9 Throw
How to Reduce Tension in Your Golf Swing
Learn how to reduce tension in golf swing mechanics by using the 9 to 3 drill. A softer grip and proper arm rotation will help you release the club smoothly for better contact and control.
After this video, you'll be able to:
- Feel how to relax your grip pressure for a more fluid swing
- Identify the importance of arm rotation for a proper release
- Practice the left arm only drill to improve swing mechanics
Tyler Ferrell. Golf Digest Best Teachers in California, 2026-27. The only person named to both Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America and Best Golf Fitness Professionals lists. Author of The Stock Tour Swing.
Video Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000
This drill is 9 to throw.
2
00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.040
So this is a 9 to 3 drill to help you work on good soft arm tension.
3
00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:14.200
9 to 3's are great ways for working on the bottom of the swing or the release.
4
00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.290
And many golfers, if you're coming out of more of a cast pattern, if you've got
5
00:00:17.290 --> 00:00:17.640
more
6
00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:21.950
of a scoop, are going to have a lot of arm tension down at the bottom to help
7
00:00:21.950 --> 00:00:22.560
prevent
8
00:00:22.560 --> 00:00:26.200
the club from moving or help prevent it from rotating.
9
00:00:26.200 --> 00:00:30.410
If you're going to have your arms ahead, you do want to have some good softness
10
00:00:30.410 --> 00:00:30.760
and arm
11
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:32.240
rotation to it.
12
00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:38.640
So a good way to kind of feel that is doing a 9 to 3 where you're going to
13
00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.720
release the
14
00:00:39.720 --> 00:00:42.280
club at the bottom.
15
00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:48.770
Now I usually start this by doing left arm only and you're basically going to
16
00:00:48.770 --> 00:00:49.360
let go
17
00:00:49.360 --> 00:00:52.760
of the club just after making contact.
18
00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:58.450
If you're used to having a lot of grip pressure, then you'll find that it's
19
00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:00.480
virtually impossible.
20
00:01:00.480 --> 00:01:05.840
So making solid contact and then letting go of the club.
21
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.780
On that one, I stalled my body just a little bit so I didn't make great
22
00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:12.120
direction, but
23
00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:16.040
we'll see if we can do a little bit better.
24
00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:22.190
So you'll see that by getting into a relatively good finished position or sorry
25
00:01:22.190 --> 00:01:23.120
, by using
26
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.330
good mechanics and having soft grip pressure, you'll be able to let go of the
27
00:01:27.330 --> 00:01:27.880
club before
28
00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:33.280
you get all the way up to here, all the way before you get to that three.
29
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:38.680
Then you can recreate that same feeling with the two hand version and you'll
30
00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:39.600
usually make
31
00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:41.840
relatively solid contact.
32
00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:46.330
It also helps you encourage getting the arms and the club extending out towards
33
00:01:46.330 --> 00:01:47.080
the target
34
00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:50.550
instead of really pulling it up and in on the way through because I promise if
35
00:01:50.550 --> 00:01:50.960
you're
36
00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:54.890
pulling it up and in, there's no way you're going to be able to let go of it
37
00:01:54.890 --> 00:01:55.560
before you
38
00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:57.840
reach waist height.
39
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:03.360
So 9 to 3, we'll do it one more time, 9 to 3 left hand only, you're going to
40
00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:03.840
have a
41
00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:07.550
little bit of club face closing right as it's making contact and as you're
42
00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:08.320
pointing that
43
00:02:08.320 --> 00:02:15.180
thumb away, you're going to let go and you want to be a little bit more lenient
44
00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:15.680
with
45
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.160
yourself as far as direction and quality of contact.
46
00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:25.160
It's really for feeling that tension, but then you can do it with both hands.
47
00:02:25.160 --> 00:02:32.880
Again, you shouldn't throw it too far and definitely not behind you.
48
00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:35.760
That would be an indication that you're having more grip pressure.
49
00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:38.500
You should really be releasing it just after impact.
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000
This drill is 9 to throw.
2
00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.040
So this is a 9 to 3 drill to help you work on good soft arm tension.
3
00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:14.200
9 to 3's are great ways for working on the bottom of the swing or the release.
4
00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.290
And many golfers, if you're coming out of more of a cast pattern, if you've got
5
00:00:17.290 --> 00:00:17.640
more
6
00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:21.950
of a scoop, are going to have a lot of arm tension down at the bottom to help
7
00:00:21.950 --> 00:00:22.560
prevent
8
00:00:22.560 --> 00:00:26.200
the club from moving or help prevent it from rotating.
9
00:00:26.200 --> 00:00:30.410
If you're going to have your arms ahead, you do want to have some good softness
10
00:00:30.410 --> 00:00:30.760
and arm
11
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:32.240
rotation to it.
12
00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:38.640
So a good way to kind of feel that is doing a 9 to 3 where you're going to
13
00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.720
release the
14
00:00:39.720 --> 00:00:42.280
club at the bottom.
