Swing Help - Really Inconsistent Results (Videos)

[wofat]

I've finally gone to the range with a video camera (while my old man was in town for a visit) and was able to get some video of my swing. One major issue is readily apparent... just watch my left leg. I picture is worth a thousand words I suppose. However, I'd appreciate your additional thoughts. I've provided video of my Driver, 7-iron, and 4-iron.

My typical problem is a huge hook or push fade. Back and fourth as I try to correct from my last swing.

Sorry about the size, hopefully not too large!

7-Iron Swing
4-Iron Swing
Driver Swing

Thanks for your thoughts!

[iacas]

From the 7-iron video:

Right hand is really underneath the shaft at address. That causes a few of the problems evident later on in your swing.

Both legs very, very active. Overactive. Left foot doesn't even plant back in the exact same spot, and then you hop on it because you crowd yourself at impact with an over-active right leg and a hip that moves towards the ball. With your way, way, way strong right hand, this probably helps prevent the ball from going left.

Ball position too far forward, likely, for a 7-iron.

Bit of a reverse pivot - should start weight more on right side, turn, and then go through (forward) the ball.

Added notes from the 4-iron video:

Stance appears much more square.

You take the clubface away closed, and it remains very, very closed at the top. Result of grip.

Ball position is further back for 4-iron than for 7-iron?

Added notes from Driver video:

Ball again starts right of where you want, and you get on your right toe almost at impact, not well into the follow-through. Quieter lower body.

Summary

Your swing is better than most I've seen. However, you have some major flaws that will likely hold you back.

I'd fix your grip, tweak your swing path a little (though the current one may be caused by the grip, or maybe the grip is helping the current one), and watch your ball position. Then I'd quiet the lower body, from the hips down.

Fundamentals first: grip, ball position. Then check your path going back (and the clubface angle), then finally work on the quieter lower body.

You should submit videos to Swing Check . These are almost exactly what you'd need to shoot to do so. Try to have your friend not chop off your head (in the driver video) though.

[wofat]

From the 7-iron video:

I've always had a very strong grip. Several attempts to fix this have all obviously failed... but I may try again.

Both legs very, very active. Overactive. Left foot doesn't even plant back in the exact same spot, and then you hop on it because you crowd yourself at impact with an over-active right leg and a hip that moves towards the ball. With your way, way, way strong right hand, this probably helps prevent the ball from going left.

I saw this as well. Going to try keeping my lower body much quieter.

Bit of a reverse pivot - should start weight more on right side, turn, and then go through (forward) the ball.

Can you explain this a bit more? I'm not sure I understand. I always thought my weight should shift from my left to my right foot on the backswing, and then back to my left at impact.

You take the clubface away closed, and it remains very, very closed at the top. Result of grip.

This is my lack of understanding of the proper mechanics as well. Can you give me some general guidelines as to where my clubface should be at different points in the swing?

Ball again starts right of where you want, and you get on your right toe almost at impact, not well into the follow-through. Quieter lower body.

Do you think quieting the lower body will straightening this out? I've always had a pretty nice draw, but it's been a hook lately, and starts sooo far right that it creates problems for me driving out of chutes.

Your swing is better than most I've seen. However, you have some major flaws that will likely hold you back.

Thanks! I'll work on all of these things. Can you elaborate on what you see in the swing path? Where is it going wrong?

Oh, and I'll give swing-check a shot too.

[iacas]

I've always had a very strong grip. Several attempts to fix this have all obviously failed... but I may try again.

If you're going to say "no, that's just me" to everything I say, what's the point? Suffice to say, your grip is beyond "very strong." It's into a territory I don't think I've ever seen anyone explore before.

Can you explain this a bit more? I'm not sure I understand. I always thought my weight should shift from my left to my right foot on the backswing, and then back to my left at impact.

It doesn't shift much.

This is my lack of understanding of the proper mechanics as well. Can you give me some general guidelines as to where my clubface should be at different points in the swing?

Start with two:

1) when the club is horizontal going back, most like to see the toe straight up. 2) at the top of your backswing, the leading edge should be about the same as your left wrist

[wofat]

If you're going to say "no, that's just me" to everything I say, what's the point? Suffice to say, your grip is beyond "very strong." It's into a territory I don't think I've ever seen anyone explore before.

Thats not at all what I'm saying. Obviously it isn't the first time I've heard it, and I'm serious that I'll try again. I'm just not big on starting from scratch (which it feels like when I change my grip). Playing once a week, it's tough to revamp your swing.

I appreciate all the feedback and will give these suggestions a shot. Any hints on what I can focus on regarding the weight transition?

[michaeljames92]

iacas is right about your grip. the further your right hand is under your club, the more your grip promotes the release of the club head and in effect closing the face and hooking your ball. Try to bring your right hand a make the gap of your index and thumb almost straight down the shaft. A little around to the right is not that bad. this should fix your big hook(well hopefully. Other things could be contributing)

[tm22721]

Try to get a copy of Hogan's Five Lessons to understand the correct position of your right hand in the grip.

