JtotheD

the only problem I see is what another poster stated already....casting. I would try to work on you right elbow getting into your right hip on the downswing and keep everything else the same....good looking swing, but I bet you suffer in distance from time to time.

106 mph with your irons!!....good lord, I'm suprised ALL you have is a sore elbow. Unless you have a superb swing and are in top notch physical shape, IMO that is way too fast. I hit my 7iron 170-175 and swing it at like 80-85 MPH, if I swung as hard as you I would've ruptured some vertebrae or something. 106 sounds like a good swing for your driver, BUT you don't (or shouldn't) contact the ground with it. Unless your 106 is coming from incredible lag, my recommendation is to get some lessons, slow down your swing and focus on solid contact.

pretty solid swing....no coach here, but I think you're losing a little bit of your spine angle on the downswing. Could be swinging to hard which makes it difficult to stay balanced. The result is you have to stand up a little earlier. As I said I am no expert, only know this because it still affects me when I overswing.

You absolutely positively have to be more athletic in your setup. If you adopt a more solid setup it will keep you from having to make compensations. GET YOUR BUTT OUT AND STRENGTHEN YOUR LEGS!!!

Biggest help for me....and I'm no instructor.....has been to try and keep the left shoulder (if your right handed) back as long as you can (ie back to the target as long as possible). Another helpful thought for me is to not bring the club back too far inside, because that will lead to OTT probably 99% of the time for all us amateurs.

1. Keep right leg flex (swing in a barrel). 2. Don't let weight get outside right foot. 2. Get an athletic stance. 3. Hit the little ball before the big one!

If you don't wanna play I'll join up with em.... Seriously, just go play and work on those things you've learned, how are you gonna know if they are working or not without playing. Additionally, if you've never played with them before and they say they play bogey golf.....that's probably on their best day. So with a 30 HC you probably lose maybe 1 stroke a hole to them at most. Hell, you'll probably go and beat em if you make some putts.

Great observation....I was just thinking that he looked like he was swinging way too hard for just an iron. Try 3/4 backswing with a 3/4 follow through.....THIS is how far your irons are supposed to go. Too many of us amateurs try to hit irons as far as the pros and to do it we sacrifice balance, rhythm, and timing. When at the range, try hitting 100 yrd 8-irons....nothing better for someone that is casting and/or coming Over-the-top. This will help you find the inside approach on the downswing (the slot), AND help you learn to get the power from your legs instead of your upper body. Best of luck to ya!

The guy is usually play with, and myself, ventured out one morning it was 25, and the high was going to be around 30. I parred the first 3 holes, but he didn't dress warm enough and thought he was getting frostbite (probably would have). So we left....

OMG!...are you serious??....why would you EVER not aim for the green if you have a clean look at it?? Work on your short game in practice, play with it when you NEED it. Doing as the above quote recommends is suicide to your iron game, which is almost as critical as a good short game. In addition, have you ever heard an announcer at a pro-am talk about the amateurs sailing the ball over the green? No, why?, because most amateurs under-club from the fairway. So if you do like the above poster suggests, you will probably come up even shorter on your approaches. WOW, maybe I just misunderstood something and you guys can enlighten me, but this suggestion would be detrimental to you overall game. Your short game might get a little better by necessity, but scores would definately go up. This game's already hard enough, don't start INTENTIONALLY missing greens!

MY 2 swing thoughts on short game are to keep my weight more on the left side throughout the swing and keep turning through the shot. By doing this I've knocked at least 6 strokes off my score and could be more if I could putt better. Example: I hit only 9 GIR last week but shot a 73 (+1) cause of pitching. I did chip one in, but I also missed 4 putts within 6 ft. and about 4 from 10-15 ft. What I do is head over to the practice green which is 5 minutes away on my lunch break with only my wedges and about 40 balls (and a retreiver thingy)Our muni's green is so big i can practice up to a 50 yrd. pitch shot (as long as no one is around). Getting up-and-down will dramatically lower your score, in my case I've worked so hard on pitching and chipping (I haven't even been to the range in months) I feel I can get it within 3 ft. from anywhere around the green and don't even have to sweat the par putts!! It's a great confidence booster.

I think even your instructor could agree that working on your tempo and balance and flexibility THROUGHOUT your swing would only advance your improvement. Those are my suggestions, let him show you why you're still pushing it though when you go back.

I guess if someone can throw out an idea like hitting three 7-irons, you might as well try this. Aim OB and have your swing plane feel like it's going in the fairway or to the other side of the fairway. Your probably aimed so far right that you come over-the-top and pull hook it.

