Head Dip

[Travtex]

I've been working on my hip action after reading some of the threads on here. I'd also been trying to focus on my shoulder turn as it was a gigantic swing flaw contributing to my post-impact chicken wing of comic proportions.

Hit the ball better than I ever have at the range last time out, but I noticed a pretty extreme head dip.

My head is behind the ball, and the dip seems to be significantly after impact as my rear shoulder turns through. After impact, when both arms are extended, it feels almost like a 'Reverse C' laterally -- It probably looks fairly awkward (More of a 'Creamer' dip than a 'Gulbis' dip), but I'm stupidly flexible from a couple decades of martial arts so it doesn't -feel- awkward.

Consistency has improved to a ridiculous degree, and I was on my way to developing predictable distances with my short irons from about 110-115 with the PW with 10 yard gaps up to the 7 iron.

That's about where things fall apart. Middle irons, hybrids, 3w, driver... all going about the same distance with poor consistency and the occasional slice if I don't really focus on my hands through impact. Also noticed with the longer clubs I was getting progressively less head dip.

Is it a swing plane issue? Flatter plane = Harder to get the spine angle correct? Is it just a bad habit in the making? Basically, my focus is to keep my head behind the ball while my hips slide toward the target, so the rotation of my shoulders pulls my head down through/after impact as the angle rotates (At full extension with both arms, I'm basically looking down the target line sideways).

Tried some Search Fu, but 'Head' as a search term brings up pages of 'Club head speed', etc. Thanks!

[Travtex]

Is this just a stupid question? *hah*

[Zeph]

Hitting short irons better than longer clubs is not uncommon. Distance is about clubhead speed, angle of approach and impact position on the club. Shorter clubs are easier to swing and control. I've no idea what cause your problems, but try looking at the length of your backswing and if you can limit it. The longer backswing, the harder it will be to get back to impact and make a good shot. Many experience that they hit it longer and more accurate by taking a shorter backswing. About 3/4 backswing, you can also practice 1/2 on the range.

[squaddie]

I have a similar problem, in that my head dips, or drops down and to the right, half-way through the downswing. I haven't had time to work it out due to a rib injury, but here's where I left off with my analysis.

(Summary of this post in bold, as it's a little long)

I've attributed the head-dipping problem to two issues with my lower-body movement that cause my hips to slide too far left, which makes my spine angle drop, which makes the head appear to drop.

I believe the dipping-solution is to tighten the arc of the backswing and downswing, and following below are the details behind the proposed solution under the context of two of my swing problems:

The first issue has to do with swaying back too far right on the backswing. As a result I tend to hit fat since I shifted too much to the right of the ball, and then in the downswing I slide my hips too far left to compensate and get back to the proper impact position.

My corrective movement is to tighten the arc of my backswing and get the weight over my inner-right heel at the top. To do this I try a better one-piece take-away and let the shoulders control the movement up, with the hip turn responding to the shoulders' movement (ala Hogan).

The second issue has to do with my hip action on the downswing. I believe I slide my hips too far left and get too wide of a turn, causing my hips to outrace my upper body. As a result my spine angle drops and then the head dips. I haven't figured out the correct downswing hip-action to take as many internet sources on hip action are vague on the details and differ in proper hip-action and weight transfer movements (post to the left side, slide then turn, turn then slide, slide only, turn and slide at the same time, etc.).

I suspect the proper downswing hip action has to do with allowing weight to transfer from the right heel to the front-left toe or ball of the left foot, then as the weight transfers allow the hips to turn or pivot left, without outracing the shoulders as they begin to turn back left.

My only way to check this issue (without a camera) is to see how well I end up on my follow through. I try to work on the hip-action that allows me to end up balanced well on the left side in the follow through, and the ball-striking was solid. If I am off-balanced to the left or right then my hip-action and/or weight-transfer on the downswing were not correct.

This is where I have left off on my research. I look forward to any other helpful input for our head-dipping issue for me and Travtex.

EDIT: Looks like Iacas's thread on sliding the hips may help out with this issue: Re: The Biggest Secret? SLIDE Your Hips

[jamo]

I attribute my head dip to my left knee flex during the transition