My swing (Voodoo)

[voodoo]

I've been Playing Golf for: 25 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 8-10

My typical ball flight is: medium high in height.... draws w/ irons...who knows w/ driver

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is:  Overdraws w/ irons, especially 7 iron thru wedges.... and fat shots

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Videos:

[mvmac]

How long have you been using that style of grip? What's the story behind it?

[voodoo]

I figured that would be one of the first questions brought up.  You asked what is the story behind it?  Well..... it is indeed a story.... so here's the deal.

Years ago, when I couldn't even break 100.... sliced everything.... and pretty much just a terrible golfer - I tried everything to improve and nothing worked.  So... one day I saw an advertisement for the Heard Super Swing.  It was only like $40 for the "system" so myself, my father, and my uncle figured what the heck and ordered it.  Not sure how familiar you are with it but in a nutshell, here's the concept.  Ten finger grip, both hands turned super strong, and a no rotation of the club face type of swing.  There's more to it than that but that gives you an idea.  What it did was, was completely eliminate the slice...and the "miss" becomes a hook.  I used this for a year or so but eventually the hooks did me in.  I did shoot some pretty good scores, including some in the upper70s, and coming from the 90/100s...this was a positive step.  So.... having success with an "alternative" type of swing that got rid of my banana ball....I continued my journey.

This was about the time Natural Golf was gaining some popularity.  While I never actually used this system, I did become quite engaged in an offshoot of it.  Scott Hazledine was at one time, director of instruction for Natural Golf.  He too ventured off on his own and created a teaching system title Ideal Mechanical Advantage.  His theory was a swing based on the young Moe Norman, not the 60 year old Moe that Natural Golf copied or tried to copy.  Scott's system had some flexibility with the grip and I naturally kept the 10 finger grip.  The grip then became not as strong as the Heard grip but still 10 finger.  It's also why, to this day, I tend to setup in a single axis manner.  That is, the clubshaft and my trail arm in alignment.

Then, I stumbled across the methods/teachings of Jack Kuykendall - another supposedly Moe Norman advocate (among other things).  He believed in a split hands grip.  So, being the type of golfer to try anything, I started splitting my hands a little.  I think over time, they have stayed separated and now, when I try a more conventional grip, either interlocking or overlapping, it just feels way, way too strange.  I can't even control the club.

I have visited Erik a couple of times about 2 years ago, and of course, the grip became a topic.  His thought was that a 10 finger grip was OK... but I should make the effort to keep them closer together.  And I probably should do that.

You asked... and that's my story.

[mvmac]

I have visited Erik a couple of times about 2 years ago, and of course, the grip became a topic.  His thought was that a 10 finger grip was OK... but I should make the effort to keep them closer together.  And I probably should do that.

Yeah I agree with that. 10 finger is fine but I feel you are losing out on some speed with the lack of wrist hinge with the split hand. Would like to see how it looks with the hands closer together.

With the swing, there are two things that stand out.

- Narrow the stance a little. I understand this might go against some of the previous things you have learned but I recommend giving it a try.

-  Lean or load less on your front leg at address. Looks like you're anchored into your left leg and that's making it hard for you to turn and transfer weight forward on the downswing. It's fine having the weight slightly for forward but I like to see it done by bumping the hips a little forward with the head centered. Your head is more over your left foot. I'd like to see it more like this. (I know you're not a slicer, just sharing the link for the set-up piece).

- Allow the left knee to rotate inward, towards the center of your stance, on the backswing.

I feel all this pieces will help this position on the downswing, where you "fall back".

[voodoo]

Yeah I agree with that. 10 finger is fine but I feel you are losing out on some speed with the lack of wrist hinge with the split hand. Would like to see how it looks with the hands closer together.

With the swing, there are two things that stand out.

- Narrow the stance a little. I understand this might go against some of the previous things you have learned but I recommend giving it a try.

-  Lean or load less on your front leg at address. Looks like you're anchored into your left leg and that's making it hard for you to turn and transfer weight forward on the downswing. It's fine having the weight slightly for forward but I like to see it done by bumping the hips a little forward with the head centered. Your head is more over your left foot. I'd like to see it more like this. (I know you're not a slicer, just sharing the link for the set-up piece).

- Allow the left knee to rotate inward, towards the center of your stance, on the backswing.

I feel all this pieces will help this position on the downswing, where you "fall back".

Ok thanks.  Let me address the things you mentioned.

- I know and have know for awhile I need to do something about my grip.  Seems like I take the easy way out when it comes to changing it though.  It just feels so comfortable and I figure why change it?  (even though I know I need to).  Living in NE Ohio and with this being the off season (although it's never an off season w/ my golf simulator room), now is the perfect time to change the grip.  I can NEVER go back to overlap or interlock so I just have to find a 10 finger solution.  I have dabbled trying to get my hands closer together but I struggle finding something comfortable.  I'll make it a priority.

- Never occurred to me to narrow my stance.  Not sure what I accomplish by doing it but you know way more than me about the golf swing so no problem - I will narrow it.

- I've definitely loaded and anchored into my left leg at address.  I picked that move up from watching some youtube video and it just felt good.  One of my misses is a fat iron shot and I figured if I anchor my lead leg that would be less movement required.  I thought with less movement maybe I'd learn to strike it purer.  I definitely have that feeling of "falling back" on the downswing like you mentioned.  Not all the time, and certainly more so with the driver.

- As far as allowing the left knee to rotate in more - that's an easy fix.  (at least I hope it is)

I hit balls and/or play daily on my sim -  so I will implement these changes immediately.  The grip may be the toughest thing to change and perhaps one of the most important.  Thanks for the advice!

[mvmac]

- Never occurred to me to narrow my stance.  Not sure what I accomplish by doing it but you know way more than me about the golf swing so no problem - I will narrow it. - I've definitely loaded and anchored into my left leg at address.  I picked that move up from watching some youtube video and it just felt good.  One of my misses is a fat iron shot and I figured if I anchor my lead leg that would be less movement required.  I thought with less movement maybe I'd learn to strike it purer.  I definitely have that feeling of "falling back" on the downswing like you mentioned.  Not all the time, and certainly more so with the driver.

The slightly more narrow stance will just help with the left knee. Like I said, setting up a little left is ok but when a player "anchors" left they have nothing to move forward with on the downswing. It creates a position where you're too much on top of it and have to fall back to compensate.