Help with Golf Swing, Videos Included.

[Seanponders]

Hey guys, I could use some input/advice on my swing. Its pretty inconsistent, and I constantly pull the ball to the left and hit very low trajectory shots with my driver, my iron shots are even worse. I have posted two videos on youtube, on is the front view (not good quality, the range I was at has boards blocking the view) and the side view. Thanks a lot, any input is appreciated!

Side-

Front-

[James_Black]

Ummm you might want to edit your post to allow the video to be shown in the post you don't have the full URL there

[Blarger]

You are coming over the top and spinning out.

[Seanponders]

You are coming over the top and spinning out.

Could you be more specific Blarger? How am I coming over the top? and what do you mean by spinning out?

[jaykerz]

I agree that you are coming over the top. Looks like an overswing issue to me because I also noticed your left heel coming of the ground which is a good indication that you are not swinging within your limits. Not sure about how to resolve the over the top problem, but looks like you are making a move at the ball from the top. Remember to SWING the club, not HIT the ball. Hope this helps.

[Hoselrockets]

as above coming over the top due to how early you pull the club in during your take away, try to take it back in one piece. Then from what I could see your hip don't move foward before you turn. There is a huge post in this forum about moving the hips forward. Its hard but it will help you out a ton. Good luck.

[Shanks A Million]

Oh, this is simple. Take a look at my swing 9 months ago, and today...



Now, after you stop laughing at my terrible, terrible sense of humor, take a look at the swings. I was too once a big slicer, and I rarely caught one pure. Today, I hit a draw, and I get pissed if I badly mishit one.

I have a long, long way to go, but lets look at what I changed, which may help you.

The first swing is very, very long. It felt normal to swing this way, long and armsy. The swing goes back flat, and comes down steep. The legs and feet are all out of whack, and there's little about this swing that is good.

Fast forward to today. I've made huge strides. Here's how.

First, I had to do something about the body movement. I learned to swing within my self. I had to learn to keep the left foot down, and to stay connected, and keep my spine angle better. You cannot flail all around and hit it well. This was hard to learn, I'll admit.

Second, I had to learn to generate width. I had to keep the club away from my body, and my arms much straighter. This gives you the wide arc you need to generate power and strike the ball properly.

Third, the proper swing feels very short, probably like a pitch feels to you now. You lose no distance in shortening the swing, there is a natural length it should be, no longer. Mine is only to vertical. Parallel is the most anyone should go.

Fourth, I had to get the club moving around my body, not up and back down. I cannot get the club that far behind my back, but I get it as far back as I can. This is so critical, without it, you're not going to catch it solid often, if ever. You seem to do this ok though.

Finally, you need to get the club coming back steep. If you take it back too flat, it comes over the top, and comes down steep. This was the hardest for me to do, because I can only take it back to vertical steep enough without lifting it over my head.

These are the 5 main things I changed from one swing to the other. My next few goals are on the followthrough, keeping the head still, and getting the hips to clear earlier.

[Rexx]

I don't care about your swing, but what is up with that chair in the second video? Who is gonna sit there? And why does it have a seat belt?

[RC]

Simple explanations of what you have heard: On the backswing when your club becomes parallel to the ground, the club shaft points well right of your target line, so you have jerked the club head inside ahead of the hands working inside. From the top, your first move is your shoulders start turning, and your right shoulder moves toward the ball, changing your swing so that it has to come over the top and outside to in. This produces either slices or low pull hooks if you flip your hands through impact.

These swing flaws are two of the most common issues with most golfers. My guess is a person thinks they need to get the club inside so they can swing out at the ball. But if you just keep the club out front of your chest and turn your shoulders it will come inside automatically and in a much better position. At the start of the downswing, I would guess many think it is time to hit at the ball so they start down thinking it is time to swat the ball with the right hand. It is better to move your body forward and then start turning almost as if you intend to leave the club passively at the top of the backswing (actually most good ball strikers start their bodies moving before the backswing is fully completed) before any "hitting" at the ball impulse. The advice to swing the club just means let the club move in response to your body rather than trying to hit at the ball with your hands and arms.

So how do you fix this stuff? Go see a professional teacher. That is about the best analysis I can give in a brief note like this one.

[James_Black]

Another thing that nobody else has brought up.

What's going on with your left foot?
That can't help with consistancy.

As said before go get a few lessons, you'll see a huge improvement.

