My Swing (Shindig)

[Shindig 651]

I've been Playing Golf for: almost eight years. I bought my first set of irons in February 2006, practiced lots that summer, etc (had been to the range a few times prior to that). I took a lot of time off from Fall 2011 until a few weeks ago, mostly due to career issues. I'm currently in my early 30s.

My current handicap index or average score is: 17.5. I've been as low as 14.8. I haven't had a handicap north of the teens since Spring 2008, when I first broke 90. Best personal score yet is 83 (done four times). Now that I write it out, I realize I've been at a plateau (to put it politely) for the majority of the time I've been playing!

My typical ball flight is: high, with a little draw when I hit it well (relatively). I think I start it relatively straight, but I periodically hit a "straight, wrong direction" (not backwards, just left or right) shot that I'm not 100% convinced that I know how to align myself properly. I suppose it could be a pull or push. Maybe at one of the upcoming So Cal outings, someone will notice and will tell me after the round to update this thread.

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: the aforementioned misalignment, and after that, the snap hook. That tends to come out more on a 3W or 5W than on a driver or iron.

---

Videos: I think I've got the first three pieces of S&T; (from the book, p.22) down. First videos, taken today (March 7, 2014). I first took the DTL videos in slow-motion, in the setting that I thought was 100+ fps. Turns out it is 100 frames per real second, but it slows it down. If I should take all my videos this way, please let me know. I then took DTL and caddie view videos in normal mode, which turned out to be 30 fps. My camera is a Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS. Videos are edited via Avidemux. Also, in loading the videos to my computer, I discovered that I didn't set up the tripod as square as I thought I had. I'm relatively new to the whole camera thing, and I'll pay more attention to this on my next video.

Current Plan : I have 2-3 times per week now set aside that I'll be able to hit the range and practice, and I'll take an updated video every other week or so. Starting in May, and lasting for the summer, I should be able to do this 3-4 times per week, and will almost certainly sign up for evolvr then (since I'll be able to take full advantage of the regular lessons there, and will be taking weekly video I hope). In the meantime, I'm also hoping to learn enough about taking proper video of a swing. Oh, and in reading some of the posts about how to practice, I've realized that I don't really know how to practice full swing other than hitting balls at the range. If someone could help me put together my first proper practice set - in particular, helping me identify what *specific* thing to work on, and how, I'd greatly appreciate it. My goal is to get something to work on, and then to do that this weekend and next, and then be able to post a follow-up video either next Sunday (3/16) or the following weekend.

Down the line, 6-iron:

Down the line, 6-iron, slower. Should this be the mode I capture future videos in?

Down the line, driver:

Caddie view, 6-iron:

Caddie view, driver:

Wow, I don't think I realized how long my backswing or finish were. I guess I'm not stopping at the "PGA Tour Logo" finish after all. Also, am I lunging? Well, have at it; tell me I'm delusional and my swing sucks.

[jbishop15 173]

Pretty good swing, imo. The only thing that I see is that maybe you could cock your wrists more.

[mvmac 2,549]

Key #1 issue, head is moving too much towards the ball on the backswing

Causes some issues on the downswing, makes it hard to get the weight forward and the arms are "behind" the pivot.

Part of the issue is the set-up, back is too straight and to make a turn steep enough, you have sink your head down. Check out this thread on posture

Would also like to see you flare both feet out at address and rotate the knees outward. Will give the left knee more room to flex forward on the downswing.

Would recommend doing this drill at home with your forehead against a wall.

Current Plan: I have 2-3 times per week now set aside that I'll be able to hit the range and practice, and I'll take an updated video every other week or so. Starting in May, and lasting for the summer, I should be able to do this 3-4 times per week, and will almost certainly sign up for evolvr then (since I'll be able to take full advantage of the regular lessons there, and will be taking weekly video I hope). In the meantime, I'm also hoping to learn enough about taking proper video of a swing.

