baw1

This is interesting stuff. When you look at the Grant Waite section, bottom left quadrant ( @ ~9:50). As he gets to the top, it appears that his weight/pressure is all on left side, but it is actually on the right side. "..as the right leg decreases flex it is pushing downward (adding pressure into the ground).." At the top he is 40% left and 60% right.

Appreciate your feedback!

I think you misinterpreted my comment. I am not "critiquing" TW. Whom am I to critique the #1 player in the world (LOL). It was really more of a question/curiosity based on my learnings so far..

Thanks Mike and everyone else for their feedback. I really appreciate it. Its nice to know that I am on a better path now (no pun intended :) ). As far as the knee/hip action in the takeaway, I found that to be very helpful for me to get into proper position at the top. The swing thought/s being to come "down" on my left side (knee/shoulder) as I rotate backwards to the top. Perhaps I am over doing it at this point though. As far as Tiger's swing (nice music btw), it seems that he elevates vertically quite a bit (just before impact, ~0:39 in video), which according to my current understanding, is not the best mechanics.

I decided to get some more structured one-on-one sessions and signed up at GolfTec. My swing flaws were identified immediatly with the slow motion cameras and sensors/software. I really thought my swing was much better than it was, but after seeing it in slow motion, I realized my fundamentals were way off. We sorta went back to the basics and rebuilt the stance, grip, backswing, and downsing. Right now I am focusing hard on transition/forward-weight-transfer and inside-to-out path. Being able to practice with immediate camera replays in slow motion helps me stay on task. Here is my latest 6-iron: Latest Driver (no ball):

I can tell you, though, that a 14 year age difference between you and me definitely makes a difference. When I turned 50, my doctor looked at me and said, "Things are going to start to happen now," and he was right. I would love to feel 44 again, although the vast majority of people I meet don't think I look 58. One of the things that golf has taught me in the past 6 months, though, is that I am definitely that age. I would love to play 18 holes or go to the range and get three 150 ball buckets. Alas, the golfers elbow thing allows me only to play 9 or get a 45 bucket before it lets me know it's time to quit. And I can only hit twice a week with it, max. This is quite frustrating, but I look at it from the perspective that if my son in law hadn't told me about the pressure pad, I would almost definitely have had to quit long ago. I can't put myself in your shoes (although I will be there soon enough too). One of the first rounds I ended up playing was at a private country club (through a friend of a friend). I played with 2 other guys who were 86 and 68 respectively (age not handicap). Both are great golfers and get out 3 times a week during the season. Granted they have been playing for most of their lives, I was still quite impressed at their skill and energy level. As for the indoor range, I'm in the Baltimore area and I've not been been able to find one around here. I believe there are some around DC, but that's a three hour commitment just with the travel time (and assumes no traffic). I feel the weather is conspiring against me, too, as I can't remember a colder December. I am in the Chicago area and December has indeed been brutal this year. Another thing you might try is finding a golf simualtor. Maybe through your local golf shop or clinic or instructor.. Thanks for the advice. I think you are spot on with just about everything you wrote. Thanks for sharing your story. Often times I feel like I am the only one that's just beginning at this and everyone else has been playing forever.

Ok, thanks. When I was hitting today, I tried hard not to move my lower body, offering resistance as I rotated back with my upper body. However, I found it hard to go very far back and also felt some body/back pain. However, I was making a conscious effort NOT to move my knees. After looking at some more swings online and re-reading this thread, it seems that I may have misunderstood a bit and it's in fact ok (and necessary) to move left knee downward. Is this correct? Just need to make sure not to fold it inward though? When I move the knee downward during the backswing it feels better and I seem to be able to go back further with the rotation. I guess the key though is not to go too far down as this will not provide proper tension (once again)? Am I on right track here?

I just joined the group and came across your thread. Although I am younger than you (44), I am a complete beginner (4 months) and share many of your thoughts, concerns, and frustarations. I thought you might be interested in hearing a fellow beginner's perspective. - Have I about max'ed out my driving distance now? I strongly doubt that. In all likelihood, your swing mechanics are not correct (yet). If you are using mostly arms (vs body) for sure. - What can I do to get more drives in the fairway? Hone in on proper swing mechanics first (instructor/lessons/video/forum..), then practice - How do you develop a consistent swing with the various aches and pains that come with being almost 60 years old? I am experiencing left arm tennis elbow (tendonitis). I am almost positive this is a result of poor swing technique (too much arms or all arms). In almost all likelihood some or all of what you are experiencing could be related. - What can I do to keep from losing over the Winter all that I've learned since May and then just having to re-learn it when Spring is here again? Practice indoors. Don't know where you live, but around me there are several indoor domes. You can also set up a net with rubber balls if you have space for it somewhere. Taking a weekend trip or two to warmer climate can be very cool too. I went to Orlando 2 weeks ago and played 3 rounds. * Make sure you do some due diligence in picking proper instructor. A good instructor should be able to identify your swing issues, should be consistent in their teachings (tailored to you), and you should of course feel comfortable working with him/her (like anything in life). * Golf is so hard to learn and then you have to sorta get out on the course and play with guys that have been playing for years. You have to pick up on the etiquette and pace and keep your cool all the same time. I often wonder how anyone breaks into this sport unless they are nurtured from a very young age in country club circles..Surprisingly though, I found that everyone I have been paired up with (so far) has been very nice and understanding (they had to learn at some point too). Usually I get a few tips along the way too :) Don't worry about high scores at this stage. Swallow your pride. If its taking too long to get to the greens, pick up ball and throw into fairway or skip a shot or go right to the green..Be respectful, humble, and nice and I am pretty sure you will have a positive experience as you get out there..

