New swing videos - comments welcomed

[pelsh]

Well I'll start by saying this is my first time posting my swing videos online. Usually me and my coach just go over them but this year I decided since I am taking a course in college to become a CPGA golf professional (and then a PGA Class A Professional), I was going to use my knowledge of the game and take videos once a month and work towards a goal, building a modern and homegrown swing that I could rely on.

I've grown up playing junior tournaments in Ontario at a local, provincial and national level (as well as State level in Michigan). I've won once, placed well in many, and had a relatively successful junior career. Now that I am entering in the male tournaments full time, I'm moving on to the next link of my career in my pursuit to be a touring professional.

Anyways, this year I decided I needed to completely overhaul my swing and revamp what I've been working on so I can have a more mechanically sound swing that is more reliable and relies a lot less on timing to be able to compete in the future.

I'm currently ~4 handicap. Give or take, mostly tournament scores. These videos were taken today, and I invite you to comment. Before you do, please note, I have a fast swing tempo (like a Nick Price/Greg Norman/Mike Weir). It's not going to change, it's how my body clock is and because of that I've had to shorten my swing.

What I'm working on:
Working on my take-away (one piece without rolling my forearms) and taking it back on plane (one plane swing).
I'm also working on my lower body movement and my setup.

My miss is a block, because I don't let my body set. Luckily my putting and short game are phenomenal therefore I make the best of my opportunities.

Anyways, done with the rant, all opinions are welcomed. I'm still working on getting my swing a bit more upright (not much more) and my weight shift/hip movement.

Here are the videos:

YouTube - Down the Line Iron Swing - April 2007
YouTube - Down the Line Iron Swing - 2 - April 2007
YouTube - Face on Iron Swing - April 2007
YouTube - Face on Iron Swing - 2 - April 2007

If you look in my You Tube profile, you'll see my original swing and an update in March. I notice a huge improvement.

Thanks again!

[Dent]

That is a very nice swing. How old are you? I notice at the top the club is slighty far from your body. Like a wide type of swing. That is very cool. im 15 and looking to go into some tournaments also, im canadian too. Did you play in tournaments from the MJT? (Maple Leaf Junior Tour)

[pelsh]

That is a very nice swing. How old are you? I notice at the top the club is slighty far from your body. Like a wide type of swing. That is very cool. im 15 and looking to go into some tournaments also, im canadian too. Did you play in tournaments from the MJT? (Maple Leaf Junior Tour)

I'm 19, turning 20 this summer. No I didn't play the Maple Leaf. I played the CJGA-Canadian Junior Golf Association (they run them all over) and in my provincial golf association as well as the Adams Golf Tour in Michigan.

Keep at it, you're 15 and young. Best thing you can do is play them now, rather then regret not doing it.

[Sharkgolf]

Hey Pelsh - you really are well on plane! You also seem to have great balance. It's hard to pause-play-pause in YouTube, so it took me a long time to try and analyse your swing. Two things I "seem" to be bale to see: you have a real dip in your head on the way down. Could be dangerous with some of your mid-irons for good ball striking. Second: you seem also to have a power leak with your wrist-cock on the backswing and the release through the ball. I thought I noticed from the face-on videos that your wrist-cock and release are not very flexible. This could be a grip-pressure problem or it could be that the thumb of your left hand is very very short in your grip. If you try to lengthen your left thumb in your grip, and ease up a bit on your grip pressure, you may find that your wrists will hinge more easily. Go for it!!!!!!

[iacas]

Hey Pelsh - you really are well on plane!

Actually, I'd suggest that he's a tad flat. What iron were you hitting? It appears to be a short iron, and yet your hands are well behind your shoulders at the top of your backswing. The club is a bit laid off and the wrist is not cupped at all, too.

If you have these in QT format with a driver and a 6-iron, we could do a "Swing Tips" article from them.

[pelsh]

Actually, I'd suggest that he's a tad flat. What iron were you hitting? It appears to be a short iron, and yet your hands are well behind your shoulders at the top of your backswing. The club is a bit laid off and the wrist is not cupped at all, too.

Yeah, laid off is my nemesis. It's a huge improvement already (after two months) from what it was last season. I fight rolling my forearms over on the way back and relying on rerouting it at the top =\.

I was also hitting an 8 iron. It's not even 3 weeks into golf season here so I'm still tweaking little things. My first important tournament isn't until the end of May. I have the files, they are in .ASF format. I don't know if thats capable of being converted but I just took them off of my camera. Thanks for the insight.

