This is What Made me Turn Pro

[@harrisc2325]

The longer I play the more I realize golf is all about patience; patience with your swing, patience with your strategy and patience with the mental aspects as well. I think the biggest struggle in the beginning/early stages of golf is once you start building some confidence the patience goes out the window and you want to start swinging harder and faster and taking more aggressive shots.

[@randolphtolbert3825]

You just described my life’s philosophy. Golf is about life

[@steviechampagne]

@@randolphtolbert3825That is why Golf is the Greatest Game that humans have ever created. It is the ultimate sport of life

[@hillbilly4christ638]

I used to be very self critical and I was constantly beating myself up over bad swings. This went on for quite a while and then something inside just snapped and I said what am I doing? After that time I refused to take the game seriously and set about to enjoy myself. I lost a lot of strokes off my game. The reduced pressure of having to make good shots actually increased my good shots. I played the game for a long time with very good results. I have seen a lot of things through the years.

[@PaulWilliams-ls2nx]

This is a gem. The 3/4 backswing and full follow thru with the ball “just getting in the way” and the clubhead doing the work gives consistent strikes and powerful flight pattern. Staying with this simple concept it’s surprising how much thought stuff goes out the window as unnecessary /damaging.Thanks Russ

[@tv19463]

I think it depends on feel. For first few months of this season, I was trying the 3/4 backswing - it actually hurt my swing bc I wasn’t loading fully and was too quick in my transition. Now, with a full backswing, I’m able to fully lower so that I get hips moving through first. My swing thought is focused on swinging as long + slow as possible and feeling the shaft is fully loaded.

[@MT-pg4pi]

Majority of amateurs never truly strike the ball pure with compression. Best feeling in golf

[@Birdbussa]

I do once in a while. The high last for days

[@billycan8659]

Russell was the young assistant Pro at Maxstoke when I was a member there many years ago, and he was an incredible coaching pro then, but now he is top draw and if you watch and listen to him he will undoubtedly improve your game. Well done Russell, keep up the quality teaching.

[@AveryTheToddlerGolfer]

I can't believe it took me this long to figure this out but everything you're saything is spot on. That feeling of compression is soo gooood and its nice to be able to simplify the swing and keep centered.

[@AntonVanDerSar]

can't really feel that comp if you're playing cavity backs. flushing a forged blade is the best feeling in the world. I adore my Mizuno MPs.

[@deanmiller543]

A rotator cuff injury taught me this same concept. Often over-swung, over-turned, erratic shots the result. My PT said if it didn't hurt, I could play. I had to shorten my swing by 1/3 at least to accomplish that pain-free swing. All of sudden I am hitting straight to slight draw, more consistent ball striking, better yardages the result. When I get wild, I know I've gone too far on the backswing. Great lessons and well explained.

[@jmm1817]

That's awesome every adversity carries a seed to an even greater success😊

[@백정우-s8i]

I recently figured this out by accident and it just changed everything. Then suddenly you appeared on my youtube. The moment I saw the thumbnail I knew what you were going to talk about. Watching this I gained more confidence. Thank you.

[@bille9995]

This especially makes so much more sense for the recreational golfer. FANTASTIC LESSON!

[@johnwhittle9230]

Man you make golfing look very easy. I have been learnin from your drills and I am getting better. I am a traumatic brain injury survivor. Thanks for the lessons Mr. Heritage, appreciated.

[@googlesucks925]

Damn dude. What happened?

[@davepatterson3132]

This lesson really struck home with me. I have been working on increasing my shoulder turn and found that compression with the irons is getting worse. Getting a better strike with less effort is really a breakthrough moment.

[@CorekBleedingHollow]

I started breaking 90 in 2019 but i've been on a plateau since then. Just up and down between 15-18 handicap the past few years.

[@DPK12]

Initial image looked interesting but never referenced again… typical pro loves hearing himself speak

[@OldBiscuit54]

Yup

[@robertbarrett8640]

Great video, simple concise instructions that work very well! Thank you!

