Ten bucks if you can cure my slice :)

[threejack]

wow, I didn't know that. But yeah you're definitely right, I might as well see how the ball flies before I change anything right? Thanks for the head up Sean!

[Stewie007]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

My suggestion - don't mess with it until you see it on the course. There was a "secret" move taught in the early 90's that was basically initiating the downswing while the club is still on the way back. All long hitters do it. It's a move (called "the contra" by one author) that short hitters simply can not easily replicate. Don't get rid of it, rather consider it a natural talent, harness it, and rip it. I'm not joking.

All long hitters? I've watched a lot of them and they don't all do that. ;) Although I do note that Daly does, but I think that is more linked to the fact that he overextends quite thoroughly. You'll notice that the early rotation gets back into synch and does not result in the hips fully rotating before ball contact. That is just asking for a back injury. It also seems that it will negate power, as the hips have essentially completed rotation early.

I don't disagree that he should try it on the range. I would try it there before the course. It doesn't necessarily mean that he should get rid of it, but as it stands there, its not going to do him any good, and I really think its unnecessary anyways. I don't utilize it, and I don't have trouble out driving my friends with my 5 wood.

Given what I have seen from his other swing thread, I think this additional modification is unnecessary.

[threejack]

the main modification I made was to fix the slice and to learn and inside out path. I think you'll notice me doing that A LOT better than the other one. However, this crazy hip thing kinda came with it but I'll keep working to get a feel for it. I just need to do it right a few times and then I'll be able to get a feel for it and do it 100 times for the muscle memory haha

[Stewie007]

There is no replacement for practice. :)

I'll be interested to see how it works out for ya.

[Ranger]

I feel your pain and I would like to offer some thoughts. Did not read ALL the posts so sorry if I say something repetitive. First of all you need to realize that your baseball history may be partly to blame as a source of the problem. Two completely different swings. When you do learn to really groove your golf swing by habit, you will not be able to swing a baseball bat anymore. LOL! Anyway, I had same problem that you are having. I could hit my irons very straight most of the time, but with my driver I had a big slice no matter what I tried. Then I watched a Jack Nicklaus video where he explained that all his swings from 9 iron thru his driver were exactly "the same swing." He just was a bit further away from the ball on his longer clubs. So...... I went out to the range with that in mind. After some careful experimenting I began to realize that when I took my back swing with my driver I was rolling my wrist to the right just a bit producing a  more open club face on my take away. I didn't think I was doing that until I tried a normal back swing with the driver and froze my swing at the top. Sure enough, my club face was facing a bit towards the sky unlike with my irons. So I then began to concentrate on taking my back swing with the driver exactly like I did with my irons. I had to literally watch my club on the take away to make sure the club face was facing the same on all my strokes. This was a very subtle change that made a huge difference. It completely changed my driving. Even though this was my natural swing with my irons, it felt very awkward to swing this way with my driver!!  Remember, it is the same swing. It also helped me to stand more upright and with my hands a bit closer to my body (just as we do with our irons). For some reason, when we pick up that driver our whole thought about our swing goes haywire and we develop a entire new swing for that big boy. It's just another golf club, only a little longer. Final thought.... your baseball swing may be making it near impossible to keep your left arm locked straight during the swing. If so, this is something you must be aware of and correct.

Good luck.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Ranger

After some careful experimenting I began to realize that when I took my back swing with my driver I was rolling my wrist to the right just a bit producing a  more open club face on my take away. I didn't think I was doing that until I tried a normal back swing with the driver and froze my swing at the top. Sure enough, my club face was facing a bit towards the sky unlike with my irons.

A driver face pointing more towards the sky at the top of the backswing is more closed, not more open.

[threejack]

Originally Posted by Ranger

I feel your pain and I would like to offer some thoughts. Did not read ALL the posts so sorry if I say something repetitive. First of all you need to realize that your baseball history may be partly to blame as a source of the problem. Two completely different swings. When you do learn to really groove your golf swing by habit, you will not be able to swing a baseball bat anymore. LOL! Anyway, I had same problem that you are having. I could hit my irons very straight most of the time, but with my driver I had a big slice no matter what I tried. Then I watched a Jack Nicklaus video where he explained that all his swings from 9 iron thru his driver were exactly "the same swing." He just was a bit further away from the ball on his longer clubs. So...... I went out to the range with that in mind. After some careful experimenting I began to realize that when I took my back swing with my driver I was rolling my wrist to the right just a bit producing a  more open club face on my take away. I didn't think I was doing that until I tried a normal back swing with the driver and froze my swing at the top. Sure enough, my club face was facing a bit towards the sky unlike with my irons. So I then began to concentrate on taking my back swing with the driver exactly like I did with my irons. I had to literally watch my club on the take away to make sure the club face was facing the same on all my strokes. This was a very subtle change that made a huge difference. It completely changed my driving. Even though this was my natural swing with my irons, it felt very awkward to swing this way with my driver!!  Remember, it is the same swing. It also helped me to stand more upright and with my hands a bit closer to my body (just as we do with our irons). For some reason, when we pick up that driver our whole thought about our swing goes haywire and we develop a entire new swing for that big boy. It's just another golf club, only a little longer. Final thought.... your baseball swing may be making it near impossible to keep your left arm locked straight during the swing. If so, this is something you must be aware of and correct.

Good luck.

Hey man, a lot of good ideas here, i appreciate it. I think my problem was an over the top swing, not an open club face. I believe I have figured it out. My swing right now feels like it would be impossible to hit a slice (which is a good good feeling). I will let you all know how it goes this weekend.

Originally Posted by iacas

A driver face pointing more towards the sky at the top of the backswing is more closed, not more open.

Correct.

[Stewie007]

Originally Posted by Ranger

Then I watched a Jack Nicklaus video where he explained that all his swings from 9 iron thru his driver were exactly "the same swing." He just was a bit further away from the ball on his longer clubs.

Its Golf My Way. I've gotta dig those tapes out, because he gave a lot of excellent advice. Its sort of a beginner to intermediate type of program, as it starts off as if the person watching it is at the beginning. Then it progresses and introduces more advanced techniques involving ball placement and spin control. He teaches you how to hit a pitch shot with a 9 iron should you not have a wedge. I found myself pitching very effectively that way. I said this elsewhere, I don't think anybody believed it. So I posted the video on another thread.

[Ranger]

What I really meant about the "open face" is actually when I am about 1/4 of way into my back swing I had rolled my wrists to the right too much at the initial take away causing the face to point skyward at the 1/4 point. But you are right, when it is at top of back swing it actually pointed downward, not skyward. My bad. But my original point is the same, I was rolling my wrists too much to the right on the take away (with the driver). Correcting this, had dramatic results.. (for me).