Quote: focus on the left shoulder, left hip, left knee going "down", right side stretching up and the head being steady will take care of itself. I spent a couple hours today shooting at the net again. I tried to incorporate the above, but struggled quite a bit with it. Most of my shots (when contact was made) were skyballs. Body posture/positions didn't feel right(or comfortable either). I alternated between a a 6-iron and a driver. I was still "folding in" on my left side so that's part of the problem. However, I tried something with the driver that may be a small breakthrough for me. I did a very simple backswing (extend arms/club to parallel with ground and in line with body/target and then wrist hinge up... "L shape"). At the same time my swing thought was to resist folding in on left side and offer resistance to backswing motion. I felt some tension there and when I proceeded with weight-shift and downswing, it felt like the power was coming more from body. Don't know how far the ball would have traveled or if it would have sliced (hitting into net), but it sounded pretty good. Video below:

Yes, unfortunately on this particular practice area, the mat is not quite long enough (I think). I practice at a couple of domes as well and outside of course when its warmer. Same swing pretty much everywhere. I will see if I can extend the mat or even go without it to eliminate any balance issues...

Thanks for your feedback mvmac. I think I am over compensating now on my backswing in anticipation of the weight-shift/downswing. However, as you and March pointed out, I am actually losing power, tension, stability.. If I am following the recommendation/s, I need to stay put as much as physically possible, keeping head stationary as well. The backswing should be all (or mostly) shoulders/back (not lower body/hip) rotating on center of axis (spine). That's where the tension/coil come from. Then, at set point, initiate hip slide/rotation/bump for weight transfer and downswing. Is this about right?? I will focus more on proper backswing at my next session (keeping in mind the tip to lower left shoulder..as I rotate back). If my backswing is wrong then my weight transfer & downswing will never be right. With the driver, I think I have to be conscious of not rotating too upright though (been down that path). By the way, what do you think of her swing? I came across this and was blown away..

Thanks mvmac. Done: http://thesandtrap.com/t/71705/my-swing-baw1

I've been Playing Golf for: 4 months My current handicap index or average score is: ~35 handicap My typical ball flight is: not quite established yet The shot I hate or the "miss" I'm trying to reduce/eliminate is: Driver is weak spot Ok, I have posted 2 videos below. They are taken indoors with rubber balls and shooting at a net about 12-feet away, but I think these should suffice. When I say good or bad below, I am referring to how it felt coming off the club, the sound of the ball at impact with the bulls-eye (assuming it hits the bulls-eye), and the potential trajectory/distance perceived.. Fire away. This is in reference to the following thread: http://thesandtrap.com/t/71638/newbie-driver-problems/18 video #1: Driver, 2 shots. 1st shot is bad. 2nd shot is much better. video #2: 3-Wood. Decent shot

On video 2. Try freezing at the 11th second. Please understand I'm not criticizing. Do you see how your folding over your left side. I think your trying to generate power but you're not. You're loosing tension. You should be building tension on your right side but balanced on your right leg. Instead your spine is folding over. You then have to unravel back over to get the club head back to path. Its not a clean path back to the ball. Thanks for your analysis March11934. I am not aware of this "folding over" at all. I am simply trying to execute my backswing. Just to be clear though, there needs to be some inner rightward bend of the left knee (as is shown in the Ben Hogan video). Correct? Are you referring to the fact that my left body shifts right as well though? Try keeping your left arm straighter one th back swing and all the way through the forward swing. This will give you a better chance of clean contact with the ball. One less variable coming back to the spot the club has to get to. You're folding your arm to increase the amount of backswing you're creating but in actuality you're not. Keep it straight if you can. Let your wrist create some hinge. It will create some lag and increase speed through the swing. Will do at next practice session. I believe I actually had a straighter arm at one point. I was too upright though and in the process of trying to flatten out more, I think left arm became not as straight.. I do notice that when I get proper hinge and pause at the top, I hit much better shots. Fire with your hips. Notice how your shoulders and hips are facing the same angles almost all the way through the swing. When you get to your set on your backswing your hips should fire. That is where the left knee is a trigger. The knee thaws out a little. The hips follow and the upper body then gets pulled through. Your hips are what should move forward. Your head stays back and you end up with the reverse C finish. :) Well, it feels like I am doing the hip fire, but I know that will require much more practice to get better at. Of course if my arms and backswing are flawed than everything else is probably going to be broken too...

