drills for staying "behind the ball"

[muggs]

I videotaped my swing for the first time this past weekend. It's not terrible, but there are definitely some things I need to work on. Couple that with what the pro said during my last lesson (2 weeks ago), I tend to lunge out in front of the ball before contact. This really hurts my ball striking, and I think is taking some distance away.

I went to the range yesterday and worked on it, but it's really hard for me to change bad habits. Does anyone have some drills or swing thoughts I should try?

Thanks for any help.

[applejr]

I videotaped my swing for the first time this past weekend. It's not terrible, but there are definitely some things I need to work on. Couple that with what the pro said during my last lesson (2 weeks ago), I tend to lunge out in front of the ball before contact. This really hurts my ball striking, and I think is taking some distance away.

I imagine most people will tell you to post the video that you took for them to really give you any help.

One thing I catch myself doing is rocking back instead of rotating around...thus causing me to rock back forward and not stay behind the ball.

[Zeph]

Posting the video would help.

Head stays still, hips move forward. If your head moves forward, imagine there is an obstacle on the left side of your head, preventing it from moving forward at all. Make sure you don't move the head back on the backswing, and get the hips forward at the downswing.

But yeah...post the video.

[Scott_K]

Imagining a spike goes through my head all the way down to the ground has helped me keep my head steady. Or have someone grab a handful of your hair.....that's a quick way to learn to keep your head steady.

[muggs]

yeah, i do plan on posting the video...it's just such a pain in the a$$. I'll probalby do that in a new post though. Side and rear views.

[srjorion]

Here are some things that help me.

Do you sway backwards on the backswing and then lunge forward? If so, put a golf ball on the ground underneath the outside instep of your right foot (push it into the ground a little) and take some practice swings. It will help you get the proper feeling of getting your weight over your right leg without rolling it to the outside of your foot and could help the sway.

Also, focus on keeping your head in one place like Scott K said. Don't take your eyes off the ball and keep the picture the same until well after impact. Then your eyes will naturally come up to find the ball in flight after your follow through. I find when I do this it helps me keep my head still but when I try to watch the ball I move. Your lower body can move forward (see numerous posts on hips moving forward) but keeping your head centered will help keep the bottom of your swing arc steady.

[delav]

Here is a drill that a teaching pro hand me do once. Take a roll of athletic tape (i've got some in my bag usually) and put a 6" strip on the grass. Place the tape so that it is perpendicular to your target line, and beyond the ball (in line with left shoulder) by a few inches.

As you hit shots, be mindful of that tape and visualize it as a barrier for your upper body as swing through the ball.

[starchuk]

There is some conflict with the intentions. You can't expect your head to stay steady AND get behind the ball. For those guys who love getting behind the ball, you'll see their head swivel or rotate. It allows for a bigger rotation but it messes with your focus with your eyeline.

If you want to get behind the ball, set up as you normally would, bring your front foot to the back foot, start your backswing and step into the shot by planting your front foot before contact.

I wouldn't recommend changing your eyeline. A different perspective changes your moves.

[soloredd]

At address, tilt your spine just a touch away from the target. Maintain this angle throughout the swing. Look at the video and not so much Shawn's swing but how his head stays behind because of the tilt. This is how I have learned to do it. If you have the tilt and you move your head forward, forget it. Lucky to hit the ball.

[muggs]

Thanks guys. Some good thoughts.

Srjorion, no my take away is actually very technically sound (I was actually pretty impressed and surprised after watching the video haha), but it's on the downswing where I make this forward lunge. I do it a lot with my driver, not so much with my irons, and it's not everytime, but I did it maybe on 40-50% of the driver swings I taped.

I've been to the range the last two nights. They just opened one literally across the street from my development, it's probably a 1/2 drive...how awesome is that? When I do stay behind the ball it really allows me to release the club and I hit some really pure shots. I still lunged from time to time though, I'll keep working on it.

I'll get my swing posted this weekend because I'd like some feedback.