My Swing (GHIN0011458)

[GHIN0011458]

I've been Playing Golf for: 6 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 0

My typical ball flight is: Lower Penetrating

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: I just want a better swing. I know I have a belly so I could work on that to get more rotation. I am open for Ideas on how to get better so let it rip.

70 yard shots (75 percent wedge)

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Videos:

8 iron

6 iron

4 Iron

Driver

Sorry I didn't get a front view.. and my swings were kind of stiff since it was 32 degrees out and the balls felt like a rock. I wasn't leaving the bays that were housed to get a front view.

[mvmac]

I just want a better swing. I know I have a belly so I could work on that to get more rotation. I am open for Ideas on how to get better so let it rip.

Looks like your feet are pretty square, I'd recommend you turn both of them out about 35 degrees. Will free up your hip turn and and help you hit it higher. I would also stick the butt out less at address, you're sitting a bit back in your heels, can also effect the rotation pieces and how the club loads. If anything your shaft loads a little too shallow going back.

[GHIN0011458]

Looks like your feet are pretty square, I'd recommend you turn both of them out about 35 degrees. Will free up your hip turn and and help you hit it higher. I would also stick the butt out less at address, you're sitting a bit back in your heels, can also effect the rotation pieces and how the club loads. If anything your shaft loads a little too shallow going back.

Thanks! So watching the video I have definitely caught myself with "knock knees" but have worked on that. I don't bow them out either though. My left knee still flexes towards the  ball in the backswing but I will definitely try to flair my feet out. I usually flair it when I want to hit a fade/slice so will that encourage that flight? I like to feel like I am over the ball the entire swing but will definitely try things out. I just feel so much more square to my target when my feet and my shoulders and hips are on the same line.Thanks again.

[mvmac]

I usually flair it when I want to hit a fade/slice so will that encourage that flight?

From a neutral alignment, it would probably encourage more of a draw. More turn on the backswing with the left knee going forward a little longer downswing will tend to have the path more OUTward.

I just feel so much more square to my target when my feet and my shoulders and hips are on the same line.Thanks again.

I can understand that feeling but if you want to turn more and not consciously change your swing, give this a try

[iacas]

I just feel so much more square to my target when my feet and my shoulders and hips are on the same line.

If you turn your feet at the ankles, not only will your ankles not move, but if you turn them out the same amount, your toes will still be lined up too.

[GHIN0011458]

Okay I will definitely try that out. Is there anything else mechanically I could start working on? Goal is a higher flight this year. Is there anything I am doing well that I won't need to mess with? I actually have never seen my swing on video. And how do I grade myself on the 5SK grading system I was reading about?

[iacas]

Okay I will definitely try that out. Is there anything else mechanically I could start working on? Goal is a higher flight this year. Is there anything I am doing well that I won't need to mess with? I actually have never seen my swing on video. And how do I grade myself on the 5SK grading system I was reading about?

In no particular order and kind of all at once:

• You obviously have nearly all 5SK. Not to the level of a PGA Tour player, particularly 4 and 5, but the rest are likely just fine.
• You are at the point in your golf swing where it may be one step back before you can take two steps forward. The lead arm is a little low, the elbow a little far around you, etc.
• You clearly have some good instincts and hand-eye coordination.
• I'd work on the setup a bit right now and get some slow-mo if possible, particularly of FO.
• Another word on one back, two forward: you have two choices there; you can take it slowly and keep playing where you are now, or you can do it more quickly but you may actually experience the "one step back" piece. The setup changes to help you turn more are a slow piece, though, and relatively simple. Something you can do right away and shouldn't regress even a tiny step backward.

[GHIN0011458]

In no particular order and kind of all at once:

You obviously have nearly all 5SK. Not to the level of a PGA Tour player, particularly 4 and 5, but the rest are likely just fine.

You are at the point in your golf swing where it may be one step back before you can take two steps forward. The lead arm is a little low, the elbow a little far around you, etc.

You clearly have some good instincts and hand-eye coordination.

I'd work on the setup a bit right now and get some slow-mo if possible, particularly of FO.

Another word on one back, two forward: you have two choices there; you can take it slowly and keep playing where you are now, or you can do it more quickly but you may actually experience the "one step back" piece. The setup changes to help you turn more are a slow piece, though, and relatively simple. Something you can do right away and shouldn't regress even a tiny step backward.

