Pulling my irons

[timastyle]

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...lf+swing&uni;=1

So I took a look at some of these videos and they're definately things I need to pay attention to on my swing, but there really weren't any drills to help with getting me used to keeping my right elbow in. Any tips?

[CG031]

So I took a look at some of these videos and they're definately things I need to pay attention to on my swing, but there really weren't any drills to help with getting me used to keeping my right elbow in. Any tips?

Well, when I struggled with this my dad gave me a tip, which I thought was great, and it worked for me, and still does to this day.

Try "tucking" your right elbow into your right pocket on your downswing. This should help from that flying right elbow which can certainly cause pulls.

[timastyle]

Well, when I struggled with this my dad gave me a tip, which I thought was great, and it worked for me, and still does to this day.

Thanks CG! I'll try that this afternoon when I go to the range.

[timastyle]

OK, so I just got back from the range. I definately worked on "tucking" my right elbow. I have to say that it did help the pulling and slicing. Here's the thing though...now I have a baby draw (never was even able to hit a draw even if I tried).

I struggled with this in the fact that it started on the target line, but always ended up left of the target (around 5-10 yards). While I'm happy to be able to hit a draw now, I was never able to get used to it and get it to go where I wanted it.

I also took some video of me with an 8 iron. One from the back and another from the side. I will upload these tomorrow morning for you to see.

[CG031]

OK, so I just got back from the range. I definately worked on "tucking" my right elbow. I have to say that it did help the pulling and slicing. Here's the thing though...now I have a baby draw (never was even able to hit a draw even if I tried).

If you have a "baby" draw that's a good thing IMO. If you are getting rid of the pull and slices, you are making progress. Sounds like the tip I gave helped, which I am glad to see.

With your driver, I would just aim 5 yards right of the middle of the fairway, and you should hit the fairway if the "baby" draw is 5-10 yards and consistent...nothing wrong with playing like that.

[timastyle]

If you have a "baby" draw that's a good thing IMO. If you are getting rid of the pull and slices, you are making progress. Sounds like the tip I gave helped, which I am glad to see.

I actually didn't hit my driver at the range. It was only my irons, but the I could never get it right on line with the target. Probably mostly cause I have never been able to hit a draw.

One thing I did notice in the video from the side view is that on my takeway, I am turning my wrist (in a way where I open the clubface) just as I start my backswing. I am sure this is causing some problems of inconsistency in my swing. I think my main problem of not progressing all that much is that I am not consistent with my shots. One shot I catch it thin, another fat, one is a push/slice, another is a pull. Is there anything that you can suggest so that I can become more consistent? I know practice is the key, but in order to properly practice at the range, I need to have a set of drills and such to help me (distance from ball, width of the stance, etc).

[CG031]

I actually didn't hit my driver at the range. It was only my irons, but the I could never get it right on line with the target. Probably mostly cause I have never been able to hit a draw.

I'm pretty inconsistent too. How long have you been playing? Your swing looked pretty good on that one swing...have you taken any lessons?

Pretty much experience and beating balls on the range is the main way to ingrain a consistent swing and solid contact. As far as the draw just aim a little bit right of your target when you are playing on the course. There's nothing wrong with playing your pattern and letting the ball draw back a little bit. Yeah, I can't wait to see your 8-iron swing. Maybe I could make some drill suggestions based on that video.

[timastyle]

I'm pretty inconsistent too. How long have you been playing? Your swing looked pretty good on that one swing...have you taken any lessons?

Thanks for the compliment. I've been playing off and on for about 15 years. More off than on. I could never find someone to go with me, so I would play a lot for a few months, then stop for a few, then start again, and so on.

I just recently took one lesson (was a disaster as he had double booked), but I'm pretty much self taught. Taken some tips from people along the way, but I always felt that as soon as I picked up a club, that I could almost mimick the swing. I understand that the range is the place to gain consistency, but what I think I'm missing is making sure my distance from the ball (depending on the club) is the same on each swing, along with my stance. I think "close enough" for me is the reason why I'm hitting the irons all over the place. Next time I get to the range, I will try and aim a little more right of the target and have it work back. I do have to mention though that my mishits now have turned into duck hooks rather than wide fade as it was before. With the wide fade, I would still be in play, but these duck hooks would definately be OB or kill someone. They were low and hooked hard. The video is on my phone and I tried to email it to myself, so I could open it on the computer and load it, but it's 3MB and it won't let me send it with my phone. The cable to connect my phone is at the office, so I should have the video posted by tomorrow afternoon.

[CG031]

Thanks for the compliment. I've been playing off and on for about 15 years. More off than on. I could never find someone to go with me, so I would play a lot for a few months, then stop for a few, then start again, and so on.

