Anyone Wear a Back Brace for Lower Back Pain?

[mvmac]

Today I went to the range. Back felt a tad stiff, so I stretched to loosen it up, I should have stretched longer, but was running out of time. So, with the ole back a bit stiff, and ever so slightly sore, I began with my PW hitting 1/2 shots hoping to loosen up. I then tried some 3/4 shots, while my back wasn't 100% I tried some full shots. I pick out one of the targets at 125 yards, I did my routine, made sure my set up was what I wanted, took 2 practice swings, my swing thoughts were, head still, don't rush. I swing and I hit a long (for me) push draw, my shot goes almost 150 yds., I check my set up, and sure enough, that wasn't the target I aimed at, so again, I did the same with the same result.

So, I open my stance up some, make 2 practice swings, and let er rip, low and behold my shot goes right where I wanted it to, but the flight was higher, and went about 135 yds.I could feel that I definitely flushed it. As I progressed up to my longer irons, and 3 wood, the same push draw would happen about 35% of the time, I'm not sure if my grip is too strong, as I used the same grip I did before I stopped playing, or if I'm doing something else wrong. I can say that the shots I hit well, were for sure much longer than previously hit, although my ball flight is much lower than before. I should mention that because my back wasn't 100%, I couldn't slide forward as much, and it was somewhat bothersome to keep it for as far as I could get it, if that makes sense.

I don't mind the draws, as I use to hit a draw, but the pushing I'd like to get rid of. Thanks for any help.

Greg

Push draws are usually a good thing, are you saying the ball was pushing too much?

[Hammer 4]

IMO yes, it was about a 15-20 yard push draw. What I was wondering is, why is it when I open my stance does my ball go straight..?

Could it be my swing, i.e. flippy hands, or maybe I'm playing the ball to far forward..? I'd just like your thoughts on what I could do to keep the draw, but maybe cut way down on the push.

Thanks.

[mvmac]

IMO yes, it was about a 15-20 yard push draw. What I was wondering is, why is it when I open my stance does my ball go straight..?

Could it be my swing, i.e. flippy hands, or maybe I'm playing the ball to far forward..? I'd just like your thoughts on what I could do to keep the draw, but maybe cut way down on the push.

Thanks.

Tough to say without seeing your swing.  If you got "flippy" you would tend to see the ball starting more left, flipping gets the face to aim more left.  Also you wouldn't be able to get any curve left, unless you toed it.  Flipping also rotates the path left.

So we know the face is aimed too face right at impact and the path is well out to the right.  Could be a bit too much "early extension" where the tailbone tucks under you on the downswing, head moves up and away from the ball.  This can tend to leave everything too closed and the face too far to the right.  Maybe the open stance allows you turn more through the ball so the path isn't so far out and also helps you have the face aimed less right at impact.

Or for whatever reason you could have the club head too far inside the hands at A6 (shaft parallel to the ground on the downswing). Open stance would help get the shaft online.

Or you just aim too far right when you think it's square and the "open" stance is actually at the target

Check out these two drills

[Hammer 4]

Mike, I believe you just described my problem/problems...I stood up w/o a club, and checked my A6 position and it is too far inside. I believe I did that to counteract my coming over the top on occasion, also I think your correct re: my tailbone. Being that my spine is not in good shape, I tend to want to come up out of the shot occasionally, so, that would explain that.

Thanks for the vids, they helped a bunch, and I will for sure do the drills you recommended.

Let me know when you'll be up at El Dorado, I would sure like to get a lesson if possible.