Someone Please explain the forward press

I did a search and the forward press was referenced but I did not see a really good explanation of how to do it, think about it etc. Even when I Googled I didn't find anything satisfactory. When I say forward press I mean related to the golf swing not putting. I guess it is similar but I don't know. It is a press toward the target no?

It is a swing trigger, used to set the swing in motion and to get a feel of the hands leading the club face.

It is not good to start a golf swing from a static position, this can cause a stiff or taught takeaway, this is why many golfers waggle the club first.

I tend to trigger my swing by pushing my right knee towards my left then as I return it I move into my back swing. A forward press is another good way.

hi

with me i have a big forward press in that my hands push forward about 3/4 inches with the club head in same place, its though i am taking loft of the club. like brian said this movemen starts my swing, i feel i swing through the ball better doing this and it feels like i strike the ball cleaner too. i still hit the ball high so i cant be delofting the club much at impact.
i tend to count when i swing so its a "one" and my hand's push forward, then a "and" before a two on the downswing as i hit through the ball.
counting keeps me from swinging to fast and the forward press helps me start the swing the same way every time.
bill

Hey Guys:

Great topic:

True that the forward press is a swing trigger but I differentiate a swing trigger from a waggle.

The waggle, which by the way you see less and less of these days, seems to occur ahead of the actual swing. I rarely see anyone who employs a waggle go right into their backswing from a waggle move. There is usually a slight moment of non-movement beween the waggle and swing. The swing trigger on the other hand should be, and is integrated into the actual golf swing.

The waggle is a nice little rehearsal move for the swing and Ben Hogan described as a mini swing. You see Wier, Webb and DiMarco take the waggle to the extreme as a position check.

I do believe that every player can benefit from a swing trigger. As stated, starting the swing from a totally static position (which basically is the last position we are in the split second before swinging) is tough to do smoothly. The trigger should be just a simple physical move to get the body in motion. The forward press used to be very popular but is less common today. I think this is a result of players striving for the one piece takeaway in which the wrists are static. Also the forward press could alter the loft and even club head squareness if taken to the extreme. The right knee kick is great because it sets up a little reflex action to get the lower body active. Contrary to popular belief, the lower body does have some movement in the beginning of the back swing as there should be a slight (one or two inch) bump of the right hip away from the target as we turn back.

I also believe that you can and should employ a mental swing trigger to engage the swing. As a practice drill to hit balls, I take the club and swing it forward a few inches above and in front of the ball and then go into my backswing. It is just a little swing forward and then back like a pendulum. It is a great drill to ingrain a smooth backswing...one of Jack Nicklaus favorite drills. I take this same feeling and try to implement it mentally as a swing trigger. I just picture my club moving forward of the ball and then coming back just like a pendulum as I start my backswing. This keeps me from jerking the club back quickly which is a sure swing wrecker. This has really helped me with my takeaway.

Have a good weekend......

Hi Timothy,

I did not mean to say that a waggle was a swing trigger (Although looking again it looks like I did), I really meant that it is not good to be static when addressing the ball. Top golfers seem to prefer to keep moving right up to the moment of starting their back swing.