At the end of the year I always tear it down a little bit and take a step back to take two forward- I am all for that actually. The amount of practice I put in at the beginning of the season usually has my swing changes done in 1-2 months.  I will work on setup. The thing I noticed since I really haven't seen my swing on video before is my left arm isn't on the same plane with my shoulder angle when my arms are brought back? It is a tad lower, but that could be because I am not rotating to parallel?(end of 6 second mark on 3rd video, end of 10 second mark on 2nd video) I don't know how to screenshot the videos sorry. Also- are you saying I should keep my right elbow in through impact? I do work on keeping my right elbow close a lot it slowly gets further.

[iacas]

At the end of the year I always tear it down a little bit and take a step back to take two forward- I am all for that actually. The amount of practice I put in at the beginning of the season usually has my swing changes done in 1-2 months.  I will work on setup. The thing I noticed since I really haven't seen my swing on video before is my left arm isn't on the same plane with my shoulder angle when my arms are brought back? It is a tad lower, but that could be because I am not rotating to parallel?(end of 6 second mark on 3rd video, end of 10 second mark on 2nd video) I don't know how to screenshot the videos sorry. Also- are you saying I should keep my right elbow in through impact? I do work on keeping my right elbow close a lot it slowly gets further.

I'm heading downtown (http://thegolfevolution.com/metro) right now and so this is quick, but yeah, that left arm is from this:

Right elbow trapped behind you, etc.

More later. Updated video will help. iPhones do slow-motion, even…

[GHIN0011458]

I saw the thread where you can give yourself a 1 ,1 .75 etc to match it up with a chart. I need to understand 4 and 5 better I guess to grade myself. Not sure where I would fall. I really want @Phil McGleno to take a look and give me his thoughts. I want a review from him since I know he may be harsh on me which is kinda what I am looking for, some brutal honesty.

[Golfingdad]

I saw the thread where you can give yourself a 1 ,1 .75 etc to match it up with a chart. I need to understand 4 and 5 better I guess to grade myself. Not sure where I would fall. I really want @Phil McGleno  to take a look and give me his thoughts. I want a review from him since I know he may be harsh on me which is kinda what I am looking for, some brutal honesty.

Good for you.  Too many people like to throw their swings up on here and be told everything is good and are very reluctant to listen to any advice or to want to change to get better.  You sound like you'd be a good student.  I wish you luck!!

[GHIN0011458]

Good for you.  Too many people like to throw their swings up on here and be told everything is good and are very reluctant to listen to any advice or to want to change to get better.  You sound like you'd be a good student.  I wish you luck!!

Tiger didn't change swings 3 times for no reason. He knew he reached a peak and the only way to get better was through change. That is my take on it. People bash him for changing his swing but I think that he did it because he knew if he wasn't changing, he wasn't getting better. I think you have to know how to change though too.. small things, one at a time.

[mmoan2]

Do you find that you score worse at the end of a round, particularly on a hot day? I ask because I'm even heavier than you are (I'm also 6'2, but that's not what I mean), and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said fitness might be a big help. My mechanics break down after 4 hours on the course. If I were you and wanted to get to a +2 handicap range, I'd hit the gym more and look at a nutrition plan.

[Lihu]

It's easy to see why you're scratch. Nice swing and great attitude about making changes!

Just thought I would throw in a friendly comment, as we have had many other friendly interactions.

[GHIN0011458]

Do you find that you score worse at the end of a round, particularly on a hot day? I ask because I'm even heavier than you are (I'm also 6'2, but that's not what I mean), and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said fitness might be a big help. My mechanics break down after 4 hours on the course. If I were you and wanted to get to a +2 handicap range, I'd hit the gym more and look at a nutrition plan.

I keep telling myself that when I get to a +2, fitness is what will push me over the edge and onto pro status lol. That is really my way of procrastinating on losing weight but it may have some truth to it. My mechanics don't break down anymore, they used to for sure. But hitting enough balls on a regular basis and keeping my tempo the same for pretty much every swing has really helped keep me solid through the entire round and keep me consistent. I will be doing some gym stuff this winter so I can increase swing speed a little bit. I hear squats and deadlift help.

[GHIN0011458]

It's easy to see why you're scratch. Nice swing and great attitude about making changes!

Just thought I would throw in a friendly comment, as we have had many other friendly interactions.

Thanks buddy. I was hoping you would chip in. I am not getting as many responses as I wanted on things to change, but maybe it will come around.

[Golfingdad]

Thanks buddy. I was hoping you would chip in. I am not getting as many responses as I wanted on things to change, but maybe it will come around.

Patience.  You'll get plenty of feedback, but it won't all happen overnight.  (I remember feeling the same way.)

[Lihu]

Thanks buddy. I was hoping you would chip in. I am not getting as many responses as I wanted on things to change, but maybe it will come around.

I should add that it's kind of hard to give advice to a scratch golfer with 3+ keys (declared by Erik no less) under his belt.