My Swing (atanum)

[atanum]

Folks,

Appreciate if you could critique my swing.  Couple of things I have been fighting with

1. Inside takeaway

2. Follow through / right forearms way under left shoulder at finish

3. Head movement and body turn after impact.

4. Too much lateral body movement after/at impact

4. Need more shaft lean at impact

I am thinking of getting onto evolvr..

DL

FO

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by atanum

Folks,

Appreciate if you could critique my swing.  Couple of things I have been fighting with

1. Inside takeaway

2. Follow through / right forearms way under left shoulder at finish

3. Head movement and body turn after impact.

4. Too much lateral body movement after/at impact

4. Need more shaft lean at impact

I am thinking of getting onto evolvr..

Takeaway looks fine, it's your flat shoulder turn that makes it look inside.  Turn your shoulders a little steeper.  This will help you get some separation between your shoulders and lower body, the lack of which is a huge cause of why you are casting the club.  The other cause is that you move your head towards the target on the downswing.  Turn the shoulders steeper, keep your weight centered left, and get the hips forward first on the downswing while keeping the head back before starting to unwind are the big things.  Then start working on other things.  Signing up with evolvr sounds like a good plan.  Try this drill as a start:

[BrettZenewicz]

I would definitely recommend the evolvr program... you won't be disappointed...  keep mind of your arm pressure points ... right armpit, tricep, elbow, should reconnect @ p5.

Good Luck !

[atanum]

Thanks bunkerputt. Let me try a thing at a time. I will start with the steeper shoulder turn first. Interestingly my local instructor says that the primary cause - which is inconsistent strikes - is inside takeaway . Also the swings in the video were with a TS 8 iron and the shots were going fine - 145 yards , perfect trajectory with a push draw. Wouldn't I top the TS if I were casting or OTTing ? Also some amateur analysis on the analyzr student version seems to show that in the downswing I am coming under the plane - does that mean cast ? Anyways let me work on the shoulder turn first in the range and get the videos back up after that.

[cbrian]

First thing, get your camera angle better on the DTL shot. Whoever is holding it needs to be closer to your shoulders and needs to shoot more parallel to your shoulders. The shot that you have is distorted thanks to the fact that the person is shooting with the camera angled left. Also, when you start changing clubs, the swings are going to look different because of distortion caused by you being further away or closer to the ball.

Second, while I agree that the shoulder turn starts to get a little flat, I would probably start at getting the clubface a little more open on the backswing... more roll of #3 (left forearm). That would add loft and get the club more inside without needing the left arm to be too in... which in turn will probably allow the left arm to not get kicked out on the DS. Then from there I'd work on the extension piece in the DS (head translating forward).

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by atanum

Thanks bunkerputt.

Let me try a thing at a time. I will start with the steeper shoulder turn first.

Interestingly my local instructor says that the primary cause - which is inconsistent strikes - is inside takeaway .

Also the swings in the video were with a TS 8 iron and the shots were going fine - 145 yards , perfect trajectory with a push draw. Wouldn't I top the TS if I were casting or OTTing ?

Also some amateur analysis on the analyzr student version seems to show that in the downswing I am coming under the plane - does that mean cast ?

Anyways let me work on the shoulder turn first in the range and get the videos back up after that.

The term casting is really just a blanket term that means early loss or expenditure of the driving force on the golf club.  Forward shaft lean is one way to diagnose a cast, but it's possible to cast and still have some forward shaft lean.  Lack of angle retention between the lead arm and the shaft is another way, low club exit on the down-the-line view is yet another way.  When the driving force on the club is no longer present, control of the club is lost.  The net effect is that the path tends to be thrown off and the clubface rate of closure is affected with a significant loss of power and proper trajectory.  Enter compensation city.  Coming down under the plane is a compensation to straighten out shots because of an upper body motion, sequencing and shoulder turn that your brain knows would send the path way left.  If you tried to maintain armpit pressure as brettzky suggested, my guess is you'd get frustrated really quickly because you'd either be hitting mega pulls or mega slices.  It sounds like you're getting a lot of advice and you've got the right idea to take it in pieces.  My two cents is work on your centered pivot, steepen the shoulder turn, and get the head back while getting the hips forward as David demonstrates in the video.  If you focus on those pieces it will probably take a good two months or so until they start feeling natural.  They'll feel pretty weird at first.  You won't feel as much "torque" and tightness in your back, which you shouldn't be feeling anyway.  And another +1 on Evolvr.

[mchepp]

I see some really good pieces but there is definitely some fine tuning to do. cbrian's tips are good but I would do that with the help of evolver rather than on your own. Too much #3 roll and you will open the face too much and give yourself even more problems. Delicate balance there.