[@sgodlike7911]

I've shot 3 consecutive rounds over 90 over the past 2 weeks. I'm a single digit handicap. Over the past year i've dialed in my driver which has always been the final frontier for me in terms of getting to scratch. All of a sudden, my irons left me. As in, perfect looks at the green for eagle or better and missing the greens entirely. My buddies all agreed that i'm looking great and couldn't put a finger on it. "Slow down" was all they could agree on. Then i watched the tape. All this time on the driver had me taking the club back with the type of width you should only have when looking for a bomb. Driver in hand. Moral of the story is STOP TURNING SO GD MUCH. Great video 👏

[@samdriscoll2830]

This was awesome. Hit all the points I’ve been thinking about lately. Glad I’m not the only one!

[@mccarthy4718]

two years ago an instructor taught me this style of teaching and its legit. I personally need drills to stay on top of it but works very well. Less backswing but getting to your left side and compressing the ball. It works, when you do it

[@shep1582]

Russell, you are the only one talking about keeping the head still and quiet over the ball. My feel is to keep my head still and stay down over the ball. Is my heading moving yes b/c it's an athletic move but I FEEL quiet over the ball. It has made all the difference, brilliant as always.

[@Pwilli-hs6yi]

Saguto golf says the same thing. I think between Tom and Russell they have made golf so much easier.

[@tomnelson8515]

I have been coaching for close to 18 years. This is probably the best advice one can give out in my ever so humble opinion. The problem is getting the student to listen, hear and then believe. Go to any range and virtually everyone is taking as long a backswing that they possibly can. . .and then trying to go a bit further. Great video! I will be using it to validate the concept.

[@KA-dm9lm]

This is a great video and just what I needed at this point in my golf journey. I am 43 and started playing golf 1 year ago. (Don’t ask me why I took so long to find this amazing sport). I played hockey most of my life which is good and bad for golf. My goal for 1st year was to have consistent strikes for a round a golf, complete a round without losing a ball and break 100. Turns out I crushed those goals, broke 90 a few times and can easily play a round of golf without losing a ball and can go a round with only a hand full of duffs. The key for me was compression and learning to hit the long irons. I still am obviously not very good at it but it’s what allowed me to achieve my goals. The conclusions I came to with my own tinkering (no lessons) is pretty much this video. I realized that with more club and a shorter more compact and controllable swing, I could get good compression easier which allowed me to control long iron shots more. My best rounds allowed me to hit high % of GIRs on my 2nd shot. That has been the key for me. That and short game. You have to be able to be deadly from 100 yards and have to be able to putt well, which I really can’t do consistently and need to work on. Great video, when you compress the ball you will know. The ball will fly off the face even if you feel like your club is digging and you hit a fat shot. Why? Cause you’re hitting the ball first! ; )

[@riverreasteve]

Excellent lesson Russell. I was particularly pleased to hear that it's not necessary to turn the full 90 degrees with the shoulders. When your in your seventies and as stiff as a board this is pretty difficult at the best of times!

[@bradenweyenberg7271]

I literally had "A-Ha" moments on both items you mentioned (compression and a shorter backswing) this past summer. They have transformed my ballstriking significantly. I haven't seen a drop in handicap index that correlates with the progress I felt I've made, but I can sense it will come. I am currently a 14.2 index, but feel that I've been striking it like a single-digit 'capper. Just gotta log more rounds!

[@JohnUssher-jk2qo]

Just been really discovering this approach (always had a short back swing because of issues there), and have gone from a 25 down to 18 in about a month. Getting the distance out of irons that I want, but now am getting them pretty accurate.

[@romainh.9719]

Omg. This is the best concise efficient advice for anyone playing golf out there. Hdcp 15 -> 5

[@609_]

Yes, I keep my head still by feeling "balance" in my body throughout the entire swing... great video.

