Help me get my swing more upright...

[Trevor07Silvy]

My swing is pretty flat I've noticed the past couple rounds/practice sessions, and I would like to make it more upright. Today watching the masters I noticed the majority (if not all) of the players made their swings to where their left hand (righties) and club would come up inline with their right shoulder and it looked like a perfect position to be in at the top. I especially payed close attention to Trevor Immelman's swing because I think he has one of the best swings in golf.

I start the club back with my shoulders, arms, hands in unison and as the club reaches about waist height the toe of the club faces the sky( which from my reading seems to be the correct positon), but then I think I just keep the club going back and up and it feels like it is really flat. From the waist height, do I just lift the club straight up? It seems tough for me to do this ( I think because I struggled with a slice for the longest time years ago, so I bring the club inside now so I make sure to swing out).

Any help/tips/advice is appreciated.

[bwgolfer]

You have developed what is called a "one plane swing" I suggest you pick up the James Hardy CD for instruction of the One Plane or Two Plane golf swing......bwgolfer

[elchene]

My swing is pretty flat I've noticed the past couple rounds/practice sessions, and I would like to make it more upright. Today watching the masters I noticed the majority (if not all) of the players made their swings to where their left hand (righties) and club would come up inline with their right shoulder and it looked like a perfect position to be in at the top. I especially payed close attention to Trevor Immelman's swing because I think he has one of the best swings in golf.

You said it

feels really flat. Have you used a mirror or taken a video to make sure your inference is correct? I had that problem before I started lessons. However, pulling the club inside at the beginning of your backswing can make your swing plane too flat. Instead, try to feel your arms separating from your body and your hands trying to move straight back as you begin the backswing. That's how you create width and prevent your club and hands from getting too far inside. Trevor does have a great swing... http://www.pgatour.com/swingplex/02/23/78/index.html

[BASHERBAKER69]

You need to stand closer to the ball-that always help me.

[Trevor07Silvy]

Yes I have video taped my swing (without a ball) and stood in front of the mirror and it appears flat to me. Elchene, I will try this takeaway and see what it does for me.

My ball flight is really high, my posture feels good (not slouched over, my shoulders, knee caps, and balls of my feet are inline). I think I'm losing distance with a flatter swing but I may be wrong. I know a more upright swing might make my ball flight higher but I honestly don't think I can hit the ball any higher. I wish I could "peirce" through the wind when its windy outside, instead of hitting boom-a-rang shots.

Anyone else want to help me out?

[larlev]

I would really have to see your swing....

Remember this(back to fundamentals) "body turns and arms go up and down"

My wifes instructor said this 12-15 times in the first 5min. of her lesson yesterday.

[Mawson33]

can you post a video of your swing

[Trevor07Silvy]

I don't have my video camera right now, I'll be able to put a video on here on Thursday.

Larlev, thanks for the tip.

[Franco!]

Well, without seeing your swing, it's hard to help.
But, try to take the club back in a straight line behind the ball.
That will make you unable to get really flat.

[larlev]

I don't have my video camera right now, I'll be able to put a video on here on Thursday.

Not sure if that is a good tip though....LOL

It probably could be debated....

[elchene]

Not sure if that is a good tip though....LOL

No, that is a good tip. My coach spent a whole lesson making me draw a U with my arms so that they could only swing up and down.

[Fletch09]

A couple swing thoughts that might help:

1) try to get/feel your hands "high" at the top of your backswing
2) try and feel like you are hitting the outside third of the ball with the clubface

[Trevor07Silvy]

Is there any drill I can do to try and ingrain this movement in my head?

Or do I just need to think of taking the club back along the target line as long as a I can?

A drill would be really nice.

[larlev]

Is there any drill I can do to try and ingrain this movement in my head?

The best thing I have used is the MIRROR.....I'll check on the Leadbetter DVD's and see if I can find one for ya...

[LottaBalata]

You need to stand closer to the ball-that always help me.

It sounds so simple, but I find myself standing too far away from the ball more than a couple times a round. Your arms are already outstretched, so you have to take the club to the inside to load up any power. To the threadstarter, do you feel like you're too far away from the ball? Yeah, we really need to see!!

[Trevor07Silvy]

Larlev, I look into the mirror, and I'm able to get into a more upright positon then but when I hit a ball like that i push it way right(sometimes even shank it), I only hit a couple ball like this. Do my hips need to clear alot more for a more upright swing? Thanks for checking out the the Leadbetter DVD for me.

LottaBalata- I don't stand far from the ball, I don't feel like a I'm reaching out for the ball, my arms naturally hang down.

And I will have a video up this weekend.

[Avid Golfer]

My swing is pretty flat I've noticed the past couple rounds/practice sessions, and I would like to make it more upright. Today watching the masters I noticed the majority (if not all) of the players made their swings to where their left hand (righties) and club would come up inline with their right shoulder and it looked like a perfect position to be in at the top. I especially payed close attention to Trevor Immelman's swing because I think he has one of the best swings in golf.

First off you don't need to have the club face rotated to the sky at hip high. If you look at a lot of pro golfers you will see that the club face angle matches the spine angle at the hip high position.

In the picture below look at Ernie Els (he is nearing at hip high and look at the angle of his clubface). Likewise look at Greg Norman's club face angle in the picture below: http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3...ighbackls7.jpg If you arms are rotating to turn the clubs toe toward the sky then there is a good chance they are continuing to rotate to get you into a flat position later in the backswing and at the top. I also don't agree with the concept of picking the club up (or lifting it up). Look at the swing of Charles Howell in the picture below: http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1...ngplanenb2.jpg (he hinges his wrists and then rotates his back to the target. There is no picking up of the arms in his swing.

You said it

I also don't agree with the (upper) arms seperating from the body. If you look at Immelman's swing in the video below his arms and body move in sync and you could trap a towel, or his shirt under his armpits and it wouldn't fall out during the swing. Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and Annika Sorenstam have advocated the towel under the arms drill, and they all move their arms and body in sync together. If they seperated their upper arms from their chests the towel would drop out.

(Immelman swing) http://www.swingacademy.com/swingana...ol.aspx?id=674 As Immelman says he wants his hands, arms, and body to work in harmony (see below). If his arms and body moved seperately he wouldn't be able to get them to move in sync. http://www.golftoday.co.uk/proshop/f...reaction_6.jpg

[Trevor07Silvy]

Thanks Avid, I was hoping you would respond. My takeaway is in sync ( I try to feel like my shoulders/arms/hands all move back with my torso) but when I get to about waist height I tend to just keep going back causing a flat swing. Do I just cock my wrist's up then?

Although, today I went to the range and felt like my swing was more upright (felt nice actually), but it will take some getting use to to and I need to record my swing so you guys can help me out (I plan in doing this this weekend). I wasn't too consistent with my shots, I think it will take some time. I think I just need to drop my right elbow down and in from the top correct? It's close to my side like Immelmans at the top, so it should just drop down right?