More compact swing...more over the top?

[HJJ003]

I didn't get the chance to film my swing today, so I thought I would put this in the general instruction forum instead. I have been working on better elbow angles at the top of my backswing (see my swing thread for reference), and that has lead me down a path of a shorter more compact swing, which has had some pretty mixed results. The past two days I have seen my wedge and short Irons coming off as straight pulls, my mid irons as dead straight, and my long irons and woods as big pull slices. The only thing I can think off that would present those types of results would be a pretty big over the top swing. I have always struggled with OTT, but this just seems so drastic given the shorter more compact swing. Anyone ran into a similar problem working on a more compact swing? Any advice for things to look for? I get the chance to play tomorrow...and now I am little concerned I am going to have a swing I don't even know how to manage...

[klineka]

7 minutes ago, HJJ003 said:

I didn't get the chance to film my swing today, so I thought I would put this in the general instruction forum instead. I have been working on better elbow angles at the top of my backswing (see my swing thread for reference), and that has lead me down a path of a shorter more compact swing, which has had some pretty mixed results. The past two days I have seen my wedge and short Irons coming off as straight pulls, my mid irons as dead straight, and my long irons and woods as big pull slices. The only thing I can think off that would present those types of results would be a pretty big over the top swing. I have always struggled with OTT, but this just seems so drastic given the shorter more compact swing. Anyone ran into a similar problem working on a more compact swing? Any advice for things to look for? I get the chance to play tomorrow...and now I am little concerned I am going to have a swing I don't even know how to manage...

Just because the swing is shorter doesnt mean the OTT motion has been fixed. If anything, a shorter swing with the same OTT motion might make it worse because that gives you less time in the downswing to attempt to correct the path. 

Its really hard to say whats going on without seeing newer video of you working on the recommended changes from your swing thread.

Regarding the round you are playing tomorrow, you can really do one of two things:

1. Revert back to your old elbow position and just play, good chances are the new motion isnt full ingrained yet, so doing ~50 ish full swings shouldnt really set you back that far in terms of progress. Just do some of the new swings either after the round or the next day.
2. Focus on maintaining your new swing changes throughout the round and adjust your target/aim to compensate for the ball flights. Just accept the score you get and know that it is a work in progress

[HJJ003]

1 hour ago, klineka said:

Just because the swing is shorter doesnt mean the OTT motion has been fixed. If anything, a shorter swing with the same OTT motion might make it worse because that gives you less time in the downswing to attempt to correct the path. 

Its really hard to say whats going on without seeing newer video of you working on the recommended changes from your swing thread.

Regarding the round you are playing tomorrow, you can really do one of two things:

1. Revert back to your old elbow position and just play, good chances are the new motion isnt full ingrained yet, so doing ~50 ish full swings shouldnt really set you back that far in terms of progress. Just do some of the new swings either after the round or the next day.
2. Focus on maintaining your new swing changes throughout the round and adjust your target/aim to compensate for the ball flights. Just accept the score you get and know that it is a work in progress

Thanks for the response. Your comments make a lot of sense. I will try and take some video before the end of the week and put it up on my swing thread. I think for tomorrow I am going to go with your proposed option #2 and just take whatever I get. If I revert back to my old swing just for comfort on the course I may never make any long term changes. It could be a rough day, but If I just adjust my target like you recommend maybe I will survive lol. 

[Marty2019]

On 1/24/2018 at 3:00 PM, HJJ003 said:

I didn't get the chance to film my swing today, so I thought I would put this in the general instruction forum instead. I have been working on better elbow angles at the top of my backswing (see my swing thread for reference), and that has lead me down a path of a shorter more compact swing, which has had some pretty mixed results. The past two days I have seen my wedge and short Irons coming off as straight pulls, my mid irons as dead straight, and my long irons and woods as big pull slices. The only thing I can think off that would present those types of results would be a pretty big over the top swing. I have always struggled with OTT, but this just seems so drastic given the shorter more compact swing. Anyone ran into a similar problem working on a more compact swing? Any advice for things to look for? I get the chance to play tomorrow...and now I am little concerned I am going to have a swing I don't even know how to manage...

I've struggled with OTT for years, and here is some advice from a non-expert. 

I'm thinking that perhaps shortening your swing and focusing on elbow angles has made your swing a little stiff.  A longer swing has a lot more time to get things in the correct positions.  I'm working on shortening my back swing, and one thing I found was that a shorter swing doesn't feel as relaxed as a longer swing.  So, perhaps you are not relaxed.  

Another thing about a shorter swing- there's a tendency to yank harder in an effort to get the same dclub head speed as a longer swing.  I think that's a mistake.  I think if you shorten your swing, you have to accept the reduced distance.  Don't try to hit the ball as hard as you would with a longer swing. 

Secondly, and I think MOST IMPORTANTLY, you know the old joke, "Doctor it hurts when I do this."  "Well, don't do that."   What helped me a lot was to quit analyzing my weight shift, rotation, elbow position, all those complicated components of a golf swing, and I went straight to the problem- my club is taking the wrong path?  Well then put it on the right path!   Don't worry about anything else, just bring that club down on the right path.  That helped me a lot.  

Think of it this way: if putting your right elbow in the right position is a valid method for putting the club on the right path, then perhaps the reverse is also true.  Perhaps putting the club on the right path will inevitably put the right elbow into the correct position.  Or maybe not.  It seemed to work for me.    Maybe you can put the club on the right path and THEN worry about your elbow position.  Just a suggestion. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2018 by Marty2019

[HJJ003]

1 hour ago, Marty2019 said:

I've struggled with OTT for years, and here is some advice from a non-expert. 

I'm thinking that perhaps shortening your swing and focusing on elbow angles has made your swing a little stiff.  A longer swing has a lot more time to get things in the correct positions.  I'm working on shortening my back swing, and one thing I found was that a shorter swing doesn't feel as relaxed as a longer swing.  So, perhaps you are not relaxed.  

Another thing about a shorter swing- there's a tendency to yank harder in an effort to get the same dclub head speed as a longer swing.  I think that's a mistake.  I think if you shorten your swing, you have to accept the reduced distance.  Don't try to hit the ball as hard as you would with a longer swing. 

Secondly, and I think MOST IMPORTANTLY, you know the old joke, "Doctor it hurts when I do this."  "Well, don't do that."   What helped me a lot was to quit analyzing my weight shift, rotation, elbow position, all those complicated components of a golf swing, and I went straight to the problem- my club is taking the wrong path?  Well then put it on the right path!   Don't worry about anything else, just bring that club down on the right path.  That helped me a lot.  

Think of it this way: if putting your right elbow in the right position is a valid method for putting the club on the right path, then perhaps the reverse is also true.  Perhaps putting the club on the right path will inevitably put the right elbow into the correct position.  Or maybe not.  It seemed to work for me.    Maybe you can put the club on the right path and THEN worry about your elbow position.  Just a suggestion. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, and valid response. I think one of the hardest things is getting the idea of what the correct path feels like. I actually have felt that my OTT was getting so much better but Erik freeze framed some of my video on My swing thread and man I am still putting myself in positions to hit big pulls and slices. My ball flight is expressing this as well...Pulling shorter Irons and wedges, mid irons are pretty accurate but can pull or fade, and my long irons/woods tend to pull/slice. Going to keep working at it!