What's wrong with my swing?

[gsu_paintballer]

There is the video. What am I doing wrong? That's a 5-iron. I know there are a TON of things that probably are wrong, but this is my second time ever swinging golf clubs. I'm a 20 year old college student trying to get into the game, but my swing needs a ton of work

[Williamevanl]

I'm a 24 year old in college and I just decided to take the game up about 3 years ago. As far as your swing goes there are a lot of things to fix but I have found fixing parts of my swing to be more fun than actually playing good golf.

This is real general advice but since you just started you need to focus on the basics. Grab a golf book or use youtube to find videos about the golf grip and the basic stance and ball position etc... Trying to do everything right at first will probably hurt your natural ability to hit a golf ball but you will begin to hit the ball better faster if you start doing things right from the start.

More detailed advice would be to not hunch over the ball as much, don't lunge at the ball, Make sure you are turning your shoulders and not swaying your body back and forward, keep a really relaxed grip, keep your left arm straight and don't let your wrist break at the top of the swing, dont let the club go past parallel at the top of your backswing 'keep it flat aligned with your shoulders', etc... The list goes on, well forever

The cool thing is that you recorded your first swings. It should be a lot of fun to go back and compare your progress with your old swing. You will find that it has improved a lot since you started.

[blackxpress]

The first thing I noticed was your stance. It's too wide. Your feet should be shoulder width apart with a five iron. It also looks like your hips are sliding rather than turning. That's especially noticeable on the first swing in the video. You raised up during the backswing and slid away from the target line and then tried to slide back on the downswing. Also, you look a little too stooped over to me. It almost looks like you're reaching for the ball. Of course, I'm no teaching pro but you did ask. I suspect a good instructor could really do you a world of good.

[RyderSim]

First thing is that you are hitting golf balls with flip flops on. Tenis shoes, if no golf shoes, will offer better balance and stbility through the swing. Secondly, I strongly agree with reading a book to learn the fundamentals of the grip, stance, and posture. Third would be to make sure your weight is getting over to your left side and you are not hanging back through the swing. When you are just starting, I would suggest plenty of range balls focusing on posture and taking half swings. Good Luck!

[thedub]

Let me try to help:
1. Stance too wide--shoulder width like blackxpress said
2. Hands need to be interlocking--they are too far apart, and it will help you control the club better
3. Keep your head down the whole time--as you take the club back, you lift your head and look back at the club
4. Make sure to keep your left arm straight thru the whole back swing
5. Work on posture--keep your back flat, don't slouch you are setting yourself up for disaster
6. Keep your left elbow in against your body and attack the ball from the inside, it will increase power and accuracy
7. Point your toes straight, and don't wear flip flops!!

Things you do well:
1. You keep your head down at impact, which is a good move
2. Your weight shift seems okay for the most part
3. Your wrist hinge on the down swing looks pretty good too

Hope this helps, and keep at it you WILL imporve....Believe me!!

[MonkeyClaw]

I'm also just a beginner, so take it for what it's worth... Besides what others have said, it looks like you are setting your feet before you set your distance from the ball. You'll find more consistency if you set your club face slightly behind the ball first, then move your feet to where you want them to be. Otherwise, you'll find yourself reaching for the ball more often.

Good luck!

[Avid Golfer]

  gsu_paintballer said:

There is the video. What am I doing wrong? That's a 5-iron. I know there are a TON of things that probably are wrong, but this is my second time ever swinging golf clubs. I'm a 20 year old college student trying to get into the game, but my swing needs a ton of work

For now I recommend you just work on setup. Setup adjustments will change many of the positions we see you swinging into, so it wouldn't be worthwhile to worry about swing positions until after your setup is solid.

Here are a few screen captures of your setup and finish: http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9...tballereh2.jpg Like others have mentioned your stance is too wide for fluid movement. Your ball position is too far back near your right ear (red line), and ideally you want it about in line with your left ear (green line). Your spine is tilted toward the target (in pros it is usually tilted slightly away from the target, or pretty straight up and down). From the down the line position (or as close as your video gets to it) your feet, hips, and shoulders are all aligned in different directions which will promote movement in unnecessary and inefficent directions. Here are some pictures for you to use as reference to remodel your setup. http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3...manfacepd3.jpg http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6...ownlinegp6.jpg http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/254...ballposdg0.jpg

[gsu_paintballer]

How can I fix the problem of being "hunched over the ball"?

[atltony]

gsu = georgia state? i go there. :\

anyway...as for being hunched over...just bend a little less in the knees and straighten up a little with less bend from the waist...pretty straight-forward. just try to feel like you're standing taller over the ball.

[gsu_paintballer]

  atltony said:

gsu = georgia state? i go there. :\

Georgia Southern, the REAL GSU ;)

The reason I look hunched over is because I was having a good bit of trouble with whiffing at the ball.

[bruce]

When you take the club back your whole body goes back with it.Don't take too much info though or you will stand over the ball and be totally confused,
one thing at a time.

[x-forged]

  gsu_paintballer said:

What am I doing wrong? That's a 5-iron. I know there are a TON of things that probably are wrong, but this is my second time ever swinging golf clubs. I'm a 20 year old college student trying to get into the game, but my swing needs a ton of work

first off, get some golf shoes! Your weight shift needs to come to the heel of the front foot on the follow through. your hanging back and your weight is on your back foot. when you finish your swing, you should be able to lift your back foot in the air and remain balanced, i practice this a lot and it helps a lot. balance is very important. once you start getting your weight shifted to the front side properly, you wont have to hunch over as much and you wont whiff as much.

[atltony]

  gsu_paintballer said:

Georgia Southern, the REAL GSU ;)

lol, for some reason I went to work and thought about you're name referring to georgia southern...and how I've had so many people say "the real GSU" to me, haha. Not that I care but you would think that Georgia State would be the more formidable GSU seeing as it is the STATE university, and not just a part (Southern) of the STATE. :p

On topic, hunching over definitely isn't helping you not whiff the ball...because when you hunch you tend to move around a lot more during your swing which would lead to some whiffs.

[gsu_paintballer]

  atltony said:

lol, for some reason I went to work and thought about you're name referring to georgia southern...and how I've had so many people say "the real GSU" to me, haha. Not that I care but you would think that Georgia State would be the more formidable GSU seeing as it is the STATE university, and not just a part (Southern) of the STATE. :p

Georgia Southern=real GSU

Georgia State=poser I'll try out the weight movements. I'm selling off the last part of my paintball career tomorrow. That'll give me exactly enough money for my first two lessons. I'm hoping they'll help improve my swing.

[gsu_paintballer]

I just got back from the range, and let me say....WOW!

I bent my knees, closed my stance, wore tennis shoes, moved the ball forward, and tried out a little swing adjustment and saw GREAT results.

As for the swing adjustment, I started using more wrist and saw better results. Is this actually wrong to do? I am EXTREMELY pleased with the basket I hit tonight. First day with the instructor tomorrow.

[gsu_paintballer]

How does my form look?

1)I'm pretty sure I'm doing something wrong here
2)Pendulum motion or wrist snap for putting?
3)Is my ball too far forward? Some have said it is.
4)Too much wrist hinge in this one?