[@coreissues3608]

Would love to see you bring your lessons out to the course more often, with some short game tips around the green 👍🏿

[@simonmackness403]

This is such good thinking. I found my 'half swing' was going further than my 'full swing' - because connection was so much better,

[@landowilliams7903]

You are perfectly right my man. I discovered the very same thing and ever since, I've been hitting a whole lot better and longer, especially with my long irons. I found that shorter swings are much more effective and consistent for me too.

[@reece8539]

KZbin is the best form of knowledge on any subject on this planet!! Golf coaches that have been teaching for 20+years or more can’t teach you what KZbin can!! Golf isn’t played the same in this day and age it’s completely different and I mean completely different!! The golf coaches of the ages go to KZbin now to learn tips and tricks but if they was that good in the first place then they wouldn’t need KZbin!!

[@wellerceci]

This is so helpful. For me, the turning point was really aiming to hit "down" on the ball, rather than to "lift" the ball up.

[@davidreid2301]

Fantastic advice. I just bought a GEM last week, and I've been working on compression, too, and with the two combined, I was at the range the other day and managed to get the best consistency and dispersion ever. I just need to work on it at the course, which is much harder because mine are built on a hill, so the undulations are extreme! It's tough get it to all work perfectly on a difficult course!

[@TroycePostellgolf]

This was HUGE for me. Thank you for sharing this. Absolute game changer

[@terry9414]

Exactly the same for me,, after 40 yrs of frustration and bad contacts, I had this compression event 3 weeks ago, I have dropped 10 strokes immediately, had 9 pars last time out, bloody hard to take after years of torture lol.:)

[@hoser3210]

Brilliant. I have recently been learning about and striving for compression, and when I strike well everything you mentioned occurs.

[@krestwoodb]

Yep I rotate to much lately on my irons. I still clobber them into existence but I had to analyze myself and I came off body relation at the range yesterday like a noob. Thanks for the great reminder.

[@bobbreit5244]

Curious why the cover photo that makes you click is rarely in a video.

[@Makinartz]

One of the best tip if not the best. And its less than 3 minutes! Thank you good sir!

[@tymartinez5254]

Great video Russell. Consistency is the elusive element that we’re all looking for. Prioritizing compression and not depth of turn is very helpful as i practice.

[@WokeSteve]

I have trouble changing between all the clubs.If I take an iron to the park after a while I can hit it nicely but not after hitting driver and a hybrid in play.

[@russellheritagegolf]

Takes time keep practicing

[@3012401472]

That’s exactly what I do. I’d suggest checking where your shoulder turn finishes as you’ll still hit in the direction of where your shoulders are pointing. For people that aren’t particularly flexible it might mean you need to be aiming what feels like left of your target, but in reality you probably don’t have a full shoulder turn which in the end has your shoulders finishing on target.

[@bhughes1986]

During a recent lesson I ended up hitting my 7i around 170yds purely by loosening up and compressing the ball well. Felt like a half swing but my connection was much better.

[@royclose946]

Thanks Russell light bulb 💡 iv been standing too narrow in my stance 😊well done 👏

[@chriswaldorf1560]

Great and clear explanation. Thank you!

[@troyluv33]

Definitely will try this, with my score it can't hurt.

[@russellheritagegolf]

Hope it went well 🙏🏻

[@bzeefs3]

I've actually gone so far as to close my trail foot as to promote making that full follow through. It's certainly limited my back swing depth but to the point of this video, I don't get stuck anymore.

[@steveputland4324]

Micah Morris is a great example for a short swing going a very long way, his left arm hardly goes past parallel ! Great vid 👍🙏

[@orviskid]

Thats what i do, no compression but short swing. I don’t stay down, always catch the irons off the toe. My divot starts at the ball, not in front. I get no distance, the 5,6,7 all go the same distance. Dead straight but always short. Can’t train myself to stay down, not sure why i get no compression. My divot is always right left, i equate that to coming up out of the shot.

