Do I have this right?

[hostage46]

So I'm a few months into this, and I'm all in, playing 9 twice per week, range at least one day a week.

I began with a series of lessons from one of the local Hank Haney operations.

I'm now to the point where I'm getting pretty consistent striking the ball, and the Big Bertha Irons are a natural help. My primary focus has been on eliminating the slice consistently. I'd really like to learn how to control the spin.

Early on I had a tough time making a full turn and contacting the ball. It wasn't a flexibility thing, it just felt odd, not intuitive. So like most amateurs I'd fall into an arm swing, and while I'd hit the ball solidly, the club face was never square and we all know where that goes... to the right....

I even tried the Trahan swing, which promotes a 3/4 turn. But I keep trying to makeup for that lost power from the reduced turn and go back to the arms over the top thing trying to hit harder and ... zing... off to the right...

I still wasn't getting the "hip bump" at weight transfer the Haney guys teach. I realize now my guy didn't empahsize it with me because he was trying to get me to stop sliding the hips.

Then someone posted a video of Hogan's swing with him instructing on how the hips bump, but also really helped me get how the lower body leads the whole process unwiding the coil.

Today at the range, I found myself able to make a good near 90 degree turn, and hit the ball, this must just be from practice. I concentrated on keeping my hands in front of my chest, and finally, kept my hips quite in the back swing, but tried to make the bump more of an unwind move about my spinal axis. That move seemed to promote the "bump", not a slide, and a nice inside swing, with very fluid feeling move into follow through

Oh and it it went straight and long.

Compared to the arm swing, this felt effortless. If I was under the lights and unable to see where the ball was landing, I'd have assumed that my no turn arm shot that I cranked was going 330 yards instead of 200 forward 100 right.

So this is the first time the "use your big muscles" thing has really clicked for me.I understood all the pieces, but the Hogan video tied it all together for me

So just my question is... am I correct that the "unwind" of the torso should be lead by the hips, followed naturally by the shoulders?

Dan in Dallas....

[WUTiger]

No offense to you, but I think I'll minimize looking at the Playing Tips site.

If the Haney way makes sense to you, stick with it and avoid the rest.

I know what you mean about the Trahan method. Once I read his promo material, I had flashbacks to my swing method of 25 years ago. I was pretty good with my irons - a short, punchy swing - but really wild with all my woods.

Today I guess I have a modified Hogan swing: start with the hands back low, etc., with a couple of adjustments that fit my body action and build.

If you're "all in," stick with one method for a couple of years and build a good swing. Too many of these playing tips tend to be quick fixes, and if you put them all inside your head you'll drive yourself crazy. Try to build a good swing - don't get waylaid with quick fixes, which often work against each other in the long run.

Keep going, and just let it happen!

[DBeane]

Yes.

-Beane

[hostage46]

[QUOTE= - don't get waylaid with quick fixes, which often work against each other in the long run.![/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more.... I'm going to stick with the Haney method, sometimes it takes seeing things from a different angle...

Off to the range

[right handed phil mickelson]

330 yards though? Don't you think that's a bit much?

Maybe 270?

Do you really know what a 330 yard drive looks like?

Anyway, gratz on the improvement. Keep going!

[hostage46]

330 yards though? Don't you think that's a bit much?

Maybe I should have put one of these in there...

I'm nowhere near 300 yards .... Point being, it felt like I crushed it, and I did. once I figure out how to get the clubf ace square.....