Sykology

Tiger Woods -11 Keegan Bradley -7 Bo Van Pelt -5

I'm no expert, but I can point out what is most likely the main thing causing you to hit the ball fat. You are swaying your hips during your backswing, essentially moving behind the ball. This makes it harder to hit the ball first and then the ground. On the way back, focus more on winding your hips, instead of moving them. Then, on the way through, unwind and maybe move just a little forward so you hit slightly down on the ball. All in all, great looking swing for a new player!

I'll let you find the problem with that solution.

I agree that it is in really poor taste. I am sure that every other single person in the raffle is suspecting that your wife rigged it. I mean, it's cool that you got those things but it definitely looks suspicious.

Nice looking swing, but I think you take the club back faster than you take it through.

Before anyone else gets a chance to, I'll just tell you that bumping a thread like this will do you no good. People don't do this for a living, so they help people when they get a chance too. Now, I'm no expert so I try not to give advice, but, it seems that he is coming over the top and his backswing location is just off.

Staying down on the shot through impact. I just cannot keep myself from jumping up. This is large due to the fact that my hips and lower body move closer to the ball... grr.

Check out the "quickie pitching video" thread as well. I did, and it has helped me quite a bit. I at least feel that I now know what to do, it is just a matter of actually executing. Thanks again.

Oh, so you're telling me on these pitch shots I'm not supposed to hit it with the blade and send it 30-40 yards beyond the green? Interesting, I never realized this fact. No, actually, sometimes I can hit a glorious pitch that lifts the ball way up in the air, but it just makes me so nervous because of the risk involved. Either way, this is a very helpful video, thanks for it.

I don't remember hitting a terrible shot with my pitching wedge. Weird, because I can sure shank a sand wedge or a gap wedge.

I am no where near good at this game, but there are a couple things that just stick right out to me. The main thing is that your back swing is faster than your swing, which doesn't do much in the way of going solidly through the ball. Slow your backswing down, it doesn't help to do that part quickly. Also, I think you might have some plane issues. It seems like your are having to lift the club up quite a bit in your backswing, rather than allowing the club to effortlessly float up by rotating it with your shoulders. I have a hard time explaining that second part but my instructor pointed it out in my lesson today and I immediately hit some flush shots as soon as I started working on this. I'm sure there will be people post who can better address your swing. Good luck!

By loan do you mean sell?

I am absolutely not an expert, but I can tell that you have way more knee bend than would be recommended. Is it possible that the clubs are not the correct length for you? All in all, your swing looks pretty good for someone who is just starting, to me, anyway.

This thread is from 2004 and the OP hasn't logged on since June 2011....

Hunter Mahan -8 Kevin Na -6 Bo Van Pelt -5

Just found this: " The Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Club was created in order to promote the game of golf among Vanderbilt students and faculty/staff. By introducing golf to those who have not played before and providing experienced players with more opportunities to practice. It is our hope to make the game of golf more accessible to Vanderbilt students. We plan on accomplishing this goal by bringing together Vanderbilt golfers and making the regular playing of golf more affordable for everyone. All Vandy students and faculty/staff of every skill level are more than welcome to join us to either learn the game for the first time, or continue to develop their abilities in a fun and laid back atmosphere." Apparently this is only on Friday afternoons, but it sounds like a good deal.

I do not have enough money to do that, thankfully? Lol! Actually, I'm not sure how my income vs expenses will be, so that might not be true.

Only recently, I've started hitting up my local driving range and 9 hole course frequently. By frequently, I mean daily. I've definitely been bitten by the golf bug. That's why I am worried that I will get no opportunities to golf when I go to college in mid-August. It is right in the middle of a large city, but I think there might be a decent public course not far from my dorm. Would it be too unusual for me to keep my clubs in my dorm and take a taxi or something to the course on occasion? I just really don't care to give up golf. If this sounds very strange, it is because I am from an extremely rural area and am a little confused as to how this will work in a metropolitan area. I am also wondering if anyone (other than collegiate golfers) bring golf clubs to college. Thanks!

Wow, you might as well quit going to PGA events. Clearly, they cannot do anything to suit you. Like others have said, Tiger Woods was in the zone and he understandably cares more about staying focused than signing autographs for a few fans.

Staying down through the shot until impact. Swinging on plane, as my swing has been far too vertical and I've been taking huge chunky divots and not much else. Cleanly hitting soft chip shots instead of knocking them 10 yards or more on the other side of the green. Fully transferring my weight, especially with the driver. Keeping my eyes on the ball... This really shouldn't be so hard for me, but I have to very actively remind myself to do this! Lately I have been taking the nicest looking divots in front of the ball and feeling so good about my iron swings. However, many of these shots are somehow mishit and the ball goes only a little bit in the air before nosediving. I assume this is due to top spin, but what causes it? It is very frustrating to think that you've hit a brilliant shot and then have to watch it bounce a short way down the fairway.

I don't think you will get much help with this video. You really need to take an actual shot to receive good, constructive feedback. Besides, a good iron shot involves taking a divot, and clearly you don't want to take a divot in your carpet.

He had me taking half swings and kept telling me I was lifting up out of the shot and needed to fix that. He really seemed to be focused on me staying down through the shot more than the inevitable hook, which I never really accomplished, because my foot was way back. I'm glad that I'm not off base with this and am making the right decision to try to find a new instructor. I won't deny that he fixed my set-up position, as I was standing too tall and wasn't bending enough at my waist. He also identified that my swing path was too vertical, which I pretty much already knew. It just doesn't feel right when I try to take the club back with a more horizontal component, and I just can't get used to it. Can anybody recommend a good video on swing plane? I really think this is the main thing preventing me from striking the ball solidly on a regular basis. He also kept telling me I needed to keep my upper body behind the ball at impact. This surprised me because I thought getting in front of the ball created lag and a more penetrating ball flight. He responded that your weight and lower body need to be in front of the ball but your upper body needs to be behind the ball and tilted upward slightly. I did some research and this looks correct, I would just like confirmation before I practice the wrong thing. Thanks!

Um, 3/10? I'm not really experienced with denim chicken.

I took my first golf lesson with a new instructor today. Well, this was my first golf lesson after a now-regrettable two year hiatus from golf. Anyway, he quickly noticed that my swing was too vertical and that my alignment was off. Rather than just showing me what to do, he had me stand awkwardly with my right foot extremely far back out of my normal stance and try to make a swing at the ball that would hopefully produce a hook. Unfortunately, this was just awkward for me and I didn't feel I was learning anything. I think he was just trying to get me to stay down through impact, as I have a tendency to sort of lift out of my shots, but I'm not sure. I just don't think I am someone who can learn golf mechanics from these sort of drills that are so distinct from the actual golf swing. Am I just being unwilling to try a new way of practice? I mean, I admit that my swing is in dire need of change, but I don't want to blow money on lessons with this gentleman if he is just going to keep forcing me to do drills that don't really strike a note with me. Should I look for an instructor who is more willing to accept that I am a visual learner and just sort of teach me new things and then give me an opportunity to incorporate them into my swing under supervision? So I guess the ultimate question is: Are drills that are fairly distinct from the normal golf swing effective for all golfers, or do some people just need to actively try to incorporate things into their swing? I'm 18 and just getting back to golf. I want to become a competitive golfer, and yeah, it would be my dream to make a living playing this game, but I am quite sure that is probably not in the cards. I just want to be as good as I can and I don't want to waste time with inefficient methods. Thanks!

Your videos are private.