Forward shaft lean at setup?

[trex]

Hello everyone, new here.  I have a question regarding forward shaft lean at setup (mainly w/ irons).  Not talking about forward press to trigger swing.  I've been experimenting with this and seems to do two things:  1) helps me bring club back on good line - since my tendency is to bring it to outside - I have a bigger tendency to come over-the-top.  and 2) it seems to help me pre-set my left wrist - i tend to cast.  So, what I've noticed is my shots gain about 5% distance.  Im only forward leaning each club to center of my left leg (at hip joint).  So, its not super forward.  Also, with this one focus spot, I forward lean the shorter clubs more.

My results are pretty good over several range visits.  First time was amazing, then just pretty good.  Do any pro's set up this way (other than just knock down shots)?  thx for your time.

[Beachcomber]

It is good to hear you are having positive results.  The idea is to have a flat left wrist at impact.  Having a slightly forward shaft lean will help with a flat left wrist condition.

One training aid that many golfers have been speaking highly of is the tour striker.  It will help ensure you have a forward leaning shaft at impact - again helping with a flat left wrist condition.  This ensures you are compressing the golf ball - then taking a divot.

So to answer your original post... Placing the left handle near your left thigh is not a bad idea.  And many instructors are teaching this today.

[saevel25]

I think a lot of people tend to keep there hands at the ball, i remember a few tips were the hands should be at the right half of left thigh. So when your teeing up with the driver its more hands at the ball, when your hitting irons, the hands are out front a bit.

I have issue with this my hands tend to stay towards the center of my body. I think i have takeaway problems, especially keeping the clubhead outside my hands.

[Missouri Swede]

Originally Posted by trex

Hello everyone, new here.  I have a question regarding forward shaft lean at setup (mainly w/ irons).  Not talking about forward press to trigger swing.  I've been experimenting with this and seems to do two things:  1) helps me bring club back on good line - since my tendency is to bring it to outside - I have a bigger tendency to come over-the-top.  and 2) it seems to help me pre-set my left wrist - i tend to cast.  So, what I've noticed is my shots gain about 5% distance.  Im only forward leaning each club to center of my left leg (at hip joint).  So, its not super forward.  Also, with this one focus spot, I forward lean the shorter clubs more.

My results are pretty good over several range visits.  First time was amazing, then just pretty good.  Do any pro's set up this way (other than just knock down shots)?  thx for your time.

It's one of the components of the Stack and Tilt setup position, although not quite as far forward as you describe.

"Your hands should be opposite the inside of your left thigh, with the grip of the club over the inside of your left ankle from your perspective. Combined with the correct ball location, this position creates a slight forward lean of the shaft from the face-on view.  The greater this angle, the easier it is to hit down and out at the ball." ( The Stack and Tilt Swing , page 48)

Charlie Wi at setup:

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Missouri Swede

It's one of the components of the Stack and Tilt setup position, although not quite as far forward as you describe.

It's not just a setup position of S&T.; It's a setup position of a lot of golf swings.

[Nancy F]

I have just begun doing this for the reasons you state.

I begin by pushing the left hip down in the direction of the target and taking the club straight back.

This means that I start with my right shoulder high!

I concentrate on my hips and arms going back together, not on moving my arms back.

Works for me.

[jmanbooyaa]

Thank you for this thread. For the last month or so my ball striking has really been poor. I was getting really frustrated and began trying different set ups grips and posture. Read this thread about 3 hours ago and ran off to the range. Wow the forward shaft lean to mid left thigh had me flushing my irons and pounding my driver 4 wood. Hybrid still a mystery to me. Either way the forward shaft lean helped with my posture takeaway and more important ball contact.

[Finley]

Trex,

I use the forward shaft lean. My setup looks oddly a lot like Charlie Wi in the picture above. With this setup it has done a few things for me. I can now hit down on the ball with power that I just couldn't find with the club straight. My divots are actually after the ball, which before never seemed to happen.

Try to find what works for you. If the forward shaft works, then I would suggest sticking to it. Every single person has a different swing.

Solid ball contact with a good idea of where the ball is going is our goal.

[Zeph]

I definitely prefer having them forward. Makes me feel like I'll be returning to somewhat the same (relative) position. It also pre-hinge the wrists a little, which makes my take-away feel better.

[Kieran123]

"Butt of club points to left testicle"

[colin007]

"Butt of club points to left testicle"

What if you've got really big.... Ah, never mind...

[TourSpoon]

I have forward shaft lean at set-up guy. I have tried the left cupped wrist/handle at zipper way but it never felt quite right.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Zeph

I definitely prefer having them forward.

Me too.

On an unrelated note to the full-swing, but talking about handle positions... The thing that really took me awhile getting comfortable with was found in the pitching motion.  Moving the handle back to my mid section/belt buckle really threw me for a loop. Wow did that feel weird at first.  I had come so comfortable with a forward shaft lean on full shots, and even bump and run chips... That trying to practice the pitching motion with the handle centered really caused some issues with comfort.

But once I trusted putting the shaft back to the middle... To encourage positive loft and induce bounce versus the leading edge... Did my pitching game really improve.  It is amazing how the ball pops up so much easier when you have the shaft in the middle versus leaning forward.

[skuzme210]

I'm in a similar situation, for a couple weeks now . . .

I start out the day with my hands JUST in front of the ball, with a 7i for example, and ball placement about 1 ball length fwd from center.  After a while (sometimes 5 shots, sometimes 16 holes), as I address the ball initially, I'll look down at the club face expecting a square setup, but I'm closed and it feels natural.  I immediately know something is wrong, but have yet to figure out what.

