Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator
Posted
7 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

That's a big difference Bill, looks great. I didn't realize you used an interlocking grip.

Thank's, Steve.

Yea, I've been using it ever since I started playing. Never liked the Vardon grip; I always felt like the club jerked around too much. Tiger uses it and so does Jack (my hands are the same size as his prints in his book), so it was good enough for me.

11 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Does the shortened swing translate to longer clubs? 

When I practice, yes. On the course it's still too long. My feel is to stop when I think my left arm is parallel to the ground (which it's not really doing), so it should work for all clubs once I get it to stick.

14 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

You hear tips about shortening your swing, like think going halfway. I had to think as short as possible to get it be a little short of parallel. To get a backswing that ends at A2, I have to think okay, take it back 1 inch.

I have no concept of A2 ;-)

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
16 hours ago, billchao said:

Thank's, Steve.

Yea, I've been using it ever since I started playing. Never liked the Vardon grip; I always felt like the club jerked around too much. Tiger uses it and so does Jack (my hands are the same size as his prints in his book), so it was good enough for me.

When I practice, yes. On the course it's still too long. My feel is to stop when I think my left arm is parallel to the ground (which it's not really doing), so it should work for all clubs once I get it to stick.

I have no concept of A2 ;-)

I use interlocking as well. The Vardon doesn't feel secure for me. My right hand doesn't feel like it has a good grip. I also have long thin fingers, so interlocking works better for me.

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
2 hours ago, boogielicious said:

I use interlocking as well. The Vardon doesn't feel secure for me. My right hand doesn't feel like it has a good grip. I also have long thin fingers, so interlocking works better for me.

I'm going to try the reverse overlap for a while. It feels like my right hand has full control of the club and I can downcock easier.

I haven't played or gone to a range with it yet, but if it works I'll stick with it. I like feeling like my right side controls the swing because number of bad things can happen if I let my swing feel too left side dominant.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator
Posted

Just wanted to jot down a couple of quick thoughts:

  1. Last time out playing, I hit draws with my full swings and slight cuts with my 3/4 or flighted shots. Really messed me up on a few approach shots as I started the ball right/center of the green and watched it fade just off to the right instead of drawing back into the middle. I wonder if making a shorter backswing will change my stock shape to a fade? It's annoying to have to play for multiple misses.
  2. I might have to stop doing the downswing portion of my practice inside the house as I seem to have injured my left foot somewhat. It's a little swollen and tender right at the proximal end of the 5th metatarsal (the little protrusion on the side of my foot) and I'm pretty sure it's a direct result of practicing barefoot and rolling onto the outside of my left foot as I swing through to my finish. It's been like this for a while now and this is really the first time I'm thinking about not practicing altogether. I think I can keep doing slow motion work right up to to A7 at least.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
8 hours ago, billchao said:

Just wanted to jot down a couple of quick thoughts:

  1. Last time out playing, I hit draws with my full swings and slight cuts with my 3/4 or flighted shots. Really messed me up on a few approach shots as I started the ball right/center of the green and watched it fade just off to the right instead of drawing back into the middle. I wonder if making a shorter backswing will change my stock shape to a fade? It's annoying to have to play for multiple misses.
  2. I might have to stop doing the downswing portion of my practice inside the house as I seem to have injured my left foot somewhat. It's a little swollen and tender right at the proximal end of the 5th metatarsal (the little protrusion on the side of my foot) and I'm pretty sure it's a direct result of practicing barefoot and rolling onto the outside of my left foot as I swing through to my finish. It's been like this for a while now and this is really the first time I'm thinking about not practicing altogether. I think I can keep doing slow motion work right up to to A7 at least.
  1. I see that sometimes as well. You should film your shorter swings to see if they are coming on the same path. Mine was a bit different. 
  2. Wait until you break 50. I'm sore after every practice session! :-P

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
4 hours ago, boogielicious said:

I see that sometimes as well. You should film your shorter swings to see if they are coming on the same path. Mine was a bit different.

It must not be the same path because the flight is different, but I'll have to film it just to see if there's anything else going on there.

My question would be, should I try to make my stock shot a fade because my stock flighted shot (which I'm assuming has cleaner mechanics because my contact tends to be better) is a fade, or should I work on hitting a draw with shorter swings as well?

