Swing Analysis Without a Ball?

[Zeppelin]

Hi everyone, 

I found out recently that my test/trial swing differs a lot from my actual swing at the ball.

I've never filmed and studied my swing earlier (after 15 yrs of golfing), but with not much progress, or play, the recent years, I wanted to put more effort into improving. 
So I recorded my swing in my backyard. I can't hit any balls there, so this swing was without a ball.
Looking at the result, I found a few things to correct. First of all a hip glide to the left followed by a backward tilt in follow though. Not too severe, but very noticable.
So I started working on this.

A week later I brought my camera (phone) to the range, and what I saw puzzled me.
My trial swing still had some glide/tilt (as expected), but in the following swing at the ball I had a nice (in my eyes) hip rotation and no backward tilt.
I thought I was doing the exact same swing all the time, but I clearly didn't. I've rechecked later with the same result. Feeling is the same, result is so different.

So, don't analyze your full swing without hitting a ball! 
Or is it just me?

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, Zeppelin said:

Hi everyone, 

I found out recently that my test/trial swing differs a lot from my actual swing at the ball.

I've never filmed and studied my swing earlier (after 15 yrs of golfing), but with not much progress, or play, the recent years, I wanted to put more effort into improving. 
So I recorded my swing in my backyard. I can't hit any balls there, so this swing was without a ball.
Looking at the result, I found a few things to correct. First of all a hip glide to the left followed by a backward tilt in follow though. Not too severe, but very noticable.
So I started working on this.

A week later I brought my camera (phone) to the range, and what I saw puzzled me.
My trial swing still had some glide/tilt (as expected), but in the following swing at the ball I had a nice (in my eyes) hip rotation and no backward tilt.
I thought I was doing the exact same swing all the time, but I clearly didn't. I've rechecked later with the same result. Feeling is the same, result is so different.

So, don't analyze your full swing without hitting a ball! 
Or is it just me?

Its not just you.

 

[billchao]

2 hours ago, Zeppelin said:

So, don't analyze your full swing without hitting a ball!

That is correct.

[Double Mocha Man]

6 minutes ago, billchao said:

That is correct.

... and preferably that ball is outdoors on a course or range so you can see the absolute real results.  A disclaimer here for limited flight range balls.

[billchao]

18 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

... and preferably that ball is outdoors on a course or range so you can see the absolute real results.  A disclaimer here for limited flight range balls.

That’s less necessary for video analysis.

[ncates00]

38 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

preferably that ball is a premium ball and is outdoors on a course or range in coordination with a quality launch monitor.

Better.  🙂 

38 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

so you can see the absolute real results.

Good launch monitors deliver real results because they capture club and ball data.

[Double Mocha Man]

Funny fix!  I accept it.  What has been your experience using a monitor outdoors on a range and the comparison between data and actual ball flight?

[ncates00]

2 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Funny fix!  I accept it.  What has been your experience using a monitor outdoors on a range and the comparison between data and actual ball flight?

Spot on when using a good ball.  Funny results may occur when using a typical trash range ball--the spin is way off and the ball speed can drop tremendously too (water logged, old worn out golf balls).