My Swing (GolfLug)

I visited and spent a day at Golf Evolution with Erik Barzeski and Dave Wedzik early December. It was eye opening to see my move on video as analyzed by two top instructors. I have a reasonably functional swing but a very idiosyncratic swing address so I was not sure what to expect. They had seen my swing back in August so at least they had a fair idea. We spent better portion of the first two hours taping my 8 iron and 6 iron swing and analyzing it. They (we) decided to leave alone what was functional (a decent impact position) and helped me clean up a fairly steep, over-compensated, re-routed backswing and very cramped downswing to a much simpler flatter and wider 1-2 move to get to the same impact position. Of course, came away with 3 simple drills to ingrain it. Winter has limited practice to indoors mirror-work. Drills combine feel with visual guides from a mirror showing my DTL view.

Short game: I have always been an ok chipper but pitching is another story. Erik taught me the shot I never had before - the soft high pitch. Also, my dislike for putting manifests in my three-putt frequency but courtesy of the SAM lab it turns out my stroke is not bad at all. That was a significant confidence boost. Also revisited Aim Point Express.

Winter and holidays with family have restricted my rounds to 1.5 rounds since. Well let's just say if I sustain the ball striking, I am dropping around 3 strokes by mid summer. I am hoping to go back for a maintenance trip in April. 600 miles each way is a long haul but that's no hill for a climber. For having spent almost 7 hours at GE the day went faasst. Also, got to meet Erik's daughter when she stopped by for some afternoon practice. Delightful!

Some experiences in life are just memorable. Both Erik and Dave are true gentlemen and class acts. I will document further swings in the next few weeks.

Cheers,

V

FO Swing doesn't show anything but changes in setup, so I took that off. Most of my work can be seen in the short swing above.

Current swing update. Sorry do not have space in the house for a FO video.

Feels I am working on:

1) Hands unified on grip.

2) Soft right arm at address.

3) Sweeping take away with deep hands.

4) 'flat' feel on entire back swing and downswing similar to a baseball swing.

5) steady head and a constant torso tilt during the entire swing from address through impact (this helps in maintaining weight forward and keeping me from 'shoving' my hips toward the ball through impact).

Hitting fairly straight with mid-height ball flight with sprinkled draws. 7-8 low-quick push hooks during a round (I think I have root cause identified which is when I rock and shove my hips through impact) remains my predominant miss. In the last two rounds this shot has caused me to double bogey 4 holes and triple bogey 3 holes in total. I have all but eliminated pull and push slice which was also a regular occurrence last year. Putting speed irregularity is still a persistent nuisance but a lot better than last year.

Good observation. But yes, exaggerating separation of hips from hands a bit to keep them out of the swing a bit. My bad shots happen with 'shove-y' hips (lack of rotation). Makes me stand up through impact, etc. That is my worst miss. I see the lack of knee flex though. No reason for that. Thanks for making me look.

Couple more comments. Right side pulling leg off the floor through impact looks odd but it is because a lack of rotational release of the left hand (you can't see it in the video). In other words I literally pronate and hold off release (opposite of bow in the wrist) through impact. This is an oddity of my swing and will always limit me to a great extent but only way I can play without pain in my left forearm. Hope it makes sense.

Thanks Erik!! I practice this in my slow drills but it creeps back into my normal speed swing. This is the ONE habit that has deep waters. I will get vigilant about this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

I think it's the biggest thing you need to do. It was a bit part of the focus when you were here. :) This is the "poster frame" I see when I look at your video, in fact, in the first post:

Agreed. I did some work last night but reviewed the vid on the phone and compared it to my GE swing vids and notes. And again, it's like GE never happened. :-((. Well, WWOORRKK remains to be done. GE DID happen. I have a guide line and will post more regular vids now that winter is gone. It is strange though, ball striking is miles better this year already, so I think I had convinced myself that changes have taken place since Dec.

Shot a ho hum 39 yesterday with a fairly consistent flip flop between slight draw and straight. Hit a few shots thinnish but not terrible. Really liked it so decided to come home and check what my wrist is doing on the back swing while the course swing feeling was still fresh. Sorry about the shaky video but my 6 year old is still working on his cameraman skills. The wrist feel a LOT flatter than it looks in the vid.

V

Thanks, grip in left hand lot more palmy. Yeah, I hope this sticks. I think getting it down in my ball-less drills but need a few more good rounds to get some confidence in it.

Relatively.

Old grip: pressure points in the 1st and 2nd finger knots and thumb (almost like pinching it) to keep the pressure off of my forearm by allowing my wrist to bend backwards (pronate) in back swing and through impact. At times of too much discomfort I literally let the club hang off my first three fingers.

New grip: Pressure point in the base of the last three fingers and a proper wrap on the grip to keep wrist relatively flat and not cup it as much with any consistency. This actually uses forearm muscles that are a little painful (not as bad as it was two/three years ago when I played no more than 10 -12 rounds a year) but I am really hoping I can play through the discomfort for a couple of months to get my forearm used to it. It is somewhat similar to shin splints. I am playing every weekend now and sneak in a 9 hole on Wednesday after work if I can so I am hoping this will become normal eventually. Good scores help but I dread a bad scores days + discomfort and I just go back to my old comfort habit and I don't even know I am doing it.

I am at work and using a diesel fuel tube to demonstrate below. I am assuming the difference will be obvious.

Getting it this far up my fingers is just about my max I can do. Anymore and fingers won't wrap. I will keep checking on this with you. But yes, I do have to watch it.

Good play continues. Fighting a little sinus cold but didn't seem to affect much. 81 at the Signature at West Neck. It is the worst I could have shot today.

Did start coming little too from the inside and soft push draw I had been working with the driver started hooking hard for 3-4 holes from 8th hole onwards and cost me two OBs. Realized that arms too close to the body in the takeaway and then shoving club at the ball from way inside to outside across the line to push and duck hook. Over corrected it for next couple of holes but no great damage with help of very functional chipping. Brain fart on 18th with the grip and mangled the driver on to adjacent fairway. Had to punch out back into play but great up and down to finish strong.

I like the new grip. Things manageable with forearm so far.

Best swing yet! The brood messing around at Lambert's Point..