[mvmac]

100% agree with Bunkerputt and cbrian, the video Bunkerputt posted, please watch that.  The backswing needs some clean up but to me the priority is the downswing/followthrough.  Hips need to just slide forward, there is too much rotation and that keeps you bent over.  Evolvr is a great option, would love to help you

The golfer on the right, Grant Waite, will have a MUCH easier time hitting the ball solid, high and far.  Much more ballistic motion

[atanum]

Thanks gentlemen.

Trying bunkerputt's steeper shoulder turn and keeping head still while pushing hip/pelvis forward. Its too early to see any substantial difference after probably 200 balls on the range. Still losing power early I think , but a wee bit better than before - although it feels weird. Tried cbrians rolling the forearm to open the club face a bit - but DS gets screwed up .

but is this gonna take 2 months ? :(

Also I am on evolvr now . mvmac, is it OK to put the analysis of my swing from the evolvr on the thread here , so maybe others can perhaps benefit ?

Anyways here's todays DTL and FO - hope the camera views are right.

[BrettZenewicz]

My arm PP's "reconnecting" not "maintained" comment was simply a +1 to 1st recommendation > hips forward / stable axis / extension, etc... and not the end - all be - all by any means...  IMO at som pt they need to be addressed....... otherwise issues involving compression, rate of closure, and compensations to make contact on a consistent basis will be compromised.  Cant wait to see the improvements you make via Evolvr

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by atanum

Also I am on evolvr now . mvmac, is it OK to put the analysis of my swing from the evolvr on the thread here , so maybe others can perhaps benefit ?

Yes I saw that, thanks, will get something out to you soon.  I don't think I have a problem with you posting the analysis.  I'll have to check and think about it.  Just seeing a random video can confuse some viewers since it's out of context, they didn't see your notes, might not know where we are in your development and might not know our process of working on priority pieces rather than giving you 10 things you do wrong.  Also, just because we're telling you something doesn't mean everyone should do it or feel it that way.  Don't want to see a post, "I tried that move you said in the video and I hit it terrible."

Sorry for the long response, I appreciate you wanting to share the information

[james_hirshfield]

In regards to your first post.

You 'can' do the stuff mentioned with your shoulders, and #3 etc. but you won't necessarily hit the ball any better.

Word of the day here. PRIORITIZE

Downswing and follow through.

On a side note, #3 loading pattern is functional, similar to Tim Clark.

Brett, that would definitely need to be cleaned up at somepoint!

[atanum]

Absolutely agree. Guess that's what I said initially one thing at a time. The way I like to work it is with a plan . So perhaps look at Some sort of goal on the DS and followthrough with specifics. This should translate into a reasonable achievable time frame, which in turn should work out into number of practice hours per week/day , with some checkpoints/milestones and progress measures.I know, It does not work out that way always but i think it probably is good to be metric driven I would imagine we could work the plans etc through evolvr

[james_hirshfield]

Work towards a given measurement, but be a little lenient as you don't want to become frustrated if it does not become per "the model".

Remember, the goal is to make yourself a better player, not a perfect swinger. There are a lot of variables in the golf swing, just keep working towards a better motion, and when we believe it is close enough, and there is another measurement that is holding a golfer back, that is when the next priority would change.

For now. downswing and LOTS of follow through in my opinion.

[james_hirshfield]

Mike,

I was going to say exactly the same thing.

Originally Posted by mvmac

Yes I saw that, thanks, will get something out to you soon.  I don't think I have a problem with you posting the analysis.  I'll have to check and think about it.  Just seeing a random video can confuse some viewers since it's out of context, they didn't see your notes, might not know where we are in your development and might not know our process of working on priority pieces rather than giving you 10 things you do wrong.  Also, just because we're telling you something doesn't mean everyone should do it or feel it that way.  Don't want to see a post, "I tried that move you said in the video and I hit it terrible."

Sorry for the long response, I appreciate you wanting to share the information

[bunkerputt]

atanum, these guys, James and Mike have given you some great stuff.  I definitely agree with the priorities and mindset they've offered.  I only know because I was in the same situation (remaining in flexion, no standing up, no ballistic action) and they helped me out considerably.  The only other thing I would offer that hasn't been mentioned is to make lots and lots of very slow practice swings, preferably brushing grass or whacking weeds with each one so that you get more sensory feedback.  The two months I mentioned is from my experience, and to set lower expectations for yourself (I still think 2 months is aggressive).  People need time to allow the brain and hand-eye coordination to make the paradigm shift as well as to give your body, muscles and spine time to react and adjust to the new motion.  Some people quicker, some slower, but two months was my experience.  There's a lot more going on than just "Do move A" so give yourself some time, take it slow but practice hard, so to speak.

[ballstrikerbob]

looks of stuff for you to think about. trust what you are practicing and you'll improve faster!

[atanum]

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice people, and bunkerputt Btw , ballstrikerbob, I thought it was a super looking swing