Mr.Wedge

This is why I advocate keying the torso rotation with the armpits. It causes both to rotate as one unit.

Well, "straight right" and "push" are in the same ballpark, and so is an overdraw if it is starting right a bit. Sounds like you are dealing with the same issue which is an in/out path with the clubface varying between slightly closed and slightly open to the target. Doubt 1 degree lie angle will have much impact on that. Swing path sounds consistent, so you are doing something with the hands and arms to make the clubface vary.

Very good advice. If I may add, it goes back to address position, which facilitates being able to make that initial move, and mental concept is prerequisite to that.

One of best ways to learn in my view . Learn to master that stick with 3/4 swings paying close attention to the fundamentals while you do and it will all translate directly to other clubs, plus you will be learning one of the key scoring shots in the game.

I'm assuming Petden is referring to what is known as release. or in this case, early release, which would cause max velocity prior to the ball. Whether that occurs up top or lower in the swing is less relevent than the fact it is occuring. In actuallity, if this is what is meant by "forcing the shot", there is no release at all, but a manipulation of the hands to unhinge the wrists. "...from as far back as you can" could use some definition. Violating one's own range of motion will dramatically diminish power, accuracy, and consistency.

If you keep the left edge of the thumb touching the mark I think you are fine. My preference is to feel the palms square to the target, then angle them in toward each other on top of the grip but the left thumb is just barely to the right side of top.

The primary factor in creating backspin is clubhead acceleration. Control distance with length of backswing.

The question suggests you are manipulating the hands into position during the upswing; starting neutral and hitting right palm up. The hands and arms will return to address position if you let them, but if you attempt to position your hands during the course of the upswing, that natural principle will not work, forcing you to manipulate them on the down, which in my view, destroys swing freedom. If you are using the hands and forearms to achieve club position, you are in for a long struggle IMHO. The small muscles involved cannot be depended on from round to round to remember position such. I do speak from experience. After many years of struggling with this issue and getting older to the point that arm manipulation no longer provided any power, I finally learned to swing with the core and leave the hands alone, allowing them to hinge and unhinge with the dynamics of the swing; wish I had learned that at a younger age. To answer your question specifically, grip the club just tight enough that it doesn't slip in your hands, swing the stable arms triangle with your large torso muscles, and allow your hands to react to the swing dynamics.

Hips will function just fine if you let them. Do some mock coils, and keep both knees well flexed and kicked in toward each other, ensuring your weight is on the inside of your feet (no club in hands). Coil back a ways and hold it. From that position, pinch your knees together even further and squat a bit. You should feel quite a bit of tension in the insides of the legs. That tension is directional and will release right back to the target if you let it, or you can accelerate it by snapping it in the opposite direction of the tension driving both knees toward the target. Either way, provided the head does not change level, this action of the legs will cause the hips to "bump" slightly laterally as you call it, and uncoil naturally with no thought of the hips. Another way to control hip motion is to attempt to keep the right heel on the ground a little later in the downswing. This will prevent excessive slide and help with sequencing.

Right on!!

Be real careful about changing your grips. This could easily be a problem with the "gripper". One thing you can do is choke down on your grips because they are tapered and thinner further down the shaft. You may be too much in the palms. A good grip is in the fingertips. So experiment with the thinner part of the grip getting it in your fingertips, then the fatter part doing the same, and have your pro look closer at it before regripping the clubs. Also, am curious about what the pro recommended about the fats.

About the age of 13 caddying for my father and his friends...a great way to learn course management and etiquette...wish caddys were more readily available today because that is the best way to play IMHO.

Amen...may truer than you imply...to a lot of golf teaching as well?

Looks like a good site for us who are taking care of the elderly parents. I'll help spread the link around to a few I know in the same boat.

I think Muddcat is asking about something other than a waggle, like doing a mock swing without a club in the hands? Not sure.

Nice to hear some concurrence. I sometimes feel like the lone ranger on this. Regarding shoulders, a definition may be in order because it is a misunderstood term. Shoulder actually refers to the large shoulder area of the upper torso and not the singular joint of the arm and collar bones. All the large muscles including the pecs and lats converge around the arm pits, so I glue the arm pits (as opposed to squeeze), feel as though I am engaging the lats, and let er rip. I think this accomplishes what you refer to as coiling wth the core, which may be felt in many different ways. Gluing the armpits provides what I refer to as shoulder leverage reducing the role of the arms to simply maintain relative position throughout the swing. OP can use these thoughts, but I figure he'd do best by getting the legs working properly first...nothing like too much info to freeze the brain.

