What does a proper backswing pivot feel like?

[SoundandFury]

I just signed up for evolvr (so far so good, they picked up a huge swing fault no teacher ever has), and it turns out I have a pretty bad sway in my back swing.  I've worked on a proper pivot where I turned around my spine and make sure there's no lateral movement away from the target.

Can anyone describe what this movement should actually feel like? I almost feel like I'm too "on top of the ball", almost like a stack and tilt swing (though I can feel the weight/tension on the inside of my back foot).

[gwlee7]

As some one who has battled head movement and swaying for the longest time,  you will probably feel very uncomfortable at first.  I didn't feel like I was moving at all yet.  My head was moving back and up diagonally over 6 to 8 inches in the back swing.  I have to feel like my head is moving forward and down just so that it will only move up and back just a little bit.  It is difficult to overcome.

[SoundandFury]

It feel very uncomfortable, and I think that's when I'm making a correct pivot. I will say that after hitting half a bucket or so, it does seem MUCH easier to get back to a proper impact position.

[RPMPIRE]

Here's a drill that should give you a feel of how a good back swing feels. Basically, the feel that I get is might right side gets a good stretch at the top. I also focus on keeping my head steady.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by SoundandFury

Can anyone describe what this movement should actually feel like? I almost feel like I'm too "on top of the ball", almost like a stack and tilt swing (though I can feel the weight/tension on the inside of my back foot).

A few things, quickly...

1. Feels vary from player to player. The best way to derive your feel is to force yourself to do the mechanics properly (even at 1% speed) and see what you feel.

2. Brian did tell you " You can do the drills I mentioned in the video or come up with your own, but I'd definitely suggest starting with some mirror work just to get a good grasp of it." So please try that. I didn't watch his video but the suggestion of mirror work speaks to #1 here.

3. Feel free to submit another video in evolvr showing yourself doing some of the drills and asking if they're being done properly. :)

4. I watched your first video and will simply add the feeling of stretching the right side (particularly your knee, which it appears you're trying to keep in the same flex, like a Monty/Sergio swing) and letting your right back pocket "wipe" forward against a wall if there was one behind you there.

[SoundandFury]

Been doing the mirror drill a bunch, I get that and can replicate the feeling fairly easily without a club in my hands. When I add the club however, it gets a bit trickier. 2/3 of the time it feels right, albeit awkward since it's a big swing change. The rest of the time though I feel like I'm reverse pivoting and my timing goes to hell. Probably just need more repetitions to get it down. I will say that my contact is much, much better. When I pivot (what I think is) correctly, the ball is right where it's supposed to be and the club head just seems to find it on its own. Finally, after hitting a bucket at the range, I realized my left side and lower back is sore (in a good way). I'm thinking this is a good thing; I'm using the muscles correctly and making a strong pivot rather than swaying off the ball.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by SoundandFury

The rest of the time though I feel like I'm reverse pivoting and my timing goes to hell. Probably just need more repetitions to get it down.

It's possible, so do work in a mirror or with a club or something just barely touching your head (either side) to detect any forward motion of your head during the backswing (a bad thing).

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by iacas

Feel free to submit another video in evolvr showing yourself doing some of the drills and asking if they're being done properly. :)

Agree strongly with all of Erik's points especially this one

Yes as we say a lot on here "feel isn't real".  Like Erik said, feels are different from player to player.  Some people may need more "Monty" while others need more Zach Johnson, referring to the hips on the backswing.  If you've been translating the head to the right, feeling centered should feel very different at first.  Keep at it, great to hear you're seeing improvement in your ball striking.

Just to use an example of myself, look at the practice waggles I'm making compared to when I actually hit the ball (there's no volume).  So for me "normal" gets the club head too far inside on the take.  Getting in a decent position, at this time, feels like Rickie Fowler's takeaway on steroids

This player is feeling like he's NOT turning at all.  Not saying that you need to feel anything like the examples I just gave, but to illustrate how extreme some feels are to find a happy medium.

Originally Posted by RPMPIRE

Here's a drill that should give you a feel of how a good back swing feels. Basically, the feel that I get is might right side gets a good stretch at the top. I also focus on keeping my head steady.

Thanks for sharing, one of my favorites.  Put yourself in this position at the top and figure out how it feels to you

[SoundandFury]

Update: couple range sessions, and this is coming along nicely. The increase in consistent contact is phenomenal. Still hit one fat here and there, but only when I'm fatigued or lose focus. One thing that's been a very pleasant benefit is the increased distance. I don't consider mysf a short hitter (8i is my 150 club), but I'm seeing +10 yards per club with the proper hip turn. Pretty stoked.

[mvmac]

Great to hear