My first swing video

[ScottRempel]

Hey there guys...figured I'd take some video today at the course and post it up for you to comment on. My swing has changed a lot this year, and probably wasn't in top form when these videos were taken, but it's fairly representative.
Note that the video was taken with the video mode on a Canon digital camera so it is nothing spectacular.

After looking at the videos I right away noticed a few things that were a little wonky (i.e. my knees coming together ).

Anyway, have a look and give me some comments. I've always had a really hard swing and have been trying hard to slow everything down and it has been helping a lot. I found today I was probably swinging a little hard again as I was pulling it slightly with the irons (Face on 8i was a slight pull on a par 3 over water that thankfully went in the greenside bunker).

DTL 8i: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1697.flv

Face on 8i: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1698.flv

DTL Driver: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1700.flv

Face on Driver: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1701.flv

[Mr.Wedge]

There is a lot that looks good and much could be commented on, but the most important thing for you to work on IMO is your right leg. You straighten it during your backswing and this throws all your other levels off. If you work on keeping it flexed and kicked in toward the target throughout the backswing, you will increase accuracy and distance.

[ScottRempel]

There is a lot that looks good and much could be commented on, but the most important thing for you to work on IMO is your right leg. You straighten it during your backswing and this throws all your other levels off. If you work on keeping it flexed and kicked in toward the target throughout the backswing, you will increase accuracy and distance.

Very nice observation. I can see now that my left knee coming in so far is probably related to exactly that.

[Mr.Wedge]

Yep. Keeping the right flexed and kicked will make your hip rotation feel restricted. Just go ahead and make your shoulder turn as you do against that restriction, which is torque you are building to return to the ball with. You will probably notice your left heel will not come off the ground near as much if at all.

[whip_it_out]

Your follow through reminds me alot of Padraig Harrington, how he goes through and kind of slaps it against his back, which is good, it means youre accelerating through the ball well.

All looks good

[ScottRempel]

Ok, the wife said I could put her swing vids up as well so here goes. You'll probably notice a few similarities. She has been golfing regularly for about 3 years (2 more seriously). Learned a lot from me of course and has went for a couple of lessons with the club pro. She's made some good improvements this year and once she gets a bit more consistent and sharpens up her short game she should score pretty well.

DTL Driver: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1702.flv

Face on Driver: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1703.flv

[ScottRempel]

Yep. Keeping the right flexed and kicked will make your hip rotation feel restricted. Just go ahead and make your shoulder turn as you do against that restriction, which is torque you are building to return to the ball with. You will probably notice your left heel will not come off the ground near as much if at all.

Up until this year I did a lot of swinging with my arms only. When I changed my swing I realized I needed to get the hips going and with all the focus on just trying to rotate the hips I obviously started to straighten that leg to make that feel easier. Like you say, I've removed that restriction which I now need to get back into place. Didn't fully realize that until we took the vids today...and then I was like "WTH am I doing!?"...looks like I should be wearing a skirt and doing a curtsy

[Mr.Wedge]

Ok, the wife said I could put her swing vids up as well so here goes. You'll probably notice a few similarities. She has been golfing regularly for about 3 years (2 more seriously). Learned a lot from me of course and has went for a couple of lessons with the club pro. She's made some good improvements this year and once she gets a bit more consistent and sharpens up her short game she should score pretty well.

You probably guessed it...exact same critique.

[Mr.Wedge]

Up until this year I did a lot of swinging with my arms only. When I changed my swing I realized I needed to get the hips going and with all the focus on just trying to rotate the hips I obviously started to straighten that leg to make that feel easier. Like you say, I've removed that restriction which I now need to get back into place. Didn't fully realize that until we took the vids today...and then I was like "WTH am I doing!?"...looks like I should be wearing a skirt and doing a curtsy

Here comes the controversy...there is really no need to consciously do anything with the hips. There is enough going on in the swing to think about without having to make the hips do something. The hips are pretty much controled by what you do below and above them. The knees control hip level. Do some practice coils in front of a mirror. Straighten your right knee on one and note what happens to your hips--they tilt, and your torso then tilts toward the target as a result. Now do one with the knees kicked in towards one another flexed (weight will be on the insides of the feet). Keep them flexed and kicked. If you simply coil the shoulders from that position, you will note the hips coil as far as they need to in response and you will feel a powerful tension all along the insides of your legs (esp the right); you will note your hips stay level. If you unwind the toso from this position, the hips will be leveraged off the inside of the back foot and rotate back towards the target just fine. The feel will be that of the hips being "squeezed" back around rather than thrusting them. Some people like to feel as if they are initiating the down with the left hip and that is fine, but you can't change physics; it's all leveraged off the fulcrum of the inside of the right foot. Ps: I think it is neat that you and your wife enjoy the game together and you both swing nicely.