15
00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:48.770
Now I usually start this by doing left arm only and you're basically going to
16
00:00:48.770 --> 00:00:49.360
let go
17
00:00:49.360 --> 00:00:52.760
of the club just after making contact.
18
00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:58.450
If you're used to having a lot of grip pressure, then you'll find that it's
19
00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:00.480
virtually impossible.
20
00:01:00.480 --> 00:01:05.840
So making solid contact and then letting go of the club.
21
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.780
On that one, I stalled my body just a little bit so I didn't make great
22
00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:12.120
direction, but
23
00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:16.040
we'll see if we can do a little bit better.
24
00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:22.190
So you'll see that by getting into a relatively good finished position or sorry
25
00:01:22.190 --> 00:01:23.120
, by using
26
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.330
good mechanics and having soft grip pressure, you'll be able to let go of the
27
00:01:27.330 --> 00:01:27.880
club before
28
00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:33.280
you get all the way up to here, all the way before you get to that three.
29
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:38.680
Then you can recreate that same feeling with the two hand version and you'll
30
00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:39.600
usually make
31
00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:41.840
relatively solid contact.
32
00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:46.330
It also helps you encourage getting the arms and the club extending out towards
33
00:01:46.330 --> 00:01:47.080
the target
34
00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:50.550
instead of really pulling it up and in on the way through because I promise if
35
00:01:50.550 --> 00:01:50.960
you're
36
00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:54.890
pulling it up and in, there's no way you're going to be able to let go of it
37
00:01:54.890 --> 00:01:55.560
before you
38
00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:57.840
reach waist height.
39
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:03.360
So 9 to 3, we'll do it one more time, 9 to 3 left hand only, you're going to
40
00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:03.840
have a
41
00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:07.550
little bit of club face closing right as it's making contact and as you're
42
00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:08.320
pointing that
43
00:02:08.320 --> 00:02:15.180
thumb away, you're going to let go and you want to be a little bit more lenient
44
00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:15.680
with
45
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.160
yourself as far as direction and quality of contact.
46
00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:25.160
It's really for feeling that tension, but then you can do it with both hands.
47
00:02:25.160 --> 00:02:32.880
Again, you shouldn't throw it too far and definitely not behind you.
48
00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:35.760
That would be an indication that you're having more grip pressure.
49
00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:38.500
You should really be releasing it just after impact.
Tyler Ferrell. Golf Digest Best Teachers in California, 2026-27. The only person named to both Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America and Best Golf Fitness Professionals lists. Author of The Stock Tour Swing.
9 Throw
How to Reduce Tension in Your Golf Swing
Learn how to reduce tension in golf swing mechanics by using the 9 to 3 drill. A softer grip and proper arm rotation will help you release the club smoothly for better contact and control.
After this video, you'll be able to:
- Feel how to relax your grip pressure for a more fluid swing
- Identify the importance of arm rotation for a proper release
- Practice the left arm only drill to improve swing mechanics
Video Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000
This drill is 9 to throw.
2
00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.040
So this is a 9 to 3 drill to help you work on good soft arm tension.
3
00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:14.200
9 to 3's are great ways for working on the bottom of the swing or the release.
4
00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.290
And many golfers, if you're coming out of more of a cast pattern, if you've got
5
00:00:17.290 --> 00:00:17.640
more
6
00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:21.950
of a scoop, are going to have a lot of arm tension down at the bottom to help
7
00:00:21.950 --> 00:00:22.560
prevent
8
00:00:22.560 --> 00:00:26.200
the club from moving or help prevent it from rotating.
9
00:00:26.200 --> 00:00:30.410
If you're going to have your arms ahead, you do want to have some good softness
10
00:00:30.410 --> 00:00:30.760
and arm
11
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:32.240
rotation to it.
12
00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:38.640
So a good way to kind of feel that is doing a 9 to 3 where you're going to
13
00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.720
release the
14
00:00:39.720 --> 00:00:42.280
club at the bottom.
15
00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:48.770
Now I usually start this by doing left arm only and you're basically going to
16
00:00:48.770 --> 00:00:49.360
let go
17
00:00:49.360 --> 00:00:52.760
of the club just after making contact.
18
00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:58.450
If you're used to having a lot of grip pressure, then you'll find that it's
19
00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:00.480
virtually impossible.
20
00:01:00.480 --> 00:01:05.840
So making solid contact and then letting go of the club.
21
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.780
On that one, I stalled my body just a little bit so I didn't make great
22
00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:12.120
direction, but
23
00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:16.040
we'll see if we can do a little bit better.
24
00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:22.190
So you'll see that by getting into a relatively good finished position or sorry
25
00:01:22.190 --> 00:01:23.120
, by using
26
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.330
good mechanics and having soft grip pressure, you'll be able to let go of the
27
00:01:27.330 --> 00:01:27.880
club before
28
00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:33.280
you get all the way up to here, all the way before you get to that three.