If I try to open the face, the odd feeling intensifies and totally screws up my entire shot, back to front, most commonly results in me smashing the club into the ground behind the ball.  If I try and swing through it from the closed position, I either "goat hump" it and get a weak pull, or I actually hit it clean but get a nasty pull-hook.  The only way I can get rid of the feeling is to move my hands towards the target until I'm square, not uncommon for my same 7i to have a setup with the butt of the shaft now pointing at my left pocket, 4-6 inches difference.  This move allows me to manage my shot, but it also requires my backswing to be slightly different to which point I no longer have the same level of consistency, plus it just sucks.

After several failed adjustment changes (grip setup, shoulder angle, etc), it dawned on me last night that it may be my grip pressure.  Again, I get the odd feeling before I make ANY move whatsoever, and I don't think it's mental becuase it can happen when I'm in the (my) zone.  I tend to sweat a lot and it's been really hot lately.  I normally have good grip pressure, the whole bird in the hand bit, so I think that's why I've overlooked that up until now.  While in my living room last night, I noticed that if I squeeze the grip with my left hand, it closes the face.  And as I get sweatier, I can't imagine that I'm not making this mistake.

Any thoughts?  Guess I'm hoping someone out there has had the same issue and overcame it and has some advice to pass along.  I hope to get out on the range today with some grip gel stuff I bought.

Thanks.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by skuzme210

I'm in a similar situation, for a couple weeks now . . .

I start out the day with my hands JUST in front of the ball, with a 7i for example, and ball placement about 1 ball length fwd from center.  After a while (sometimes 5 shots, sometimes 16 holes), as I address the ball initially, I'll look down at the club face expecting a square setup, but I'm closed and it feels natural.  I immediately know something is wrong, but have yet to figure out what.

If I try to open the face, the odd feeling intensifies and totally screws up my entire shot, back to front, most commonly results in me smashing the club into the ground behind the ball.  If I try and swing through it from the closed position, I either "goat hump" it and get a weak pull, or I actually hit it clean but get a nasty pull-hook.  The only way I can get rid of the feeling is to move my hands towards the target until I'm square, not uncommon for my same 7i to have a setup with the butt of the shaft now pointing at my left pocket, 4-6 inches difference.  This move allows me to manage my shot, but it also requires my backswing to be slightly different to which point I no longer have the same level of consistency, plus it just sucks.

After several failed adjustment changes (grip setup, shoulder angle, etc), it dawned on me last night that it may be my grip pressure.  Again, I get the odd feeling before I make ANY move whatsoever, and I don't think it's mental becuase it can happen when I'm in the (my) zone.  I tend to sweat a lot and it's been really hot lately.  I normally have good grip pressure, the whole bird in the hand bit, so I think that's why I've overlooked that up until now.  While in my living room last night, I noticed that if I squeeze the grip with my left hand, it closes the face.  And as I get sweatier, I can't imagine that I'm not making this mistake.

Any thoughts?  Guess I'm hoping someone out there has had the same issue and overcame it and has some advice to pass along.  I hope to get out on the range today with some grip gel stuff I bought.

Thanks.

Moving the handle forward, will help with a positive path - and tend to open the face a few degrees.  Whereas moving the handle back will have the opposite effect.

If you're using a 7i, place the ball just forward of center, and place your hands/handle forward near the left hamstring.  Here is an image from Brian Manzella (TGM guru).  I like what he does with the setup...

Ultimately, the goal should be to have a flat left wrist at impact, with a firm left side like this:

[kdlgolfaz]

Wow, what are the odds.  I see that this is an old post, but I was trying this very thing at the range today, based on a tip I saw on TGC.  But the Pro giving it was only suggesting it so that you could feel correct lean at impact.  Well, I'm just back from a long absence and was really struggling with my approach (7-9) irons, so I figured, what the heck.  Worked like a CHARM, I tell you.  Not a huge lean, mind you, just enough to bring the grip to the "right side of my left hip," or just left of your belt buckle.  I was making cleaner contact immediately, and I'm actually considering this for a tournament tomorrow.  Might not be a long term answer, but there is no arguing the result, it made a huge difference in contact and ball flight.  YUGE!!

[dennyjones]

8 hours ago, kdlgolfaz said:

Wow, what are the odds.  I see that this is an old post, but I was trying this very thing at the range today, based on a tip I saw on TGC.  But the Pro giving it was only suggesting it so that you could feel correct lean at impact.  Well, I'm just back from a long absence and was really struggling with my approach (7-9) irons, so I figured, what the heck.  Worked like a CHARM, I tell you.  Not a huge lean, mind you, just enough to bring the grip to the "right side of my left hip," or just left of your belt buckle.  I was making cleaner contact immediately, and I'm actually considering this for a tournament tomorrow.  Might not be a long term answer, but there is no arguing the result, it made a huge difference in contact and ball flight.  YUGE!!

Welcome to TST..Don't be a stranger.  

[MarvChamp]

On 8/24/2013 at 8:40 PM, Zeph said:

I definitely prefer having them forward. Makes me feel like I'll be returning to somewhat the same (relative) position. It also pre-hinge the wrists a little, which makes my take-away feel better.

Yes to this. I first started with the butt end of the grip pointing to my left hip. It's now a little less as I progress. More consistent downward strike. -Marv