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Skimming the ground trouble


mrserv0n18
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Hello, I just learned to play golf at the beginning of the season. I fell in love instantly even though im not good at it, I still have a real passion when I go out and play.

I have taken 3 lessons just to learn the basics and watched lots of training videos for tips. I also setup a hitting area in my garage with a driving range mat and a tarp to practice my swing.

My swing is pretty ugly. I did not realize how ugly till I video taped myself and seen I have a nasty chicken wing, but I can hit the ball this way. However I am slowly bringing attention to each part of my swing and working on it one step at a time.

I am now focusing on keeping my left arm straight at take away, I find my biggest problem is that my swings seem to be too high on the ball, or I will take a massive divot when mentally trying to compensate for hitting thin. I find to get proper impact I am practically squatting to avoid this. Which I am sure is not correct.

My question is, when I watch my buddy play whos pretty good, or watch golf on tv every practice swing clips the ground so perfectly. I find when Im practicing I either miss the mat completely or strike the mat hard before the ball.

What can I do to find that happy median where I am clipping the ground just after the ball as I should be?

I appreciate any thoughts on this. The more I seem to watch videos or try new things I have actually gotten worse at the game confusing myself. Now when I step up to the ball I have little confidence even though I hit over 100 balls a day.

DRIVER: R7 460 Draw - 10.5* R Flex 55g
WOODS Taylormade R11 15* , Big Bertha 4w
HYBRID Taylormade Burner Rescue 19*, Taylormade R11 5 Hybrid
IRONS Mizuno Mx-200 4-GW WEDGES CG14 56* PUTTER Sabertooth 34"

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Harvey Penick used to put something on the ground like a leaf, or tee and tell the students to take small swings and clip the tee. But I think this problem has a root cause. Maybe your head is moving up and down, maybe you are out of balance, there are several possibilities. It is important to learn the correct movement of the golf club as a starting point, then progressing from there.

There is a drill called the PVC drill. It teaches the feeling and mechanics of the golf swing. It also helps keep everything connected and helps learn correct balance. PM me if you want me to send you the link. I still use the drill when I get a little out of sorts.

My swing thoughts:

- Negative thinking hurts more than negative swinging.
- I let my swing balance me.
- Full extension back and through to the target. - I swing under not around my body. - My club must not twist in my swing. - Keep a soft left knee

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I would like to see this tarp set up as I am thinking about doing something similar. Sounds like a low cost solution.

What's in my Bagboy Revolver cart bag:

Polarity MTR Irons 2&3 (hybrid) thru PW
R7 Burner Draw Driver 460cc
R7 Burner 3 Wood 5614 Vokey Wedge Tour Chrome Studio Select 1.5 ProV1's

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I would like to see this tarp set up as I am thinking about doing something similar. Sounds like a low cost solution.

I will post a picture later on , will have to find my camera. But basically its a 4x5 driving range mat that I got from my local driving range for $25! Because they were throwing it away cause it was worn, but really its perfectly fine. Then I bought a Large Tarp from home depot, I would say its probably 15x20 or something its big, it was like 10 bucks. and I simply nailed it up to the rafter and it hangs down onto the ground with plenty of looseness, about 3 feet extra length resting across the ground. I then went to a Army/Navy store and bought Netting, about $30 worth And hung it opposite of the tarp so if you really duff and your ball shoots hard right or left the netting captures it and it doesnt go busting through your garage door. Then I bought a White King size sheet from target for 13 bucks and nailed that in front of the home depot tarp on the other side of 2x4. So theres a 2 inch gap between the sheet and tarp. My mat is about 7 feet or so away from the tarp. You can hit shots as hard as possible they will not fly back at you. Its all absorbed. I then bought that green grass looking carpet from home depot for like a dollar a yard and layed that down as my carpet so it looks cool and keeps the balls from rolling away. To make things more amazing, while it works great stand alone , I also bought a projector on Ebay for $130 . Then I bought a P3proswing golf simulator on craigslist for $500 (cost $1000 new) and brought a old computer I had out there and hooked it all up, cut a hole in the driving range pad for the p3proswing, it now it shoots a 10x12 image of the software onto the king size sheet. So its pretty much like a real driving range, or you can play a simulation course of 18 holes. All in all I think everything cost me about $670 and its a blast. But if you just do the tarp/sheet/net/mat it was under a 100