Evolvr is great and if you're ever looking for one on one instruction I make trips up to El Dorado in Long Beach every month or so to teach with Dana Dahlquist, so I guess it would be two on one instruction

[Shindig 651]

Thanks for the excellent - and very detailed - feedback! The posture thread has given me lots to read... fortunately, the set up portion is something I can work on at home, at least in the mirror. Similarly with the foot flair and knee rotation. I can at least get into the setup at home, and then try this at the range. The drill with the forehead I can do, but I can't swing a golf club while my forehead is against the wall. I end up miming the swing instead. I assume this is okay... I'm certain the combination of everything is going to feel weird next time I'm at the range. I'm also sure that's a good thing. I'll see if I can drag a friend to the range and ask for some help holding my head for a few shots. [quote name="mvmac" url="/t/73018/my-swing-shindig#post_959854"]Evolvr is great and if you're ever looking for one on one instruction I make trips up to El Dorado in Long Beach every month or so to teach with Dana Dahlquist, so I guess it would be two on one instruction ;-)   [/quote] That sounds rather excellent. I'm also in SD periodically (not as often as I'd like), and am quite regularly in south O.C., so I might find my way down to you at some point. Long Beach is a very doable drive for me. Thanks again for the pointers. I'll work on applying these and will post a follow-up video when I think I've made progress.

[Shindig 651]

Related question: of the first two videos (both DTL with 6-iron), which is preferred for posting/analysis purposes? The first is a real-time video, the latter is slower.

[iacas 9,380]

Related question: of the first two videos (both DTL with 6-iron), which is preferred for posting/analysis purposes? The first is a real-time video, the latter is slower.

The slower ones tend to be better. If you're putting them on YouTube, you can also combine them: put your real-speed one and then the slow-mo one in the same video.

Also, take care to line up the camera properly. Along the toe line: http://thesandtrap.com/b/playing_tips/filming_your_swing .

[Shindig 651]

Also, take care to line up the camera properly. Along the toe line: [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/b/playing_tips/filming_your_swing]http://thesandtrap.com/b/playing_tips/filming_your_swing[/URL] .

Thanks; I'll get some video later today, both to see if I'm setting up better, and also to see if I can get this camera alignment right. If I set up, then put a club at my feet, and then put the camera on that line, would that be lined up better? I'll also see if I can get the videos posted in the manner you describe. Thanks again.

[iacas 9,380]

Thanks; I'll get some video later today, both to see if I'm setting up better, and also to see if I can get this camera alignment right. If I set up, then put a club at my feet, and then put the camera on that line, would that be lined up better?

Yup.

[Shindig 651]

Okay, first videos, round two. I'm mostly interested in if I got the setup right -- both in how I'm set up to the ball (back set up, feet position) and if I got the DTL camera lines better. I realize I still have a lot to learn about setting up the tripod (and I think one of its legs might be in backwards). From my very untrained eyes: it looks like I have the back angle better and the head moves less, but I don't think I flared out my feet enough. The positions felt [i]weird[/i] -- and I know just enough to know that's a good thing, because if it felt normal, it'd be my old swing and setup, and if I wanted to keep my swing as-is, I wouldn't be doing this. I'm not claiming to have mastered the first set of feedback in two days -- I just want to know if I'm on the right path to correctly implementing the first set of feedback. If so, I'll continue doing what I'm doing (setting up at home, mock swinging with my head against the wall too) and I'll hit the range a few more times over the next two weeks before I post the next videos. If not, I'll try again to getting set to correctly do this. The full speed and slow-motion of each video are two different swings, not one swing sped up or slowed down. 6-Iron: [VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwHQawL2WVA[/VIDEO] [VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE0vmOKSg-A[/VIDEO] Driver: [VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQEErh8Kekg[/VIDEO] [VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6OKT8uJlfQ[/VIDEO] Thanks again for your help with this.

[jamo 1,056]

Those look pretty much fine to me, though if you can get the camera closer to you (without cutting off any of your swing, of course) that would be a bit better.

[Hammer 4 51]

Swing looks pretty good. One thing though, you definitely need some Sun on those legs..lol  Good work!