Ok, I have posted 2 videos below. They are taken indoors with rubber balls and shooting at a net about 12-feet away, but I think these should suffice. When I say good or bad below, I am referring to how it felt coming off the club, the sound of the ball at impact with the bulls-eye (assuming it hits the bulls-eye), and the potential trajectory/distance perceived.. Fire away. video #1: Driver, 2 shots. 1st shot is bad. 2nd shot is much better. video #2: 3-Wood. Decent shot

This is interesting. I have not seen this being referred to as "upwards motion or reverse C" before. Sorta like scooping up? I am concerned about the timing/sequencing here and being able to train my body. It seems like I have to really not move arms until weight shift is way underway. In slow motion I get it, however incorporating this into a "real" swing is a whole different story.

Thanks for your suggestions. It certainly seems like an arms vs body problem. I will work on getting a video together. As far the Ben Hogan video, it seems that he is moving a lot of his left leg/knee inward/back during his initial back swing (0:15 in the video). Certainly more so than I do. Do you think that is a necessary part to get into proper position for lower body weight transfer pre/during downswing? To get proper leverage?

Very good chance of that. Sometimes my arms feel a bit sore after a range session and I might have a slight case of tendonitis in my left arm (pain in outer part of arm below elbow). At this point I am wondering if indeed my weight shift is not sufficient. It seems that I am pivoting/shifting, but perhaps I am not actually moving my hips forward enough. What throws me off though is that I make fairly decent shots with the rest of my clubs (increasingly). Not the case with driver though. I just know (intellectually) that it cannot be that hard to hit that club. Otherwise, nobody would be able to hit it. I am definitely missing something. Next session, I am going to focus hard hard on the weight shift and in slow motion to try and get the sequence (as I understand it..see below). So step 3/4 will be the focus (and challenge).. Sequence being: 1) address position - slight bend in the knees, fairly vertical back - ball slightly forward (aligned with inner left foot) - ball tee: equator lined up with top of clubhaead - club head center sweet spot aligns with ball when elevated off ground 2) Back swing: keeping head steady, rotate shoulders and club to parallel with ground and body and then up/around..finishing with a wrist hinge of club. 3) Initiate weight shift: move hips to the left and rotate towards target simultaneously. 4) Initiate downswing: focus on ball and swing through, around and over left shoulder..

Thanks for mentioning these guys. I know Jbe Kruger on the European tour is also shorter (5'5"). So I guess its not my height. Most likely still a swing mechanics issue..

I have been wondering for some time if my height (5'7") requires me to utilize different techniques or different equipment. However, I know there are shorter players who do just fine as well. I did try choking down on the driver, but that did not seem to help. I think I am going to focus on my swing mechanics first before I start cutting my driver down and what not..

Sorry I was not very clear. When I first started, I would make consistent contact, but hit the ball around 100-150 yards with a massive slice (consistently). At this point, after working on flattening my swing more (I was very much upright with not enough body rotation), I can hit a few straight drives here and there, but I am usually not making good contact, not delivering much power, not generating enough distance, not launching the ball in a straight line, and still slicing here and there. The club contact often feels heavy and hard. I sky the ball and top the ball too… J Now, I can hit my 3-wood pretty decently (increasingly). There are only 3 differences I am aware of : - Shaft length (43” vs. 45.75”) - Loft (15 vs. 10.5) - Club Head size

Thanks for the various responses. At my next dome hitting session (its 13 degrees here right now :( ), I will be trying the following: - choke up on driver ~2 inches - don't over-swing (easier said than done) - focus hard on getting as much weight transferred to leftleg/foot and pressing off that foot during downswing.

Thanks. I will indeed focus on the weight shift more. I think my head is pretty stable currently (it used to not be). I do understand the physics of the arc/circle and why that's important.

Thanks for the comment. I believe my weight transfer and body pivot is ok. Sometimes I do forget this important step, and suffer a bad shot on any one of my clubs. If I am following the essence of the video though, the recommendation is to focus a bit more on pressing down with the left leg (since I am a righty) off the ground .. as the transfer occurs?

Right. I am probably swinging too hard at times trying to get that distance out of the driver. I have made many conscious attempts to swing slower as well though. When I do so it seems that I get a clunky shot off more often than not. Or very little distance at all (which sorta defeats the purpose of using the driver). It is certainly possible that my speed control is a factor here though.