My Swing (Martyn Birch)

[Martyn Birch]

Hi all

Long time viewer but new member.

I've been Playing Golf for: 3 years

My current handicap index or average score is: 17

My typical ball flight is: very high, more fade than hook but can do both!!

The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: blading irons

As you will see I am a flipper, any tips or advice to help me not throw the lag away would be really helpful. I really struggle hitting into the wind as I add loft when I flip and hit the ball so high.

Many thanks

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Videos:

[mvmac]

Welcome to the site. I'd like to see you get your weight further forward on the downswing, this will lessen your flip and help you hit it more solid. Few resources to help.

[Martyn Birch]

Thank you so much for this Mike. Of course I have been through flaring feet before but it tends to be one of the things you forget! I didn't realise how square my feet had become and even notice my right foot moving away from target in the back swing.

Will give this a go, like you say on the link, flared left foot is almost universal with good players.

Thanks again

Martyn

[SavvySwede]

I sure hope those are foam balls.

[Martyn Birch]

I sure hope those are foam balls.

They are!! I know, but it was starting to rain, will do sensible DTL next time!

[Martyn Birch]

Hi all
As always trying to improve on my flaw laden swing. Around 18 h/c but can shoot between 12 and 24 over quite easily.
My biggest issue is hooking long clubs. Despite the horror show below I often make good contact and get good high ball flight.
I know most (all?) of my faults including over swinging, the loss of posture, casting, flipping extra marital goat intimacy etc etc.

Wanting to work first on the takeaway, have had lessons where I was flat and under plane and the pro recommended the one piece then c0ck the left wrist as a dominant thought as I attempt in the first video.

Also had advice from another pro to start back with an immediate bending back of the right wrist to help with position at the top, this is the second video.

Which one of these ideas should a pursue? Which one is least bad? I think I need to nail this before working to shorten my swing.

Appreciate your input.

 

[b101]

With respect, I think it's still exactly the same issue and would recommend you follow @mvmac's suggestion. If you look at the still below, you should be able to see that you've bumped your hips forward but without really getting your weight across - particularly clear by your finish position where you leave a lot of weight still on the back foot. If you start doing this properly, it'll be nigh on impossible for you to flip at the ball.

Additionally, it's worth noting that you will feel this is a real extreme and that you're way out of balance. Keep filming yourself and check that you are changing the picture - then post again here, ask if you're doing it right etc. But forget about the fact that you are flipping at the moment and go for the weight transfer - that's the problem that's causing you to flip and if you were to angle the shaft so it 'looks right' without altering your weight shift, it'd only be masking the problem and would lead to other inconsistencies elsewhere...

Edit: realised this came across quite negative - I honestly think there's a lot of good moves in your swing and it's not far away from where you want it. You'll be amazed how sorting one seemingly minor thing can make a huge difference (for me it was length of backswing).

Edited November 1, 2015 by b101

[Martyn Birch]

23 hours ago, b101 said:

With respect, I think it's still exactly the same issue and would recommend you follow @mvmac's suggestion. If you look at the still below, you should be able to see that you've bumped your hips forward but without really getting your weight across - particularly clear by your finish position where you leave a lot of weight still on the back foot. If you start doing this properly, it'll be nigh on impossible for you to flip at the ball.

Additionally, it's worth noting that you will feel this is a real extreme and that you're way out of balance. Keep filming yourself and check that you are changing the picture - then post again here, ask if you're doing it right etc. But forget about the fact that you are flipping at the moment and go for the weight transfer - that's the problem that's causing you to flip and if you were to angle the shaft so it 'looks right' without altering your weight shift, it'd only be masking the problem and would lead to other inconsistencies elsewhere...

Edit: realised this came across quite negative - I honestly think there's a lot of good moves in your swing and it's not far away from where you want it. You'll be amazed how sorting one seemingly minor thing can make a huge difference (for me it was length of backswing).

Many thanks for taking the time to reply, I didn't find your comments negative at all. Moving my weight has been a constant issue for me, I have shot video before and really gone for a pronounced weight shift yet still flipped. I have been advised that the flip may be due to my flat shoulder turn and right shoulder being too high which leads to trail arm straightening prematurely and no option but to flip.