[julie_m]

Any reason your ball is teed so far forward for your driver?

[ScottRempel]

Any reason your ball is teed so far forward for your driver?

No specific reason...probably a little further up in that vid then usual, but I have been playing it around the front foot lately...just seems to be working with the swing I'm making. I used to play my irons more towards the middle of my stance and that has moved to halfway between the front foot and the middle of my stance...my driver naturally moved forward as well. I've been hitting a lot of straight 280-300 yard drives so I haven't mucked with it too much.

[julie_m]

No specific reason...probably a little further up in that vid then usual, but I have been playing it around the front foot lately...just seems to be working with the swing I'm making. I used to play my irons more towards the middle of my stance and that has moved to halfway between the front foot and the middle of my stance...my driver naturally moved forward as well. I've been hitting a lot of straight 280-300 yard drives so I haven't mucked with it too much.

I realize it's one example, but ball positioning is something I've been thinking about too, I was curious so I cracked open some books. You may or may not find it helpful...

From Jack Nicklaus (Golf My Way): "I play every standard shot with the ball in the same position relative to my feet. That position is off my left heel." (He goes on to explain why.) Leadbetter says the same (Faults and Fixes): "A similar solution [moving the ball] is usually sought by the player who swings steeply across the ball from out-to-in...moving the ball forward in his stance will only help matters if at the same time he is able to work on improving his swingpath too, so that the club is more on line as it approaches the ball. Use this as your guide: a low handicap player who tends to use his lower body more aggressively should place the ball about opposite the left heel when hitting a wood; and up to a couple of ball widths back of that point for an iron. A higher handicapper should put the ball in the middle of his stance when hitting an iron; a little forward of that for a wood. These rough guidelines should enable you to make a crisp, descending blow with an iron, and create more of an upward, sweeping motion with a wood."

[ScottRempel]

Interesting. I'd say I play every club but my driver a couple of balls inside my left heel. For the driver I'm right around even with my front foot. I guess I'm pretty close to what those two are suggesting, particularly for the lower handicaper as explained by Leadbetter. I find the for the driver I need to move the ball up for the exact reason explained in that article, to create an upward sweeping motion.

Before I changed my swing this year I definitely fell into the category of someone that moved the ball around in their stance depending on the club used...wedges near the middle of the stance or slightly further back, up the the long irons near the left heel. It is nice to now step up to the ball with any iron and address the ball in basically the same way.

[ScottRempel]

Just as a bit of a follow-up, I got out for 9 holes today and focused on keeping my feet planted and my knees flexed during the backswing. I must say I was striking the ball much better and even misses were only slightly off target. Ended up with 5 pars and 4 bogeys...with the bogeys mostly coming due to three putting from 40 feet out (was hitting greens, but nowhere near the pin lol).
Forgot the camera today, but will try take it next time and get some new vid.

[GrahamD]

I could only view 1 of the videos and by the looks of things you are swinging extreamly flat which will result in inconsistant shots. Try a more upright swing for your irons and don't let your hands roll backwards

Here is an example of a swing you should be working on lRxfFYl2JmI

[Lefty731PM]

Hey there guys...figured I'd take some video today at the course and post it up for you to comment on. My swing has changed a lot this year, and probably wasn't in top form when these videos were taken, but it's fairly representative.

A lot of natural ability and obviously heaps of power.

I think you have the ball a long way forward in your stance. The iron shot as well as the driver.

[ScottRempel]

New swing - Have I changed to the Stack & Tilt???

http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_1715.flv

So, I've been continuing to tinker with my swing and in the last week or so I've found a setup that is working very well for my iron shots. I'm really focusing on keeping a good portion of my weight on my front leg...at least this is what it feels like I'm doing. The last couple of rounds I have been hitting my irons more solid and more consistent then I ever have before. My driver swing is slightly different, probably mostly in that fact that it is a bit more sweeping. I'm still focusing on getting that weight to the front foot though. My drives have been great as well.

So, comments on my new swing. Does it look kinda like a S&T;, or am I just thinking that because it feels so different from my old swing. Whatever it is, I'm very happy with it atm. I've never hit so many crisp 4-iron shots.

[Grndslmhttr3]

Well, don't take it from me, but if you've found a swing that works for you, I wouldn't change it.