I have started playing these irons this winter. I abosolutely love the way they look at address. A small to medium clubhead with the traditional blade look, thin topline, and a nice rounded...
Have been playing the VR Pro driver for 2 years now...absolutely love it. I am playing a shortened (44.5") VRPro Ltd, non adjustable. I first started with the Str8 fit model, after breaking...
One of the defining things about Granite Fields is how well it drains. If conditions have been extraordinarily wet to the point other courses are closed, cart path only, or walking only it is...
Course is always in good to very good condition when I have played there. Locals tell me it was a sod farm at one time ... or the owners operate a sod farm ... never quite got that sorted but...
This putter rolls puts off like butter. Very true, and easy to use, excellent sight lines on the putter. However, I absolutely found the grip to be a flaw. It stuck to everything, my clothes,...
I don't understand why you don't read Hogan's book, even after reading your explanation. As an engineer, I can relate to the joy of finding out something yourself, but I don't believe I would have ever learned thermodynamics by watching an air compressor. Why don't you ignore what he wrote about feel, and just use the pictures and diagrams as instructions? Had you read his book, you wouldn't be asking yourself a lot of these simple questions that you're stuck on. This is the proper foot position as shown by Hogan.
I haven't gone through this entire thread, but I don't believe you're putting as much into your grip as you should. I'm sure someone has told you this already, but Hogan basically says that your grip will make or break you, and says that without a proper grip, it is impossible to execute a proper swing. Even if you don't read Hogan's entire book, you need to read the section on the proper grip.
FO vid is of full swing.
DTL vid is of 3/4 swings.
Been focusing on getting my clubshaft more vertical during takeaway/upswing. In my mind, I tried to exagerate the feeling; based on the DTL swings in this vid, I am still doing the same stinkin thing.
I'm really liking your swing improvements. How is it translating into your golf scores? The main things I'm seeing is that your upper body and head shift backwards in the back swing and you aren't thrusting your pelvis up at impact. See how Hogan's head turns, instead of shifts in the backswing and his belt buckle points more toward the sky at impact and follow through.
I can see a lot clearer when comparing animated gifs. And I have mucho issues.
- Hips turning to quickly during takeaway
- Right leg not becoming enough of a kickstand
- I have no transition
- Lag not being maintained on downswing
- Head/shoulders not staying back during downswing
- HIPS SLAMMING ON BRAKES!!!
- RIGHT ARM/ELBOW STRAIGHTENING BEFORE IMPACT!!!
- No reverse C
I'm really liking your swing improvements. How is it translating into your golf scores? The main things I'm seeing is that your upper body and head shift backwards in the back swing and you aren't thrusting your pelvis up at impact. See how Hogan's head turns, instead of shifts in the backswing and his belt buckle points more toward the sky at impact and follow through.
Tex,
I wouldn't call what you see "improvements." I'd rather call them changes to what I was doing last year this time. Scores have changed. When I started all this I was averaging 104ish-107ish. I am now averaging 95 over my past 6 rounds. This could probably be a lot lower, but I don't use irons yet. I don't have any in my bag except my SW that I use to chip and pitch. I use a 4-hybrid for all iron-related shots, so from 190yds to about 70ds only the 4-hybrid. Yes, I know this is absolutely ridiculous, but with the full swing, I only want to focus on the wood clubs first. I may be ready for irons in winter 2012, but I don't know yet.
There are lots of illusions happening in Hogan's vids. Regarding the "pelvis up at impact," when you get a chance, take a video camera to the range and pull your pants up with the belt around the navel. Take a few swings and you will be amazed that your pelvis will be magically "up" at impact. Then lower your belt to normal level, and you will be once again amazed that your pelvis suddenly stopped going up at impact. I'll do this in a future vid so you can see what I'm talking about.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've made a few changes to my equipment and I've been working on a few homemade drills. I've officially tossed the metal clubs. Not in the trash, but in the corner. Now working with only wooden clubs. Bought a couple of stiff steel shafted 3 and 5 woods. The 3W has an old jumbo rubber wrap grip on it. I reeeeeealy like the feeling of the jumbo grip. Never thought I would like it. Thought it would be too big.
