Swing Effort

**MikeLowry5** · July 11, 2009

How much "effort" do you use when swinging? After taking a swing do you feel it was at 100% or closer to 50%?

I am a baseball player who just took the game up in September and swing as hard as I can for the most part. I actually have trouble slowing myself down and trying to swing at half the effort and usually have a fatigued lower back after a round.

I noticed today at the range that I literally could take the club back and drop it through and hit it within 15 yards of swinging at max effort and usually much straighter.

Thoughts?

***iacas*** · July 11, 2009

80-85%. The hard swings are relegated to bad lies in the rough or WIDE open fairways, and even then, my backswing is slower.

**MikeLowry5** · July 11, 2009

80-85%. The hard swings are relegated to bad lies in the rough or WIDE open fairways, and even then, my backswing is slower.

Is that with all of your clubs or does that change with lower lofted clubs? I only tried this with a 4 hybrid off the tee and was at no more than 50%.

For some additional background, I do not hit the ball square on the face much. Typically I will hit it off the heel (mainly with the longer clubs) and the toe on P/SW/LW. When swinging at the 50% I was hitting the ball more solid which allowed the ball to travel almost as far.

**deronsizemore** · July 11, 2009

Always try to swing at about 80% with driver and maybe even a little less than 80% with irons. My main concern is hitting the ball straight and making solid contact... not distance. If I have to take an extra club because of it, so be it.

My found that I maybe lose 10 yards or so of distance. Usually I hit the ball cleaner with the slower swing thus I don't lose any distance at all.

**flopdarock** · July 11, 2009

How much "effort" do you use when swinging? After taking a swing do you feel it was at 100% or closer to 50%?

if you are fatiguing your lower back... then you have one hell of an arm swing...

i havent seen your swing but i can take a pretty good guess cuz my buddies are ex ball players and they have the same issues... the #1 question they ask me is how the hell i can hit the ball the way i do without even trying and i tell them 'trust me dude... im trying'... golf isnt about brute force... heck watch some lpga on tv... you got chicks who are 5'2 weigh less than a buck and can pure balls all day long... im in the 80-85% swing effort range also... the 100% shots i cant ever control and will only attempt them from some deep rough or ugly fw bunkers... maybe make a vid so we can analyze your swing? my only suggestion is to watch lots of swing tip vids or just watch lots of slow motion pro swings... watch how they clear their hips first... how they keep their upper body square at impact... how they hold lag and release the club... how they follow thru... etc etc... but the best thing is to get lessons from a pro you feel comfortable with

**TN94z** · July 11, 2009

How much "effort" do you use when swinging? After taking a swing do you feel it was at 100% or closer to 50%?

I was an ex ball player as well when I started. I try to swing around 80% on all swings. You will notice that swinging at 80% and making good contact will result in the same or better yardage than swinging at 100% and not making good contact. It took me a while to get out of this and it was also hard for me to slow it down when I first started. My back would do the same as yours too.

**MikeLowry5** · July 11, 2009

if you are fatiguing your lower back... then you have one hell of an arm swing...

If I understand swing arm, yes I do. As I have mentioned on here a different post I have a steep swing and my left elbow (think right elbow for you righties) does come away from my body. Think Fred Couples swing plane with Villegas' effort all wrapped up into one.

I have taken a few lessons from a Class A pro at the course I normally play but have had better luck teaching myself through emulation, reading, etc. I understand the baseball swing very well and actually teach myself so I expect the learning curve to be smaller than most of those new to the game. I plan on looking for a new instructor who can teach me the fundamentals better. This instructor immediately started setting me up to compensate for pushing the ball and tried to get me to use a very flat, half swing that he compared to a hockey player. He told me I was strong enough to use a "hockey swing" and I did not like that at all.

**MikeLowry5** · July 11, 2009

I was an ex ball player as well when I started. I try to swing around 80% on all swings. You will notice that swinging at 80% and making good contact will result in the same or better yardage than swinging at 100% and not making good contact. It took me a while to get out of this and it was also hard for me to slow it down when I first started. My back would do the same as yours too.

Making more solid contact in the middle of the club face is what I am aiming for by slowing the swing effort down so much. Currently I do not make good contact with any of my clubs.

