Hit Fat Shots and After Watching Swing Am Not Confortable With Anything-Video Include

[RunOfTheDill]

I thought my swing was okay but now after watching and really thinking about it its terrible. I realised I very rarely hit a good ball at the range and hit everything fat. On the course everything is fat but my swing flight is a push to the right. Here is my swing.

http://www.swingacademy.com/SwingAna...ol.aspx?id=106

I have become so unconfortable with my backswing that I hate going to the range. I know I need to keep my head a little more stable and transfer my weight to my front foot sooner. Also, not fall forward but almost pivot my waist on the spot. Just help me! I'm getting so frustrated. I'm tired of hitting fat shots.

[supercow]

- focus on maintaining knee flex in trailing leg to increase coil and ensure proper weight shift. This also reduces lateral motion.
- relax, you look incredibly stiff over the ball, maybe develop a pre-swing waggle of some sort.
- your head seems to be stuck to your chest at the moment. Lift it a tad. This will allow your shoulders to rotate back and forth without you having to change your spine angle.
- swing seems to be driven by upper body at the moment. Just fire your lower body when you've completed your backswing and let the swing 'happen'. Do not attempt to guide or lift the ball into the air.
- can't see it clearly but work on your grip as well as posture. Grip looks a little strong at the moment but I can't be entirely sure because the movie is kind of fuzzy. Most of the time I hit fat shots when I'm stooped over too far.
- is it possible to get a down the line view? I have the funny feeling that you're starting back too steep... Also, want to get a better idea of your setup/stance.

[$2 Nassau]

Looks like you are swaying a bit on the backswing, rathering than turning. I think I have a keen eye for something like that, due to experience.

I agree 100% with supercow, maintaining knee flex (and posture) allows for a coil rather than a sway. Just make sure the weight never leaves the inside of your right foot. Don't let it get to the outside of your right foot during the backswing or it becomes very difficult to get your weight to your front foot = fat shots.

I hit fat shots for my first 2 years playing...then about a year or so ago, I finally started turning instead of swaying and my handicap dropped about 12 strokes.

Good luck.

[bruindds]

I was hitting a lot of fat shots earlier this year. Try the drill where you put a golf tee 6 inches in front of your ball; you then try to hit the forward tee. One of the big golf magazines just had an article about the drill. I am down to maybe one fat shot per round compared to about 10.
looking at your video, what really struck me was how much your head moves on your backswing; look at faxons swing on that site http://www.swingacademy.com/SwingAna...ol.aspx?id=122
compare his head movement to yours. Looks like $2 nassau is saying essentially the same thing in a different way- you want more of a turn around your head rather than a sway type move.

[MPS67]

Hi Bruindds,

I attached three images of my analysis. I'm sorry about the image quality, but I couldn't seem to get better ones uploaded as they were too large.

Image 1 is your address. I would recommend you press your hands forward until your left arm and club shaft are in-line. I also believe that your shoulders (red line) are tilted back too much.

Image number 2 is your downswing initiation position. From reviewing the video, I see that you're initiating the down swing with your shoulders which in turn promotes an over the top move. Like others have said before me, your knee is locked straight. Try maintaining a slightly bent knee and allow your hips to start the down sing. I drew in the horizontal line and arrows above your head to suggest trying to keep your head level during this move. Another thing, as others have mentioned, you sway back your head and body on your backs wing to the tune of about 6 inches. Try only to rotate back with little back sway during the back swing.

Image number three is your position before the ball strike. The green line represents a good lag amount when you're in this pre-strike position. Notice the amount you've casted your release (in red.) This premature release promotes hitting fat. The lag amount shown with the two red lines is what you want it to look like right after you strike through the ball. Additionally, it appears that your hips and shoulders are rotationally aligned. You want your hips to be farther along than your shoulders at this point. Maybe about 20°. Your shoulders will eventually catch up and pass your hips, but not until after you strike through the ball. The fact that you initiate the downswing with your shoulders is most likely causing this incorrect position.

[RunOfTheDill]

WOW, thanks guys.

Question on setup, what do you mean by tilted back to much. I was just told a couple days ago to start pressing my irons a little more forward.

Second, How can I work on my backswing. I really have no idea what to do. I know I don't take the club to far back but just keeping my left knee bent will prevent the swaying. I just dont get it. Do I want my hips to turn somewhat.

Third, how can i work on inatiating with the lower body or do I just do this?

THanks.

[MPS67]

I believe that your shoulders are tilted too back far at address. This lowers your right hand, grip, and club towards the ground. If you're hitting fat, I'd suggest tilting back up to only half or less of what you're showing. If I remember correctly, Jim Hardy, author of The Plane Truth , recommends no shoulder tilt at address for one plane swingers. If you look at the attached image number one from my post, the green line drawn across your shoulders is probably better for you.

For the back swing, you want your hands to travel almost straight back and be the driving force that turns shoulders to 90° or until your back is facing the target. You should not consciously turn your hips, as they'll be automatically rotated/pulled by your torso. Your hips should reach a rotation of about halfway or 45°. Rotate on your back swing. Don't sway. Not that you want this to happen, but keep in mind that you can still sway back with a bent knee. It's good to keep your knee bent so that you'll feel resistance in your thigh, which you use to your advantage when you want to get your hips started on the downswing. Some like to help initiate their downswing by shifting/pointing their right knee forward towards their left knee. When doing this, be careful not to shift your hips left, but instead, keep your back tilted and rotate your hips as your right elbow meets your right hip before ball impact. Many players make the mistake of lifting up their backs to a more upright position during the downswing.

[RunOfTheDill]

SO your saying stand a little bit more upright with the upper body and lift my head a tad?

[supercow]

These should help you understand what we're trying to say and why...

http://www.oneplanegolfswing.com/p3_...two_plane.html
http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/

[MPS67]

Actually no, RunoftheDil.

When someone speaks of 'upright' in golf terms, they're refering to the angle between a vertical line and your spine when looking from your right side at adress, assuming you're a right hander. So when someone is upright, they're not bending over at the waist very much.

If I were to look at you face on at address, I'd suggest you not tilt to your right so much. Look at the image clip number one again and compare the red versus green lines I drew. The red line I drew goes through your shoulders and the green line represents where your shoulders ought to lie.

Supercow, thanks for the links. The information is fantastic!

Mark :)

[RunOfTheDill]

Okay, since I have been working on what you guys have been saying I have been starting to hook like crazy. Is it bad that I always close my eyes at impact? I just can't keep an eye on the ball no matter how hard I try.

[alf174]

Okay, since I have been working on what you guys have been saying I have been starting to hook like crazy. Is it bad that I always close my eyes at impact? I just can't keep an eye on the ball no matter how hard I try.

Walk, no RUN, and get some lessons from a reputable pro. You've lived too long with the anxiety created by trying to fix this yourself these last 2 weeks.

[supercow]

Walk, no RUN, and get some lessons from a reputable pro. You've lived too long with the anxiety created by trying to fix this yourself these last 2 weeks.

Agreed. Its just too hard to explain things across the Internet and its clear that you're misinterpreting some of our suggestions.