4 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Wait until you break 50. I'm sore after every practice session! :-P

It's going to happen (hopefully) whether I wait for it or not :-P

But seriously, I should probably stop putting almost all my weight on a tiny little bone in my foot.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted

Started working on the downswing. I think the backswing is good for the time being; I don't really seen me take the club too far inside or the wrists breaking down at the top anymore.

Working on not internally rotating the right shoulder too early in the downswing. Rotating early causes me to bring the club down too steep and have to do other motions to shallow it out and stay on plane which causes all sorts of contact issues.

Feel is the classic pitch elbow feel of keeping the right elbow pointed at my belly button in the downswing. I also think of it as karate chopping a piece of wood set up perpendicular to my target line with my right hand  or karate chopping my open left hand still in address position (as opposed to an open palm clap).

I apparently edited out and deleted my practice videos, but the practice is just doing that karate chop and the pump drill (with karate chop feel).

I'm actually surprised that I'm starting the ball on line. It feels like I'm going to hit it way right. Pretty good progress for day 1 I think.

New Bill in 2016, now with kung fu action!

Edit: Forgot to mention I took the video with my Note 5. The slo-mo is only 120fps and not as smooth as the iPhone 6, but it does just fine IMO.

  • Upvote 1

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
12 minutes ago, billchao said:

Started working on the downswing. I think the backswing is good for the time being; I don't really seen me take the club too far inside or the wrists breaking down at the top anymore.

Working on not internally rotating the right shoulder too early in the downswing. Rotating early causes me to bring the club down too steep and have to do other motions to shallow it out and stay on plane which causes all sorts of contact issues.

Feel is the classic pitch elbow feel of keeping the right elbow pointed at my belly button in the downswing. I also think of it as karate chopping a piece of wood set up perpendicular to my target line with my right hand  or karate chopping my open left hand still in address position (as opposed to an open palm clap).

I apparently edited out and deleted my practice videos, but the practice is just doing that karate chop and the pump drill (with karate chop feel).

I'm actually surprised that I'm starting the ball on line. It feels like I'm going to hit it way right. Pretty good progress for day 1 I think.

New Bill in 2016, now with kung fu action!

Edit: Forgot to mention I took the video with my Note 5. The slo-mo is only 120fps and not as smooth as the iPhone 6, but it does just fine IMO.

Very nice Bill!

Just remember to keep the 'chop' pressure through impact or it can become a release hook instead of a soft push draw.  

Vishal S.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
2 minutes ago, GolfLug said:

Very nice Bill!

Just remember to keep the 'chop' pressure through impact or it can become a release hook instead of a soft push draw.  

Thanks, V! I just started doing it, so when I get more comfortable I'll head to a range and see what the flight looks like.

I can tell you that it was a really odd feeling when I first started doing it, but it got easier as I kept doing it. It was one of the best practice sessions I've had in a long time, contact-wise.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted

Left foot is hurting again. It hasn't hurt pretty much since I stopped rolling onto it on hard flooring, but I hit 12 balls yesterday and woke up today with the pain again. They weren't even all full speed. I think I either have to give it more time or start working on a different way to transfer my weight/extend into finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I'll start working on the footwork :whistle:

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
8 hours ago, billchao said:

Left foot is hurting again. It hasn't hurt pretty much since I stopped rolling onto it on hard flooring, but I hit 12 balls yesterday and woke up today with the pain again. They weren't even all full speed. I think I either have to give it more time or start working on a different way to transfer my weight/extend into finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I'll start working on the footwork :whistle:

My left foot has been hurting lately too, on the outside. Maybe it's a moderator thing. @nevets88, how is your left foot doing? :-P

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Bill ...looks pretty good.....16.8 HC...where do you lose shots?...do full shots go where you want them to?

Note: I do not answer direct questions or points raised against my untested and unproven theories, have no history of teaching anyone, and post essentially the same nonsense in everyone's Member Swing threads.


  • Moderator
Posted
2 hours ago, boogielicious said:

My left foot has been hurting lately too, on the outside. Maybe it's a moderator thing. @nevets88, how is your left foot doing? :-P

Ha ha. Not the left foot, but the left shoulder. 

