Making progress(video)

[shortstop20]

Well, I've been working on my positions over the winter, based on the video it seems I'm making some progress. I know, practice swings are just that, practice swings, but I have nowhere to hit balls at the moment and I'm pretty confident that this is quite close to my real swing.

Comments?

http://www.swingacademy.com/videoPlayer.aspx?id=5581

Here's my old swing for comparison.

http://www.swingacademy.com/videoPlayer.aspx?id=3562

The main things I'm concerned about are my shaft plane on the backswing and downswing, as well as my head position at "impact" and my odd left foot position at the finish. I can't seem to get rid of that goofy left foot position.

[James_Black]

Your old swing was much better. (the one where your hitting off grass)
The club stays on plane with the old one. With the new one it's all over the place.
Also your standing wayy too close to the ball with the new swing, you'll lose a lot of width in the swing and that means distance.

edit:
Why did you mess with your old swing? it looked pretty good and the ball was going straight.
also you've got a overswing with both of them. Shorten the swing a little.

[shortstop20]

I don't understand why you say my old swing was on plane where this one is not? IMO I was too flat on the backswing, with the butt of the club pointing outside of the ball. My hands started above the plane on the downswing with my old swing.

My posture needs work, I'll agree with that. But what do I need to do? More knee flex so I can stand up taller to the ball? FYI, I am 6' 2".

At the time the old swing video was taken, I was hitting shots that would start off straight, and then hook about 20 yards.

[James_Black]

I don't understand why you say my old swing was on plane where this one is not? IMO I was too flat on the backswing and too steep on the downswing with my old swing. I had the butt of the club facing outside of the ball on the backswing.

draw a line in the vid up the line of the shaft.

Then slow the swing down and you'll see the club stays on plane.

[shortstop20]

draw a line in the vid up the line of the shaft.

I have looked at both swings with swing plane lines drawn.

Old swing: After waist height on the backswing, the club sits flatter than the shaft plane set at address. You can't see it in that video, but I was always slightly across the line at the top with that swing too. On the downswing, the club starts off with a steep downswing plane, although it does come back to parallel to the shaft plane set at address. New swing: The club is taken away more with the hands "going deep" and the clubhead outside the hands, which sets the club pefectly parallel to the shaft plane set at address, although above it. Once I get the rust out and shorten my backswing, I should be pointing the club straight down the target line or ever so slightly layed off at the top. On the downswing, the club shaft reaches parallel to the shaft plane set at address much sooner, my arms/hands are also a little more "in the slot". This should make my contact position more consistent. I think it looks pretty good considering I have not hit a ball since October, I think the things I have been working on will work out quite well once the weather warms up. my .02 I'd love to hear your thoughts if you believe otherwise though.

[iacas]

I'm a fan of the old swing more than the new swing. But, it's tough to say given the quality of the videos, so take that for what it's worth...

The club is taken away more with the hands "going deep" and the clubhead outside the hands

Your hands don't go "deep" at all. Even when the club's above parallel to the ground your hands haven't moved backwards at all. The arc (circle) your hands must travel on is also tilted, so just shoving them straight back away from the target takes them well off the plane. See the hand plane and elbow plane stuff in my signature.

There's a lot of good in your swing. You probably over-flex the right elbow a bit but you do a good job of keeping it close to your chest and not letting it wander behind you or up.

[shortstop20]

Thanks Erik, I guess I mis-interpreted the meaning of "going deep".

Hopefully soon I can get good footage of me hitting a ball.