extension. Slamming the chest keeps the trail hip back. Keep branching out on your videos. Thanks very much

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Amazing to hear Stephen, thanks so much for the support and sharing your success with us!

[@TIGRWOODS]

Awesome student. I wish my 4 year old students had your focus lol. Beautiful golf swing and I love the instruction!

[@paullee7760]

I’ve only recently discovered you James after some American chap listed you in his top 4 short game coaches. I’ve since watched almost all of your videos and as I’m suffering with a lower back issue at present, chipping is about my limit! 😂 This was a really interesting departure from your normal videos as I suffer from the same sort of issues with path on both my irons and my driver. I follow Steve a bit as well so it was a good viewing combination. 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing your journey with driver. Hope you continue to improve with it. 🤞🏻

[@sduke39]

That was really great. Love, "pull the grip off the club" idea. I've never heard that.

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Glad you enjoyed it 👊🏻

[@shawneepure]

Magic. Thanks for sharing this.

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Thanks Sean 😬

[@downshiftgolf]

Longer drives with your short game 🔥 🔥 🔥 Steve is awesome 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

If I can get driver going I might fall back in love with playing, who knows! 😍 Yes, Steve has the passion for sure

[@mmckivigan]

Great video - very educational. By chance did you have some drop kicks where the club contacted the ground behind the ball?

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

No drop kicks, I think if I got lower and the club went underneath there'd be a slim chance but as I'm opening at the same time it's unlikely

[@VoodooZ]

Great stuff...

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

👊🏻

[@stevematthews87]

I have been trying both of these drills with my driver and have found that the slam dunk move is very hard to do! I can do the pull the handle drill but with much shorter backswings .Soon as I try to pull the handle with a normal backswing I find very hard to do .Which did you find the easier to do ? thanks again Steve

[@DriveFarGolf]

I was lucky enough to have a lesson with Mr F a couple of years ago, such a knowledgeable guy. The force plate info is eye opening to say the least. I was weight shifting OK but just not soon enough for any of it. I have suggested to him a couple of times to move further north, ideally Bedford. Unfortunately he just laughs! A shame he's on the wrong side of the M25:)

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Maybe I should buy some plates, you'd be much closer to some then 😉

[@DriveFarGolf]

Having seen the rates you rightly command for your short game expertise Mr R, unfortunately I could only afford to play with the boxes they come in however close they get :(

[@davidkelly7296]

Great video. Do you think you could play with these changes? My concern would be the left foot jumping up and back and stretching out the chest and slamming down would ruin your swing technique. What's your feeling on it? I know its a more powerful swing but is it practical? Will it work for irons etc?

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

I've played with the jump and if anything it's beneficial to my swing. Gets me in a much better delivery position. I only do it with driver though! The slamming down is harder for me to play with no doubt. One thought too many!

[@gordygolfc2039]

Really interesting.

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Thanks for watching!

[@darrenmorris2140]

Great work James ,I’m prob a touch older than you bro g nearer 50 than I would like 😂 but I’m also a coach not quite at your level but have very similar downswing issues ,the lowering or chest slam as it’s put is so hard to do as the fear of burying the club into the ground is so huge I never quite get it there so great skills so far look forward to seeing more of this 👍

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Thanks Darren, hopefully I never bury the club. Time will tell! 🤣

[@olliehembrough403]

Good video. Did you go to this with the intent for 'fix' your driving to play more golf, or to develop your understanding of this type of tech etc as a teacher?

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

The driving force behind it was 100% to help fix things to get back to playing more.

[@olliehembrough403]

Nice. Would be cool to see you putting into practice when you're ready. Nice you've still got the enthusiasm despite teaching, to work on your own game!@@JamesRidyardGolf enthusiams

[@chrisj8693]

Enjoyed this. What distance was 113 with a good strike reaching?

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Good question. Problem here was low compression range balls. Should be about 168-169 ball speed which equates to 285ish carry at my launch

[@jack-hq7gr]

Interesting video and concepts- Seems like less rotational theory with down (Pete Cowan) move and then extension. Curious how you or anyone picks method or merely experiments with coaching philosophy aspects. Sorta like chipping is less power but multiple techniques. Driving it seems is more torque and pressure choices or preferences. With your great chipping feel/technique blend I was expecting your swing to be more up and float loading with down and around motion. Enjoyed the process!

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

I think it’s very rotational (body) from halfway down and through impact. That’s where the AP force increase manifests. With respect to picking method for me it’s a geometry game first, I’d rather hit it straight than far. If we can get both via the same plans though… we’re in a good place!

[@jack-hq7gr]

Thanks and continued success- are you wearing spikeless shoes?

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

@@jack-hq7gr I am, something with better traction is next!

[@stevematthews87]

I have a 95mph swing speed with driver I'm 60 yr old do you thing I should attempt to try some of these changes or should I concentrate on swing easy approach I'd like to get my handicap down from 13 thanks love the videos

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Hard to say without knowing your swing Steve but lengthening out the hand path would be a good start as it will give you more time to produce speed

[@stevematthews87]

thanks James yes I will try that my highest ball speed so far is 141mph so room for improvement @@JamesRidyardGolf

[@peterbower6378]

It may seem like a silly question James but surely that low tee height has something to do with the low strike?

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

Not a silly question! To a degree yes BUT historically when I tee it higher I hit up even more, it's like an open invitation. Hence my tendency to tee it lower

[@himey77]

Somewhere, Lucas Wald is smiling.... (not exclusively)

[@DriveFarGolf]

As is Bradley Hughes...

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Discuss lie of the driver head, positioning, and distance stance from the ball with relation to that. Especially when considering a single plane swing.

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

What's a single plane swing when it's at home??

[@JamesRidyardGolf]

What's a single plane swing when it's at home??

[@atfinthehouse8631]

???it’s at home???