Ask Jordan Spieth how he stays healthy w/that foot roll of his? :-D

Steve

Kill slow play. Allow walking. Reduce ineffective golf instruction. Use environmentally friendly course maintenance.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Bill...it's hard to say and easier to see in the slo-mo but I think I see this as the graphic describes.....possible?

bilfulad.JPG

Note: I do not answer direct questions or points raised against my untested and unproven theories, have no history of teaching anyone, and post essentially the same nonsense in everyone's Member Swing threads.


Posted

The swing is looking good. I notice you do those drills pretty fast. If you do them slower you will be able to feel the move you want better ;) 
 

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
5 hours ago, boogielicious said:

My left foot has been hurting lately too, on the outside. Maybe it's a moderator thing. @nevets88, how is your left foot doing? :-P

Hmm. Must be developing spidey-sense?

3 hours ago, collapse said:

Bill ...looks pretty good.....16.8 HC...where do you lose shots?...do full shots go where you want them to?

No. I'm prone to hitting blocks because I tend to come too far from the inside. That's why it's so important for me to keep my arms in front of me.

I don't swing like this on the course yet, but I'm getting there.

2 hours ago, collapse said:

Bill...it's hard to say and easier to see in the slo-mo but I think I see this as the graphic describes.....possible?

bilfulad.JPG

Yes. Also a slight forward press from FO, as well as a slight weight shift/slide to my right hip. None of these are intentional and the hip thing goes against what I'm trying to do in the backswing.

2 hours ago, saevel25 said:

The swing is looking good. I notice you do those drills pretty fast. If you do them slower you will be able to feel the move you want better ;) 
 

Thanks. Yea I probably did them too fast, but I spend a lot of off-camera time doing slow motion practice, half swings, etc. This was more of just trying to feel it before I took a full swing, kind of like a preshot routine.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

If you agree that you are lowering your hands just before takeaway,this suggests to me you are not comfortable with the lead hand hinge you have so you are trying to get that feeling you want.

Note: I do not answer direct questions or points raised against my untested and unproven theories, have no history of teaching anyone, and post essentially the same nonsense in everyone's Member Swing threads.


  • Moderator
Posted
26 minutes ago, collapse said:

If you agree that you are lowering your hands just before takeaway,this suggests to me you are not comfortable with the lead hand hinge you have so you are trying to get that feeling you want.