[Shindig 651]

Those look pretty much fine to me, though if you can get the camera closer to you (without cutting off any of your swing, of course) that would be a bit better.

Is it just trial and error to figure out how close I can get it to me and still have the relevant pieces in the frame? Either way, I'll give that a try next time I take video. I have a pretty good idea how far back I set it today, and I can move it closer. The caddie view will be a little tougher, due to the metal pieces between stalls (if I find a weekday morning when I can take video, I'll go to a grass range that doesn't have this problem). Thanks for the feedback. [quote name="Hammer 4" url="/t/73018/my-swing-shindig#post_960812"]Swing looks pretty good. One thing though, you definitely need some Sun on those legs..lol  Good work!  [/quote] Yeah... I spent a much larger portion of the past 30 months indoors than I would have liked. Wait 'til September, you'll see much less blinding coming from my legs. ;-)

[iacas 9,380]

First things first… It's 2014. :) You should change the date on your videos. I thought "why is he showing us old videos? I thought he didn't play much the last few years? And why are those so much better?"

The key there is… "so much better." :) The rest is just teasing ya.

Keep doing what you're doing. In a week or two you're ready for the next piece (which I'm deliberately not sharing, and if anyone else thinks they know it, I'd ask them to do the same). Nail this, make it "normal," and then on to the next bit.

[Shindig 651]

I'll fix the date on the videos, and I'll keep doing what I'm doing. When it feels normal in a few weeks, I'll post the next set of videos. Will the ball flight be more normal then, too, or just the feeling of the swing? There were some pretty awful shots at the range, if we judge by where the ball went. I understand this is part of a swing change; I'm just wondering if the "normal" part will be a feel of the swing or an observable result. As always, thanks for your help!

[jamo 1,056]

Is it just trial and error to figure out how close I can get it to me and still have the relevant pieces in the frame? Either way, I'll give that a try next time I take video. I have a pretty good idea how far back I set it today, and I can move it closer. The caddie view will be a little tougher, due to the metal pieces between stalls (if I find a weekday morning when I can take video, I'll go to a grass range that doesn't have this problem).

Yeah. Eventually you'll be able to pace it off.

[Shindig 651]

After a few days practicing this at home, I was able to take it to the range today. Everything feels good except the swing and setup, which still feel weird (ball contact didn't feel weird, I guess). They felt better towards the end. And, while I realize I shouldn't be thinking of this during a change, there were a few balls that were hit so incredibly well I couldn't help but notice. I don't really know how far they went, because I don't know how accurate the measurements at the new range are (my home course just re-opened the range earlier this week), but if the markers are correct, I hit two 7-iron shots that rolled out to the 150, and two drives that rolled to the 225. I won't know until I play, and that's a few weeks away -- I want to get this feeling normal, and then the next lesson. The hardest part was, after a shot with a bad result, not going back and trying to figure out what I did wrong, but rather just focusing on setup and then swinging from that and trying again. I also wanted to say thanks again for everyone who gave me some feedback.

[Hammer 4 51]

Keep at it, meaning the stuff your suppose to be working on. Whats cool is when things come together, and that magic shot happens.

[mvmac 2,549]

After a few days practicing this at home, I was able to take it to the range today. Everything feels good except the swing and setup, which still feel weird (ball contact didn't feel weird, I guess). They felt better towards the end. And, while I realize I shouldn't be thinking of this during a change, there were a few balls that were hit so incredibly well I couldn't help but notice. I don't really know how far they went, because I don't know how accurate the measurements at the new range are (my home course just re-opened the range earlier this week), but if the markers are correct, I hit two 7-iron shots that rolled out to the 150, and two drives that rolled to the 225. I won't know until I play, and that's a few weeks away -- I want to get this feeling normal, and then the next lesson.

The hardest part was, after a shot with a bad result, not going back and trying to figure out what I did wrong, but rather just focusing on setup and then swinging from that and trying again.

Great to hear. Keep up the good work. Yes the set-up will feel weird for a little while, that's normal.