My Swing (ChrisPietersen)

I've been Playing Golf for: About 2 months

My current handicap index or average score is: 110-115

My typical ball flight is: Irons = Push, Driver = Fade/Slice

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Fat shots and shanks (Irons), Slices and topped shots (Driver & Woods)

Hi all!

Unfortunately I don't have a video to upload yet, will try and get one up as soon as possible. So, for now it is just text.

I've been searching this forum for about 3 weeks now, and I've found a few very helpful topics, but I can't seem to pin them together!

I feel the trouble in my game is the long game. I make about 40-42 putts on average, which is decent for now, but I cannot seem to get my long game in tune.

I slice A LOT from the tee (And of the deck with woods). I've been working on correcting it with wiffle practice balls, but my shots are still inconsistent, a lot of topped shots, or shots going high and the dreaded slice in between. I feel I have a half decent swing sometimes, as I've been working on what was posted in the "How to Hit a Driver (Hit it Further and Stop Slicing!)" thread, which seemed to help a bit, but still slicing quite a lot, and very inconsistent contact.

My irons are up and down. One day I'll hit them great, the next day it makes me fall apart. I hit it much more consistent than my driver and woods, but still a lot of bad shots. I suffer with getting my ball flight consistent. I hit a lot of divots just behind the ball, which ends up in a lot of fat shots. I tried aiming just in front of the ball on my downswing, which seems to help a bit, but a lot of shots go fat. I'm pretty sure my weight is on my left leg, have been working on "How to Draw the Golf Ball", which has me putting a lot of weight on my left leg. The draw is starting to come in nicely, but how do I strike it consistently? As in correct ball flight and correct starting line?

I also want to know, how can I improve my short game more? Medium length approaches and putts are fine, but my chipping is horrible. I also hit my chips and short pitches very fat? What drills can I do for this?

For putting, what can I do to boost confidence on short putts? What drills can I do in my house that can improve me to under 36 putts per round?

I will post my Swing video as soon as I can get to the course again!

(PS I'm currently practicing my swing with wiffle practice balls, because I have limited space and can't get to the course regularly)

Regards

Chris

Chris, a video would be the best, for offering advice, but there are common things that make a good golf swing. If you haven't looed at the 5 simple keys, it might be very helpful to you. The key is, to work one 1 thing (piece) at a time, once you have that down pat, move to the next, i.e. key #1..steady head, then key # 2 weight forward.

Trust me, I began playing again last Oct 2013, and have used this method to make my swing as good as I can, along with some instruction from Mike. I only wish these were available when I started playing in the early 90's. Also, regarding your limited space to practice, you may want to think about getting a practice net, I have one, and some of the guys on here have them too. It allows you to hit real golf balls. I tired whiffle balls back in the day, and I could never get a true felling on how I actually hit the ball, unlike a real one.

Here's a link to the 5 simple keys, and good luck with your golf.

Hi Chris,

This happened to most golfers during early stage. The most important is to maintain a steady head position and concentrate on the swing created by shoulder turn. The most effective marker I use for my good result is to turn so that the shoulder joint to the arm reaches under the chin. That is the ultimate back swing limit. You cannot reach this position if you are lazy to rotate the shoulder. Releasing the swing from that position should give you a fairly good striking speed without additional force.

You can practise the swing with a 7 iron anytime anywhere with a carpet under your feet without ball.  Just hear the "swish" sound on the carpet. That will be good result. If you hear differently or no sound from carpet contact it is an air or top shot. Head still.

I believe this may help. Of course getting a pro-coach once in a while on driving range will improve your game more quickly.

Allsetgolfsport

Will surely have a look at those keys! I've read about them and went to the thread, but that link will help a lot. Thanks! About the net, I'll see if I can devise one. Otherwise I'll try to get out to my school's rugby fields more often to hit some full shots when I can't make it to the course!

I have been working on getting my shoulder to the middle of my chest, but the shoulder-to-chin idea sounds much easier! Will keep that in mind. And I'll sure try that drill without the ball, I have done it before, and I could see I was inconsistent. Should I start with smaller strokes first? Like half strokes?

Finally got a chance to take a video. Was using a 7 iron. Striking was poor to be honest.

Video:

What I clearly notice is that I don't get enough hip turn? My feet do flare our, but I still don't get that 90 degree turn.

Just not sure how the the swing on the right is keeping the head still? Will you be able to see the ball well from that head position?

I understand. So the problem is that I'm not turning enough. How would you advise me to start correcting it? Should I just try and turn more on full swings? Or should I say start at only going to P3 and focus on already turning my hips at this point?

I was hitting a lot of fat shots that session, and on the only shots that had decent ball flight, I took big divots. What could cause this?

Will try this out for sure. Getting that right hip turned more, but not sliding back.

When I try rotating more I feel a stretch up my right hand side, almost to a point of it being a bit uncomfortable. Is that a bit too far? Or am I just not flexible enough?

Hi Chris,

The swing must always be consistently a full swing. If you need to vary distance you change the club selection.

Basically when you turn the shoulder it should be under the chin. If it is in line with the chin or above the chin it isn't right.

Because if you have a long mirror the reflection will show on the back swing the club head does not point toward target.

Only when the shoulder edge is under the chin will you get it right.

Try to get to this position in every back swing and just releasing it like the spring of the clock unwinding. This will automatically  deliver the strike straight and far simply uncoiling the shoulder.

Anika Sorenson have a video on golf academy. She asked golfer to do a freehand exercise.

Imagine you having a stance in an address position without club.

Since you are Right handed, place your left hand over the right hand in that address position.

Now turn your shoulder so that it comes under your chin (right hand hooked under left hand and pulling it backwards)

If your left hand remain straight and fully extended it will automatically turn your shoulder to the full limit like a spring coiling till your shoulder is under the chin. The right arm will also be facing towards the sky directly upwards and your imaginery club head will face the target.

After mastering this exercise, you can do the real thing with club and ball in a range to test out the result.

I assure you that you will definitely see good results.

Allsetgolfsport

That's not true. I make partial swings with many of my clubs. Knock downs, punches and whatnot. I will also make a wedge swing with a partial backswing and an aggressive full followthrough if I want to hit a tweener distance with a fair bit of spin.

And just to be clear, I'm not just talking about chips and pitches, I mean Full Swing Mechanics but with partial backswings that may or may not have a sawn off followthrough depending on what I'm trying to accomplish with the shot.

I tried this today. I feel a bit off balance? And my right heel keeps lifting off the ground? I'm getting the body turn nicely when I concentrate on it, but then I mess up on the downswing, possibly because of me being off balance?