Happy Gilmore Power

[driftmaster]

I started playing about 2 months ago and have been to the range almost every day since. I REALLY want to learn this game, as it's one of the few sports you play for life.

Take a look at my swing: http://www.swingacademy.com/swingana...l.aspx?id=1721

People say I swing the club like I'm playing baseball (guess it's natural for me as I've played bball since age 5). I can really whack the ball well for a beginner. I consistently drive over 250 yards... and by CONSISTENTLY I mean the 2 times out of 10 it actually goes straight!

I desperately want to know the fundamentally 'correct' way to swing the club. I don't want to just get "good at hitting the ball wrong" which is the case for a few people I know (super 'ugly' swing, but solid ball hitters).

Any tips on that swing will help. Thanks.

PS Here's kind of a side view http://www.swingacademy.com/swingana...l.aspx?id=1722

[Dent]

I have no comments, but that is a very nice swing for a beginner. Great job.

[mad max]

I think your swing looks amazing for a beginner. When you said a baseball swing I thought you would be swinging from the heels but your swing looks compact and controlled. If you want to learn to have a proper swing I guess you should take lessons from a qualified pro, but if you want to have fun get out on the course and play you look like you have natural ability.

[Chilli Dipper]

Your body shifts way too far over your back foot during the backswing, and you are flattening out on the followthrough. I'm guessing that when you don't make solid contact, the result is a big pull; a mishit for you is when you don't shift your body back over the ball on the downswing, and you overcompensate by following through around your body instead of the target line. In baseball, batters whose main concern is power nearly always pull the ball when they get a hit; you can't do that in golf. Your swing is a powerful one for sure, but an unstable one.

Here's what you need to do: make sure that your upper body is stable on the backswing. Focus a little more on rotating your core along the swing axis and less on shifting your weight onto your right foot. On the followthrough, make sure your keeping the club on the same plane as you did on the backswing. Work on those two things, and your accuracy will improve by leaps and bounds.

[MPS67]

Hey Happy Gilmore Power,

I'd say that you should be happy with your swing! It looks great!

I only see one small issue with your face on view. You're swaying your hips a little back during your back swing, maybe about 2-3 inches. Prevent them from passing an imaginary vertical wall that is up against the right hip when you're at address. The reason for this is to maximize the amount of power you can exert into your downswing using your right foot and leg. The more your hips sway in the back swing, the less leverage you'll have left from which to push off in the down swing. If your right hip shifts over your right foot, you won't have any leverage from your leg.

[grantc79]

Your body shifts way too far over your back foot during the backswing, and you are flattening out on the followthrough. I'm guessing that when you don't make solid contact, the result is a big pull; a mishit for you is when you don't shift your body back over the ball on the downswing, and you overcompensate by following through around your body instead of the target line. In baseball, batters whose main concern is power nearly always pull the ball when they get a hit; you can't do that in golf. Your swing is a powerful one for sure, but an unstable one.

I was gonna say you look a little flat too but its very minor if at all.

You seem to have the lag down nicely which is where I'm struggling.

[Mr.Wedge]

If you have been swinging for only 2 months you are doing some things remarkably well, though for some reason you are stopping your swing at impact and not following through. I suspect your grip is too tight, but for sure your grip needs some major adjustment. Your left hand is too far on top of the club and your right is too far underneath it. At setup, you want to feel as if both palms are square to the target. The left thumb will then be slightly to the right of the top center of the shaft and the right thumb will be noticably to the left side of the shaft, the V of the right thumb forefinger pointed about to your chin. Try to grip it lightly in your fingers with just enough pressure that the club does not slip in your hands.

If as you say you desperately wish to learn to swing correctly, my opinion is that you will save yourself immeasurable hours by not attempting full swings at present. I know this is contrary to what everyone does, but you will cut the overall learning curve dramatically if you practice with nothing but a short iron and take short, 1/2 swings with it focusing on the fundamentals and learning to master that short shot first then advancing from there. Taking lessons from a good teacher of course is the best, but there are risks in that because a not so good teacher can set you back.

