Beginner swing advice

[Joe85]

Hi,

I've started playing quite recently and am working on getting a smooth and consistent swing. I'm happy enough with the progress I'm making and some of the time am playing some decent shots.  At the moment I am just trying to get a reliable swing.  I have a routine I am happy with and as long as I stay relaxed in my arms I hit the ball straight and an adequate distance.

There are two things that I am wondering about, and whether I should try and include them in my swing at this early stage, or if it is too much to start with.

The first is the spine tilt to the right that I see talked about, and the second is the lag/delay in uncocking my left wrist so the clubhead speed increases through impact.

I've read enough to understand why these things are suggested, I just wonder if I should try and include them from the outset so they become part of my swing as I try to develop a reliable and consistent swing, or if they should be left alone until later (but does that make it harder to change things)?

I don't want to overcomplicate things, but I do in time want a decent swing.

Cheers

 

 

[Club Rat]

2 hours ago, Joe85 said:

There are two things that I am wondering about, and whether I should try and include them in my swing at this early stage, or if it is too much to start with.

Welcome to TST

Early stages of golf are very important as habits will develop. Corrections are difficult and require a dedication of practice along with proper guidance as one develops the required skills to properly swing and strike the ball.

Many great discussions and videos have been posted by both @mvmac and @iacas on this site about both
"spine tilt and lag/delay through impact"

Simply search on either topic for previous discussions. Many members will be glad to offer opinions as it is best to be specific
in questions or explanations.

[Joe85]

Thankyou, I will look at those links.

I don't want to try and run before I can walk, but conversely I appreciate it's often better to do things correctly from the outset rather than have to fix problems later on.

[CarlSpackler]

First a disclaimer. I am not an instructor, but a keen observer of the game, so take what I have to say for what it's worth (not much). 

One of the biggest things I see with beginners comes from them trying to help the ball in the air and scooping it. I told my son early on to hit down on the ball as if to drive it into the ground. He did that and the ball went sailing through the air. His eyes got big and he asked how that was even possible. I explained that the angled club face will make the ball go up, so he needs to hit down. 

The second thing is starting with an over-the-top move. There are plenty of other threads as @Club Rat mentioned, but I will give my thoughts. Many of us grew up hitting baseballs or rocks with a straight stick where contact was made with the center of the shaft (bat, stick, etc.) With a golf club, there is a thing hanging off the end that we need to make hit the ball. We tend to start the down swing as if to make contact with the center of the shaft like we are used to, but our brain figures out and adjusts in the downswing causing an out-to-in swing. I taught my son to start the swing as if he is going hit a spot an inch or so inside of the ball. He has developed a natural draw. I think those to thoughts can go a long way to preventing a lot of problems. Good luck and welcome to TST.

[mvmac]

4 hours ago, Joe85 said:

The first is the spine tilt to the right that I see talked about, and the second is the lag/delay in uncocking my left wrist so the clubhead speed increases through impact.

I've read enough to understand why these things are suggested, I just wonder if I should try and include them from the outset so they become part of my swing as I try to develop a reliable and consistent swing, or if they should be left alone until later (but does that make it harder to change things)?

Both of those pieces tends to be a result of other good things happening. The tilt right is more of a natural thing because your right hand will be lower on the grip at setup.

I'd recommend starting a swing thread so you can focus on issues specific to your needs.

If you want to learn more about the golf swing in general, check out this thread.

 

[DaveP043]

My first instinct is to say YES, start your golf career by doing as many things as possible the right way.  Its much easier to learn good habits from the start than it is to break a bad habit.  But @mvmac demonstrates the difference between a semi-competent golfer and a good golf instructor, he understands that the good things you've identified are often the by-product of doing other good things first.  One way you can get some really good instruction is by posting videos of your swing here:

https://thesandtrap.com/forums/forum/13-member-swings/

Be sure to click the button to Reveal Hidden Contents, for advice on how that thread works, and how to take good videos.  

[Hacker James]

seeking swing advice on a golf forum such as this one, while it sounds as if it is a good thing to do, it is not without it's pitfalls. There are players from all back grounds, and all skill levels. There are competent instructors and coaches with proven track records. There are also multitudes of "would be" instructors or those willing to part with their advice, sometimes too willing. They usually do so with the best of intent, but in their efforts are only offering their own "perception", which may easily be misconstrued. Catch phrases such as "Keep you head down", or "Hit down to go up", can lead to more problems, mostly owing to perception without adequate explanation.  The advice given above and the links provided are very good as are the reviews of students who have been under that instruction.  For me personally, I tend to ascribe to the teachings of instructors such as Martin Chuck who demonstrates in a manner that I can identify with. Others would prefer the more scientific methods and like to hear numbers and angles, track man data.  You really need both, but find an instructor that you can understand readily and with whom you have confidence that he can demonstrate successfully what he teaches. Although I try to stay away from the catch phrases I referred to above, one that does resonate with me is: "Forward Shaft Lean and Shallow Angle of Attack", but that too can be misconstrued as there are excesses in anything.  In any event, listen to @mvmac; @iacas, @DaveP043 and learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.  Good Luck!

[DaveP043]

4 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

  In any event, listen to @mvmac; @iacas, @DaveP043 and learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.  Good Luck!

I won't suggest that you disregard everything I say, but I WILL say very clearly that I am not an instructor of any kind.  Generally, I try to resist any temptation to give swing advice.  Those other two guys, those are the ones to pay attention to when it comes to swing instruction.  

[Hacker James]

@DaveP043  Yes, but you always seem to have a level head, calm demeanor and strength of conviction and someone worth listening to. At least from my perspective.  Sometimes, good advice, comes from those who are NOT instructors, not always of course.

[Joe85]

Thanks for all the advice. Although there are some lovely and well looked after golf courses up where I live in the Scottish Highlands, they are not at all busy, and do not have a pro shop or a pro from whom one can get lessons. The nearest place where that would be possible is a couple of hours away, and likewise for a driving range, so this limits me a little.  Hence asking on here but also trying to keep things simple so that I'm not trying to think about too much. I will see whether I can get someone to film my swing. 

Edited October 3, 2016 by Joe85