Help with a few problems...

[timastyle]

1. I have 2 degenerated discs in my back and as much as I torque my body on each swing, I suffer the next day. Any ideas on how to not hate myself after a round?

2. I have a tendancy to take very large divots out to the point where my friend says I'm digging to China. That causes me to get stuck on the follow through and make it seem like a knock down shot. Any drills on making sure I put a full swing? Any drills to make sure I don't dig to China?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[NormH3]

perhaps an abbreviated backswing will help. You may not get the distance, but it should help reduce some pain.

[Golf_Gal]

I take 2 Advil before I start playing, you don't even feel a thing :)

I have the tendency to do the same thing, I'm about halfway there to China, maybe if we combine all of our divots, we'd already be there and back But I've noticed that to not take huge chunks out of the grass, I just stay down and keep my eyes and head above the ball! At driving ranges with mats and if they have those plastic tees sticking up, trying taking swing there and see if you hit the mat or sweep the tee.

[zachg8]

good idea normH3

[sean_miller]

1. I have 2 degenerated discs in my back and as much as I torque my body on each swing, I suffer the next day. Any ideas on how to not hate myself after a round?

I'm not sure how flat your swing is, but flatten it some more. Look into specific swing changes to make it as efficient as possible (see a PGA professional perhaps?).

My physical problem isn't back related (yet - more wrists and hands related), but hard impacts and "digging" were always painful. I really liked my upright swing - a la Seve and Tom Watson, but after a few years my swing has evolved into more sweep than dig - my "vintage" musclebacks are great for my shallower swing path. Some day I'll probably move to R shafts and maybe even graphite.

[mc0388]

1. I have 2 degenerated discs in my back and as much as I torque my body on each swing, I suffer the next day. Any ideas on how to not hate myself after a round?

Hey tima,

Most people that dig the ball play the ball WAY to far back in their stance. You should never play any club behind the center of your stance (yes, even your 60*), unless of course its a shaped shot of some sort... In your stance try moving the ball towards the front foot. This should help to eliminate the steep angle of attack on the ball. Also, possibly try shortening your stance, with your feet closer together, your weight can transfer more easily to the front on the follow through.

[DBeane]

1. Be careful with a back issue, that can be a game killer. Go to you tube and check out some different swing threories. The old Moe Norman, natural golf and the stack and tilt ideas seem to take some strain off of the back. Anything that keeps you away from a lot of lower body action into the ball can take stress off your back.

2. Try adjusting your ball position forword in your stance (I usually use the breast logo on the left side of my golf shirt as a reference), make sure you are keeping your head quiet, and that your not crowding the ball. Those are great places to start if your digging squirril graves.

-Beane

[timastyle]

Hey tima,

Well I typically play my short irons to the middle of my stance and gradually progress to the front of my stance. I did get a comment from one of my friends that I was playing the ball pretty far back, so that may be the case. I will put more emphasis on placing it forward. Maybe play the ball on the heel of my lead foot and narrow my stance to adjust.

1. Be careful with a back issue, that can be a game killer. Go to you tube and check out some different swing threories. The old Moe Norman, natural golf and the stack and tilt ideas seem to take some strain off of the back. Anything that keeps you away from a lot of lower body action into the ball can take stress off your back.

Thanks DBeane. I will look into Moe Norman and see what it offers. I've also toyed with the idea of takign S&T lessons to help alleviate the pain.

I think I may be standing over the ball a little too much at times. My divots are more like digging to China to the point where I get caught up in the grass and don't finish my follow through. I think this has gotten me to learn another bad habit in the fact that I don't generally finish my follow through. I end up playing more knock down like shots.