My Swing (lugonza_2001)

Hi to all,

I would like to share with you a video of my current swing in order to see if you can help me with all the flaws i have, which are quite a few.
The video starts with my grip, and then i make 2 swings, one in front of the camera and another one down the line. The club used is an 8 iron (average distance i get with this club: Around 135 yards / 122 meters).
I am 36, 12 handicap and my ss with driver is near 100 mph.




Things i don´t like:

Too fast backswing (i thought i had fixed it. Unbelieveable).
I stand up during my backswing (i hate that).
As i don´t hinge, I do flip at impact; i am trying to fix this doing little swings and focusing on my hands position.

Things i like:

I think i don´t have an over the top problem anymore, since the backswing and downswing paths are similar (see my second swing).


2 months ago i was accomplishing my handicap, but since i am trying this new grip and not to flip, i would have it hard to break 100 on a par 72. At the range, 98% of my shots are hooks or go way straight left. I NEVER miss to the right.
I believe my current grip is fine, but somehow at impact the clubface must be closed.
I am sure my backswing has a big flaw, i don´t understand why i stand up that much, i think this ruins my swing completely.

I just don´t know what to fix first and how.
Thank you very much for your time viewing my thread. All your comments and tips will be welcome.

Grip: looks good
Address: Ball might be a bit too far back in your stance

Backswing: First move is with hands and wrists rolling club in and underplane very quickly.
Search the "deep hands" thread on this website.
You mentioned the standing up--you don't side tilt enough on the backswing to maintain your inclination to the ground. Peter Kostis would say something else.

Downswing: I like your arm and leg extension into the ball, release, and follow through. You do need to get your hips further forward into impact. Because you don't maintain your inclination to the ground (you need to side tilt as you extend your spine on the backswing) you stand up at the top of the backswing. Forward/downswing should be initially flexion of your spine and then extension into impact. You extend your spine to the top of the backswing and keep it there into impact. Because you don't have the proper inclination to the ground at the top of the backswing, nor the dynamic extension--->flexion--->extension in combination with the forward pushing of the hips, you will hang back and lose balance at your finish position.
Please post a DTL with you hitting a ball, but without hitting the ball, swing plane looks pretty good.

Drive everything back with the left shoulder (push it down) and just let everything else be passive. That should make the backswing considerably easier on you.

Start the downswing by pushing the hips towards the target and then let everything follow.

You are concentrating on the hands and arms too much.

OK, so I will be the first to comment. Yes, you are not flipping (your hands, I assume) anymore. The hooks are probably due to a death grip with the right hand. The grip is ok, except that you are taking the right thumb almost entirely off the shaft, giving yourself the opportunity to swing more with your right palm and less with your right fingers. If you weren't so physically strong, or if you didn't swing so fast, your right hand would probably not be a problem. You can keep that grip if you want, but you are going to have to learn to swing with a stronger left hand. Give that a month or two. Now here is the bad news. Notice your head. It goes up on the backswing, then it goes back down at impact, then it goes back up on the follow thru. There is only one PGA tour pro I know that did this. Your club therefore goes vertical, giving yourself another easy opportunity to pull the club (left). However, I love the follow thru toward the target - in your case, you need to do that to compensate for a possible pull-hook. Long term, you are going to need to swing on plane - just keeping your head still is not enough. Depending on your athletic ability, this could be easy or difficult. I would say your potential for a better swing is there. Start reading about swing plane.

Thank you all for your comments.
I have found all things you say completely accurate and correct. The way i start the backswing rolling the club, my right thumb off the shaft, lack of hips movement at the start of the downswing.... However, i didn´t expect to read that i am not flipping my hands anymore, and that sounded terrific! :)

As requested, i post a video DTL hitting an air ball. I tried to do it the same way as i did on my first video. You can see the ball flying to the left, so i think is a clear example of the problems i have at the moment.

To start making my swing better, i think i will focus first on my left wrist being flat at impact, by practicing some chips and then working up with bigger swings. I just want to make sure i don´t flip at all and experience tells me you really have to work hard and for quite a long time if you want to eliminate completely the bad movements.
Then i will try to start my backswing by not rolling the club. I hope this does not take long... And the i will focus on hips and head. I have discovered today that maybe i am swinging with my arms, today i could make a bigger turn (i am quite flexible i must say) if i used my shoulders more. This could be another point of analysis.

About what you mentioned about my right thumb, you opened my eyes when you told me that my right palm could be in a dominant position and that i could be swinging more with my right hand. That really made a lot of sense to me. What should i do with my right thumb then? Is the entire right hand in a bad position?

Again thank you all, i really, really, appreaciate all your comments.

All those things will be good to learn AFTER you are able to stop standing up on the backswing. That's really hurting your swing right now.

I don't have much to say that hasn't been said, other than you look like Xavi. Being from Madrid, you may not appreciate this observation.

ha, ha, ha.......... I agree we look like each other. I am not a supporter of Real Madrid, so your comparisson doesn´t hurt :)

Again thank you all for your help.

Hi to all,

some months after i started this thread i would like to show you my backswing, i would like to correct what i assume is a big flaw (after reading Hogan´s book and Stack and Tilt): At the top of the backswing i see my hands so above my head, i don´t think this can be right. Some could say this is caused by taking the club from address in a quite vertical path, however i don´t feel i have a vertical backswing., i really take the club to the inside.

I also see i stand up again as i take the club back. I never get good news about the changes i try to implement, flaws end up coming back

it kinda looks as if you are looking for more power by lifting up in your backswing. try swinging slower

also, your right thumb should be on the club more