gtaj

"Additionally, if my only goal is to hit the ground in front of a line (a drill I will point out that we do with a LOT of beginner golfers, and golfers who are shooting some higher scores), I could do it making all sorts of golf swings that won't produce very good results on the golf course. I can move my head forward, I can chop down steeply on the ball, I can shift my left arm out and swing way left… I can do all sorts of weird bad things." lol and the couldn't be said for stopping a sway in the backswing? i could pick my arms straight up with no hip rotation and then drop the club head straight down on to the ball. i could keep my weight completely centered or better yet incroporate a nice reverse pivot. done! no sway! exaggeration aside, im sure we agree that drills need to be done in the context of trying to hit acceptable shots, with respect to direction, trajectory and distance. the line drill provides me with the instant feedback that i need in order to improve. it provides an external focus for me and i find it easier to dupliate when moving from the range to the course. i believe that some movement - sway, right side load, moving off the ball or whatever - is acceptable in the backswing. that said i realize that movement means and has varying consequences for persons of different abilities. this exchange has been enjoyable and certainly caused me to reconsider what i'm trying to accomplish with my game and how. thanks.

"You don't control the bottom of your swing better by just thinking about controlling the bottom of your swing (or being told that it's important)." That is how I work on it actually. I draw a line with spray baby powder on the ground and hit balls trying to take my divot in a good place. Over and over. Trying to isolate or worry about my hips doesn't help.

Yeah there is a very broad spectrum of abilities out there. And arguing just what hip sway means to a 25 vs a 5 handicapper is ultimately pointless I guess. But I have my doubts that eliminating it will turn one into the other I've seen some guys play astoundingly well with a 40 yard slice they just accepted it and got it in the hole. Funny game

Yeah well he is selling a book - which I bought and got a lot out of - but his ideas are pretty well laid out in that and other articles on his site. I find a lot of it very freeing after many attempts at improvement through video analysis to hit certain "positions" and comparison with a pro. I've been down roads that may be similar to the OP in that i thought that if I could only eliminate "x" I'd be a much better golfer when In fact my efforts are much better spent in other actually achievable areas - controlling tye bottom of my swing being chief among them. Also external vs internal focus and mental prep. Don't sell Adam and others like him short I think what he has to say has a lot of merit

Thanks for the analysis and the effort to post it. I like the approach described here http://www.adamyounggolf.com/the-model-swing-is-dead/

@6minutes in? Lol one anyway

Well we disagree I'm cool with that. Thanks!

Haha you're just showing the ones that don't Check out padrig against the Rolex sign [VIDEO]http://youtu.be/0KxQfdhGtsU[/VIDEO]

So you're saying they make a reverse sway?

What's wrong with a bit of sway in the backswing? Many top pros do and hit the ball very well.

I'm also 6'6". Play 1-1/2" long with 2 degrees upright. Look for white dot pings and then add length as needed. Any Golfsmith etc can do it for you. You'll appreciate the right fit

I'd say spend time hitting short chips and pitches. Work on making sold contact to get a feel for that. At the same time practice hitting the ball before the ground on those chips as well as center contact. Always chip or pitch to a target. Sounds like you just need some time and reps getting a feel for contact. Don't worry too much about form have a clear intention and your body and mind will work the details out. It's a great game you can play all your life but it's difficult. Hang in there!!

Can't comment on Joey D but Tony Horton and his P90 series are fantastic for speed, balance, and overall strength. Done P90X2 and 3 many times they are awesome.