My Swing (BostonBrew)

[BostonBrew]

I've been Playing Golf for: 6-7 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 76-86

My typical ball flight is: Straight or 5-10 yard Fade

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Slice

---

I apologize for the wind noise.

Videos:

[pholmes]

Boston, I think you have a nice looking swing, I am very limited in my ability to give helpful advice. The only comment I would make, and I only notice it because its a flaw that I share, it's seems that in your downswing, the shaft angle is a little steep, Eric had a great picture in a thread that illustrates the optimal elbow position and shaft angle. The only suggestion I could make, I think the cause of it in my swing is a is disconnect between my body rotation and arm swing. That could be the cause of the slices.

[BostonBrew]

Originally Posted by pholmes

Eric had a great picture in a thread that illustrates the optimal elbow position and shaft angle.

Thanks.

Do you happen to remember which thread the picture was in?

[pholmes]

Ummm, follow Eric, but I think it might be a stand alone thread, if not that, I think it's in his my swing. If you search, pitch, punch, and Eric's term "pinch" elbow, I think you should be able to find it.

[BostonBrew]

I believe I found it. Thanks. That is certainly something I hadn't given much thought to.

[BostonBrew]

Downloaded the free home version of V1 and played around with it. Going to be working this week on reducing my lateral movement in the backswing, especially with the head. Didn't realize how much movement I had until I saw it on video.

[iacas]

Gave it a quick glance - weight is back on the heels quite a bit. I'd look to clean that up before looking at something dynamic. Should be an easy fix with a mirror.

[BostonBrew]

Originally Posted by iacas

Gave it a quick glance - weight is back on the heels quite a bit. I'd look to clean that up before looking at something dynamic. Should be an easy fix with a mirror.

Yeah, that's a move I started doing a few years back because I had the tendency to lean forward on the backswing.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by iacas

Gave it a quick glance - weight is back on the heels quite a bit. I'd look to clean that up before looking at something dynamic. Should be an easy fix with a mirror.

Yep, that and turn both feet out at address so the knees aren't pinched inward.  Also get a few other benefits, easier to turn the hips while staying centered and easier to get the weight forward at impact.

[BostonBrew]

Good stuff. I appreciate the advice and will definitely work on both areas. Thanks guys.

[BostonBrew]

Went out and practiced some today. Striking the ball really well. Even drove the ball well today which, recently, is a rare event.

Again, I warn you about the wind noise. Also, I did a poor job of lining up properly for the DTL video. I'm balancing my camera on my putter headcover. I believe I'm going to try and find one of those tripods that can wrap around a shaft. Judging by my finish, I want to say the DTL swing was a tad fat.

[pholmes]

That looked like a clean strike, and it looked like you started it right, so if it drew a little I think you're in business.

[BostonBrew]

Originally Posted by pholmes

That looked like a clean strike, and it looked like you started it right, so if it drew a little I think you're in business.

It started right because I was aiming right. I just didn't line up properly for the camera. The only time I draw the ball is when I want to. And to do that I feel like I really drop the club to the inside and I exaggerate rotating the clubface coming into impact. My normal ball flight is straight or fade and I like that because I don't have to worry about going left.

After watching the video multiple times, I went and watched some pros for comparison. I noticed that the three pros I looked at (Woods, Rose, and Kaymer) none of their forward knees moved back as much as mine did. I'm thinking I might be trying to shift my weight back too much on the backswing and this could be the cause for the lateral movement away from the ball. So I'm going to be doing some mirror work trying to see the left knee move more down towards my toes than towards my right side.

[Wally]

I've only looked at it briefly, but from what I've seen your swing looks pretty solid.  The most noticeable thing I see is the hip sway/lateral movement away from the ball on the backswing.

Other than that, it looks pretty good. Your club looks to be in a good position at the top of the backswing, and you seem to maintain your spine angle well in your downswing.  To quote Tom Watson, being able to maintain the spine angle is a key to playing good golf. It's one of his swing "secrets".

As for the camera issue having to balance it your your putter, try something like this which is a universal clip-mount holder for iPhones, Ipods, small cameras, etc.:

Option 1:

I bought one of these and it clips onto my golf bag nicely. The metal clip-mount is very strong and the metal gooseneck is resistant to bending, so it'll stay at the angle you bend it. The holder clamp for your device itself swivels on a ball joint and can be adjusted. The gooseneck is 72cm in length, or a little over 2 feet. I bought one because I film with my iPod.

Currently $21.93

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Flexible-Holder-Bracket-iPhone/dp/B00CAJ85YW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie;=UTF8&qid;=1373185579&sr;=1-1-catcorr&keywords;=Universal+Lazy+Flexible+Steel+Clip+Mount+Holder+Bracket+for+Phone+GPS+PSP+iPhone+iPod

Option 2:

I found this the other day, which could be useful as well, but only if you have an iPhone or iPod , as that is what it is made for. It's a minimalistic holder that clips onto an alignment stick. Both links are the same holder, just the first one includes a collapseable alignment stick for you to use if you don't have one.

Currently $23.99

http://www.amazon.com/Smartphone-Video-Holster-Collapsible-Sport/dp/B00CA6RJ8S/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie;=UTF8&qid;=1373185444&sr;=1-3&keywords;=iphone+golf+holster

Currently $14.99

http://www.amazon.com/MVP-Sports-Smartphone-Video-Holster/dp/B00B4FQ40K/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie;=UTF8&qid;=1373185444&sr;=1-1&keywords;=iphone+golf+holster

I hope this helps you so you can record some more swings. Good luck with your swing!

[BostonBrew]

Thanks. And I appreciate the links. I'll figure something out.

The lateral sway is the primary concern for my full swing. But because I'm still striking the ball so well, it has moved down the priority list. I spent about 3 hours yesterday on the practice green doing "up and down" drills. Was the first time I focused on using my feet to read the greens and I was thoroughly impressed with how much information I was able to gather just by paying attention to where the pressure in my feet was as I walked. Will continue to work at it so I can save more pars on a regular basis.

Also watched a few Utley instructional videos on YouTube and picked up his Art of the Short Game used off Amazon.

[BostonBrew]

Today on the range, I noticed my divots were pointing to the left of my targets. Initially, I thought I was maybe coming OTT to produce a divot pointing left.

Anything to this?

[Wally]

Today on the range, I noticed my divots were pointing to the left of my targets. Initially, I thought I was maybe coming OTT to produce a divot pointing left.  Anything to this?

It depends. Are your shots going straight or relatively straight to your target? If so, there is unlikely anything swing-wise to worry about. Ideally with a straight shot, the divot will be pointing a little left as the club makes ball-divot contact while swinging on an arc.

[BostonBrew]

Originally Posted by Wally

It depends. Are your shots going straight or relatively straight to your target? If so, there is unlikely anything swing-wise to worry about. Ideally with a straight shot, the divot will be pointing a little left as the club makes ball-divot contact while swinging on an arc.

Yeah. Ball flight was still relatively straight. Makes sense. This time it just stood out more I suppose.