Doubt it. It's just a subconscious swing trigger.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    Carl's Place
    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • Day 610 - 2026-06-03 Got some work in between lessons today. Rare late day, teaching until 7:30pm.
    • Let's continue on… Cool. The thing is, nobody's claiming par is "reliable" and par's inclusion piggy-backs in the course rating, which is awfully close to par and, thus, brings par in to make it make sense. Once again, for those in the back… (CR - Par) just makes it really easy to know what kind of score you need to shoot to best, match, or play worse than your handicap index. Yes, when par is different, the players from the higher par tees get an extra stroke (72 vs. 71, the 72s get an extra stroke. That makes sense and is a small complication (more info at https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/roh/Content/rules/Committee%20Content/USGA/LG_R6d.htm). However, most of the time, this adjustment will not be needed, as many courses play to the same par for the same genders from all sets of tees. And, the rare times it is needed, par (measured in whole numbers, integers) and strokes (also whole numbers/integers) map easily and the idea is easily grasped. Dean seems to be unaware of the fact that most every golfer carries something orders of magnitude more powerful than the highest end desktop computers available the last time he consulted with the USGA in their pockets. While it is quaint that his club puts printouts by the first tee… get with the times, Dean. Look up your handicap index and course handicap in the GHIN app and get on with it. It's a better system than the one that didn't account — at all — for a difference in the playing conditions (via an algorithm, not a judgment). Dean's assertions about the "less precise system because of par" continues to make absolutely zero sense. Right, it still changed tee to tee. Now it just changes differently… and in a way that more accurately reflects the score you need to shoot to play to your handicap. Previously, a 1.1 index would get 1 stroke on a 66.7/122 par-72 course. Now they give four strokes back to the course and must shoot 68 to play to their handicap. This makes way more sense. The 18-shot difference is a pretty extreme example. Maybe a long course that also offers a par-three set of tees could play that long, but… man, that's not going to be super common. Sensationalistic much, Dean? Also, once those unhappy (complete assumption) golfers realize a) what the change shows them (playing to net par = playing to your index) and b) realizes that their differential is going to be the same… I think they'll get over their initial questions. No. And yet… if he shoots the same scores, he'll get the same handicap index he has now. But he'll know on each course what score he needs to shoot to "play to his handicap." Sheesh, Dean. This stuff isn't that hard to figure out. Enough with the sensationalistic stuff. I don't find it "unacceptable" at all. Then again, I'm not nearly 80 and seemingly incapable of doing basic math these days. No. This literally makes no sense, as that part of the differential calculation and the course handicap calculation remains identical. Good! No. Categorically wrong. They should have been adjusting their handicaps all along. Previously it was by subtracting the course ratings. Which… is still basically what's done, with the addition of the course rating being "baked in" to the course handicap calculation. Dean is wrong here, or doing some math heretofore unknown by the world. When par is the same, what determines the difference in handicaps? The course rating, which Dean loves! Sheesh! You had to things when players were in situations like this before, too. This is getting exhausting. He keeps using words like "less precise" and "unfair" but does not seem to understand what they mean. This is like the Princess Bride meme: "you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." The caps reduce upward movement. Committees have reign to reduce a player's handicap, and there's still an automatic Exceptional Score Reduction. I'm going through these more quickly now because… well, it's silly how badly Dean misses the mark with this blog post. Dean is literally confusing the upward movement (with the soft and hard caps) here with the exceptional score reduction which is used when lowering handicaps due to an exceptionally good score. The creators of the WHS are handicap experts. They know more about the current state of handicaps/handicapping than the Pope Emeritus. It's been shown to have almost no effect across all handicaps. Yes, some 36s under the old system are now 35s under the new system. Yawn. He should have stopped there. It's easier to apply and makes more sense. This makes no sense. It's "not complex" but players will have to guess? And, for men or women, the stroke index of each hole doesn't change because they play a different set of tees. They get a different number of strokes, but it's always been true that when you get 14 strokes you apply a stroke to stroke index holes 1-14, and when you get 11, to just holes with a SI of 1-11. Objection, your honor. Assumes facts not in evidence. Dean's just out here continuing to make shit up about "the inaccuracy of par" and ignoring that with Par (an integer) came the Course Rating, which he agrees is precise and accurate. No. No, this is inaccurate. Also, as noted, you can randomly assign stroke indexes, and so long as all the low numbers or all the high numbers are not clumped together at the beginning or ends of the 18 holes, matches generally work out the same. This is inaccurate. It is an algorithm that looks at scores. That's it. Also, this is better than a system like the prior one where no such thing existed at all. Wildly inaccurate and off-base. Did they do actual testing? No need. They have millions and millions of rounds and ran many, many, many simulations. That's testing. Dean seems to continue to be unaware of the fact that computers are more powerful now than they were in 2002. But, he's nearly 80, so we can understand if not going so far as to give him a pass on how much he gets wrong. Cool. Noted. For the most part that was because many countries haven't been able to rate enough of their courses. :sigh:
    • Day 3 (3 Jun 26) - More work on keeping arms connected today - hard foam balls with 7i and 5w…..
    • Day 274 6-3 flow drill getting chest through, arms in front. Arms get a little pinned to the side, not as much in front as I want them when I add speed. 
    • Shot 48 yesterday.  For me bogey golf is good.  I was 10 over through 7 and figured with a Par 3 and 4 coming on all I needed was birdie / par to get my 45. I had a great tee shot on #8 and sunk  a 5 footer for birdie, game was coming together, now just needed par on #9. Had a great tee drive and the green was within range for a hoped GIR or nGIR.  But I pulled the shot left into tall weeds and needed to take a drop.  So much for par, but a bogey for 46 is still good for me. I hit my lob wedge to get over a small tree and saw the ball riding nicely  on line to the pin when my club hit the ball a 2nd time on my follow through causing the ball to change directions and ended up @ pin high but along the same tall weeds I just took an unplayable out of.  had no room for a backswing, Just hacked at it and it shot across the green to the rough on the far side.  Needed a chip & 1 putt got a triple bogey. you can see the hole fall apart in the screenshot below.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.