[immts007]

Your swing reminds me a bit of mine. At least what I see when I look at mine on video. And what I see -- mind you, I'm a bit of a noob too, 2yrs instead of 2 months, so my observations are likely to be less than useful -- is that you are kind of 'tight' around your body. You are not extending out (or wide, or whatever) on your backswing, and your pulling it back tight around your body on your follow through.

Somebody with more expertise and vocabulary for golf instruction can either flesh this out, or dismiss it.

[907golfer12]

Like others have said you have a very god swing for a beginner. Also like others said, I would suggest getting a lesson or two with a professional in your area as he/she will give you the most help. But one thing I see is after impact your arms kind of "chicken-wing's" After impact you want to feel both of your arms extend away from the ball. Like in this picture.



As you can see in the bottom image in the left column Tiger's arms are locked and extended away from his body and towards the target. This means he kept his momentum going through the ball, which in turn maximizes distance.

[jambalaya]

I think keeping the right knee flexed is a biggee for you. That will help keep your plane in better position at the top. You just raise up at the top and it flattens out your plane. You already have the makings of a good swing so you don't have to change too much.

[ToddziLLa]

Great swing so far! You have great shoulder movement and weight transfer.

[driftmaster]

To ALL: Thanks for the compliments/advice/tips. I feel I have progressed a lot for 2 months, but also keep in mind that I've either **practiced at the driving range OR **played a course on at least 50 of the past 60 days. I left my day job in July, so now the only WORK I do is on my SWING. Hey, it's a full-time; we all should be this (un)lucky. I think I will start to get some pro lessons. In New York City however it's pretty expensive, at least $115/hr. Anybody know a good/inexpensive instructor in the NYC area?

... one thing I see is after impact your arms kind of "chicken-wing's" After impact you want to feel both of your arms extend away from the ball. Like in this picture...Tiger's arms are locked and extended away from his body and towards the target. This means he kept his momentum going through the ball, which in turn maximizes distance.

I tried emulating that 'extended follow-through/finish' in the swing of pros. However, it seems unnatural. There has got to be something in my downswing that NATURALLY causes that 'extension' after impact; I just have to figure that out.

... Your left hand is too far on top of the club and your right is too far underneath it. At setup, you want to feel as if both palms are square to the target. The left thumb will then be slightly to the right of the top center of the shaft and the right thumb will be noticably to the left side of the shaft, the V of the right thumb forefinger pointed about to your chin. Try to grip it lightly in your fingers with just enough pressure that the club does not slip in your hands.

The reason my grip is so 'strong' is that I've found it's the only way for me to hit the driver up and off the tee. I know that's incorrect, but it has been my 'bandaid' for something I'm doing wrong in my swing.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

I tried emulating that 'extended follow-through/finish' in the swing of pros. However, it seems unnatural. There has got to be something in my downswing that NATURALLY causes that 'extension' after impact; I just have to figure that out.

So these two things are related, and here's how:

A) You have some flaw in your you swing when you grip the club correctly, so, B) Your grip is much too strong, which means C) You don't (and can't) release your hands as you hit through the ball, which means, D) After impact your left wrist has straightened as far as it will go, and since your hands never released, the only way to follow through is by pulling your left elbow back and keeping your hands low. The thing in the swing that makes the extended, hands-high follow-through "natural", is when the right arm crosses on top of the left (the "release"). After the release, your left arm is in a different orientation, with the back of the hand facing down, and the left arm/wrist can allow the club to continue its plane, up and away into a nice, high, extended finish. So here's what you should do: show us what happens in your swing when you use a more neutral grip, and allow your hands to release at impact. You said that doesn't work for you; but you need to find out why and fix it. You have an excellent take-away, body rotation, swing plane, not coming over the top, great lag, etc.; in other words a swing most experienced golfers would envy. But holding the left hand totally strong throughout instead of naturally releasing the club is going to prevent further progress. So show us what happens when you try to do that, and maybe we can help you make it work. -Andrew