My Swing (nickolasjt)

[nickolasjt]

I have a fairly repeatable swing.  I finished 15th at state and will be signing for U of I Springfield next month.  I just want to improve impact position and my swing looks over the winter.  I hit it about 275, but would like to add about 10 yards on the offseason.  My swing just doesn't have the "tour look" for a successful swing.  Would like to know what you guys think about it.  There are more videos on the thumbnail of the youtube video.  Thanks!

[mvmac]

You've got a really good swing.  Just want to make one suggestion that I feel will help a lot.  Your chin is too elevated, too much Adam Scott pre-2011.  His address was the model right?  Get the chin up so you can make a big turn, it is actually incorrect information.  This year Adam changed coaches and started to feel like he buried his chin into his chest (his words) to make a better shoulder turn.  I feel if you got your neck tilt better, the arms would be able to keep gaining depth rather than lifting.  The arms work in 3 dimensions, in, up and back, you lack enough of the "in".  The "in" gives us angular momentum which is a source of power.  I also feel that getting your chin tucked, neck tilted down more will help with contact and consistency, something you need when you're playing so much.  Easier to hit the ball solid when you're viewing it out of the center of your eyes.

Rickie Fowler

[JetFan1983]

Just a quick tip about filming your swing: The camera angle is too far to the right. It should be to the left more, like in this picture.

Check this thread out for more detail.

[nickolasjt]

Wow,  I'm really impressed with the feedback.  I really appreciate it.  It's amazing how that one little thing makes such a big difference in look.  I really appreciate it.  I really want to work hard this winter and make my swing really have that "tour" look.  I also have to work on impact position.  My knees tend to get really close as well at impact.

[nickolasjt]

tried to work on what you were talking about and also changed my camera angle a bit.  Does that look any better?  Also, I noticed myself that my right knee flies up early in the downswing.

[tristanhilton85]

  nickolasjt said:

Originally Posted by nickolasjt

Wow,  I'm really impressed with the feedback.  I really appreciate it.  It's amazing how that one little thing makes such a big difference in look.  I really appreciate it.  I really want to work hard this winter and make my swing really have that "tour" look.  I also have to work on impact position.  My knees tend to get really close as well at impact.

It's cool that you want to change your swing and all but don't get too caught up in the way that it looks.  Make sure that you do the things that you need to so that you can hit the ball properly but don't focus so much on making it have a certain look.

By the way, nice job on making the change that mvmac suggested with the chin.

[mvmac]

Good job changing the picture.  How did you hit it?  I agree with the right knee, try this

[nickolasjt]

I hit it great!  I feel like it really helps, and keeping the heel on the ground, thats a good way of explaining it.

also I feel like I lost up to 20 yards on my driver though.  Could it be that I'm not turning enough?

[mvmac]

Glad to hear you're hitting it good. In terms of the turn make sure the left shoulder gets UNDER the chin. Also arms could be deeper, lifting a bit on the backswing. There is also the colder weather, no roll etc. [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/182580/width/640/height/378][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/182580/width/640/height/378[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/182581/width/640/height/378][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/182581/width/640/height/378[/IMG][/URL]

[sean_miller]

Get that arm lower bud - I'm surprised you can reach the forward tees with those high hands - lol.

If you're actively looking at going for a 1-plane swing though, yeah get them lower.

[Phil McGleno]

shawn, if distance is all that matters, people should bend both arms, extend the most, add levers everywhere, turn their hips the most, and on. Distance is not all that matters nor does this person likely practice hours a day with one club like Jamie Sadlowski.

[mvmac]

Sean, I just compared his swing to one of the best ball strikers on tour statistically. He going to be playing college golf soon, just trying to help him hit it better and more consistent. Less compensations the better. Here is Sadlowski at the top of the backswing and a few frames on the downswing. To hit it with any distance we have the arms in at some point, depth. So you can lift the arms and bring them back down and in like he is on the right pic or swing like Hoffman, trace a consistent arc. Hoffman hits it pretty far too. Like Phil said, if hitting it the farthest was the goal, we change what the levers are doing [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/182715/width/640/height/351][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/182715/width/640/height/351[/IMG][/URL]

[sean_miller]

I also think the OP could lower his arms and if for no other reason than it might allow his shoulder to better clear his chin on the way back. He asked about a "tour look" and that appears to be what you provided. But of course there is no single "tour look" when it comes to swings, and I could provide several images with top tour players who have their arms/hands on a higher plane than their shoulder at the back, like the OP does, but carry on.

[bunkerputt]

  nickolasjt said:

Originally Posted by nickolasjt

I hit it great!  I feel like it really helps, and keeping the heel on the ground, thats a good way of explaining it.

also I feel like I lost up to 20 yards on my driver though.  Could it be that I'm not turning enough?

It's more likely that you haven't given changes enough time to set in.  This makes us move mechanically and lacking rhythm, tempo, and pace required to generate speed.  I like to divide swing work into three phases:

1.  mechanical, super-slow motion praticing positions etc.  I may work on "pump" type drills at this point.

2.  super-slow motion, but smooth full-swings.  No pumps.  Trying to hit all the positions, just extremely slowly

3.  increasing speed gradually until I can hit shots.

Phase 4 is autopilot and comes after about 6 months or so.  Obviously these steps can be treated iteratively.  If you need to go back to 1 for a day to rehearse, go ahead.  Feels are different for all 3, so you can't practice #1 and then expect to actually do that in your full swing.