My Swing (LightsOut)

[LightsOut]

I've been Playing Golf for: 20 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 80
My typical ball flight is: straight/weak draw
The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Short drives.

---

Videos: 

 

I'm 6' and 200 lbs.; pretty strong and flexible.  I feel like I should be hitting 280-300 yard drives. 

Is it that I'm not generating enough clubhead speed?  Releasing too early?  Out of sync somewhere? 

In the head-on video (video 1), I can see an early release where my wrists uncock before impact.  I never would have guessed that was happening without the slow motion proof. 

The other two don't look like I'm doing that, but still only getting 250 or 260 MAX, and that's on a good day.  

I also noticed in these that I start the downswing simultaneously with the weight shift.  I feel like there should be a slight pause at the top as I start unwinding.  Any suggestions for getting a better feel for holding lag and generating more clubhead speed?

 

Thanks in advance. 

[iacas]

Swing speed isn't all about size. It's about… speed.

You tilt your torso forward toward the target on the backswing, so if you didn't throw your wrists out you'd probably hit the ball 10' off the ground.

You should work on turning during your backswing so your chest points downward just below horizontal, rather than up toward the sky.

[LightsOut]

  On 8/21/2019 at 2:14 AM, iacas said:

Swing speed isn't all about size. It's about… speed.

You tilt your torso forward toward the target on the backswing, so if you didn't throw your wrists out you'd probably hit the ball 10' off the ground.

You should work on turning during your backswing so your chest points downward just below horizontal, rather than up toward the sky.

Expand  

Not sure I follow.  I see the slight leaning towards the target, for sure.  But what do you mean by "chest pointing down just below horizontal"?  Obviously it can't point down during the turn... did you mean vertical?  As in at the top of the backswing, chest should be just shy of vertical, paralleling a line drawn straight up form the ball?  That would make sense.  I could achieve that with a spinal tilt away from the target.

Interesting what you said about throwing my wrists out (if not, would only hit it 10' off the ground).  If anything, I always hit too high.  I actually started a thread about that a couple weeks ago. That's caused by an early release?  

Let me know if this conclusion is accurate: Maintain spinal tilt away from target, hold that lag as long as possible.

Can you recommend a drill for learning to maintain lag? 

Also, do you think i'm reaching forward too far as well?  It seems like the pros have everything much closer to their body during the downswing.  This feels awkward to me for some reason.

Thanks for the input.

[iacas]

Lag happens. It’s not “maintained.”

And your chest points to the ground. If you had a laser perpendicular to your chest, or a camera, it should point just below horizontal.

[LightsOut]

 

  On 8/21/2019 at 12:43 PM, iacas said:

Lag happens. It’s not “maintained.”

And your chest points to the ground. If you had a laser perpendicular to your chest, or a camera, it should point just below horizontal.

Expand  

 

Worked on not tilting the spine toward the target.  After spraying balls all over the range I think I've got a feel for it.  But what's your opinion on the release?  Where am I losing (or not gaining) the clubhead speed needed to carry 250 or more?

This is a big factor in my game improvement right now.  If I could be approaching more par 4 greens with 9 irons and pitching wedges, I'd be at the next level I think.  Instead it's often a 6 iron (or longer) with a needed up-and-down for par - which I've become quite good at due to all the practice!  Now if they could just be for birdies instead...

Just to pontificate a little - I get demoralized when I see drives falling at 200 yards, 230 maybe.  It affects my attitude, confidence, and focus.  I know everyone wants to hit big drives, but I think I actually NEED to! 

[iacas]

I'll try to remember to get back to the other stuff but… again… just swing faster. And if you can't swing faster, then maybe you just don't have it in you to hit it 250 in the air or something.

[LightsOut]

10-4.  We do tend to make the simple complicated, don't we?  

I'm reminded of a session I had with a coach once.  After spewing a long, jargon-filled analysis of my iron troubles, he said, "Karl, forget all that.  Just rare back and hit the sumbitch."

[LightsOut]

UPDATE:

After watching some instructional videos about generating more clubhead speed, I came away with two key thoughts (they coincide with each other).

1.  Be "patient" at the top.

2.  Unwind from the ground up.

Went to the range then played 18 today.  On the range, I focused on getting the weight shift underway before starting the downswing.  After some practice, there was a MAJOR improvement in carry distance!  One of the target flags was 256 yards out, and I started shelling that thing!  This carry distance is  10 to 20 yards farther than what my TOTAL distance used to be.  What a great feeling!  You can see in the videos how the release comes later in the swing than before, and even the follow-through is longer due to the increased speed.  It even SOUNDS better now.

Here's one in real time (Couldn't edit for length due to it being shot at 60fps):

  

And in SloMo:

Went out to the course after this and found myself using wedges for approach shots instead of 8,7, or 6 irons!  Now if I could just sink a putt...

[saevel25]

I think the ball is too far back in your stance. I think its causing you to get good dynamic motion in your golf swing. You have to stall a bit, and flip at impact. 
 

[LightsOut]

  On 8/25/2019 at 1:33 AM, saevel25 said:

I think the ball is too far back in your stance. I think its causing you to get good dynamic motion in your golf swing. You have to stall a bit, and flip at impact. 
 

Expand  

You're right, it is.  The stall you're referring to is that moment your hips stop turning for an instant and your hands catch up?  Like a baseball player swings a bat.  I'll work on that tomorrow.  Maybe I'll get to 300 yet!

 

[LightsOut]

Like this...

[Double Mocha Man]

Is that the 8-iron equivalent to a mic drop?

[LightsOut]

  On 6/5/2020 at 11:26 PM, Double Mocha Man said:

Is that the 8-iron equivalent to a mic drop?

Expand  

🤣🤣🤣  Exactly.  Hit 5 in a row about 165 and dead straight.  I thought I better film these and see what I'm doing!

[Vinsk]

Criminey....About like clicking and getting a Rick Astley video.....😐

[billchao]

  On 6/5/2020 at 11:42 PM, Vinsk said:

Criminey....About like clicking and getting a Rick Astley video.....😐

Expand  

Yup, so it got moved.

[Vinsk]

  On 6/5/2020 at 11:54 PM, billchao said:

Yup, so it got moved.

Expand  

Yeah..and I’m a bit spoiled as I’ve seen you hit an 8i.....😮