[kc8kir]

I think the majority of your problems lie in your footwork. You are raising the heels excessively on both the backswing and downswing, resulting in 1) reverse pivoting and 2) straight left leg at impact. Unless you want Tiger's knee damage, we gotta get rid of that tendency. That snap is not neccessary.

The fix is relatively easy in concept, but will take you a while to incorporate. All good players roll the feet, playing from the insides of the feet in the swing. The weight never moves outside the feet. Notice how when you were in your finish, your feet were shuffling themselves to stay in balance? That's a bad sign.

On the backswing, focus on rolling your left foot inwards (gives a more stable knee action than lifting the heel). Keep the right knee flexed at all times. On the downswing, you plant the left and roll off the right foot instep. Lifting on either toes (backswing or downswing) will throw the club off plane. If you look at swing sequence pictures of some of the greatest ball strikers, they have their right heel down well into impact (some show a slight lift, but they also show a distinct roll of the foot towards the target). The foot should release from the ground naturally, not intentionally. Doing this keeps the club on plane and on line, and keeps your shoulder and hip turn in check (helps with slices and hooks). Start with a short club (7 iron is fine) at about 60% speed, and work the footwork into your swing from there.

I agree, the hooks are probably caused by an overly strong grip (closed at the top). Getting used to a new grip position will take some effort. Make the change gradual, starting by pointing the V's of both hands at your right shoulder. Adjust further left from there as you get more comfortable with a neutral grip position.

The footwork is a major issue, and will increase your balance and ballstriking immensely with every club in the bag (ok, maybe not the flat stick, but that's another issue entirely). You'll be suprised how effortless the swing feels when you stay in balance.

Good luck.

[$2 Nassau]

Your swing is better than mine, but I think we may suffer from similar problems. That is, overactive lower bodies. Your right leg straightens on the backswing, as does mine. I've been trying to maintain my right knee flex throughout the swing and also maintain my posture. This quiets the lower body and builds up a lot of torque in the swing and keeps the club on the proper plane. It is difficult to get used to this at first, but I'm getting there.

Yes, the grip is strong, but man grip changes are tough. Good luck with that, do it in "baby steps."

[beung]

The swing looks like ones I see on teenagers...good free swing but too free to build any consistancy.

Not enough structure in your swing, as mentioned by others:

1) Too much leg movement, the more moving parts the more things to go wrong.

2) Right hand grip is way too much under the club.

3) Try using what some call the "power trigger".

See how on his right hand there is a gap betwen the index finger and the rest of the fingers of his hand. Should help you control the club more and feel more connected to the club.

[wofat]

Thanks VERY much for all the suggestions. I can't wait to get out to the range and start rebuilding my swing. I think I'll try the bit at a time approach for my grip.

I started learning golf at 5 (nearly 30 years ago) and always have had that grip. It's going to be tough to learn a new way. I think my initial focus will be on keeping my legs quiet, properly shifting my weight, and a new, weaker grip.

[bigphil]

A few more things i didnt see mentioned. pause your 7-iron video at 33 seconds. other than the obvious mistakes already mentioned...your chest and arms aren't very well connected. your chest and arms should stay "connected" meaning the V shape should be maintained throughout the backswing, and be in the same position throughout the downswing as well. some tips/drills to help some of these flaws.

1.) your reverse pivot > keep your eyes level to your target line and this will help stop that. its ok to rotate the head slightly, but you also are changing the angle of it....bad.
2.) your forward press > as mentioned...your ball postion is to far forward in your stance. take your stance with the ball in the middle of your stance, place the club behind the ball and let the club position your hands, meaning set the club on the ground as it was designed by the manufacturer, and it will tell you where your hands should go. shorter irons should make your hands naturally more aligned with the ball, and longer clubs the ball should be just in front of your hands (i.e. : driver)
3.) hips/lower body > do this simple drill to get a fell for a good lower body/hip rotation. put your feet together and take some 3/4 swings with your driver. this should give you the correct feeling of lower body rotation. dont forget to finish with a full follow through!
4.) stance > you have a slightly narrow stance which is going to give you bad balance and stability. the outside of your shoulders should be on the insides of your feet (you can adjust slightly for your comfort).
5.) closed face at top > this is probably causing MOST of your bad hooks, or huge slice if you dont clear your hips. try this to get a feel for the correct postion at the top. USING A CORRECT GRIP....grip your driver, now slide your right hand to just below the grip so your hands are about 8" apart. now place the club at the half swing location so the shaft and club face a parallel to the target line. now simply push back with your left shoulder and look at the postion of your forearm, top of left hand, club face should all be at the same angle. a mirror is handy for this one. another type of this drill is to grip the club normally, address the ball and then hinge your wrists straight up towards your and then take your backswing and then continue with a full swing (dont actually take a swing at a ball though).

hope these tips help, and good luck!