[JetFan1983]

Agree with the others about coming over the top. You're throwing your right hand at the ball and coming off the plane. This video might help you:



If you're not a fan of stack and tilt that's fine, just forget that this is about that. What this video is specifically about is universal.

[mdl]

You look like an athletic guy. Stick with it. As was said above, you're starting your swing by turning your shoulders. To me it looks like this is part of your natural attempt to really mash the ball. You really should take some lessons, but try this:

Say you hit your best drives 250 yards. Pick a spot you're aiming at, make sure you're aligned correctly and whatnot, then shorten your backswing so your hands never go more than a little bit above your back shoulder and try to hit it NO MORE than 125 yards towards that spot with your driver. Now, start your swing not by turning your shoulders, but by sliding your front hip forward. There's a great thread on this board about sliding your hips, which you can find if you search for "slide your hips" or "sliding your hips".

Then, when this doesn't work, go see a teacher :)

[Seanponders]

THANKS for all the help guys, I really appreciate it. As for what that seat in the background with a seatbelt is, I really have no idea haha? Anyhow, from what everyone has said I've narrowed my main* swing flaws down and am going to concentrate on fixing these....

1. Coming over the top (anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this? Just bring my club back in one piece, so its not as flat on the take away?)

2. Not sliding hips forward on downswing and starting the downswing with my shoulders (I'm in the process of reading up on hip sliding, something I've never heard of)

3. My swing is to handsy, going to try and keep my arms/hands out of my swing and just let my body do the work

4. My tempo needs work (to fast on takeaway), seems like I'm swinging to hard as well (left foot lifting off ground)

Anything else I have missed?

[sacm3bill]

I don't care about your swing, but what is up with that chair in the second video? Who is gonna sit there? And why does it have a seat belt?

I'd guess it's for paraplegic golfers. I've seen chairs like that on golf carts for that purpose.

[Seanponders]

I'd guess it's for paraplegic golfers. I've seen chairs like that on golf carts for that purpose.

Ya that would make sense.

[colin007]

2. Not sliding hips forward on downswing and starting the downswing with my shoulders (I'm in the process of reading up on hip sliding, something I've never heard of?

NO! you need to make a significant move forward (toward the target) on the downswing. your weight should never shift to your back (right) leg at all in the backswing. if you shift your weight back, you have to then shift it forward again, which requires much more coordination than you or i or most people here have. keep your weight over the ball on the backswing, and then push your hips forward, keep your right elbow close to the ribcage, and make sure the head doesnt move until after youve hit the ball.

[Rexx]

I'd guess it's for paraplegic golfers. I've seen chairs like that on golf carts for that purpose.

Ahhh... good call!

[Shanks A Million]

Let me repost this, as the first video wasn't working quite right...

Oh, this is simple. Take a look at my swing 9 months ago, and today...



Now, after you stop laughing, take a look at the swings. I was too once a big slicer, and I rarely caught one pure. I made a lot of changes over the past year or so. I have a long, long way to go, but lets look at what I changed, which may help you.

The first swing is very, very long. It felt normal to swing this way, long and armsy. The swing goes back flat, and comes down steep. The legs and feet are all out of whack, and there's little about this swing that is good.

Fast forward to today. I've made huge strides. Here's how.

First, I had to do something about the body movement. I learned to swing within my self. I had to learn to keep the left foot down, and to stay connected, and keep my spine angle better. You cannot flail all around and hit it well. This was hard to learn, I'll admit.

Second, I had to learn to generate width. I had to keep the club away from my body, and my arms much straighter. This gives you the wide arc you need to generate power and strike the ball properly.

Third, the proper swing feels very short, probably like a pitch feels to you now. You lose no distance in shortening the swing, there is a natural length it should be, no longer. Mine is only to vertical. Parallel is the most anyone should go.

Fourth, I had to get the club moving around my body, not up and back down. I cannot get the club that far behind my back, but I get it as far back as I can. This is so critical, without it, you're not going to catch it solid often, if ever. You seem to do this ok though.

Finally, you need to get the club coming back steep. If you take it back too flat, it comes over the top, and comes down steep. This was the hardest for me to do, because I can only take it back to vertical steep enough without lifting it over my head.

These are the 5 main things I changed from one swing to the other. My next few goals are on the followthrough, keeping the head still, and getting the hips to clear earlier.