[@slices6500]

Orv: a great tip I learned to stay down through impact is to keep your eyes on the ball into impact, and train your eyes to follow the flight of the ball towards the target. Of course you will not keep up with the ball flight, but it does keep my head down and still through impact which is the key to solid contact.

[@neekopeeko9054]

Nice and simple and to the point.

[@stevetierney2630]

Brilliant video. Up there with the best. 😀

[@reelrocknrolla4251]

Good stuff. Lucikly i found this out naturally within the first month of learning golf. Im able to smash the 3 iron consistently now.

[@russellheritagegolf]

That’s amazing!!!

[@mikegriffin8403]

The problem I have with delofting my club face for compression, is that my club's momentum during the downswing often causes me to release early. The speed of the swing requires very good timing that one does not hit fat, the ground before the ball.

[@eulerthegreatestofall147]

Extremely effective video, easy to practice! you nailed it!!

[@russellheritagegolf]

🙏🏻

[@doughboyxl274]

Massively misleading thumbnail

[@markflolid5930]

Totally agree ! Very misleading .

[@brendanfitzgeraldd]

It was exactly what I thought it was after seeing it. Maybe you don’t play much golf? I thought it was pretty obvious what was meant by the thumbnail. It’s pointing out the impact. Notice pro golfers take divets? They are hitting down on it instead of scooping it up. Exactly what the thumbnail was showing.

[@doughboyxl274]

Whats your handicap man?

[@markflolid5930]

I’m 72, and my handicap is 5.9 now. I use to be @ 3 when I was 30 at Torrey Pines my home course.

[@doughboyxl274]

@mark i was asking our friend Brendan here who is clearly much better at golf and far smarter than both of us. But thats awesome!

[@timdench2583]

Interesting video. I discovered this by chance. I hurt my back and couldn’t do a full swing - like I had been taught. I moved to a shorter swing, got better compression, tighter dispersion and better scores. Since my back has recovered, my swing has returned to ‘normal’ and the reverse has happened. I’ll be going ‘back to the future’😂

[@shaunb9876]

Haha identical story to you. Hurt my back, couldn’t play for a few weeks. Then had to ease slowly back into playing again, first at the range and then on the course. Best range session I ever had, consistency, distance and dispersion were excellent. Same again on the course for the first round back. Now my back has returned to almost normal and the long swing is coming back and the bad holes from inconsistent shots have returned hahaha. Need to train myself into the bad back swing again..

[@jessecooper9795]

Great Scott!!

[@garrettkelly5568]

What kind distances do you hit the ball since this compression discovery ?

[@hannesreinhardt1399]

Task is to shallow out the swing progressively in longer irons or fairway woods and still hit down somewhat. And from there to understand the opposite approach with a driver, while still compressing the ball.

[@bille9995]

Fantastic! Makes perfect sense. Thank you!

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

My coach said that I overturn in the backswing. Causes me to go over the top really bad. I'm working on it.

[@thenextgreat8652]

Here was the realization when I went from a double digit to low single digit hdcp. Swinging correctly is actually easier than swinging incorrectly. Our brains inherently think our bodies need to do more to generate power which causes a sway, which causes an off plane backswing and from there, consistent inconsistency. When I started swinging correctly, the only feels were my butt almost pushing back and that I was barely turning throughout the swing. Best way to explain it is that it felt like my body was quiet. In reality, I was just turning correctly with almost no body sway and ball striking went from unpredictable to consistent. Also gained 10-15 yards per club which initially was a challenge picking a club as I had to unlearn my previous distances.

[@marcmanion4264]

Oh Russ - on top of your other ball compression lesson a few weeks ago - this is gold - effortless compression - add Mr Hogan and the right arm - ❤

[@AntonVanDerSar]

Exactly what my dad has been telling me since I was 8 years old. I'm 41 now!