Hey Pelsh - you really are well on plane! You also seem to have great balance. It's hard to pause-play-pause in YouTube, so it took me a long time to try and analyse your swing. Two things I "seem" to be bale to see: you have a real dip in your head on the way down. Could be dangerous with some of your mid-irons for good ball striking. Second: you seem also to have a power leak with your wrist-cock on the backswing and the release through the ball. I thought I noticed from the face-on videos that your wrist-cock and release are not very flexible. This could be a grip-pressure problem or it could be that the thumb of your left hand is very very short in your grip. If you try to lengthen your left thumb in your grip, and ease up a bit on your grip pressure, you may find that your wrists will hinge more easily. Go for it!!!!!!

I did notice my grip pressure at the range was a little off yesterday (it was raining). I had never had anyone tell me that my wrists weren't cocking properly (but it does look that way in the video). My swing is flat, it's something I've always had to work on. On the back swing its flat, and I've developed a little move almost like its coming over the top on the way down but its not, it's dropping right onto plane. However, the two plane swing isn't something I want. I know there are minor tweaks I have to work on with my swing, I just wanted some differencing opinions from people other then my regular coach. Thanks for the insight.

[beung]

I would say your swing is pretty good, there are only a few things that I would try and work on.

1) As you mentioned your lower body has a lot of movement in it. Try and pretend to squeeze a ball bewteen your knees this should quiet down the legs.

2) Your feet I think are too square, flare your toes out a little, that should help with an easier turn.

3) Your thumbs seem to be right down the center of the shaft. It hard to get a good hindge if you have your thumbs straight down the center of the shaft. Your left thumbs should be a bit on the back (right) side of the shaft, that should help with getting the power down when coming up to impact. Your right thumb should be on the front (left) side of the shaft, that should help with the wrist set at the top and help with the club release.

Not sure if you have seen Tiger in super slow-mo from the Nike site but man he looks robotic in it. Check out how little movement he actually has.
https://www.nike.com/nikegolf/swingportrait/index.html

I'm no pro so take these tips for what they are worth...just my opinions.

[pelsh]

I would say your swing is pretty good, there are only a few things that I would try and work on.

1) Yeah I had been told about that drill. I know my lower body is a little more fluid then it should be.

2) Another thing I've been working on a lot lately. For me looking down it looks like they are spread wide open hehe. I know its stupid but its been something I've had to work on ;). 3) My grip was extremely weak that day, and I was hitting soft, high cuts on the range. But dually noted. Thanks for your tips. I'm just looking for some reassurance that I've targeted and am working on the right things, so I appreciate your input greatly. Thanks again! And that Tiger video, trust me, I have it memorized. I almost come to tears when I see it :).

[Parker0065]

First off a big positive is you have very nice tempo. I'm sure this helps you strike the ball solidly. Your 4 handicap represents that you are an accomplished player but now if you want to get to that next scoring level you will need to polish your swing. So that being said here are my observations of what I would work on if I had your swing.

At address you seem to be standing just a bit to far away from the ball and it gives the appearance that you are slightly reaching for the ball.

Your backswing is a bit flat and it seems to restrict your turn.

First off I would work on standing a little bit closer to the ball so at address your arms feel like they are just hanging natuarally and your not reaching for it at all. To accomplish this you may have to stand a little more upright as well.

By changing your address to slightly more upright and standing closer to the ball will automatically help setup your backswing to a more upright position.

Now on your backswing, I think your taking it back to the inside too much. Try to start the club back on a straight line and don't pull your hands to the inside, but rather let the club come back naturally to the inside by making a good shoulder turn.

Take a 3/4 backswing and hold it, now look back and see where your hands are positioned in relation to the middle of your chest. Your hands should be positioned around the middle of your chest, on your video it appears you pull you backswing inside to much and your hands and arms are positioned more to the right side of your chest.

Finally, on your video your hands on your backswing only reach about shoulder height, I would work on getting your hands a bit higher, at least above the top of your shoulders at a minimum.

Like I said before, I think you have awesome tempo, and I like your athletic move on the downswing through the ball and your finish. I would just work on your setup and backswing. I think if you can get a little more upright and your hands a little higher on your backswing, it will help your body coil and you will hit the ball farther without having to change your great tempo by swinging harder.

Good Luck Man!!

[allin]

Now that I am entering in the male tournaments full time, I'm moving on to the next link of my career in my pursuit to be a touring professional.

I would take a look at pros swings you see onling and compare them to your swing. For example look at the recent videos of Zach Johnson. I belive his is a single plane swing and relatively flat. Notice how early in the swing, you are working your shoulders much harder? His action is almost effortless only his hips and midsection show obvious effort until very late in the swing. It is possible that some focus not on your techinical swing mechanics, but how you are using your body is worth examinig while you are making changes.

[pelsh]

First off a big positive is you have very nice tempo. I'm sure this helps you strike the ball solidly. Your 4 handicap represents that you are an accomplished player but now if you want to get to that next scoring level you will need to polish your swing. So that being said here are my observations of what I would work on if I had your swing.

Thanks for the input. I will definitely keep it in mind as I progress.