Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×

Recommended Posts

Posted

First range session of 2025!

The Good, PT helped, felt much more limber. I was able to do the pause at A6, pump and hit the ball drill pretty good. 
 

The mediocre, right elbow stuff. I can feel when it stays bent. Which is all the time right now.  Hey, first time of the year, and still battling old patterns. A good number of swings were either over the top, or shallow with the body stuff. 

Anyways, good to be out at the range for a bit. 

 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

I will add this. It’s something that has been happening last golf season and today. 

sometimes when I make a turn with the lower body through impact and into the finish I will bring my back leg off the ground. It’s like if the back leg stays down, I can’t turn fully into the finish. It’s like my turn drags my right leg forward. Usually, I hit the ball really good when this happens.

anyways just an observation.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Video 1 of 2025

Lower body is better. Right knee kicks out less. Left knee straightens better. I don’t have that knee bounce post impact.

Backswing and downswing with the arms, needs a bit of work. Nice OTT move there.


Video 2 of 2025 - hey I can keep it short. 

back to trying to keep the swing shorter and control the right elbow. Lots of half backswing feel and very straight arms. Also trying to start the downswing sooner so the swing doesn’t go on forever with the turn. Got to limit it to 90 degrees shoulder and 45 degrees hips. 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
Posted

Hands go out and roll too much, which is why the backswing has trouble staying short. The short swing is too long.

Then, you know what to do from there.

Throw it.

  • Thumbs Up 1

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Finally slowed it down

Feels like 30-50%. trying to make it look slow mo on normal mode. 

And

I’m trying to not let my hands go out and tip the club inside at A2. Also trying to not just carry a closed clubface up to A3 because it’s easy to keep the club head outside the hands if I just keep it turned down. Opening the clubface feels similar to flinging the club head inside at A2

Better downswing stuff with the arms I think.

Then just a reward, full swing at the end

I like the athletic motion here. Shift, turn, using the left leg better. Club still steepens and too much right arm bend.

The key will be able to do the body turn stuff and arm stuff. Together I can’t disassociate right arm bend from twisting. If I use my arms, my turn and athleticism dies. If I concern on the other, my right elbow stays bent.

 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Better stuff today. 

Backswing mapping, watching the club go back to where I want it, pause and feel the position, take it back to address, and repeat while looking at the ball. 

Some feels I am playing around with. 

1) Feeling like my right hand is pushing out away from me to keep the right arm extended. Really actively resist the momentum of the swing to collapse the right arm. I can't do this early because I will just push my hands outward. It's like A2.5 to A3.5. 

2) Feeling a bit less flex in the left wrist at A3. I can't do this much or I will just roll the club inside. I caught myself doing this a few times and stopped. 

3) Like above, feeling the overall body position at A3. I ideally want my swing to be A3.5 in length.

Downswing, I got to really feel the pause again.  I also was doing some downswings while looking at the club at A3-A4 just to make sure it was going down and not out. I kind-of can hit the ball flush while not even looking at the ball. 🤣

Yea, trying to disconnect the hands down and tilting back to lower the club is difficult. 

Also, even if I get my hands down better, I end up hitting straight hooks or flipping straight cuts. The club doesn't come in flush a lot. I definitely feel a flip at the ball the ball most of the time. 

 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Ok, going to have to start video taping more.

I can’t figure out why I flip the crap out of the club when I get my arms down. It’s either flip chunk, flip thing, flip push cut or solid hit over draw. Starts like 5 yards left and draws 15-20 yards.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Finally decided to slow it down. 

Backswing feels

1) Back of right hand faces away from target.

2) feel like hands graze right hip

3) hands stop at A3

 Downswing is just club down and behind me more.

Full swing after some practice doing it slowly.

I think I could hinge better from A2. Still looks like I flop the club over at A2 to A3 a bit.

  • Thumbs Up 1

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

PT is going good. Gained 5-10 degrees of rotation in the hips and torso since I started. Which is pretty good. 5 is considered a major improvement. 

Rotational strength is up. 

  • Thumbs Up 2

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

I was using the window as a mirror. Just trying to be a more aware of the feels for a better backswing. Trying to not be as closed from A1 to A2. Then not letting the club head flip inside. What I was feeling was a pressure my right wrist, and like the palm of my right hand was pushing upward against the grip of the club. My right hand was the underside of the swing path. 

Going to play around with this a bit more. It looked pretty decent with mirror/window work. Just wanted to jot it down. 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Been away for a few weeks. A bit of tumultuous times at work. We had about 4% our exempt workforce laid off. My project from hell won’t let up. Just been burnt out the past couple of weeks and the cold crappy weather. Back at it now.

Backswing drill - working on swing path feels. Right wrist bent, more feeling the palm facing away from me. Feeling the hands stay in front of me more. 

Downswing- Feel like I make a big long arc with the butt end of the club to my right pocket. More out away from my shoulder. Combining this with recentering for timing.

When I make a 60% swing, the clubhead feels like it’s arching from the inside and lower way more. 

  • Thumbs Up 1

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Yay, first 9 holes of golf in!

The goal tonight was to keep the swing short, and try to feel the downswing stuff. I was able to do that here and there. The iron strikes were solid. Like, flush center strikes. I was like, Whoa!!! Though face to path control was not there yet, or the trees in my way were not kind. 🤣

I need to send a good day on putting and short game. Just rusty. A pretty soft course didn't help. That is where I lost a ton of shots. 

