My Swing (Let it Fly)

[Let it Fly]

Glad to be back on TST after a couple month hiatus due to a hectic travel schedule.  Sounds like a lot of players have really benefited from the My Swing thread, so decided to finally start my own.  Didn't realize I'd missed the perfect camera angles until after my last ball was struck, but figured I'd start up the thread anyway and get them next time around.  I haven't seen myself on video since taking lessons 3 or 4 years ago, so this should be fun.

Not one to suppose things I'm doing right/wrong, but any feedback on where the swing is today is more than welcome...thanks in advance! 

I've been Playing Golf for: 4+ years
My current handicap index or average score is: 12.6
My typical ball flight is: High cut
The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Thin slice

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Videos: 

 

 

[mchepp]

First things first, your biggest problem is you are swinging from the wrong side of the ball.... Alright you have probably already heard that joke, sorry, couldn't resist.

The first thing I notice is that you bring the clubhead inside and open the face. Both are bad things. You can see in this picture here. Your club is toe up. That means that it is open to the arc that you are swinging on.

Once that face is open you are doomed to a compensation to get it back to square. Robert Rock show here has the club more outside his hands and also importantly has the face square the arc he is swinging on. 

This is a good place for you to start. Once we can get that face more square we can start fixing the other compensations you have made to square the face in your swing.

[Let it Fly]

Hey Michael, thanks for the reply.

2 hours ago, mchepp said:

First things first, your biggest problem is you are swinging from the wrong side of the ball.... Alright you have probably already heard that joke, sorry, couldn't resist.

Sure have...and all but given up trying to teach my buddies that I didn't "hook" that one into the pond on the left.

2 hours ago, mchepp said:

Once that face is open you are doomed to a compensation to get it back to square. Robert Rock show here has the club more outside his hands and also importantly has the face square the arc he is swinging on. 

Opening the face on the takeaway is something I really hadn't noticed/felt, but...wow...very evident.  Getting to the above position seems like something I can work on at home to start developing some level of comfort.  When the girlfriend starts in with the "what are you doing and let me use the mirror,"  I'll make sure to leave your name out of it.

[mchepp]

51 minutes ago, Let it Fly said:

 When the girlfriend starts in with the "what are you doing and let me use the mirror,"  I'll make sure to leave your name out of it.

I have some good news for you. Once she becomes your wife she will only roll her eyes at you when you are in the mirror working on your golf swing.

[Let it Fly]

@mchepp - Have been focusing strictly on my takeaway the past couple of weeks, and finally got to the point today where I was able to semi-comfortably make some full swings.  Actually set the camera up so I couldn't see much of anything except takeaway & impact (too many thoughts at once can wreak havoc on me),  Screen shots below look like it's getting better, and have found that my well-hit shots (albeit rare right now) are better than they were 3 or 4 weeks ago...sure does feel weird, though.    

 

 

Understand what you mean now about making compensations...face is still coming in very open.  Plan to keep working on the takeaway for awhile until it becomes a more natural feeling, then go from there. 

Edited August 15, 2016 by Let it Fly

[mchepp]

Backswing looks much better. Good work. Keep it up. 

Have you looked at your grip recently? I wonder if it is a little weak. Might help a little to strengthen it a little. 

[Let it Fly]

I haven't, but those close-ups do look weak...will fool with it.  Thanks again.  

[Let it Fly]

After taking some time off at the end of 2016, finally back at it.

On 8/15/2016 at 5:38 PM, mchepp said:

Have you looked at your grip recently? I wonder if it is a little weak. Might help a little to strengthen it a little.

Taking a series of lessons over the Winter for the first time in years, and the weak grip I had going on was the first thing my instructor noticed.  Weak grip, coupled with a severely cupped glove wrist at the top, had me delivering the face wide open at impact.  I also had a tendency to come over the top...everything was leading to soft/high fades & slices unless my timing was absolutely perfect. 

In lesson 1, we worked on strengthening the grip, feeling the wrist straight (even bowed to the extreme), and dropping the club on plane during the downswing.  After 5 or 6 very cold range sessions, the club is starting to fall into the slot more and the swing has a much more powerful feel.  He pointed out that I tend to start my downswing with a little dip/dive toward the ball, but that we'll get to it once the new aspects feel more comfortable.  I cannot believe how long it takes me to work through a small bucket these days.  With all the slow rehearsing/practice swings, it's easily 90 mins...and finally feels like actual practice.  

My friend snapped this video at the simulator last weekend...always a blast and figured I'd share since it's been a while.  Not planning to upload practice videos, etc during my lessons & work over the next few months out of respect for my instructor (edit: keep my confusion level to a minimum).  However, will certainly update the progress down the road.

Anyway, hope everyone had a great holiday season, and to all the northern golf nuts...Spring WILL come!      

 

 

 

[RandallT]

Thanks for touching base- swing looking good to me (but don't get cocky cuz I don't know crap). I'm working on a piece that gives me the sensation of also getting "into the slot" as you mention. Amazing how powerful it can feel to have the club come at the ball from the right angle. I guess it's just the way the hand and club paths align with the forces that just makes it zing through just right. Good luck!

[Let it Fly]

On 1/5/2017 at 2:17 PM, RandallT said:

don't get cocky

It's a rare occasion that I'm able to use "cocky" and "golf" in the same sentence haha  

[Let it Fly]

 

Updating progress made during current winter lesson series (apologize for grainy video - my tech-savy will get better as I do this more).

These swings were some of the only "let 'er rip" ones I've made during my work the past two months.  Still working to keep the club face square throughout the entire swing, as well as coming down from the inside & on plane.  More work to do, but beginning to feel like these keys are slowly taking hold to become natural.  Grip change from very weak to neutral/strong feels great.

