My Swing (Beachcomber)

I apologize in advance, I had a stranger film this using my iPhone... So the quality isn't that great.  Any feedback would be appreciated.

Full Swing - Pitching Wedge

Note 1: I typically miss my target by pulling the shot to the left of my target line.

Note 2: I filmed my pitching wedge versus a 6-iron because I've hit some shots off the hozzel - terrible misses.  So I wanted to see what could be causing that type of miss.

Note 3: The guy taping me said he thought my shoulders were open to the target, and I closed them up and started hitting the ball pretty damn straight (this was after he filmed my swing).

Last 20 rounds using Golfshot's scoring system...

Driving Stats: 54.7% fairways hit, 27.2% missed left, 18.1% missed right

GIR: 42.2% hit, 57.8% missed

Putting Average: Per hole 1.8, Per GIR 2.0

Handicap using USGA scoring system: 6.6

Personal goal... Get my ball striking down to where I don't have the terrible miss hits that rear their ugly head at least once or twice during a round of golf.

What you might try is to keep you're eyes a little bit longer to the ground.

First thing that i noticed watching you're swing was that you tend to follow you're ball the moment you hit the ball.

Then i read  that you're pulling you're balls to the left. That might be it. Keep you're head down a little bit longer.

Further. Other things that i noticed is that you have a brilliant swing velocity and a great balance.

The one thing I notice is you're also coming out of your stance by standing up on your downswing. Could be why you were hitting your 6 iron off the hozzle and by looking at your driver video, the ball looks like it was fading/slicing. Try and keep your posture and I'm sure you'll get cleaner contact.

I do like the tempo and swing speed.

I agree I tend to look up on shots - especially my chips/pitches.  I haven't really noticed it being an issue with my full swing, but I'll try and keep my head still - with my eyes on the impact zone - versus watching it fly down the line.

Thanks for the kind comments on my velocity/balance.  My balance is something I find myself struggling with time to time...  I'll get some different angles posted so you can see my balance a little better.

Hi RPMPIRE.  Thanks for commenting on my swing.  I do try to 'stand up' on my driver - to get an ascending blow on the ball.  It's more of a thrust of my hips - firing toward the target which forces me to raise... But not entirely sure??  I'll try and get some better angles posted so it is easier to see what I'm doing with my legs/weight transfer on the down swing and through the impact zone.

Also, I posted my PW versus my 6i because I wanted to see why I was hitting wedges off the hozzel...Not the other way around.

I do open my stance up to my target line with my wedges.  That coupled with the fact that it looks like I'm taking the club face outside the line on the backswing (didn't notice this until I put this video up), and compounding the fact that I sometimes peak or look up on these shorter iron shots - I think that is why I'm hitting the ball off the hozzel with my PW??  It is really strange because I could hit 50 to 100 shots with a PW on the range.  And feel great.  Then go out on the course and over the round hit maybe 8 full wedges and 7 of them pure, but one or two off the hozzel!?

One other note, the driving range was packed... It usually is here in Irvine.  So there are a few shots with my driver where it may look like I'm hitting a slice... But I'm actually hitting the ball:

a.) Left of my target line

b.) Slight power fade

You may see in that first swing with the driver what appears to be a ball that is a slice... But that is actually a guy in the stall beside me hitting an iron.  My ball really wasn't picked up in the camera on that first swing... But it was left of my target line.

I did receive feedback from the guy who filmed me that my left shoulder was open to my target line.  When I closed this - I was hitting my driver really straight... But I didn't get that on video.

I need to get a better video camera... My previous attempt was using my iPhone and the video quality is pretty crappy.  So last night I was digging around and found a flip video camera I bought several years back and it's just been laying in a drawer never being used.  I charged it up and brought it to the range with me today just to experiment.  I took a quick little video and just uploaded it to Youtube.

Obviously I had the camera way too close... But the quality of video was pretty good.  Any feedback on my feet - and or anything else you see in this short clip would be appreciated.  I'm going to go buy a little tripod for this - and next time I'll make sure I'm placing the camera much further away so you can see my full swing/body.

I just found that the MS Movie editing software on my computer can slow the video down... Here is the same clip at the range in slow motion (0.125x).

