Falling back into bad swing

[Reval14]

I worked with my Pro on my swing the past few weeks because I came way too far from the inside. I improved a lot last week, and yesterday I hit some decent shots, even with my 3 and 4 iron. Then this morning the shock on the range: I started with my 4 iron (I read yesterday that Tom Watson alwas starts with his 3 iron so I thought I'll give it a try too), hit 2 good shots, pushed the 3rd one, and then: shanks!!! Then I pulled my 9 iron: I shanked and bladed my balls and almost made airshots!!! My swing totally fell apart!!! Then I stopped and went chipping and pitched a few shots, no problem there. Back to the long game the same problem! Then I tried the move in the downswing my pro gave me to avoid coming from the inside too much, and I started to hit better balls again! So my mistake was that I came too far from the inside again - but it didn't feel like that!!! Was the mistake maybe because I started hitting shots with my 4 iron instead of a PW or 9i as usually? Or is it normal that you fall back into your old swing over night? Did you ever make similar experiences? Tomorrow morning I have my next Pro lesson.

[chasm]

As far as I am concerned, it is normal to slide back into bad habits unless one concentrates on the "new" method every time, until it becomes so ingrained that it's the new default.

The young pro I've been seeing since I started playing again is pretty good at having me work on one thing at a time. I get the idea, go away and work on it for a week or two, then we'll check that I've "got it" and move on to something else.

But I still backslide. With me it's alignment. If I don't take obsessional care at set-up I'll find I'm taking a stance with my shoulders slightly open to the target.

[Reval14]

Maybe I started too soon hitting my long irons already, I just felt to confident after the good shots yesterday. it's the only explanation I have. Since the lowest point of the arc is far more on the right side when you come from the inside too much it explains those bladed/air shots.

[iacas]

Your mistake was in assuming that something you learned within the last few weeks had completely replaced your prior motion. It often takes years, or thousands of golf balls, to replace the dynamic portions of our swings.

[Reval14]

Your mistake was in assuming that something you learned within the last few weeks had completely replaced your prior motion. It often takes years, or thousands of golf balls, to replace the dynamic portions of our swings.

I'm practicing every day a few hours. Do you think a long iron supports a flat swing, esspecially when you are trying to get a steeper swing path?

[iacas]

I'm practicing every day a few hours. Do you think a long iron supports a flat swing, esspecially when you are trying to get a steeper swing path?

For your sake, and please take it that way, I can't really answer a general question. It's a Goldilocks type of thing and it depends on what you mean as "steeper" and "flat" and so many other things.

Also, we can't really say for sure if you've practiced them properly. Perhaps you have - I'm not saying you haven't - just that we have no real idea.

[Reval14]

With "flat" I mean a too shallow backswing that comes too shallow from the inside in the follow through. I'm trying to achieve a steeper backswing and downswing. Since I hit decent shots with my 3 iron yesterday It must have been right what I practiced :p. I'm just curious why my feeling totally got lost after hitting long irons today.

[iacas]

With "flat" I mean a too shallow backswing that comes too shallow from the inside in the follow through. I'm trying to achieve a steeper backswing and downswing. Since I hit decent shots with my 3 iron yesterday It must have been right what I practiced :p. I'm just curious why my feeling totally got lost after hitting long irons today.

I know what you mean by flat, but there is a pretty wide range that could still work, and unless we have specifics and a good understanding of your particular body type, swing, etc. we can't really say too much. Matt Kuchar is pretty "flat" and Bubba Watson is pretty upright, but both work.