Forward Press to Prevent Casting?

[xrayvizhen]

I’ve been wondering if a forward press can be a help in eliminating my casting problem. I’ve been working hard to eliminate this from my swing, as documented in the “My Swings” section, but I noticed at the range the other day, on the last ball in the bucket, I figured "what the hell...let's give this a shot." I made a significant forward press (with a 6 Iron) so that my hands were at or very close to the desired impact position ahead of the ball, and THEN started my backswing, retaining the wrist cock that had been established with the forward press throughout. The wrists cocked even more at the top of the backswing, so that the club was close to parallel with the ground but I was able to retain the lag throughout the downswing. The result was a crisp, pure strike with a low penetrating ball flight and about 10 yards more distance. For a second, I had an “Eureka” moment, but I had put away my tripod and camera and didn’t record the swing (I will next time). I sensed that while my clubhead speed was the same as all my previous swings at least it seemed I wasn’t throwing away the lag before hitting the ball and the dynamic loft of the club was improved.

So, I ask the experts, could this be a technique that I should follow-up on or will this do nothing to relieve the casting and possibly lead to other problems?

[billchao]

Video or it didn't happen 

I'm partially joking, but a forward press is more of a trigger to start the swing than a way to fight a flip IMO. I mean yea you might be able to get your hands so far forward (and thus, the ball so far back in your arc) that you end up driving down on the ball with some seriously negative AoA, but you'll also launch the ball pretty low, too.

The forward press happens at the very beginning of the backswing. Plenty of time left to "undo" what was achieved by it. I'd keep working on speeding up the arms and getting the hands moving in the downswing if I were you. Your flip is a result of your downswing action, not your takeaway.

[dennyjones]

2 hours ago, billchao said:

Video or it didn't happen 

I like it!

[iacas]

You keep searching for answers and looking for quick fixes, but the answer is already in your Member Swing topic, and it's going to take some work.

Maybe you don't like hearing that. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

https://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/96016-my-swing-xrayvizhen/?do=findComment&comment=1358444

[MarvChamp]

Casting was a definite problem when I came back to golf. My instructor said it was the common fault, next to trying to lift the ball in the air. Took a lot of instruction and practice to avoid it. But sometimes my bad tempo causes a rush, and over the top. Anyway, forward press, to me is just a swing thought to start the back swing. Good topic all. Best, -Marv

[xrayvizhen]

12 hours ago, iacas said:

You keep searching for answers and looking for quick fixes, but the answer is already in your Member Swing topic, and it's going to take some work.

Maybe you don't like hearing that. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

https://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/96016-my-swing-xrayvizhen/?do=findComment&comment=1358444

Yes, you're right. I am looking for what's hopefully a simple fix or the one swing thought that I can actually think about during the golf swing because I just know that the minute I get onto the course, at least in a "competitive" situation like in my league when it starts up again in May, if I see that whatever I've been working on is causing the shanks or some other malady, I'll just revert back to my natural swing in order to rescue the round.

Trying to move my arms faster across my body, isn't really working. They'll only go so fast. There's something else happening during the full swing, either with my hip action, or my left leg bowing out too far to the left, that's throwing things out of sync and causing my wrists to unhinge too soon. I'm doing fine on short little half and 3/4-shots though.

I'm not giving up.

 

 

Edited February 4, 2018 by xrayvizhen

[iacas]

14 minutes ago, xrayvizhen said:

Yes, you're right. I am looking for what's hopefully a simple fix or the one swing thought that I can actually think about during the golf swing because I just know that the minute I get onto the course, at least in a "competitive" situation like in my league when it starts up again in May, if I see that whatever I've been working on is causing the shanks or some other malady, I'll just revert back to my natural swing in order to rescue the round.

Work on the proper thing. When you play golf, just play golf.

Practice and play are two different things.

14 minutes ago, xrayvizhen said:

Trying to move my arms faster across my body, isn't really working. They'll only go so fast.

It's not really about how fast they ultimately go - it's about how the sequencing works out. Right now your sequencing is not good. Your arms are left behind.

14 minutes ago, xrayvizhen said:

There's something else happening during the full swing, either with my hip action, or my left leg bowing out too far to the left, that's throwing things out of sync and causing my wrists to unhinge too soon. I'm doing fine on short little half and 3/4-shots though.

Yeah… you're "doing fine" on shorter shots because your arms have less distance to travel.

I looked at your swing again, and that's all there is to it, really. Your arms go on too long, your wrists get a little soft at the top, your right elbow gets around behind you a bit too much… your lower body doesn't turn as much, so it's already well ahead, then you start with the lower body (as you should), but it's now even further out ahead, and simply to get the club to the ground you have to throw the clubhead at the ball, causing the flip.

That's the answer. Your arms lag behind in part because you over-swing them, and in part because you don't fire them down fast enough.

One of the kids in my Junior Elite program is dealing with this. He's now working on drills where it feels like his lower body does nothing, doesn't move, and he just swings his arms down and through the ball. Now, of course his lower body moves… it just feels like a completely arms-driven downswing to him. Much better right away.

You could do some other things, but they're all in this same exact area:

• Keep your elbows much closer together.
• Turn your hips back a bit more.
• Keep your right elbow feeling like it's "straight" and never bends.
• Etc.

[mvmac]

On 2/3/2018 at 7:52 AM, xrayvizhen said:

So, I ask the experts, could this be a technique that I should follow-up on or will this do nothing to relieve the casting and possibly lead to other problems?

As @iacas said, adding more forward press isn't the long term answer.

You are most likely still casting about the same, just starting from a handle position that is more forward. Basically a short term "cheat".

Too much forward press can also mess with your shoulder alignments and aim the face too far rightward.

[Sandhills Golfer]

On 2/4/2018 at 11:24 AM, iacas said:

Work on the proper thing. When you play golf, just play golf.

Practice and play are two different things.

It's not really about how fast they ultimately go - it's about how the sequencing works out. Right now your sequencing is not good. Your arms are left behind.

Yeah… you're "doing fine" on shorter shots because your arms have less distance to travel.

I looked at your swing again, and that's all there is to it, really. Your arms go on too long, your wrists get a little soft at the top, your right elbow gets around behind you a bit too much… your lower body doesn't turn as much, so it's already well ahead, then you start with the lower body (as you should), but it's now even further out ahead, and simply to get the club to the ground you have to throw the clubhead at the ball, causing the flip.

That's the answer. Your arms lag behind in part because you over-swing them, and in part because you don't fire them down fast enough.

One of the kids in my Junior Elite program is dealing with this. He's now working on drills where it feels like his lower body does nothing, doesn't move, and he just swings his arms down and through the ball. Now, of course his lower body moves… it just feels like a completely arms-driven downswing to him. Much better right away.

You could do some other things, but they're all in this same exact area:

• Keep your elbows much closer together.
• Turn your hips back a bit more.
• Keep your right elbow feeling like it's "straight" and never bends.
• Etc.

Do to my lift and flying elbow, the club gets stuck behind me. Today, I tried the suggestion of getting the arms to go faster on the down swing and I had great results on the range. Hopefully, this lasts more than one day  Thx.

Edited February 6, 2018 by Sandhills Golfe