My Swing (BoomerGolfAnon)

[BoomerGolfAnon]

Hey there, Sand Trappers,

I've finally mustered the courage to post my first swing video to the forum.

I've been playing golf for a LONG time, but have never had a lesson or any formal instruction. I like to learn new things by experimenting, making note of what seems to work and what doesn't. The result is what you'll see in the video: an odd-looking windup in which my left heel comes up very high and is then slammed down hard as I shift my weight in the downswing. (I just learned that Francesco Molinari started lifting his left heel in 2018 to gain more distance, so I feel like I'm in good company!) As you'll see, there's also a lot of lower-body sway in my swing that I need to tame.

I use a 10-finger baseball grip as I had to abandon the interlocking grip recently due to a pinky injury on my right hand caused by golf. In addition, I use a VERY strong left- and right-hand grip. I'm willing to make the grip less strong, but the baseball grip is non-negotiable.

I've always played with a BIG left heel raise during the upswing which slams down hard and transitions quickly to a BIG right heel raise near impact time.

Most of my shots fly straight & true (with maybe a tiny, baby fade), but without much penetration or distance. Instead, my swing results in a 'beautiful' ballooning ball flight. I can't carry my 17-degree 3 fairway wood more than 185-190 yards.

What are some things I can work on without re-inventing my golf swing from the ground up?

I've been Playing Golf for: 40+ years
My current handicap index or average score is: Unknown (probably close to a 15 handicap)
My typical ball flight is: Non-penetrating, ballooning ball flight, either dead straight or with a baby fade
The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: I am mostly trying to gain distance by replacing my ballooning ball flight with one that penetrates at a lower trajectory

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Videos: 

 

[BoomerGolfAnon]

I should also mention that I'm a "true sweeper". I never take a divot (by design) and I've already replaced my longer irons with fairway woods. My remaining short irons and wedges are all Cleveland Launcher HBs with very wide soles, and I don't take divots with these clubs, either.

So, any advice I receive should be appropriate for a sweeper, not a digger.

[Vinsk]

Hello again! Often when someone posts a swing video we’ll give you a link that will discuss what we feel is your main priority piece regarding your swing. This is where I think you should start. Now, there are much more qualified people here than me to offer advice. But based on what you’re wanting to improve I think this would be a great place to start:

 

[BoomerGolfAnon]

5 hours ago, Vinsk said:

Hello again! Often when someone posts a swing video we’ll give you a link that will discuss what we feel is your main priority piece regarding your swing. This is where I think you should start. Now, there are much more qualified people here than me to offer advice. But based on what you’re wanting to improve I think this would be a great place to start:

 

Thanks for the feedback, Vinsk 

Yes, the video makes clear that I'm swaying all over the place, especially my lower body. At address, I'm lined up over the ball, but at impact my head and core have moved behind the ball. This is likely creating more dynamic loft with more backspin, which may encourage the ballooning flight trajectory I get on most "clean" shots.

I'll do some research on drills to stay centered during the swing. Maybe I can use a tall mirror with vertical stripes of blue tape to retrain myself. Or, maybe I can use some back-lighting in the garage to cast a shadow on a white sheet to watch for sway.

I also noticed that Francesco Molinari pushes his left leg and knee forwards during his heel rise, whereas I am bowing (or collapsing) my left leg and knee to the inside. Maybe I can fix this by having A LOT more pressure on my right leg during the backswing.

Edited October 30, 2019 by BoomerGolfAnon

[DaveP043]

3 hours ago, BoomerGolfAnon said:

I'll do some research on drills to stay centered during the swing. Maybe I can use a tall mirror with vertical stripes of blue tape to retrain myself. Or, maybe I can use some back-lighting in the garage to cast a shadow on a white sheet to watch for sway.

Here's a drill to try.  No need for a mirror in this one

 

[BoomerGolfAnon]

10 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Here's a drill to try.  No need for a mirror in this one

 

I appreciate the link, DaveP043

I've been trying out the "Wall Drill" all night long whenever I'm walking around around my house. What a simple AND useful drill. Thanks! I can really feel the difference trying to push my trailing hip as far away from the wall as possible during my backswing. I've also noticed that it's harder for me to life my left heel up as high as I normally do. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing in terms of making an athletic turn, but it *IS* forcing me to be more deliberate in the way I raise my left heel.

Now I'm curious to learn whether I can do something similar outside using an alignment stick stuck in the ground vertically. I'm going to give this idea a try tomorrow (weather permitting).

[BoomerGolfAnon]

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on my first golf swing video. I'm a dedicated "range rat", and have been going to the local range almost everyday, rain or shine.

Initially, I tried to incorporate too much feedback at the same time, and the results were not good. I've now learned to only make one small change at a time before moving on to the next bit of feedback. Currently, I am working hard to pivot my left knee forwards during the back swing (instead of collapsing it into the middle of my stance) and to reduce the height of my left heel raise. These changes have helped me make better and more consistent strikes near the center of the face.

As soon as the weather breaks here, I'll get a new video posted.