Ok...Wow, so just from that one tip you are hitting duck hooks with your misses? That's a bit surprising not sure what to say about that haha.

[timastyle]

Ya. I wish I had a tee there so I could take a video of my driver with your tip to see the difference. Even when I tried to hit a slight fade and/or straight, it still had a little draw to it. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but couldn't do anything else with it. I tried taking a weaker grip and that really didn't do much either.

I'm curious to see how my ball flight is next time I go to the range (hopefully tomorrow).

[CG031]

Ya. I wish I had a tee there so I could take a video of my driver with your tip to see the difference. Even when I tried to hit a slight fade and/or straight, it still had a little draw to it. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but couldn't do anything else with it. I tried taking a weaker grip and that really didn't do much either.

LOL. That really is interesting, hmmmm...I mean, I knew it would help against the slice and pull's, but to all of a sudden snap hook is really odd.

[timastyle]

LOL. That really is interesting, hmmmm...I mean, I knew it would help against the slice and pull's, but to all of a sudden snap hook is really odd.

The snap hooks were on miss hits on the toe mostly. Maybe the 8-iron video will reveal something.

One more thing that I forgot to mention earlier was that I was also focusing on hitting down on the ball. I usually pick the ball with no divot and from reading some threads here, I was trying to just look at a spot a couple inches ahead of the ball to help with that. I don't know if that had anything to do with the snap hook though.

[timastyle]

So I have uploaded my 8-iron videos on to swingacademy.com and here they are:

http://www.swingacademy.com/videoPlayer.aspx?id=3809
This one is the view from the back (sorry it's a little dark)

http://www.swingacademy.com/videoPlayer.aspx?id=3810
This is the side view.

Feel free to critique anything you see wrong that will help with consistency in my swing and that can help me improve.

[timastyle]

So someone at golfacademy.com review my 8-iron swings and pretty much shredded me (in a good way). Gave me a lot to work on.

Do you agree with his assessment?

[shortstop20]

That guy did a pretty good analysis of your swing. As I suspected you have excess body movements which is causing your inconsistant contact, as is your spine angle deterioration. Don't feel emberassed, we've all been there. Check out some of my videos on Swing Academy, I have some videos from over a year ago and a recent one. 10x better swing now. I have the same username on Swing Academy.

This is somewhat redundant but I already had it typed out so I'm gonna post it anyways.

If you have a "baby" draw that's a good thing IMO. If you are getting rid of the pull and slices, you are making progress. Sounds like the tip I gave helped, which I am glad to see.

That's how I play my drives, works pretty well.

I think my main problem of not progressing all that much is that I am not consistent with my shots. One shot I catch it thin, another fat, one is a push/slice, another is a pull. Is there anything that you can suggest so that I can become more consistent? I know practice is the key, but in order to properly practice at the range, I need to have a set of drills and such to help me (distance from ball, width of the stance, etc).

From my experience inconsistent contact comes from inconsistant body motion(swaying, dipping, standing up, etc.) and poor tempo.

In order to prevent swaying away from the ball on the downswing I always have the feeling that my right leg is firmly "screwed" into the ground and I never let my weight get outside the inside of my right foot. Now relating to the upper body, all I think about is keeping my spine angle during the swing, if you can do that you WILL strike the ball well. Look at ANY of the legendary ball strikers and you will see that they have consistant spine angle. Moe Norman's spine angle varied by less than 1 degree from address to impact, that's an insanely small amount compared to most golfers. Tempo is personal, find what works and stick with it. Obviously this stuff should be practiced on the range, too much to consciously think about on the course.

[timastyle]

That guy did a pretty good analysis of your swing. As I suspected you have excess body movements which is causing your inconsistant contact, as is your spine angle deterioration. Don't feel emberassed, we've all been there. Check out some of my videos on Swing Academy, I have some videos from over a year ago and a recent one. 10x better swing now. I have the same username on Swing Academy.

I'm not embarrassed. I actually appreciate the critique. What I'd like to know is how to fix those faults. Drills and such.

How would you rate my tempo? I feel like I have a slower backswing, but have never thought about what my tempo.

[shortstop20]

I'm not embarrassed. I actually appreciate the critique. What I'd like to know is how to fix those faults. Drills and such.

Your tempo is good IMO.

If I was you I would buy Hogan's 5 Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of golf. This is the only golf book I have, it's the Bible of Golf.

[timastyle]

Your tempo is good IMO.

I actually did buy the book. I have read in the thread that each chapter should be fully understood before moving on to the next, so needless to say, I'm still stuck on chapter 1. I thought about skipping the first chapter and go into the stance and posture one as I think my grip is fairly good. My only issue with the grip is that I tend to choke the clubs a bit with both hands (bad habit for many years is hard to break). I've been trying to conciously loosen up the grip though.

What do you think about just moving to chapter 2?