BEST TEACHERS
TIPS FROM THE NO 1 Mark Blackburn shares his top golf tips
FOR BETTER BALL-STRIKING, KEEP YOUR BODY TURNING THROUGH IMPACT How to release the club through impact is one of the most misunderstood concepts in golf. I often see two flaws in amateurs. The first is when the lead arm detaches from the body excessively after impact, commonly known as the “chicken wing.” The second is the “flip,” where the trail forearm rolls over the lead forearm. Both create poor shots. To correct either fault, emulate this stable release I’m demonstrating (left). I’ve moved into my lead leg to compress the shot, and my right hand hasn’t crossed over my left. My arms are straight, the left still connected to my body, and the clubface hasn’t flipped shut. To stabilise your release, feel like you continue to rotate your entire body towards the target through impact. The release breaks down when your pelvis or torso stops turning through the shot. Notice how the butt of the club is pointed towards the centre of my body after impact. That’s a great checkpoint to make sure that you’ve continued your rotation and achieved a stable release.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JESSE RIESER
40 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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