29
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:38.680
Then you can recreate that same feeling with the two hand version and you'll
30
00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:39.600
usually make
31
00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:41.840
relatively solid contact.
32
00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:46.330
It also helps you encourage getting the arms and the club extending out towards
33
00:01:46.330 --> 00:01:47.080
the target
34
00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:50.550
instead of really pulling it up and in on the way through because I promise if
35
00:01:50.550 --> 00:01:50.960
you're
36
00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:54.890
pulling it up and in, there's no way you're going to be able to let go of it
37
00:01:54.890 --> 00:01:55.560
before you
38
00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:57.840
reach waist height.
39
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:03.360
So 9 to 3, we'll do it one more time, 9 to 3 left hand only, you're going to
40
00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:03.840
have a
41
00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:07.550
little bit of club face closing right as it's making contact and as you're
42
00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:08.320
pointing that
43
00:02:08.320 --> 00:02:15.180
thumb away, you're going to let go and you want to be a little bit more lenient
44
00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:15.680
with
45
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.160
yourself as far as direction and quality of contact.
46
00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:25.160
It's really for feeling that tension, but then you can do it with both hands.
47
00:02:25.160 --> 00:02:32.880
Again, you shouldn't throw it too far and definitely not behind you.
48
00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:35.760
That would be an indication that you're having more grip pressure.
49
00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:38.500
You should really be releasing it just after impact.
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000
This drill is 9 to throw.
2
00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.040
So this is a 9 to 3 drill to help you work on good soft arm tension.
3
00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:14.200
9 to 3's are great ways for working on the bottom of the swing or the release.
4
00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.290
And many golfers, if you're coming out of more of a cast pattern, if you've got
5
00:00:17.290 --> 00:00:17.640
more
6
00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:21.950
of a scoop, are going to have a lot of arm tension down at the bottom to help
7
00:00:21.950 --> 00:00:22.560
prevent
8
00:00:22.560 --> 00:00:26.200
the club from moving or help prevent it from rotating.
9
00:00:26.200 --> 00:00:30.410
If you're going to have your arms ahead, you do want to have some good softness
10
00:00:30.410 --> 00:00:30.760
and arm
11
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:32.240
rotation to it.
12
00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:38.640
So a good way to kind of feel that is doing a 9 to 3 where you're going to
13
00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.720
release the
14
00:00:39.720 --> 00:00:42.280
club at the bottom.
15
00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:48.770
Now I usually start this by doing left arm only and you're basically going to
16
00:00:48.770 --> 00:00:49.360
let go
17
00:00:49.360 --> 00:00:52.760
of the club just after making contact.
18
00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:58.450
If you're used to having a lot of grip pressure, then you'll find that it's
19
00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:00.480
virtually impossible.
20
00:01:00.480 --> 00:01:05.840
So making solid contact and then letting go of the club.
21
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.780
On that one, I stalled my body just a little bit so I didn't make great
22
00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:12.120
direction, but
23
00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:16.040
we'll see if we can do a little bit better.
24
00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:22.190
So you'll see that by getting into a relatively good finished position or sorry
25
00:01:22.190 --> 00:01:23.120
, by using
26
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.330
good mechanics and having soft grip pressure, you'll be able to let go of the
27
00:01:27.330 --> 00:01:27.880
club before
28
00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:33.280
you get all the way up to here, all the way before you get to that three.
29
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:38.680
Then you can recreate that same feeling with the two hand version and you'll
30
00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:39.600
usually make
31
00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:41.840
relatively solid contact.
32
00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:46.330
It also helps you encourage getting the arms and the club extending out towards
33
00:01:46.330 --> 00:01:47.080
the target
34
00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:50.550
instead of really pulling it up and in on the way through because I promise if
35
00:01:50.550 --> 00:01:50.960
you're
36
00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:54.890
pulling it up and in, there's no way you're going to be able to let go of it
37
00:01:54.890 --> 00:01:55.560
before you
38
00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:57.840
reach waist height.
39
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:03.360
So 9 to 3, we'll do it one more time, 9 to 3 left hand only, you're going to
40
00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:03.840
have a
41
00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:07.550
little bit of club face closing right as it's making contact and as you're
42
00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:08.320
pointing that
43
00:02:08.320 --> 00:02:15.180
thumb away, you're going to let go and you want to be a little bit more lenient
44
00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:15.680
with
45
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.160
yourself as far as direction and quality of contact.
46
00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:25.160
It's really for feeling that tension, but then you can do it with both hands.
47
00:02:25.160 --> 00:02:32.880
Again, you shouldn't throw it too far and definitely not behind you.
48
00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:35.760
That would be an indication that you're having more grip pressure.
49
00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:38.500
You should really be releasing it just after impact.
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