My Swing (chrisva)

Hey all,

First post, but I've been lurking around here for a couple of years.  I've found this site to be an outstanding resource and a great community, and I look forward to contributing.

I was introduced to the game at an early age but played other sports growing up and competitive baseball through college.  Recently picked it up again and I am obsessed.....I practice frequently, but up until this summer I really didn't get out and play enough.  I've played 12 rounds or so over the last couple months and have really started to see some improvement on the course; recently shot 41 on the front at reston national (with 2 doubles and 2 birdies).

Lately I have been focusing on a steady head, deep(er) hands/not rolling, and trying to stay more connected with my arms/core.  I do hit some really solid shots, but also have random days where I feel like I've forgotten everything......

Thanks in advance for any tips, drills, etc.

I've been Playing Golf for: ~2.5 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 16.1 on golflogix (80s - 90s)

My typical ball flight is: draw/push draw

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: hook, occasional push fade (usually only with the driver)

Videos:

Excuse the camera angles in last year's videos.....and yeah that's the same dude with the hair and beard

March 2011

Iron (unknown) DTL

May 2011 (had some instruction at pinehurst in april)

Iron (unknown) DTL - 4 swings

August 2012

4 Iron DTL

7 Iron Face (sorry the ball is not shown)

Welcome to TST Chris.  Your swing looks a lot better to me now - than it did back in May.  Nice improvements from what I can tell in the swing videos you have posted.  So great work.  I think you have a solid swing, and there are a few geometry pieces I'd work on if I were you.

First frame is known as A2.  Second frame is known as A3.  I like your A2 a lot.  Looks very good.  Your A3, at least for me - the club is way too far off plane for my liking.  I'd get that shaft more vertical.  It looks like you need to work on your loading of the left wrist between A2 and A3.  Watch a few videos here - and it should give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.  Focus on the left wrist at A3 (hinge position when the left arm is parallel to the ground).

As you can see - your club is not vertical - and laid very far off plane.  Sure, there are guys on tour like Fowler who lay the club way off plane... But I think the rule of thumb should be to clean up your geometry and keep your club shaft on plane during the backswing, as it will increase your chances of hitting the ball cleanly (and fairly straight) on the downswing and into impact.

Here is another video with Ernie Els - which shows how he thinks of 'forming a box' with his wrist hinge or wrist cock.  Make sure you keep the left arm straight - and the right elbow/tricep close to your torso.

I think if you work on A3 - and the proper wrist hinge/cock - you'll improve your consistency.

Best,

Beach

This marked-up A3 photo should help.  Try to get your club more vertical.  By working on the wrist cock/hinge motion.  You can do this in a mirror and verify your angles pretty easily indoors.  Without even hitting a ball.  Once you engrain the proper mechanics - it will be easier to return the club to square and on-plane at impact.

The red line is closer to where the club should be.

You live in pinehurst area?  I'm around same area

Beach - this is exactly what i've been struggling with and trying to work on since last year.....i feel like i am getting my hands a bit deeper than the first video, but certainly still rolling.......thanks for the visuals, i really like ernie's video as a reference point

Iacas - i've gone through the 5SK and deep hands threads, and i struggle with the sensation of 'feeling' on plane when trying to get the shaft more vertical......any drills or suggestions here?

Poser - i wish man, was only down there for a bit a year ago for some instruction with my dad......i was looking at housing prices by the time we left

Chris, check out the following two videos on arms and hands.  They are pretty solid and done by a TGM instructor.  I'm not sure if you know what TGM is - but it is very solid instructional doctrine created by Homer Kelley - author of The Golfing Machine.  Many world class instructors have been heavily influenced by Homer Kelley.

The videos are obviously dated - but the concepts still hold true to this day.  Watch them and you will see how basic the moves with the hands and arms really are.  You hitting A3 consistently is just going back and cleaning up your hands/arms/wrist cock.  And I hope these two videos will help you as they did me.