 

  • Like 1

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Just some notes

Putting - more straight back and close the face through impact. I got a bit too inside, lots of block putts right or pushing the club out and heeling putts. Especially on longer putts.

Pitching - pretty decent. Just working on distance control and different backswing lengths. Redeveloping the touch.  Also trying to no flip the club inside since that is my full swing pattern. Though, I seem to be able to bracket the center of the clubface, heel and toe strikes. 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Played 9 today. Good and bad.

Full Swing - Right arm straighter feel needs to be there 100%. 

Short Game - Just needs a good couple of practice sessions to polish. Too long of backswing most of the time. 

Putting - more straight back and straight through “feel” works well. Hitting center of putting face more. 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Apologies if this is old hat. I see it because it's one of the things I'm working on constantly. Your transition goes a touch flatter to steeper and your shaft falls a bit above your shoulder at ~A5. Not crazy steep but doesn't look ideal to me? This something you work on?

image.png

Matt

Mid-Weight Heavy Putter
Cleveland Tour Action 60˚
Cleveland CG15 54˚
Nike Vapor Pro Combo, 4i-GW
Titleist 585h 19˚
Tour Edge Exotics XCG 15˚ 3 Wood
Taylormade R7 Quad 9.5˚

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
1 hour ago, mdl said:

our transition goes a touch flatter to steeper and your shaft falls a bit above your shoulder at ~A5. Not crazy steep but doesn't look ideal to me? This something you work on?

Yep, I know. 😉

 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
15 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Yep, I know. 😉

Why can't we easily fix the problems in our swing that we know about?  :mad:

Matt

Mid-Weight Heavy Putter
Cleveland Tour Action 60˚
Cleveland CG15 54˚
Nike Vapor Pro Combo, 4i-GW
Titleist 585h 19˚
Tour Edge Exotics XCG 15˚ 3 Wood
Taylormade R7 Quad 9.5˚

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted (edited)
On 3/18/2025 at 6:54 PM, saevel25 said:

Ok, going to have to start video taping more.

I can’t figure out why I flip the crap out of the club when I get my arms down. It’s either flip chunk, flip thing, flip push cut or solid hit over draw. Starts like 5 yards left and draws 15-20 yards.

Just a suggestion.. do a left hand-only 'trial'. You can do in your living room. Ensure arm structure stays intact throughout the swing and the wrist does not break down until well after impact. It will possibly help you identify if it's a right side (trail) over/early-dominance, weight-shift timing, pivot stall, hand path issue, some combo of these, etc.  

Edited by GolfLug

Vishal S.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • In terms of ball striking, not really. Ball striking being how good you are at hitting the center of the clubface with the swing path you want and the loft you want to present at impact.  In terms of getting better launch conditions for the current swing you have, it is debatable.  It depends on how you swing and what your current launch conditions are at. These are fine tuning mechanisms not significant changes. They might not even be the correct fine tuning you need. I would go spend the $100 to $150 dollars in getting a club fitting over potentially wasting money on changes that ChatGPT gave you.  New grips are important. Yes, it can affect swing weight, but it is personal preference. Swing weight is just one component.  Overall weight effects the feel. The type of golf shaft effects the feel of the club in the swing. Swing weight effects the feel. You can add so much extra weight to get the swing weight correct and it will feel completely different because the total weight went up. Imagine swinging a 5lb stick versus a 15lb stick. They could be balanced the same (swing weight), but one will take substantially more effort to move.  I would almost say swing weight is an old school way of fitting clubs. Now, with launch monitors, you could just fit the golfer. You could have two golfers with the same swing speed that want completely different swing weight. It is just personal preference. You can only tell that by swinging a golf club.     
    • Thanks for the comments. I fully understand that these changes won't make any big difference compared to getting a flawless swing but looking to give myself the best chance of success at where I am and hopefully lessons will improve the swing along the way. Can these changes make minor improvements to ball striking and misses then that's fine. From what I understood about changing the grips, which is to avoid them slipping in warm and humid conditions, is that it will affect the swing weight since midsize are heavier than regular and so therefore adding weight to the club head would be required to avoid a change of feel in the club compared to before? 
    • I think part of it is there hasn't been enough conclusive studies specific to golf regarding block studies. Maybe the full swing, you can't study it because it is too complicated and to some degree it will fall into variable or random.  
    • Going one step stiffer in the golf shaft, of the same make and model will have minor impact on the launch conditions. It can matter, it is a way to dial in some launch conditions if you are a few hundred RPM off or the angle isn't there. Same with moving weights around. A clubhead weights 200-220 grams. You are shifting a fraction of that to move the CG slightly. It can matter, again its more about fine tuning. As for grip size, this is more personal preference. Grip size doesn't have any impact on the swing out of personal preference.  You are going to spend hundreds of dollars for fine tuning. Which if you want, go for it. I am not sure what your level of play is, or what your goals in golf are.  In the end, the golf swing matters more than the equipment. If you want to go to that level of detail, go find a good golf club fitter. ChatGPT is going to surface scan reddit, golfwrx, and other popular websites for the answers. Basically, it is all opinionated gibberish at this point.   
    • Wordle 1,640 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩 ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.