DRIVER: R7 460 Draw - 10.5* R Flex 55g
WOODS Taylormade R11 15* , Big Bertha 4w
HYBRID Taylormade Burner Rescue 19*, Taylormade R11 5 Hybrid
IRONS Mizuno Mx-200 4-GW WEDGES CG14 56* PUTTER Sabertooth 34"

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Well yeah, I would say you did get excited about golf. What kind of things did the pro have you do? What were his instructions to you? Have you ever heard of Swing Academy? You can post videos on line there and have people analyze your swing. You can get a lot of help from that. Make sure it is a video of you actually hitting a ball. There are a lot of things that would cause the problem you are describing.

First is the flex in your knees paying close attention to your back knee (Right for right handers). Whatever flex you have at address do not change it during your backswing or in your swing back down to the ball. It is very common for golfers to straighten out the back knee during the backswing as a result you have to flex back down to get back down to the ball. Too far you dig into the ground not enough you thin the ball.

Spine angle, the angle between your spine and the ground when you bend over at address, is something that we need to strive to keep at the same angle from backswing through impact. If you straighten up and have to bend back down to get to the ball same problems as above potentially plus other problems.

I guess finally there is balance. If you lose your balance going back from the ball and/or coming back down to the ball fats and thins can result. A setup whereby you are evenly balanced on your feet so you don't fall back or forward is essential.

So, in other words, lots of stuff.

My Clubs
Nicklaus Progressive XC Irons: 3H,4H, 5-GW
Ray Cook SW & Gyro 1 Putter
Taylor Made Burner Driver 10.5
Taylor Made V-Steel 3 & 5 MetalsMy Home Course: Indian RiverMy Blog: Rant-o-Rama-Ding-Dong

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It would be helpful if you had someone show you the basic set up for a successful golf swing. Golf is a simple swing that we make complicated.

1) grip
2) posture
3) hand position
4) feet position
5) knee flex
6) shoulder position
7) right elbow position
8) the take away
9) top of the swing
10) the follow through

sounds like a lot to remember but it will become automatic once someone shows you the basic position to begin your golf swing.

Titleist 910 D2 9.5 Driver
Titleist 910 F15 & 21 degree fairway wood
Titleist 910 hybrid 24 degree
Mizuno Mp33 5 - PW
52/1056/1160/5

"Yonex ADX Blade putter, odyssey two ball blade putter, both  33"

ProV-1

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It would be helpful if you had someone show you the basic set up for a successful golf swing. Golf is a simple swing that we make complicated.

For sure. That is why I was curious what his teacher told him. It is something one should go over with a beginner in the first lessons.

My Clubs
Nicklaus Progressive XC Irons: 3H,4H, 5-GW
Ray Cook SW & Gyro 1 Putter
Taylor Made Burner Driver 10.5
Taylor Made V-Steel 3 & 5 MetalsMy Home Course: Indian RiverMy Blog: Rant-o-Rama-Ding-Dong

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basic posture and position


1) make sure that your base or your footing is proper and you are making the proper rotation and that it is level and not dipping

2) Make sure that your set up is proper since you can not make a successful golf swing with an improper set up.

3) basic drills for a proper set up

a) feet shoulder width apart
b) knees slightly bent
c) bend your upper body forward
d) keep you back straight
e) slightly dip your rear shoulder
f) hands should hand down naturally
g) keep your rear elbow closer to your body that your front
h) arms extended to the ground but without tension
i) start your turn with the club and naturally lift the club without swaying
j) rotate level
k) keep your arm straight to limit your backswing
l) fully turn slowly so that you can naturally coil
m) begin your down swing with your hip and not with your arms or hands
n) your head should stay behind the ball to keep you in the slot
o) extend your arms down the line
p) the wrist will break naturally and add acceleration to your swing
q) the momentum of the swing will bring the club around
r) the weight will automatically shift so that all the weight is on your front foot
s) your hips automatically rotate and should be pointing square to your target
t) your rear foot should be pointed to the ground
u) your front foot should be planted throughtout the swing but at the finish the weight on the front foot is favoring the outside edges.