Played a round last week at Alfred Tup Holmes with Dad, Terrell, and Bruce. They all play with all new-school modern stuff. They ragged me alllllll day about my clubs lol. They all got up to the tee and made the "cling" sound, while I made the "knock" sound. Plus most times I was always shorter than everybody else. The most fun part about the day was on hole #17 which is an over-the-cliff shot. it's about a 260 yard hole. I "luckily" drove the green (actually the right side fringe) and Bruce was all pissed cause I used a 1969 club with screws vs his nice shiny TaylorMade Burner driver. I must have hit it on the screw or something with that 3Wood cause it went much farther than usual. So of course the friendly argument started with him saying I got lucky with my wooden sh!t. So, I graciously handed my heavy a$$ed club over to him and said, "You can try it out........This old sh!t is a little harder to hit man...doesn't have the same kind of sweet spot as your 460cc driver. I'm just lettin you know!!" Bruce's ego said "a club is a damn club....." There was a group waiting behind us so he couldn't back down in front of an audience. My Dad is telling us to move on cause we're holding people up. He doesn't like making scenes in public. Bruce teed it up and did his usual chicken swing. Swung as hard as he possibly could and hit it super fat with lots of dust and dirt everywhere. The ball rolled down the hill and everybodys laughing real good. Perfect moment for a video camera!!!!!!!!!! Next time one of those challenges goes down, he camera will be rolling. He tossed the club to me and laughed along with all of us and said "Man that club is stupid. That's why they stopped makin them!" And to top it all off, I won by 1 stroke with a 99. I don't even think Bruce gave me a handshake lolol! I'm thinking I could have shot in the low 90's or high 80's if I used irons. I don't plan to pick those up till I'm satisfied with the woods. I do use a PW from 40 yds and in.
In the Take 34 vid, I'm doing 3/4 swings, experimenting with some left side stuff. The major issues I see are....errr....ummm.... everything. My wrists are c0cking waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay early during the upswing, I still haven't worked on the transition, head/upper body doesn't stay back, and my hips are still moving too fast towards the target, or either my arms aren't moving fast enough to catch up with the hips. Plus there's probably some OTT and I can't seem to remember to bring the left cup down. Overall, just feels like my timing is off. Feels like I'm c0cking the wrists real late, but video shows differently. And I'm having a hard time convincing my subconcious that c0cking later is a good thing.
Most of these swings carried about 180-200yds either straight, fade, or pushed right. My major misses were topped shots that turned into real low line drives. Majority of the topped ones were without a tee. Still don't know where to put the ball in the stance. Top priority in these range sessions is the mechanical aesthetic stuff.
I'm also doing some new stuff regarding my chipping and pitching. Feels like a body swing instead of arms and hands. Will get some video of it this weekend. I'm curious as to how it looks. Lol, probably doesn't look anything like it feels. Will also get a video up of Bruce's "unorthodox" swing. He hits it veeeery long even with a reverse pivot. His impact is what I am after. Right elbow bent and everything, but the visual intrepretation he provides isn't for the weak stomached folks lol!
Getting ready to order some of those jumbo grips!! (Or maybe it is a mid sized with lots of tape or something??? May have to take it to a golf shop to find out.)
I'm skipping transition study for now and will put all efforts and brainpower into impact and what my right elbow does. I need an impact bag. I'm liking what I see here with pre impact, at impact, and post impact! Feels like I'm hitting rather than swinging here. Will drill it all week then take it to the range this weekend.
Your emulation looks pretty close however it may be hard to tell in slow motion, but your swing doesn't look that fluid. Like you are trying so hard to be the same as Hogan that you cannot be comfortable with the motion. I tend to try to model my swing after Freddy Couples. Not exactly but in transition. Works very well for me. Very smooth. Your swing looks a little forced and I am not real sure but your athletic abilities may also be a limitation.
We'll no offense or anything but not a 25 handicapper. I'm a 17 handicap and I'm FAR from being good at golf. I really do not know what a "good" golfer would normally score but let me rephrase... Are you trying to better yourself at golf or just look like Ben Hogan when you golf? Once again I am not trying to offend, just trying to get an idea of whats going on here.
I have started playing these irons this winter. I abosolutely love the way they look at address. A small to medium clubhead with the traditional blade look, thin topline, and a nice rounded...
Have been playing the VR Pro driver for 2 years now...absolutely love it. I am playing a shortened (44.5") VRPro Ltd, non adjustable. I first started with the Str8 fit model, after breaking...
One of the defining things about Granite Fields is how well it drains. If conditions have been extraordinarily wet to the point other courses are closed, cart path only, or walking only it is...
Course is always in good to very good condition when I have played there. Locals tell me it was a sod farm at one time ... or the owners operate a sod farm ... never quite got that sorted but...
This putter rolls puts off like butter. Very true, and easy to use, excellent sight lines on the putter. However, I absolutely found the grip to be a flaw. It stuck to everything, my clothes,...
