Hitting Fat - Help!

[brahl]

Guys,

I recently took up the game of golf (December 2008). I was taught the fundamentals when I was in middle school by my dad who played and played well (9 or 10 Handicap) when he was in his middle ages. However, I never took up the game seriously as I played baseball competitively through HS and college.

Now no longer playing baseball, I have taken up golf. I consider myself quite athletic, and I feel fairly comfortable swinging the club.

However, I am consistently hitting the ball fat. Whether it's a mere half an inch behind the ball or two or three inches of wrist breaking action, I can not hit it clean. The cost has been a ton of distance. I am probably hitting my PW 80 yds, 5i 150 yds (I am 6'1", 190 lbs). FYI, on a launch monitor at the PGA Superstore, I clocked a driver clubhead speed of 118 mph, so I don't puss it out there.

Today I made a video of myself, and I would like to post it here for your review. How do I do this?

Looking for some tips,
- Brian

[klaymon]

You could post the video on Youtube. One cause of fat shots can be casting, where you let your wrists uncock too early.

[RocketSauce]

if its a youtube video, read this: http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19880

[brahl]

I am working on posting the video to YouTube, and then linking it to theSandTrap. Watching my video and highlights from the Mercedes Open, I am very worried about my posture and in particular, how close my hands are to my knees. This makes me lean over quite a bit...

[brahl]

Let's try this...

[klaymon]

Video is set as "Private". No worky.

[brahl]

Try it now...

[klaymon]

Your club looks really short or something and it does look like you're casting or maybe not even cocking at all. Hard to tell from the video. A closer video and maybe a face-on video would help.

[brahl]

Your club looks really short for one thing and it does look like you're casting or maybe not even cocking at all. Hard to tell from the video. A closer video and maybe a face-on video would help.

My clubs do feel a bit short, but they have a 1/2" extension in them already; I'm not that tall.

I am thinking about pushing my hands away from my body, thus increasing the angle the clubshaft makes with ground. This will make me play taller and better my posture. As well, the sole of the club will rest flush with the ground, rather than having the toe slightly off of the ground.

[wedge player]

My clubs do feel a bit short, but they have a 1/2" extension in them already; I'm not that tall.

try a little less knee flex the rest of your posture looks good unflex the knes a bit and hold the club about 2 inches further away from were you have it now

[brahl]

try a little less knee flex the rest of your posture looks good unflex the knes a bit and hold the club about 2 inches further away from were you have it now

I'm going to try that wedge player...

When my hands are close to my body, the heel of the club is closer to the ground than the toe. That may be dragging on the ground as the clubface moves to the ball at impact. Where in Texas are you at?

[Fat Slice]

It looks like the toe is way off the ground, not just slightly. Is that possible? I also note a little more head action on your swing vs. your practice. I'd start with a slower, shorter backswing and 85% swing speed and try to make solid contact.

[tim31x]

you bring the club way to low on your back swing. try swinging up above or around your shoulders more, it will produce a steeper swing and you will make much better contact with the ball.

[grantc79]

Yah, you look way bent over.

I think your hands are way too close to your waist and your back is way too far bent over.

I would try standing up straighter, stand up closer to the ball, and have your hands slightly further away.

[brahl]

I believe I have fixed my posture problem; however, I am still hitting behind the ball. Here is an updated video from Sunday showing me hitting a 7i. The first shot isn't so bad, but on the second shot I really chunk it.

I'll try and get a head-on view next time, but any other thoughts?



1st Shot) Hit behind the ball
2nd Shot) Big time fat shot, really chunked it
3rd Shot) Hit it fairly pure, and you can notice my balance is off as I hit through the ball first and not the ground

- Brian

[silentfink]

In the past I've had that problem and rectified it by hovering the club at address instead of grounding it. It keeps me looser, allows me to maintain my grip pressure, and stay more upright throughout.

[Razorhog]

I'm certainly no expert, but I still think you're bending at the waist too much. Your head is nearly over the ball. This video helped me:
http://video.about.com/golf/Correct-Golf-Posture.htm

[brahl]

Comparing my video with Aaron Baddeley's (who also uses the stack and tilt swing), I am noticing how much I am casting. I had initially thought this was not the case, because I knew I was not casting at the beginning of my downswing. However, I am casting as my hands move below my belt level towards impact, thus steepening my swing immensely.