Ok, so after my failed attempt at filming on my own earlier today (see videos above of just my feet - LOL)... I had a friend meet me over at the range tonight to get some better shots of my swing.

Please do not laugh at my reverse-c.... The more I see my swing on video - the more I feel like a hacker.

7i Face On

7i DTL

Also, I've decided that I'm going to sign up for the Evolver.  So any directions on how to do that would be appreciated.

Backswing looks pretty solid, transition is OK and you're cruising along up until P5 (left arm parallel to ground in downswing), when it all goes a bit pear shaped -- right knee buckling, right heel lifting, humping of the proverbial goat.

Try making some (easy!) swings where you feel the right knee straightening in the downswing and the right heel staying on the ground all the way through impact. You will notice that your right foot is rolling over onto the inside of the instep and will be able to feel your left hip moving more laterally toward the target as a result. This is what you are looking for -- notice Rob Rock's right heel and knee at impact and how long that heel stays down as he goes into the follow through. In the video you can see that he doesn't start to roll up on his toe until his hands reappear all the way around the other side of his body. You're up on yours before the club is even parallel in the downswing!

Stretch... I'm a noob to this stuff... So bear with me.   I Googled P1/2/3/4/5, etc... And found:

P1 - address

P2 - club parallel to ground

P3 - Left arm parallel to ground

P4 - Top of Backswing

P5 - Left arm parallel to ground

P6 - Club parallel to ground

P7 - Impact

P8 - Club parallel to ground

P9 - Right arm parallel to ground

P10 - Finish

Ok... This will be my cheat sheet so that I know the lingo you and the rest of the folks around these forums speak. :D

Back on topic... 30fps cameras blow you know what... So I'll work on keeping my right foot / heel from lifting during the transition... Keeping it more quiet through impact as you have shown with Rock's photos above.  Should give me something to work on over the next couple of days until I get the wife to let me go get a high speed camera.

Mate, I really appreciate your support and help!  Your swing thread is an inspiration, and I hope I can show signs of improvement as you have!!  I signed up for Evolvr tonight!!!

Yeah, sorry. You are fine until your left arm is halfway down. In the slo-mo face on video, you reach the top of your backswing at about 22:00 seconds. Really nice position -- centered pivot, great shoulder turn. Your transition move is fine, too -- the left knee moves towards the target, both legs start to regain some flex as you press down into the ground. But at about 24:00 your right knee breaks in and pulls the right heel up off the ground as your hips lunge inward towards the ball. This is known as "Coming Off The Wall" or -- more colloquially -- "Humping The Goat", for obvious reasons.

Thanks for the kind words. We've all got our own issues for sure. I'd happily trade for your backswing!

But learning to film your swing properly and having someone really knowledgeable (ie. not me) to help you analyze it on an ongoing basis is a huge step towards getting your game where you want it to be. Evolvr has helped me a lot and I'm sure it will help you too.

"Humping the Goat"!? LOL... First I've heard that terminology used in golf.  I love it!  I'll see if I can find a way to calm that right side a little more like Rock in his videos.  Any tips on how to keep my butt - and or my hips sliding toward the target line - rather than going toward the golf ball (perpindicular)?  This could explain why I tend to hit the ball closer to the hosel - and shanks creep up in my swing!!

Here is the perfect video your you my friend.  This is exactly what you need to not hump the goat.  Enjoy!

I like that process of right pocket (swipe) - then left pocket connects - without the right pulling off - then both pockets are connected - then finally - the left pocket swipes and the right pocket disconnects.  Nice little move.  Something I've never been taught - and definitely appreciate the advice!  I'm going to try and work on this tip over the next month and see where it takes me.

Wish me luck! My hope is I can tell my wife that I'm an ex-goat humper after all this!

Seems to fit here. Even pros have to find creative ways to work on this.

Beachcomber, at the top of your backswing, see how your clubface is facing the sky? This can cause pulls, shanks, you name it..I used to do the exact same thing, and when I fixed it I noticed a huge improvement. You want it angled toward the ball, more on plane, like Rory here. Get in front of a mirror and work on getting to that position at the top. It may seem like a small detail, but it's not, it should help tremendously.