The Arms

The Hands

Thank you sir, will give this a go, this is a great visual for me.......in contrast, with the way i am taking the club back now the laser would be pointing well right of my 'target line' correct? (at least at A3)

@Beach - I've definitely heard of Homer Kelley/TGM but havent checked it out enough........both videos are great, and that first one is gold for me, especially the 'right hand on top your left fist' drill.......many thanks

range here i come

Bolded part.  Yes.  For sure.  You gotta correct that and get on plane.

Good luck!  Let us know how these changes work...

Mike:  thanks for the visual on my right elbow, has helped a lot.....

Last few range sessions I've just been focusing on my right elbow flex, and getting to a better A3.  I was trying to go at about 50% speed in these below (but of course was probably closer to 75%).  Most recent shots have been very straight or with a slight fade.  Shot 87 at Reston National yesterday with a 41 on the back.

Shot sequence and right video below are from 8/16:

Thanks for everyone's help!  Will post more progress soon.

Arms looks a helluva lot better in the backswing!  Seriously, the geometries of the backswing (shaft is on plane) is a huge improvement.  Nice work!!  Looks like you need to work on reducing the early extensor action (right arm straight) through impact?  When I watch your video - your arm is straight (fully extended) when you hit the ball as seen here (picture frame taken just before impact).

The red line shows how straight your arm is... You've lost power by doing this as you should maintain a 'pitched elbow'.  For reference, check out Rory's elbow through the impact area.

The extensor action could be a result of some pivot issues (you may not be shifting the weight to the left side properly??) - but it is hard to diagnose without a Caddy View (face-on) video of your swing.  To better understand extensor action - and how to work on improving it - check out this awesome video by Dana Dahlquist.

Nice work Chris! Keep fine tuning the mechanics and let us know if you have any questions.

Updates:

I know my head/upper center moves, and it's much more evident in my face on views.  I move laterally off during takeaway, then forward at the start of my downswing, but I seem to get back to a good spot at impact.  Been doing some of the wall drills lately, so hopefully that will help.  I feel like improving my tilt at the top will assist with this also.

Overall I'm feeling pretty comfortable with my takeaway now but P2/P3 is obviously still a work in progress (feeling much more natural now though).  I've been trying to start cleaning up P4 over my last couple range sessions, but it certainly doesn't look that way on video haha.

Also been playing around with my setup/posture (little more S n T ish) and grip.

09/07/2012:  Setting up a bit closer to the ball, more relaxed shoulders (my shirt is baggy so I think I look more hunched than I feel)

09/15/2012 : Back foot also flared, trying to let my rear leg 'extend' more during the backswing, cleaning up grip based on Mike's post (to me this manifested in a 'shorter' thumb on left hand, weaker right hand but feeling more pressure on lifeline/heelpad from left thumb)

09/24/2012

and one normal speed (3 swings)

Your swing looks pretty nice.  Solid job with the mods.

Quick question, are your misses thin?  It looks like your left shoulder is lifting early in the downswing to me...  Could be due that your center is shifting?  Please expand on your ball flight - stock shot at the moment.  And then your typical miss.

Misses are definitely a little thin, and usually a straight push or leaking to the right.  Occasionally I have some really awful swings with the driver (nasty push fade, ugly sounds off the clubface), but after cleaning up my setup with the driver that has cleared up a lot.

Generally on my bad swings, I can feel myself pulling away from the ball and feel very flat with my shoulders.  I think this might tie into your post about my early release, which is partially why I started to play around with my setup closer to the ball.

After re-watching some of my original videos I felt like I looked so 'flat' not just with the club shaft, but also with my hips and shoulders.  I went through the 'myth of maintaining address knee flexion' thread, and tried to be more conscious of letting my hips turn on the proper plane (some elk drills I saw mike post in another thread really helped me with this).  This seems to have helped my upper center stay more steady to p4 and I'm not swaying off as much.  Flared back foot also made this feel much more natural.

My hope is that by improving my tilt at the top and focusing on keeping my front shoulder lower longer, it will help me clean up some of the forward sway and early release.

EDIT:  Stock shot - haven't been on the course much lately, but solid shots on the range have been very straight or with a slight draw