Adam Bellaire

I recently added a Gap wedge to my bag...don't know how I played without it... 105-115yds 48 degree PW (nike CCI iron set) 95-105yds 52 Nike VRPro Hex GW 10 bounce 56 Nike VRPro DS SW...love the dual sole but find it difficult to hit full I almost exclusively use the gap wedge for chipping and pitching out to 115yds and use the SW as a specialty shot wedge (sand/lob)

I am using a Nike VR-Pro Ltd 8.5 degree cut down to 44.5"(just recently made adjustments to length) the decrease in length has helped quite a bit...only had 1 bad push in my last round compared to the 3-5 i was getting before

Thanks for the tips Stuffs, I will put some work in on this over the weekend...I think this will help keep me balanced throughout the swing...and you are correct on the me swinging too hard, this is something I have been trying to tone down, but seem to amp back up every time I'm on the course.

I know what causes these ball flights...i'm just wondering if anyone has any 'feel' drills...I have been working on the parallel to parallel drill to promote a proper release. There are two bad habits that have been cropping up during rounds, that others have observed. One is when I am transitioning to the downswing; I have a tendancy to lean out to the ball a bit causing me to hit off the heel a bit(i've seen this one on video, my hips actually move closer to the ball, weight out on the toes and I usually lift to try and create space). And the other is I get a little slidey with my hips, a soft left side; from here I either hit a pop up or a block.

I would probably say both...but as i have heard from the 5sk guys before, if the face is shut enough you can still hit this shot with a slight in out swing. starting line is 85% clubface...which you could be swinging 'down the line' but your clubface is dead shut at impact (delofted, hence the lower trajectory).

I have recently been experiencing a pretty severe block/fade to the right with my longer clubs. I started the game as a pull slicer, and have worked pretty hard over the winter and into the spring on getting my clubpath more 'down the line' than my natural outside to in. I was able to correct the slice with lessons mostly dealing with positions and alignment and was hitting balls straight but with a slight pull. I have recently started hitting my short/mid irons (up to the 5) really well, with a higher tradjectory and beanpole straight. But I have been experiencing a 'creeping' push/fade, especially with the driver. I start out the round/session hitting nice straight and high drives and then it slowly transforms into a fade...then a push fade...then a push slice. Can't seem to get it under control. The more tired I get the worse it gets. Any thoughts or drills would be greatly appreciated

I agree...just have seen, too many times, players who think this is where you start reading yardages and wind and are debating what shot shape to hit, then they start their 'preshot' routine. While everyone else on the course/hole is standing around watching/waiting. But I do beleive all analysis of your shot to come is considered a preshot routine. From the moment you get the yardage or start starring at the hazards you don't want to hit into...just my two cents.

I would identify 'Assuming you are playing ready golf and you have identified and are at your ball, you are now "clear" to proceed with your shot.' as the later part of a preshot routine...The part of 'This doesn't include anything after your club making contact with the ball (this would be post-shot), or anything regarding driving/walking to your ball.' is where I would consider your preshot routine to start. The problem is most people don't start until they are already 'clear' to hit, which according to me is when nobody is likely to be injured by your shot, not necessarily when you are the farthest from the pin(unless of course you are in a sanctioned event). I like the analogy of the golfcourse itself is a 'think box' and the tee box is a 'play box'. I loath 5hr casual rounds...no reason for it...lots of reasons why it happens!

I apologize to anyone who reads this post to the end and are right back where they started. What feels comfortable to hit will be more consistent. 70% of all golfers hit a natural fade...and prob 99% of them hit a slice more often than they'd like. I've always been one of those guys, because it is what the ball did when I put a good swing on it (a long and multiplanular swing). Aim down the left and let it come back to the middle...then it started going right...so I naturally started pulling on the ball...and it went further right. So, I recently went through a swing change (this winter) to a more compact backswing that 'feels' alot shorter (3/4) All of a sudden I'm hitting 15-20yds draws, with a good increase in distance...so I start aiming/swinging right...and the ball goes further left, but i'm also hitting this nasty push fade from a far right alignment...the worst miss's i've ever experienced(i'd take the pull/slice over it). Then I get my clubs adjusted for lie(2 degrees flat) I have lost some distance, of which is slowly increasing, but have gained leaps and bounds in ball striking(not at first). I have worked hard on my 'new' swing to see me return to hitting a tight 'high' fade, maybe a little bit of push(started as a pull first). Now I am finding that ball flight(my swing path and alignment are fairly consistent) is largely dependant on if I'm catching the ball a little low/high/toe/heel on the clubface. I never really thought about how much imperfect ballstriking can affect the tragectory of a shot and have now started to work on balance to improve the subtleties of catching the ball dead flush. I guess what I'm saying here is that, you will play your best when you play with what is comfortable to you. So, practice on the things that make you uncomfortable, so you can use them when what is comfortable becomes uncomfortable. God I love this game...and by love, I mean hate. Because of how long it takes to unfold. Again, I apologize to anyone who read this post to the end and are right back where they started.

