My first attempt at trying S&T basics. Comments?

[chris_284]

I had heard about S&T; in the past thrown around but I never really knew what is was.

After watching a video on YouTube, I got the idea of it and tried it yesterday at the range. I liked it.

This morning I watched the first DVD of S&T; by Bennett and Plummer, and went back to the range again.

I really like it. I find it to be much more like my swing was before my lessons this year from a pro. Over the past few years, I've always had my weight more forward at the top of my back swing. This year after some lessons with the pro, I've started shifting more to the back at the top of the back swing.

I put a video of this new swing below. Today out of 90+ balls I think I hit 6 fades (not very pronounced either). All the rest were either draws or pronounced hooks. My 9, P, 52, 56 were all dead straight.

My 7 was a considerable draw. Once I got down to the 5 and 3 is when I hit the few fades. The others were a mixture of ever so slightly fat (still decent distance tho), straight, and a few draws.

My Driver was a mixture of dead straight and ever so slight pulls.

T he left is my swing from last week, the right is of today with me attempting the basics of S&T.;

Divots with 7 iron - Ball placed on line between 2 tees

I'm unsure as to why the inconsistency in ball flights in between different clubs. I know very little of S&T; so maybe someone can school me here. I'm wondering if it was ball placement in my stance. Does this change off what has oft been taught? My 7 iron ball placement is just in front of center. My 3-5 iron placement is just inside the left foot. I'm thinking the few fades I hit with those clubs was a combination of the ball being closer to the target in my stance, and I didn't shift enough weight forward which caused me to cut across the ball. Does this sound right? I'm trying to reason it out in my head. I felt on the swings where I really had my weight come through and forward on the downswing were the ones that went straight, or were a baby draw.

Anyway, anyone have anything to comment on or suggest with this 'new' swing as I begin working towards proper S&T;?

[mchepp]

My suggestion is if you are interested in S&T; that you get yourself a lesson with Evolvr. www.evolvr.com There will likely be some experts here who will offer a suggestion or 2 but you are better off in the long term hooking up with them and improving that way. The couple of things you get here will be helpful but to understand the whole package it is better to start with the lessons.

Take it for what it is worth.

[rossvanwyk]

Can't say I know much about S&T; at all but it definitely looks like you're flipping the hands on the down swing. Pausing at contact there's not much forward shaft lean in my opinion.

[Hollister]

Nice job! I second the Evolvr sign-up. The guys are great, you'll learn better and faster that way.

[mvmac]

Yes it makes sense that the further forward the ball is the more chance to has to cut, it's further up in the circle.  This is discussed in the ball flight portion of the DVD.  Also like you said weight doesn't get far enough forward you can't hit out enough to draw it.

For you I'd recommend you work on your shoulder motion.  Seems like your just trying to get the weight left by "loading" the left leg, I'd like you to stay more centered on the backswing.  S&T; only prescribes a 5% shift left, and imo that happens as a result of the pivot.  Your left shoulder needs to go down and back under your chin more.  Feel more 50/50 on the backswing as you side tilt.  This just means that you will feel the left shoulder work down and the right work up, check this video out.  I def recommend you do the drill with the shaft across your chest and also note how Erik's right leg straighten to allow the hips and shoulders to turn on an incline plane.

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And a great drill to do to feel the hips forward, arms straight and handle forward at impact.  Idea is that your smashing it with a shortened followthrough and the hips are forward at set-up.

Evolvr is a great option to continue to work on your progress.

[mvmac]

[uttexas]

For a first S&T; swing, it looks great. You have good flexibility and lots of athletic moves. I second everything mvmac said. Agree with online evolvr lessons. I tried self taught from book, video, online, magazines, but was getting things wrong (feel isn't real) What I mainly see--just like many early S&Ts;, myself included, you early side tilt and put too much weight on the front foot too early. This results in your upper center (head and shoulders) drifting forward on the backswing. Then in order to generate secondary axis tilt at impact you thrust your head and shoulders back into impact. When the head and shoulders thrust backward into impact, this moves the upper center back, thus some of the fat shots. Video yourself and try to swing, keeping your head centered on the backswing (might feel like its moving backward a bit, especially with the longer clubs) What I'd work on 1. Shoulders and head (weight distribution and tilting) as mvmac and I described 2. get the right leg straighter at impact. Try making some swings feeling that the right leg straightens in the backswing, then stays straight. In reality it will straighten as you go back then flex a bit as you go into your forward swing, then straighten (extend) as you go into impact. pushing the right leg straight in the down swing pushes your front hip forward and shoulder forward (thus the bottom of the swing arc moves forward=push draws)

[chris_284]

Awesome replies! Thanks mvmac and uttexas for your recent replies. I'm going to work on this in the next week and look into evolvr when I get back from my golf trip this weekend. I'll work on this stuff and video my swing some more to see what I'm improving.