[@bjnwright]

Nice. Good little lesson. I notice you don't get into the 'reverse K' set up position and orientate yourself behind the ball. You just stand over it in a nice, neutral, athletic stance and pivot.

[@dannybtc1432]

That makes huge sense. Can’t wait to to try. Thanks

[@russellheritagegolf]

Have fun!

[@In-Rainbows]

Is the thumbnail relevant to this video? I think it’s about having hands forward, but you don’t exactly major on that. Confused 😕

[@TheDonZaloog]

All these thumbnail comments… shee youuu! The thumbnail is supposed to show a club slant; striking down on the ball. 1:03

[@snipewa4]

Funny enough I had my best round this past weekend and let’s just say shorter backswing and mixing in more purposeful practice has changed my game

[@mikebarnard2689]

So what was the 3 gradually closed face pics in the intro pic all about ? Just shaft lean with a square face ??

[@brycemcfadden5334]

In addition to body rotation.....

[@SL0409]

Just a pic to get you to watch the video. Didn't mean anything Shaft lean is the biggest myth in golf Padraig Harrington is a 3x major winner. His channel is the only thing you'll ever need Dispells all the KZbin nonsense and guff you get from people selling lessons

[@blurayauthority]

This is what I've never been able to figure out. Hitting the ball first. I've tried drills, etc. and I just can't seem to crack the code. Then again I play maybe a dozen rounds a year and I guess it's not that big of a deal. Still, it'd be nice to make solid, ball first contact at some point in my life.

[@CloudNineGolf]

Love these videos man. Thank you

[@smoozerish]

I agree with much of what you are saying but that big wide stance for irons is a big no no and not what the elite level pros are doing. Look at Aberg swing to see how you can generate compression with minimum swing turn.

[@russellheritagegolf]

👍🏻

[@PaulDeChambeau]

Insightful, helpful video.

[@danroberts9050]

If you slow this video down to 25% you'll notice that using this technique, it allows the timing to be precise where the recoil of the shaft related to the club head places it perfectly at the ball where you want it. This is the maximum head speed. Think of it like the cracking of a whip. Where I've seen so many guys go wrong is they think they've got to "muscle" the club to get any club head speed. That's not right. Using the mechanics of the club shaft to do the work for you is how you maximize club head speed. Try that. Slow the video down and you'll see it too.

[@3putt548]

What do you do, if your facing a shot that you have to hit higher?

[@gabrielrml]

Use a more lofted club?

[@Dstgolf]

Place the ball further forwards in your stance to hit the ball higher and further back to hit in lower. Never be tempted to flip your hands to add loft in a full shot. Russell is spot on!

[@peterarmstrong6928]

Weekend hacker set up works for me,,and I'm a below left knee amputee,, playing off 13,.4 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@billsinclair313]

100% correct. I came across this myself by trial and error over a period of years. It simply works. No need for huge turn or swinging hard. Great video. 80%, best part of video!

[@bonsaibrian]

For me, its the felling that you pause at the top and swing easier and the ball just flies. Your not really pausing at the top...its just the swing thought and it slows you down to hot the ball better.

[@miketurner2397]

Great Lesson!

[@ChuckWyld]

Tell me if I'm wrong, but the thumbnail on this video didn't really get covered in this video. Is he saying to place the ball further back in your swing?

[@IslandSimPilot]

Excellent instruction.

[@QuentinMoreno-r4u]

What irons are those in thumbnail

[@frankiedubz214]

such clickbait right?

[@orviskid]

The first minute thsts what i do, hands aren’t out front. I hit the irons great, just no distance. I just scoop the ball.

[@DonJohnson-TheBassPlayer]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing.

[@russellheritagegolf]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻

[@tommy6808]

Does this work for hybrids?

[@hectorcancel3932]

Solid insight!

[@mygicshow]

cool! Im tryin that today!

[@pedrohizzle2835]

what kind of iron and shaft

[@davidrodgers77]

This needs more explaining with a follow up video please.

