inconsistent face contact

[picrig]

Just thought I'd look for more opinions on this because, hey, as golfers, we want as many thoughts going through our head as possible. I just got back from a lesson w/my pro. We've been working together for a couple months and have made good progress on my swing to the point where if you saw me on video, you'd at least say, "Yeah, pretty good swing." Problems still to be ironed out, but making progress. Here's my recent (and extended) problem. Inconsistent face contact. Occasionally, my pro will watch my swing and ignore ball flight and ask me where the ball went. He can say, "everything looks the same," but the ball flight on one swing (if I'm hitting a 7I like at today's lesson), will be a a nice, 155 yard baby draw, then the next swing will be an almost shank, with the ball shooting off low and to the right.

We're putting the swing on video Tuesday to try to see if there's something at impact or something that I'm doing w/my hands that can't be seen at regular speed, but does anybody have any ideas why I might be getting such inconsistent face contact even though the overall mechanics of my swing are consistent from swing to swing?

[mkrolewski]

It sounds like the face being (really) open at contact. Why you are doing that or what do you do to correct it, that is a question for the pro.

There are toys/tools out there that can determine the face angle (and other things) at contact. I am thinking p3proswing for example. Video is most likely too slow to capture it.

Good luck on the swing improvements.

[McGolf-Doggie]

then the next swing will be an almost shank, with the ball shooting off low and to the right.

6 mos ago I had a similar situation arise shortly after my instructor had me change to a more inside-out swingpath.

I "thought," that the "almost shank" shots were coming off the toe. He pointed out they were being deflected to a greater or lesser degree off the hosel first, then off the clubface, or, contact was made where the hosel joins the clubface, again to a greater or lesser degree. (It never felt for a minute that there was double contact, but some say feel can be deceptive.) What I didn't realize, was during the downswing I was shifting my weight too much toward my toes, effectively moving the hosel of the club closer to the ball. To cut a very, very long story of trial and error short, when I focused exclusively on that heel-toe weight and balance issue, the hosel squirt shots 90% disappeared. I say 90 % because I think I have identified leaning, and various types of swaying, as a subtle tendency of mine that I have to be vigilant about, to stop them creeping back in from time to time.