I have used them and like past responses I found them to be a little mooshie...If you spent 10 more bucks the Nike RznOne balls really out perform the vapours in every way, and are comparable to the Nxt Tour balls

Thanks for the link...I'm a little old school...as long as he gets the idea that if he wants the the ball to go straighter he needs to reduce the differential between club path and face angle...

Are you saying your ball starts on line, then hooks? or is it starting left and drawing? how a ball starts is relative to the swing path and curve is relative to the club face angle to that path...so if your ball is starting on line and hooking, it is because the clubface is dead shut to the path your swinging on. A common mistake is to swing out to the right, which will just amplify your hook. I'm guessing that when the instructor told you 'more lag less cast' he was trying to get you to 'lay off' your release. There are a lot of factors involved and more updated video of your swing would be beneficial; i personally would like to see a 'down the line video' (your target line, not your aim line) and a face on view of your swing so we can get an idea of how you look at address vs impact.

Your setup looks decent...and your rythm and timing seem to be in sync...i especially like the slight hesitation at the top of your swing and you have a nice full follow through...

Actually this one better suits you...

A visual reference for your studies...not all of this applies to you...but i'm sure there is some helpful imagery:) The first half any...

I totally agree...with everything he said...;)

Sorry my bad...the most important thing about my previous post was to not think about it at all...every part of your technical work should be done without a ball, infront of mirrors and/or video until you can repeat without thinking... then introduce the ball and practice, practice, practice...then bring it to the course. Try to keep your technical work(at home infront of mirrors) seperate from your ball striking work( at the range). And cipher is probably right, this is something that needs to be developed. It won't happen over night. But also 'Yes' I think, in the long run, this is exactly what he needs.

All good tips...just a couple things i saw in your video... 1) at position 1 (club paralell to ground) I'm less concerned with your forearm rotation(it's a matter of preference) but the hands and clubhead should point the butt of club at the target and your hands should be above your toes...In the video the clubhead is below plane(too far inside) and clubhead is slightly closed. 2) at position 2 (left arm paralell to ground) Try to get your wrists set here as the clubhead rotates behind, and your arms start to rise to your shoulder plane, make sure your club's butt end is pointing 90 degrees at your target line not above or below(your tendancy in the video here is to have unset wrists and you are lifting your arms past your shoulder plane... 3) at position 3 (transition or top of your swing) is taking position 2 and completing your shoulder rotation...arms and club should remain on your shoulder plane( this is where I think you get our hands too high) and you end up across the line and closed(miss from this position is push the slice or hook depends on if you contact the ball with an open or closed clubface in relation to the "push" clubpath. Try to finish the backswing and start the downswing with your hand and shoulders as one...your hands should stop/start rotating when your shoulders stop/start rotating...the amount of seperation between your arms and upperbody can be minimized with a slight pause at the top of your swing. 4) at position 4 (downswing) as the club becomes parallel to the ground, again, there are a couple things you should pay attention to; i) butt end of the club points at your target and clubhead is pointing at the sky(same as pos. 1 ii) maintain the lag in your wrists as long as possible, this is the stage where casting happens, just hold off as long as naturally possible iii) make sure you get off your right side, most of your weight transfer should be move over to your left side against a solid left leg iv) maintain your spine angle...try not to dip down or stand up during any part of your swing...posture is key to a repeatable swing. From here...let it rip...let the momentum of the club bring you to a full finish...us smaller guys tend to be a little quick with our body and block to the left... I only went into such detail because you consider yourself a perfectionist...engrain good fundamentals early...and go back over them every so often for maintenance...you are young, you have an opportunity to create a fundamently sound swing that will result in decades of enjoyment.