One question that was pointed out by a friend:  Do the hips seem overly quiet throughout the swing?  I hurt my back in the gym during the summer of 2015, and wonder if I quieted down hip rotation (almost sub-consciously) to protect it.  Just spit balling here b/c I have no idea, but have seen a solid 1-club loss of distance since then.

 

 

[Let it Fly]

Welp, here we go...club fitting scheduled for this coming Saturday and can't wait!  Planning to change out my current driver (Taylormade R11) and iron set (Ping G15) as I've been swinging them since both models originally came out.  Pretty much got them off the rack at the time, with only a static fitting, and am very excited about going through the full process...especially since my game/swing has changed so much over 6 or 7 years.  I'm going in with a completely open mind regarding brand, and will let you guys know what I wind up with.

I'm a little torn on what to do with my wedges.  Not sure if I want to go with stock-wedges that match the rest of the iron set, or do a gap-fitting session with custom wedge sets.  This part of my game is pretty weak, and even getting to the point where I just have a comfortable, stock, 3/4 shot distance with each loft would be an improvement.  Vast majority of my time is being spent of full swing, so not much time left to get cute with wedge play.  2017 goal is to just gain a level of confidence that I can hit the fat part of the green, or near it, from 100 yds and in.

As for the swing progress, I'm 2/3 of the way through my lesson series.  It's been about 7 weeks since my last session, and adjustments made have become very comfortable (stronger grip, wider takeaway/arc, flat vs. cupped glove wrist, shallower plane on downswing).  I've gone from fighting high & weak slices/fades to (most of the time) effortless draws.  Will hit some snap-hooks from time-to-time, and straight pushes to the left when trying to add more speed, but overall it feels great and look forward to taking it to the course next weekend.  All work to-date has been done at the range, so I'd like to get some on-course feedback to give to my pro before scheduling my last lesson.

I'll post video updates next time I'm at the range...are slow-mo videos preferred?  Will also fool around with the FPS on my phone & Ipad.

   

[Let it Fly]

Spent two hours on Saturday morning doing a full fitting for irons and wedges...fun time and great learning experience.  Wound up going with Callaway Apex CF16 irons...4-PW.  Dynamic Gold shafts, X100 flex, 130g, +1/2" with 2 degree upright lie angle and mid-size grips.

Worked in a gap fitting with wedges as well, and picked up Callaway Mac Daddy Forged gap (50 deg), sand (54) and lob, (58)...loved hitting them.

Plan to go back in a few weeks to try out some drivers, too.  I was pretty spent after a heap of swings, so figured it was best to do it another time.  

[RandallT]

Congrats! And just in time for the Nor'easter to dump a foot of snow on you 

[Jack Watson]

On 2/7/2017 at 5:43 AM, Let it Fly said:

 

Updating progress made during current winter lesson series (apologize for grainy video - my tech-savy will get better as I do this more).

These swings were some of the only "let 'er rip" ones I've made during my work the past two months.  Still working to keep the club face square throughout the entire swing, as well as coming down from the inside & on plane.  More work to do, but beginning to feel like these keys are slowly taking hold to become natural.  Grip change from very weak to neutral/strong feels great.

One question that was pointed out by a friend:  Do the hips seem overly quiet throughout the swing?  I hurt my back in the gym during the summer of 2015, and wonder if I quieted down hip rotation (almost sub-consciously) to protect it.  Just spit balling here b/c I have no idea, but have seen a solid 1-club loss of distance since then.

 

 

Nice swing there.

[Let it Fly]

10 hours ago, RandallT said:

Congrats! And just in time for the Nor'easter to dump a foot of snow on you 

 

8 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

Nice swing there.

Thanks, gents.  @RandallT looks like you guys are right on the line down there, hopefully it misses you.  Unfortunately we're gonna get buried.  I'm lucky enough to have a year-round heated range just a few miles from my home, but even they've been closed quite often lately due to frigid temps.  Tough to get good video in the covered bays there anyway, as it's too tight to get a decent camera angle.

Spin zone - I'll have plenty of time now to work on this "Wall Drill" we've been seeing @iacas talk about quite often...love the concept of it.

[RandallT]

Yah we will see which side of the dividing line we are on with this storm. In our area, these storms slice up the coast along that famous northeastern path and we could be a few miles either side of getting 18" or just 6". 

To answer an earlier question, I do think your hips are quiet relative to others I've seen with swing threads.  Not that it's a problem.

Curious what your winter instructor has you focusing on. Maybe the hips not a big deal? You mentioned keeping the club closed throughout the swing, and that is one of my latest tasks from my instructor. 

See ya. Good luck with the storm. Ours starts 9pm here

[Let it Fly]

3 hours ago, RandallT said:

Curious what your winter instructor has you focusing on. Maybe the hips not a big deal? You mentioned keeping the club closed throughout the swing, and that is one of my latest tasks from my instructor.

Strengthening my grip (as @mchepp accurately mentioned above), square face from start-to-finish, and correcting an over-the-top moving...where I struggled a lot with an out-to-in path.

 Spent 90 mins on a Trackman during my fitting on Saturday, and almost every "club path" reading was in the range of -6 to -8 degrees from the inside.  Fitter mentioned that those are pretty significant "from the inside" numbers, but is successful progress from where I used to be.  I'm just starting to scratch the surface of understanding numbers like this, so just kind of taking his word there.  Grip change feels very comfortable now, so development focus is mainly on the club face going forward.

As far as the hips, I'm thinking that I got nit-picky/excited/ahead of myself, etc seeing the video haha...instructor has made no mention of it.  So, I'm going to keep working on the things which the professional thinks are most important at this point in time, and remind my own brain to stay out of the way.