[@TimJohnston911]

Wider stance. Hands in front of the ball. Take 3/4th of a swing. Keep your head still through the entire shot.

[@rickymiller1350]

I am 69 years old. I hit my clubs fairly straight, but my friends say I restricted because I have no follow through. It’s like they say I’m putting the brakes on in my downswing. Any suggestions on how to complete the follow-through?

[@yukonj2567]

i have the same problem, pretty sure it's because I don't rotate through the ball enough. Watch Scotty Sheffler and how much he rotates throughg almost pointed left with his body.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Sounds like you are not using your legs to help propel you through the shot which then makes it easier to follow through.

[@SL0409]

You are supposed to put the brakes on at impact Padraig Harrington is a 3x major winner and tour pro. He talks alot about this. His channel is the best you'll ever find anywhere and dispells all the KZbin guff of people just trying to sell you lessons Shallowing the club and shaft lean are the biggest myths in golf. Fancy gimmicks and terms used by people that would never ever get near being good enough for a tour card

[@joegriggsjr.6511]

He did not say when he was putting the brakes on, he said his friends said it looks like he is putting the brakes on in his downswing. And no it is not at impact. Smh.

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

@@SL0409 And I'm sure you must be a tour player.

[@CharlesSlater-mq2jz]

Awesome video 💯

[@russellheritagegolf]

Thanks Charles

[@mattbecham597]

Been trying this lately but miss a lot of shots to the right.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Then either the club face is still open when you strike the ball, or you have the ball to far back and you hit it earlier than you should.

[@Si-pk4zy]

Golden nugget info 👍

[@rchydrozz751]

One thing I heard, I completely ignored and did anyway. At the driving range, Signs everywhere, DONT HIT THE GUY IN THE CAGE COLLECTING THE BALLS. When he took off to collect the balls. Everybody started aiming for the guy in the cage.

[@offpiste312]

Tiger says; “when I’m striping it I don’t take a divot.” He said that to Scott Scheffler, who could not get his mind around it.

[@luxefalcon2730]

So smooth

[@lukejones3353]

I like that he uses his indoor voice

[@taktisk2158]

I’ve been waiting 30 years to go to the next level but at least I can only go up from here.

[@747Stuartcampbell]

Excellent advise

[@AAkCN1]

this is GOLD!

[@joegriggsjr.6511]

But what if I don't get stuck behind the ball?

[@touristguy87]

You guys get all wacked out about hitting down on the ball. you're not really hitting down on the ball. You're just swinging so that the clubhead as a whole is on a downward path into the ball but the clubface still gives loft to the strike, at impact. The only reason that improves "strike" is that the bounce is hidden behind the blade and the blade moves largely parallel to the ground instead of digging into the ground so you don't hit fat or thin, at least not as fat or thin as you hit before. The face to path angle is lower so the ball is hit laterally more and vertically less. It's no different than a pure horizontal strike with a lower-lofted club. It's just that you hopefully hit it at a better spot in the downswing, by keeping the leading edge out of the ground. Guess which one is easier to do more reliably. You enjoy all the benefits of hitting "down on the ball" with less variation between strikes due to the insane concept of releasing into impact. Don't release at impact. The marginal benefit that you get in terms of speed and distance is not worth the uncertainty in terms of face to path angle at impact. Skim the leading edge along the ground and catch the ball below the centerline. Far more reliable to do, far more consistent shots with a great improvement in your shot flexibility.. Yeah ok you'll lose some distance on average but you're not hitting balls all over the course. The precision improvement is well worth the loss of distance.

[@rickhammel9541]

is it normal to have your swing speed drop when you are trying to compress it more? I usually swing my 7 iron around 95 mph.

[@Stantheman848]

Swing speed might drop but ball speed will increase with proper compression. Ball speed is what matters.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Speed in the swing is attained on the downward path, not on the backward part. If you accelerate on the downswing, you will still have good speed.