Impact position help

[dai3015]

Hi newbie here
I'm looking for a bit of constructive help please with my swing.
I play to a reasonable standard, around a 8 h'cap & have a good short game, but my iron play sucks!
I struggle with lag, impact & a proper release.
Can you have a look at this clip & give me a few pointers?
http://www.swingacademy.com/videoPlayer.aspx?id=4387
Thanks

[MrW00t10]

bad link.

[Ovalevader]

Bad link, but...

I'm assuming you're saying the clubhead is passing your hands, and you more than likely hit a draw/hook. Try taking some swings at the range like a giant putting swing, with your lowest iron, in the middle of your stance. If the ball goes straight and doesn't bounce right or left, you'll know you have a good swing path in and through impact. After you get a good feel for this, take some 3/4 swings implementing your normal swing with a good feel for what you've practiced. You can also work in lag using your shoulders doing this drill. I do this in my normal preshot routine when I'm trying to shape a shot, and it helps setup my swing path.

[dai3015]

Cheers
Link seems to be working now (looks like swing academy was down earlier today)

[Leftygolfer]

small swings. Hit little half shots and focus on the butt of the club being ahead the head at impact. Little half swings help you feel what you are doing.

[dkinser86]

The first thing I noticed when watching the video is the amount of bend in the shaft at impact. That just didn't look natural. So, i'm thinking a stiffer shaft may help with consistency.

[Jemehl]

Does Anyone use that site ? What exactly is it ?

[shortstop20]

Does Anyone use that site ? What exactly is it ?

You can upload your swing and people will analyze it.

[Smiffy]

When I first started having lessons my impact position was terrible, no "zip" at all and subsequent lack of power.
The pro who was teaching me got an old tyre (tire) from a greenkeepers tractor (the smaller front tire MINUS the wheel!!) and got me hitting that. It was amazing the difference it made, and really got me feeling where my hands should be at impact. He got me hitting it time and time again until I could feel what I should be doing, and when I done it right the tire would move a foot or so. It sounds painful, even like you would break your wrist, but it isn't and you won't. Then when I replicated that move with a ball instead of the tire you should have seen that ball go!!
I think this method was used by Henry Cotton, or some other famous golfer of his era.
I think the same result is achieved by using an impact bag today...

http://readygolf.com/Callaway-Golf-IMPACT-BAG/5899/

It worked for me
Rob

[dai3015]

I'm still struggling with this & can't seem to get my head around it.
When I start my downswing, it feels as though I'm trying to swing down on an arc - which I take it is wrong????
Should my hands be just dropping straight down ie trying to get a different feeling - instead of sweeping, more of a downward movement?
Cheers guy's

[GolferNewb]

Try setting the ball a little more in the middle of your body. Keep your head steady until you get past your left foot. Modify your stance width based on the club, higher the club the less the width.

Other than that you look very fluid. love that site

[Keep It Simple]

If you slow the video down to around 21% it becomes obvious you are trying to help the ball into the air by swinging up. Your hips stop driving towards the target at impact and if you look at frame 30 you have lost the 90deg angle between your left arm and the club shaft (at this position you should still have 90 deg). You create lag, you can see it in frame 29, but you want to help the ball up and therefore release it too early. The fix is to hit down. Keep driving those hips toward the target and let the club do the work. I also noticed you setup for an upright swing (narrow stance, straight legs, upright spine angle) but you flatten the plane out by keeping your right elbow glued to your side. You may want to alter your setup if you prefer a flatter swing. After impact you have the classic "chicken wing" left elbow (see frame 34). I believe this would go away if you weren't trying to lift the ball into the air and you would get more arm extension (less bend in your right elbow).

If that doesn't help, well at least I am cheaper than Leadbetter :)

[dai3015]

If that doesn't help, well at least I am cheaper than Leadbetter :)[/QUOTE] --- Ha, ha

Cheers for the comments

Any more thoughts?

[Rexx]

I'm still struggling with this & can't seem to get my head around it.

This is exactly the point I try to make to a lot of struggling golfers. The downswing is not the backswing reversed. As someone else said, if you look at frame 30, you'll see that you are beginning to lose that angle between the left arm and club. IMO, this is caused by having a too-rounded arc on the downswing and it is near impossible to hold that angle if you do that. Also, if you look at frame 30, you'll see that there is some separation between your right elbow and body. At this point, they should be attached to each other and your hands will be nearly directly over the ball (from this view). For some people, the initial hip bump to the left that starts the downswing will be accompanied by a passive dropping of the hands. However, you may need to take a more active approach in order to unlearn the old habit of starting the club away from you. A few slow motion swings should help. Good luck.

[Andrew Rice]

Good question, because this is where the golf swing is made - impact!
Firstly, the bend in the shaft is merely due to the curvature and type of lens on the camera you are using, so don't change any shafts or worry about that. Secondly, it looks like you are almost hitting up on the ball. I would recommend hitting some halfswing punch type shots with the ball well forward and really work to keep the trajectory down. This will get the arms and hands further forward at impact. Your body is well positioned, but the hands and arms are lagging and thus you "scoop" the ball into the air.
I have had the pleasure of teaching your countryman Ian Woosie a few times and it is amazing how well he is able to lead with the hands!

[dai3015]

Thanks fellas, I'll try some of those ideas out.
I only live about 45 mins from where Woosie was born and play at Llanymynech, where he played as a junior quite regularly.