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Am I dropping my right shoulder too much?

post #1 of 6
8/20/08 at 5:32am
Thread Starter 
I have an issue with my downswing, and I'm not sure what to do. From what I can tell, I'm dropping my right shoulder too much and coming in on and overly inside-to-outside path. It usually happens when I'm trying to hit the ball too hard. The result is that I can't release the club at all, and I get insane slices.

Lately I've been thinking about keeping a constant spine angle, and keeping my shoulder from dropping. But when I send my hips too soon, I slice. When I send them too late, I hook.

Is this simply an issue of timing, or is there something else going on here?
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post #2 of 6
8/20/08 at 2:20pm

Re: Am I dropping my right shoulder too much?

You must first understand what causes the right shoulder to drop. You see, the dropping of the right shoulder is the result of the movement of the lower body, mainly the hips.

The hips turn back to the left, which drops the right shoulder and brings the hands to about hip level.

This is the key here. The shoulders, arms, and hands do nothing active until the hips bring them to about hip level. Timing important as well, which adds to your problem. Practice in slow motion. So two important things:

1) Start the downswing by turning the hips back to the left, and transferring weight to the left foot. This happens at the same time.
2) Once your hands reach hip level, swing at the ball with your arms and hands.

So your problem seems to be timing, but I also wanted to explain the dynamics of the downswing to make it clear that the shoulders follow the hips. Again, slow motion will help a ton.
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post #3 of 6
8/20/08 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Am I dropping my right shoulder too much?

Good info, thanks.

After looking in the mirror today and doing a few swings, I think I may have misdiagnosed my problem.

The feeling I get of over-dropping my right shoulder comes when I over rotate my shoulders on the downswing. In other words, my shoulders are not square to the target line at impact. Since the shoulders are open, I have to drop my shoulder to hit the ball, and I block my hands from releasing.

Is it correct that your shoulders are supposed to be absolutely square to the target line at impact? And are they square only instantaneously, or do they remain square through the entire release?

Any good drills or swing thoughts for this issue?
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post #4 of 6
8/22/08 at 12:39am

Re: Am I dropping my right shoulder too much?

Shoulders should be square at impact and then rotate through so that your belly button is pointing toward the target.

Remember the golf swing is a fluid motion. Positions mentioned are mere check points to see if you are in the right position. Your swing should pass through these checkpoints but still be fluid.

If you are swinging too far inside out, try bringing the club more straight back and try to strike the back left side of the ball.

Before my swing I think
1) Hit the ball straight

After I initiate my swing I think
2) Hit the ball on the back left side

and I watch the club hit the ball.
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post #5 of 6
8/22/08 at 12:44am

Re: Am I dropping my right shoulder too much?

Originally Posted by gbk56 View Post
Shoulders should be square at impact and then rotate through so that your belly button is pointing toward the target.

Remember the golf swing is a fluid motion. Positions mentioned are mere check points to see if you are in the right position. Your swing should pass through these checkpoints but still be fluid.

If you are swinging too far inside out, try bringing the club more straight back and try to strike the back left side of the ball.

Before my swing I think
1) Hit the ball straight

After I initiate my swing I think
2) Hit the ball on the back left side

and I watch the club hit the ball.
What do you mean "back left"?
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post #6 of 6
8/22/08 at 12:58am

Re: Am I dropping my right shoulder too much?

Originally Posted by traviswise View Post
What do you mean "back left"?
If you draw a line down the middle of the ball there will be a left side and a right side. I aim for the back of the ball on the left side.
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