**TN94z** · July 11, 2009

I would find a teacher that uses video. Being ball players we have very good hand eye coordination and much control over muscles used in the swing. When I see myself on video, it makes it so much easier for me to make the proper adjustments and correct faults in my swing...I am guessing that you are probably the same way. If you are going to see a teacher, which I think is a VERY good idea, then try to find one that uses video.

**MikeLowry5** · July 12, 2009

A co-worker of mine just signed up for a package at GolfTec and I am thinking of it although it seems a bit much for me at this stage. The one thing I did not like was the price (over $1K for a package).

Any experiences with one of these?

Here is their website www.golftec.com

**MiniMoe** · July 12, 2009

I swing to have effortless power. I'm not swinging easy, it just doews not take a lot of effort to hit the ball pure.

**flopdarock** · July 12, 2009

A co-worker of mine just signed up for a package at GolfTec and I am thinking of it although it seems a bit much for me at this stage. The one thing I did not like was the price (over $1K for a package).

my brother tried golftec and didnt like it...

he said he felt like the instructors basically follow a script and compare your swing with a tour pro's swing side by side... he pretty much found a great instructor by word of mouth that uses video to help your swing

**Andycapped** · July 12, 2009

Right now I hardly put any effort at all... probably 50%. I almost broke 100 today (4th time on a 18-hole, non par-3 golf course :D) and it's all because I just relaxed and took it easy. The last 3 times the length of the course has felt daunting from usually playing par-3 courses; so I swung too hard and fell apart. Nice and easy shaved off 22 strokes from my first time on 18 :D

**squaddie** · July 13, 2009

A co-worker of mine just signed up for a package at GolfTec and I am thinking of it although it seems a bit much for me at this stage. The one thing I did not like was the price (over $1K for a package).

I bought a 6-month package this month for $1600 (15 lessons, indoor practice, club fitting, etc.). I've had two lessons and think it's helped so far. The PGA instructor I'm working with is pretty sharp with the swing analysis and lesson planning. He's good at pointing out my swing issues and uses readings from sensors they strap onto you to back up his claims. Plus their indoor practice facility is great, being able to immediately see your swing on video after every attempt. It's over 100*F most days here in Houston, so I don't mind paying a premium to practice in an air-conditioned area. Back on topic, I probably try to swing at 75% to 85% effort, since I feel if I try any harder then my swing will fall apart somewhere (me being a high-handicapper). I know if I swing too hard if I wind up off-balance in the follow-through, leaning to the left (as a righty).

**MikeLowry5** · July 13, 2009

my brother tried golftec and didnt like it...

This was exactly my worry. From looking at their website to the description from my co-worker it seemed like McDonalds for golf swings.

I'd much rather work with a good instructor in my area that teaches on the fly, not by what a company manual says.

**laxbballgolf** · July 13, 2009

When I'm playing well I swing pretty aggressively, I'd say 90%. I used to swing close to 100% to try to look cool by hitting it far, but eventually figured out how stupid that idea is.

Still, if I get too deliberate with my swing I feel like I am "aiming it" rather than really swinging, and usually my mechanics get messed up. I do best if I keep some athleticism involved.

socaltaoist · July 13, 2009

IMHO
Hm this is a tough question. While I agree with the 80-85%ers to a degree I am more inclined to say 100% on every shot. This doesn't mean swing hard or with tension but at the moment of impact your swing effort should be 100%. You are creating torque with the relationship of your hands on the club which is controlled by other factors similar to any object that is swung (baseball bat, katana etc.). When you are swinging a bat, whether you swing for a single or for the fences, you are putting full effort behind the swing at the moment of impact with your body working as a single unit to accomplish the task. The other variables help control where the ball goes. I will whole heartedly say that thinking or feeling like hitting a shot at 80-85% effort really seems to allow you to hit at 100% effort with better timing. If you are going to hit a less than full shot you aren't effecting the effort you should be exerting at impact you are effecting the other variables that minimize the energy that is transferred. With 100% effort comes control (yeah right...wouldn't it be awesome if it was that easy?)

For myself I try....and try....and try to make myself feel as if I am swinging with 100% effort...at impact. Sometimes it works

**CarlSpackler** · July 13, 2009

80-85% unless I am playing a scramble where I will give it 95-100 if there is another ball in play.

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