Calling golf doctors

[thumper07]

well guys i have devoloped a problem recently with my irons, all of them including the short ones. I am flaring them out to the right about 20yds off target line and a loss of about 10-15yds. i can usually work a draw if i pull my right foot back at adress and roll my right hand alittle over the top on my grip. If i try as hard as i can to hook it it might go straight but still cuts alittle. Let me know what you guys. Thanks. I'll put videos up in a little bit they are taking awhile to upload.

-matt

here's the video

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n...=8ironyard.flv

[Widgeonus]

I noticed that at the top of your backswing you are not even close to being parallel to the ground.

Also, it seems to me like you are coming wayyyy inside on your take away which may be "blocking" you from getting to the top on your backswing.

[fusioncal]

I saw the video and was that bird chirping? Anyway, I think your swing is pretty good, but if you could straighten out your back or lift your head a bit it'll give you more consistency. In regards to your push shots, I can't really tell with the angle of the video. Here's a simple way to know, try to simulate your whole swing very slowly and pay attention to where the club face is facing at impact. I'd guess it's to the right of your target line.

[thumper07]

yes those are birds i live in the noisiest neighborhood ever. and yes i know i stop well short of parralel. i really dont see the need to take the club back that far. i hit my 8 iron around 150 and to me a longer swing has more room for error. i tryed what you said and it does feel like i'm lagging the clubface open. i dont feel it really. how the how do i fix that?

-matt

[thumper07]

here is another video but with my driver from a side angle. and yes again the birds are chirping.

-matt

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=DSCN0236.flv

[Widgeonus]

to me, it looks much better than your 8 iron swing

[fusioncal]

Okay, I've watched the second video a couple times. Here's a few things I noticed.

First although I'm not so sure, your back (right) foot looks straighten up during the swing. On top of your back swing, do you feel your weight inside or outside your right foot? If it's inside you're fine.

Secondly, I hit a pause on the video when your left arm is parallel to the ground and it looks it's heading too far inside back there. On top of your swing your left hand collapses and I think it's because you're over swinging. It happens when your arm is still moving during back swing but your shoulder can't turn anymore. To fix this keep in mind that you're only half-swinging the next time you swing. Leadbetter said that it's like a momentum, same thing when you hit a brake on a car, it doesn't stop right away. He further added that he could guarantee that it's not gonna be a half-swing but almost a full swing. Try it next time.

Third, I'm not so sure but do you sometimes hit the ground first then the tee? I noticed (and paused) again when you begin your down swing back to where your arm and ground are parallel to each other, it seems that you already uncoil your wrist angle there (doing the release a little bit). With driver, I usually release when the head is around 7-8 o'clock. I don't think you're using driver in the video, do you?

During your impact-follow through I see you're like so tense for a second there. Just relax. If you could, release all your tension you get from the swing into the impact and see how it's gonna be.

Well, that's all I see from watching a few times. Actually your swing is good and there's no need major changes, only minor things here and there. Well, who doesn't? You know I'm all for the result, as long as the ball goes to wherever you want I don't think there's any need to change whatever swing you have. Oh by the way, if it's a driver you're using in the video I think you need to put the tee more towards your front foot just off your left toe.

[fusioncal]

  thumper07 said:

yes those are birds i live in the noisiest neighborhood ever. and yes i know i stop well short of parralel. i really dont see the need to take the club back that far. i hit my 8 iron around 150 and to me a longer swing has more room for error. i tryed what you said and it does feel like i'm lagging the clubface open. i dont feel it really. how the how do i fix that?

Now to answer your question with a question. Which hand led your downswing?

Also, the lagging I believe is a cause of out-of-sync between your arms and body. Seems to me your hips are moving toward target earlier than your arms and clubs. Try not to force your swing. Do a nice and controlled swing few times. Just let it flow and don't power it. This will synchronize your arms, body, and clubs altogether. When you get the feel it of try to swing faster not stronger. See what happens.

[Ben]

  thumper07 said:

well guys i have devoloped a problem recently with my irons, all of them including the short ones. I am flaring them out to the right about 20yds off target line and a loss of about 10-15yds. i can usually work a draw if i pull my right foot back at adress and roll my right hand alittle over the top on my grip. If i try as hard as i can to hook it it might go straight but still cuts alittle. Let me know what you guys. Thanks. I'll put videos up in a little bit they are taking awhile to upload.

If I read this correctly, you say you have your right hand more over the top of your club in your grip, meaning you can see more of the top of your right hand? If so, that's a weak grip, which is a key to hitting a fade. You want the exact opposite (a strong right hand) to hit draws. A weak right hand does not lend itself to let you turn your hands over at impact. While it is extremely easy to get those hands to turn over with a strong grip. You also say something about "right foot back"? You close your stance to the target? That is part of hitting a draw, but, if you have a weak grip, now you are simply aiming to the right.

[thumper07]

thanks for the analysis and compliments. i played yesterday and i think it is a mental issue i need to work on. i was playing arround on the range afterward. i shut the club real bad like on a 45* angle and i still hit it slighty to the right. i seriously need to relax and trust my swing. but it'll come back, i am confident.

-matt

[JtotheD]

To me, it looks like in the 8-iron video you're weight is to far over the ball.

Straighten out your back a little.

Bend more at the hips, NOT at the waist.

Get on the balls of your feet. From the video it looks like you might be all the way on your toes

In the driver video, it looks like the ever so slightest of "reverse C" is creeping in at the top of your backswing. Probably a result of improper balance at the start.

Good luck....keep us posted on your progress