Summary your initial set up will help keep you in position for a successful golf swing, so go see your golf professional.

Titleist 910 D2 9.5 Driver
Titleist 910 F15 & 21 degree fairway wood
Titleist 910 hybrid 24 degree
Mizuno Mp33 5 - PW
52/1056/1160/5

"Yonex ADX Blade putter, odyssey two ball blade putter, both  33"

ProV-1

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Well The Pro did teach me grip. I feel confident that my grip is proper it feels right, I feel Like I have good address on the ball. My setup over all would look acceptable if you seen it.


However the swing method he taught me was very odd and required bring the club practically far outside of your body and away from you , basically swinging from right to left on the ball. I have to admit when I was doing it under his wing, I have never seen a ball flight so proper, but the more I worked on it and watched videos it I lost trying new things. Its really hard to explain, and its freezing cold here so its tough to practice unless I can get the garage to 40 degrees. But next sunny day I will make a couple you tube vids and you can see the different swing typs and tell me what you think. Thanks for your help.

That comment about watching your right foot, theres no question I have a tendency to stand up at the band swing and not stay static unless I mentally focus on NOT doing it so defiantly I already see much cleaner shots and not as much topping when I focus on not moving my feet till after impact. But still far from consistent . I know I have a one piece takeaway up till the wrist cock which is about a 2/3 back swing but I really get lost when trying to do that additional shoulder turn to get that FULL swing on the ball unless I break my left arm thats the point where i lose my knee bend it makes me stand up unknowingly.

So overall after reading the a-u tips, as I have gotten better with using BODY not arms in the swing, I get lost when trying to get to the highest point of the back swing , and then on the way down, I understand to keep my right elbow tucked in , and I know to start the downswing with my right shoulder coming down and with the hip turn, Once I reach that position where I am in mid swing, I get lost again as to how to realse that wrist cock and come through the ball cleany

DRIVER: R7 460 Draw - 10.5* R Flex 55g
WOODS Taylormade R11 15* , Big Bertha 4w
HYBRID Taylormade Burner Rescue 19*, Taylormade R11 5 Hybrid
IRONS Mizuno Mx-200 4-GW WEDGES CG14 56* PUTTER Sabertooth 34"

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ok to things i miss my old garage driving range (same mat nd tarp set up) but they one thing to keep in mind is to try to press the ball through the turf but even before that find the bottom of your swing by taking a practice swing and find where the divot you created and right were that divot starts is the ideal ball position for tht club u used to swing with

hope this hellps
..Chris

Chris Nunes,17 yrs old

In My Bag:
Woods:Nike Sasquatch Tour Model (Driver), Nike Sumo 3 wood
Irons: Callaway X-Forged (Project X 6.0)Wedge: Callaway C Grind 58 degree,Titleist Volkey 54 degree (oil can)Putter Cleveland Classic 2 or Scotty Cameron Santa Fe teryllium "Everyday you miss practicing it...

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Could be your dipping with your knee bend on one swing, then your so focused on trying to not duff that you keep your knees very straight and upright causing you to go over the ball. Your arms and elbows can also play a huge factor in this. Some say copying your backswing pattern is a way to go when your first starting but i'd have to disagree there are quite a few differences.

In my Black'n'Red :

Driver: R7 TP 460cc 10.5* Reax 65 stiff shaft
3 Wood: Tour Impact 15*
Irons: Tour Impact 3-PWWedges: Vokey Oil Can Spin Milled 54.10, Golfco Baron 58* SWPutter: Tracy II 35"Balls: Prov 1Age:16

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Note: This thread is 5599 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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