i've been watching the vids of pro's drives and noticed that everyone i saw does a run-up of some sort before their x-step.

soes this actually give any real advantage to distance or power. i can see that maybe there might be a momentum advantage.

the pre X step run up may have more to do with getting into the right rhythm than anything else (i hear some guys can boom with very little run-up)?

I don't know why other golfers run up, but as far as I'm concerned I feel like I'm getting more distance by adding a little forward momentum to my drive. More important than the speed of the run up IMO is the width of my stance during the throw. If my feet are too wide apart I won't produce the ideal torque in my swing.

the pre X step run up may have more to do with getting into the right rhythm than anything else (i hear some guys can boom with very little run-up)?



I'll agree with the smoother throw from longer run up, but the more steps you take, the more chances you have for a misstep, slip, weight shift, and whatnot. I get more consistant distance now that I only do an X step, but I have to focus more to keep things smooth. Also, I developed elbow troubles once I went to the shorter approach, and found adding a step before the X Step lost me a little distance, but greatly smoothened my toss. I find that when I get more forward momentum, I have to plant harder to prevent from falling on my face, which costs me a touch of power.

I one extra step before going into the x-step. I don't think it gives me any more distance or power but it helps make my run up much more smooth and makes it so I don't feel like I am rushing run up.

I think the pre X-step run up has more to do with rythm and less to do with power/distance.

I know that I actually get more distance when I take smaller steps. BlakeT noticed that I wasted a lot of energy in taking bigger steps, so I shortened the steps and increased my average driving distance by 5%!

It's all in the hip turn!

When I first started playing there was a guy named Don Carter, guy is a gymnast, he could bomb a ram 400+ with no runup, When he needed to go long, he would take a 10-15 foot runup at it, I assume that being trained gymnast was what allowed him to do this, he was able to cary all that momentum into his runup, and deliver all of it right at the hit, it was very impressive to watch...

For humans, I think that pre-x step runup is really more about getting into position tor personal comfort. I do take a few extra steps and even a little hop when I am going long. :D

I'm recovering from a knee injury & have back on the course for 2 weeks, throwing with no Xstep or runup. I'm finding that I get approx. 95% of my "normal" discance, even though I am only able to throw about 70% knee/hip power. Weird; it must be a timing thing. (My SNAP does seem much sharper.)

i have been trying to do a run-up and it is totally screwin my foot work up. my timing and rythm sux and the few times i was fluid absolutly nothing changed in disrtance. i think im gonna stick with the x-step only. thanks for the info though

I condensed my run-up down to just the steps for the x-step and have greatly improved accuracy. I've lost a little distance, but im' much more consistent in my distance and accuracy.

-Scott Lewis

I condensed my run-up down to just the steps for the x-step and have greatly improved accuracy. I've lost a little distance, but im' much more consistent in my distance and accuracy.

-Scott Lewis



When I shortened up my approach, I found I could throw lighter plastic and still keep consistancy.

I concur (and I'm a 150-class driver thrower, primarily). Since my knee injury, the "standstill" style has led to a pronounced increase in snap & spin with much less exertion of power. I'm getting (for golf shots) 90-ish% of my full pre-injury "runup" distance with the "standstill" huck (and FAR more accuracy & consistency).

Once I'm healed in 4-5 more weeks, I don't know whether I'll even attempt to go back to a "runup" drive. :confused:

I think the pre X-step run up has more to do with rythm and less to do with power/distance.

I know that I actually get more distance when I take smaller steps. BlakeT noticed that I wasted a lot of energy in taking bigger steps, so I shortened the steps and increased my average driving distance by 5%!

It's all in the hip turn!



I do agree.I don't take an extra step but most of the time I start with my left foot,then right,cross with left and right again.If I want to throw really far,I extend more and my last step is bigger.I learned that trick from Barry.Steve(rico)told me a different style.He keeps his other arm real close to his body when he turns and Cam said that he moves his other arm with his throwing arm(like giving somebody an elbow in his face with your left elbow).Just a few different styles to try.The run up only works if you know when to release,same as with a 360 release.
Arthur #3791 :)