You're not finishing your swing most likely. Chest should face target, maybe slightly left of target, on the follow through.

1. Get your weight into your left big toe to start your downswing......while at the same time keeping your upper body behind the ball tilted slightly more than you were at address. 2. Don't swing so hard. P.S.> I think a divot pointing left is okay, the size of the divot will determine OTT swing. Just think...you have to hit ball first to obtain clean iron contact, hopefully you've virtually squared the face by the time you hit the ball, right?? Then, you should follow through to the inside, (i.e. left for a right-hander) with the clubface closing gradually. If you got a big monster divot it's because you were OTT, probably 99% of the time.

Make my putting stroke consistent and automatic.... Use my legs more as leverage in my swing rather than have them so passive.... Hit every fairway.... Last but not least.....Win the City Championship....

The last time I was out (few weeks ago) I had a nice little two hole stretch that probably has not been done on this course before (at least on these two holes). I got up to a 500+ yard par5 #8 and tatooed a drive center cut and left myself about 160 to the center...about 170 to the pin. Pulled out a 7-iron because long is dead and no way a hit a 7i over 180. Anyway caught it well and was tracking right at the flag for about 90% of the way but fell off right at the end and left me about a 15ft big-bender eagle putt from the fringe. DRAINED IT!! Got to the next hole 300+ yard par4 #9, big dogleg right. Basically a 6i off the tee every time cuz of the out of bound right and inability to go for the green with all the trees right. Anyway flushed a 6i out there to leave me 105 yards in so I pulled a 50* AW and took aim. CUPPED IT....to finish the front nine eagle-eagle. I had no idea it went in but my buddy swore it hit the flag and we couldn't see the bottom of the cup from where we were. Sure enough we got up there and there it was chillin' in the bottom. This was actually the second time I've gone eagle-eagle at this course, the other time was on back-to-back par 5's on the other 18 hole course. All that to shoot a 35 on the front

Amen. I always say, "Even if I'm playing bad, at least I'm playing quick" Hacks....I don't mind playing behind, that's part of the game.....SLOW METICULOUS hacks.....make me wanna skip the hole.

Sounds like your knees are really overactive during your swing. Tip: try not to "kick" your knees in at address or pre-backswing (don't know if you already do or not). It should feel like your kneecaps are pointing slightly outward (like your feet). This should provide you with a good solid base to make a steady swing on. Like you already said....at least you don't stand up on the downswing.....that can be extremely detrimental you your swing!

Ground up on the Downswing: Try moving your left knee towards the target, but keep your right knee pretty still (think of squatting). All weight should be on insides of feet (mostly on left side). DON'T push off right side, this could lead to spinning the hips to fast (right hip will lunge forward = not good). At this exact static position, hips should be square to target and right elbow should be tucked into right hip, and i believe shoulders should be slightly closed. Practice this position, and see how you can dynamically acheive it, and you should be on your way to impact pretty easily. Best of luck to ya!! Note: I'm am not a swing doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but these thoughts have helped me get to the next level in my own game.

1. Right Leg straightens = Keep the flex in it. 2. You come back way to far inside = Work on taking the club straight back. Just some initial observations i think could help you.

It's all in your finish.....nothing else. High Shot = Finish High Low Shot = Finish Low Try it.

Before you get too concerned about you set make-up..... 1. Get some lessons, at least one, to actually figure out some major swing flaws. 2. Decide what type of game suits YOU best. Bomb-gouge (probably not yet) or Fairways and Greens (we can all hope). 3. It won't hurt to have a 56* and a 60*, but until you get lessons they will make you miserable. Example: You hit a good drive, decent second to greenside. Grab the 60* and try poppin' it in the air (no reason) and proceed to skull it over the green, which leads to probably double or worse. All you had to do was grab the PW, or even up to an 8-iron (depending on how far off the green you are) and basically putt it up there for a par chance. Why add loft when the situation does not dictate it? --There is no magic to the short game, but you do need to manage it well 4. Fill that bag with hybrids, a 30 handicapper needs hybrids, that is who they were intended for. You might even get rid of the driver (or just leave it at home for a round) and opt for a strong 3W for tee shots (~13*). Best of luck to you and your pursuit of this magnificent game.

Only way to do it in my opinion if you want any type of consistency....great advice. Anytime I have an issue with a lie I always play it back in the stance, and take a smooth swing.

Work on your 3/4 shots with all your clubs to narrow down your yardage gaps. NEVER change your tempo, only your backswing length.