I will do another video at the weekend when I have the light. Funny thing is I came in on the back 9 two over on Sunday with this flippy effort!

[b101]

On 02/11/2015, 20:00:52, Martyn Birch said:

Many thanks for taking the time to reply, I didn't find your comments negative at all. Moving my weight has been a constant issue for me, I have shot video before and really gone for a pronounced weight shift yet still flipped. I have been advised that the flip may be due to my flat shoulder turn and right shoulder being too high which leads to trail arm straightening prematurely and no option but to flip.

I will do another video at the weekend when I have the light. Funny thing is I came in on the back 9 two over on Sunday with this flippy effort!

Glad it came over ok! I'm not great with the causes, but @mvmac is - I would trust his judgement!

Good to hear you managed two over. We can always make our technique work somehow, but longer term, it'll be better to sort it out, as you'll have to be super-precise to make yours work consistently.

[JKolya]

I agree with what was said above -listen to Mike, and work on getting your weight forward. That said, in terms of flipping a feeling which works for me is - feel like you are pumping the right elbow. That is, in the backswing you bend the right elbow, then from the top as your weight goes forward and automatically drops your arms some feel like you are straightening that right elbow to push the club the rest of the way down. Do not think about your hands,just straightening that right elbow (ideally it is not fully extended until after impact). A second optional feeling I have heard used is from the top,after your weight begins to transfer feel like you are throwing your right wrist or right palm down. Done correctly it is the same effect as straightening the right elbow, just with a different focus. Now I cannot stress enough that these are feelings designed to result in an outcome. They may not work for you,but I do believe they are worth a try. So to sum up -focus on getting that weight forward then as the arms drop finish out by straightening the right arm through impact. Do not think about the hands or ball.

[Martyn Birch]

UPDATE...

Hi all

Shortened my swing significantly by hitting balls with my left eye closed. Previously I would go past parallel with an 8 iron and stand up in backswing all because my head rotated to the right so much I would lose sight of the ball.

Still got the horrible impact position you see below which saps distance, brings inconsistency and leads to high spinny shots.

Tried punisher drill loads and DST compressor (which I can still flip!) but nothing helps me to keep my right arm from straightening out too soon, I can even feel my right hand flapping through impact.

Any advice?...other than take up fishing!


http://www.youtube.c...eature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.c...eature=youtu.be

[boogielicious]

Remember to copy the link from the video and paste, otherwise it doesn't imbed. I usually pause the video, then right click on it and copy video url. Also, the DTL video should be lined up with your foot line and not the ball.

 

[Martyn Birch]

Thanks for doing this, point noted about alignment

[mistermuhl]

Watching the video "one piece and cock" up above. The DTL. I can blatantly see a lot of head movement. Check out key #1. You head starts well below the fork in the tree but at the top you stand up and it's right on the fork. 

[chspeed]

On 11/2/2015 at 3:00 PM, Martyn Birch said:

Moving my weight has been a constant issue for me, I have shot video before and really gone for a pronounced weight shift yet still flipped. I have been advised that the flip may be due to my flat shoulder turn and right shoulder being too high which leads to trail arm straightening prematurely and no option but to flip.

Sorry to beat a dead horse here, but you should listen to Mike and just focus on getting that weight forward for now. Put something under your front foot, a small squishy ball works well, and feel yourself step onto it through the downswing. Once you get that piece correct, you can move on to other issues.

[Martyn Birch]

2 hours ago, chspeed said:

Sorry to beat a dead horse here, but you should listen to Mike and just focus on getting that weight forward for now. Put something under your front foot, a small squishy ball works well, and feel yourself step onto it through the downswing. Once you get that piece correct, you can move on to other issues.

I hear you, thanks,  I am predisposed to a spin out but even when I make a good move left my right hand still flips even with a slow pitch. Convinced it's something to do with my hand, arm, wrist orientation but cant figure it out. Casting is still there but now a little later in my swing. Will post another swing tomorrow.

[chspeed]

Here's another drill to work on, also related to getting weight forward but incorporating your arms and hands and how they should work.