You'll get past the pain. It is the downward compression of the coil which causes it and the reason so many resist it by straightening the leg or by swaying. Learn to "love" that discomfort because it is what creates ease of power; accept the pain on the front end and release will be a joy. The attached pics may help (I'm a noob with this computer stuff, so kinda crude). See how your butt moves toward the ball at impact? Note the spine angle, how you straighten up as compared to your address position. Also look at how much you are on your toes at impact. In order to reach the ball you have to raise up that way which forces the club to an outside path. Moving toward the ball like that "crowds" your arms if that makes sense, which makes for an early release and poor extention downrange. If you maintain your angles and levels, you can freely swing your arms back to the ball on plane with good extension. This is a balance issue which begins at address. Flex the knees more than what you may think they should be, roll the hips under the spine, and get balanced on the balls and heels. I would suggest continuing with 1/2 to 3/4 swings with your favorite short iron in order to learn these new feels. If you keep that right knee flexed and on the inside of that foot you may be amazed at how crisply you hit the ball even with a short swing.

Sure. Keep that relaxed look to your swing...looks real good.

Here's a pic of your reverse. Take a little time and study it. Note the hips tilted up due to the right leg straightening and the torso tilted toward the target. Ouch! This will cause lower back strain, not to mention all sorts of mis hits. Think of reaching into the picture and pulling that right knee toward you and a bit toward the target, thinking of what that will do to your torso. It will cause your hips to level up and bring your head back away from the target. At the top, the head should be over the inside of your right thigh. You are leaving your head in place and swaying the hips away from the target. There are two different ways to address this. You can preset your head over your right thigh at address, or you can allow your head to move to the right as you backswing. It is going to be difficult to break the leg straightening habit, but you are young and should be able to do it ok. It will make your swing feel restricted somewhat, but that is a good restriction. Just go back to that taut spot and let it unwind from that braced right leg and the INSIDE of the right foot. As you get more comfortable with it you can add more backswing if you wish, but you are always best to swing well within yourself IMO. Fix this and your accuracy as well as power will improve.

swing with the lats and from there smooooooth.

You may be putting the cart before the horse. I know this is contrary to what many folks teach, but if you attempt to build your swing by manipulating the club into a predetermined position, you are potentially creating a very long and frustrating road for yourself. The tendency will be to accentuate your swing with the small muscles of the hands and arms, not to mention powering your swing with same. On the other hand, if you build your swing with known core fudamentals, the plane will pretty much take care of itself. I say "pretty much" because as you progress, OBSERVING your plane will be a good check to determine if the fundamentals are in sync, and adjustments can be made accordingly. Lecture over.... Here are specific fundamental issues I see with your swing: Setup...too erect, little knee flex, and a bit on your heels? Flex those knees, kick them in toward each other to get the weight on the insides of the feet, and bend at the hips. Feel your weight balanced on the balls and heels of your feet. If you err, err toward the balls and not the heels. The insides of the legs control your swing if you key them properly. Right leg straightening...early in the back swing. I suspect a frontal view would show a bit of a reverse pivot. Unless you are attempting S&T;, this is causing most of your downswing problems and getting you out of sequence. The weight should remain on the inside of the right foot at the top and the right knee should maintain the same flex as at address. Keep it kicked in a tad and feel as if you are "sitting down" on the inside of the right hip at the top. Early extension...which simple is moving your body toward the ball coming down causing you to lose your spine angle and "get stuck" behind the ball. This is partly due to being on the heels and the natural tendency then is to seek balance by moving to your toes on the down. A good way to control this is to roll the hips more under the spine at address which serves to straighten the lower back and engage the quads for better stability. Exercises which focus on the hips and quads help as well. This is just my opinion...if you work on these areas, the plane will be much better having done nothing consciously to change it.

There is a lot going on good, but quickly, here is the main thing which will help in my view. You are reverse pivoting which is a common swing fault, caused by the right leg straightening. In your setup position, kick your knees in toward each other and feel the weight on the insides of your feet. Keep your right knee kicked in and flexed...you will add instant power to your swing by doing so. As an aside, if you post videos on swingacademy, it's a lot easier to view.

This is one of those observable RESULTS, which when attempted to "do", only compounds the problem , IMHO. Unless you are incredibly gifted, trying to do something with the hands in a time frame of about 2/3 of a second is just near impossible to repeat on a consistent basis. Wrist position at impact is determined by other factors in the swing which are controlled by the large shoulder and torso muscles. Ultimately it is a result of lag and release, both of which occur as a result of swing dynamics. Learn to swing with the core, keep your grip soft, and the wrists will be in position with better distance to show for it. Without knowing more about your swing type or swing thinking, I can't really add much to this. Hope it helps.

Lot's easier to deal with than what most do, which is straighten the knee. Does it move away from the target as well? Would like to see...maybe you can post video?

Probably why my fund is tanking!