My Swing (Rob Thompson)

[Rob Thompson]

I've been Playing Golf for: 10 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 2.4

My typical ball flight is: Push Draw

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Push Fade or Straight push

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Video:   This is before my last lesson on 12/22/14.  On the range I can hit push draws all day.  I often get the question "what goes wrong on the course?"  Well until today I was not really sure.  Dave Wedzik was able to explain it to me in way that finally made sense.  My swing was making it very hard to control Key #5 Club Face Control.  My miss was big pushes and push fades.  We spent about 30 minutes together and you can see the results below.

This is the same day at the end of the lesson.  You can see the swing looks a lot different.  The swing thoughts were very simple.

I am now at home on my own to work the swing.  I am using a similar training aid as in the video above.  I am starting with slow swings and lots of practice swings in between.  I continue to work the speed and distance hit, up as I feel comfortable.  This is my last two swings at full go and no training aid.  Looks good to me, knowing I have only spent one week working on the changes.

My plan for the winter is to take a few more lessons and keep working on it.  I will be the Head Professional at a local golf course next season and for the first time in my life be making golf my full time profession.  I am beyond excited about the move, and now with the new swing changes.  I am very excited about my playing season as well.

[mvmac]

Thanks for sharing Rob. What pieces were you focusing on, what were you feeling to make those changes?

[Rob Thompson]

Mike,

The feelings were similar to what we talked about...Thank you again for sending those videos

1. Feeling the right arm bend earlier on the backswing, but not more that 120*

2. The swing needed to be wider and softer

3. The wrist were not setting at all, and even the "feeling" of unloading them early in the downswing.

[mvmac]

Mike,

The feelings were similar to what we talked about...Thank you again for sending those videos

1. Feeling the right arm bend earlier on the backswing, but not more that 120*

2. The swing needed to be wider and softer

3. The wrist were not setting at all, and even the "feeling" of unloading them early in the downswing.

Very cool. Swing looks great, keep up the good work!

[Rob Thompson]

Thank you Mike!  Have a Happy New Year!

[Rob Thompson]

Here is my latest practice session.  My instructions for practice were to work 80-120-160 yard shots.  I did my best to hit those marks but it is hard the FlightScope to pick them up inside so I started at 100 and worked up.  Same idea just different yardages.  My only swing thought for the whole practice was to feel zero wrist set.  I was actually trying to feel my Ulnar Flexion on the backswing.

Practice went really well.  I am starting to feel some changes.  I like that the 100 yard and 175 yards shots do not look that different.  Swing speed was about 20mph higher in the full shot.

100 Yard Swing

135 Yard Swing

155 Yard Swing

175 Yard Swing (100% Full Go)

[Rob Thompson]

Here is another area that I struggle.  I have been trying to implement the thoughts from Dave Wedzik and @iacas videos.  I am trying to feel my right hand "dealing cards".  I am much better at using the bounce than I used to be (Thank you Edel Wedges!) but something still looks off to me.  Any thoughts?

[billchao]

Here is another area that I struggle.  I have been trying to implement the thoughts from Dave Wedzik and @iacas videos.  I am trying to feel my right hand "dealing cards".  I am much better at using the bounce than I used to be (Thank you Edel Wedges!) but something still looks off to me.  Any thoughts?

I don't know what you worked on with them with your pitching, but I've seen that look before. Too much throwing of the hands coming down. Dave had me feel like I hinge the club back and just pivot through. Felt like I was holding my wrist angles, but in reality I wasn't.

[Rob Thompson]

That is interesting because I felt in the pass, that I held the angle too much.  Maybe I have over done it???

[billchao]

That is interesting because I felt in the pass, that I held the angle too much.  Maybe I have over done it???

With the unhinging? That's what I ended up doing. My backswing was fine, but I was exposing too much bounce in the downswing. Your pitch looks like the way mine was, so I'm thinking the same feel might work for you.

[Rob Thompson]

Ill give it a try at my next practice.  Thank you for the insight.

[billchao]

Ill give it a try at my next practice.  Thank you for the insight.

You're welcome. I hope it works for you; I look forward to following your progress.

[mvmac]

Dave had me feel like I hinge the club back and just pivot through.

Just to add to this Rob, I'd like to see you pivot a little more going back which will help you "throw it" at the right sequence. I think that piece that looks "off" is that you're left bending too much on the backswing. I'd experiment will feeling the turn/pivot more level.

[iacas]

Just to add to this Rob, I'd like to see you pivot a little more going back which will help you "throw it" at the right sequence. I think that piece that looks "off" is that you're left bending too much on the backswing. I'd experiment will feeling the turn/pivot more level.

And let the elbow fold more too. Do a little bit less with the hands moving, and more with the elbow folding.

[Rob Thompson]

@mvmac @iacas Thank you for the advice.

One other thing I notice is that, in the motion made by you guys, it appears that your right hands are on top more.  Like the left wrist is parallel to the floor and the right hand is on top of that.  Your trail elbow looks like is bending in rowing motion more than a outward curling motion.  Make sense?  Is that the bending of the elbow I should be feeling?

[Rob Thompson]

I feel like this looks closer to the videos I have been watching.  I can tell when I do not pivot enough going through because the shot is thin.  Is this looking closer to correct?

[Rob Thompson]

Here is my latest practice session.  Left side video is with a training aid.  I am putting a bungee cord around my right arm to help me bend my right arm faster on the back swing.  My main thought in the swing is to feel little to no wrist hinge with a super smooth transition.  I have been using bungee cord so that I do not have to focus on the right arm and can place all my focus on the wrist and transition.

Here is the pitching motion.  I think its getting better but still not 100%.  My thought has been to turn more level in the back swing and bend the right arm faster.  Let me know what you think.

[mvmac]

Looking good Rob!