Excessive Body Turn

[timberwolf]

I have a question for the experts out there. When I'm on the course and I take my practice shots everything seems to be okay. When my swing is working I have decent range (240-250 3 wood, 165-170-5i)

However, very often when I line up and take my shot, I often end up mishitting the shot and my chest and shoulders end up about 170 degrees around from the my initial start position which puts a lot of strain on my back. Once this starts, I find it very difficult to shake it off. The problem is I'm not sure what triggers this excessive body turn. I suspect I'm turning my head too early and it's causing the excessive turn. Are there any other possible causes that I should be looking for ?

Also any suggestions for how I can take my practice swing to the real shot ?

[BrianW]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

Not sure what you mean by 170 deg further round from address?

Anyhow, I guess you are spinning out and getting ahead of the ball at impact. Try working on this:

When you are at the top of your backswing with your shoulders fully turned and your back to the target do nothing with your arms. Start by pushing your hips well forward towards the target, do not think about them rotating as they will do this naturally, keep your head back behind the ball, this action will naturally lower your right shoulder and arms without any conscious effort. Now while maintaining your wrist cock swing fully through and let your wrists release by their own momentum, head staying back and maintaining spine tilt.

Working on this will keep you more centered and behind the ball at impact. I think you will like the results.

[bill reed]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

hi
one reason you get to much body turn if when you slam the left heel down and your weight shifts to your left heel and not the outside of your left foot. this make you spin around to much. check that your not putting your weight on the left heel and spinning around on it.
cheers
bill

[cyc53870]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

Try 3/4 swings then...

[bertelsen]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

You could be rotating too far on your backswing. The finish is (allmost) a mirror of your backswing/downswing.

Be aware of your balance through the swing. This would help too.

[jbrunk]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

I have a question for the experts out there. When I'm on the course and I take my practice shots everything seems to be okay. When my swing is working I have decent range (240-250 3 wood, 165-170-5i)

However, very often when I line up and take my shot, I often end up mishitting the shot and my chest and shoulders end up about 170 degrees around from the my initial start position which puts a lot of strain on my back. Once this starts, I find it very difficult to shake it off. The problem is I'm not sure what triggers this excessive body turn. I suspect I'm turning my head too early and it's causing the excessive turn. Are there any other possible causes that I should be looking for ?

Also any suggestions for how I can take my practice swing to the real shot ?

The practice swing is always more relaxed, better balanced and better 'feeling' only because you have no consequence of what the clubface is doing. On the real swing, your body/mind knows if that clubface is off and you then make the compensations and contortions to hit the ball straight.

[jambalaya]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

I think that would be more like 100 degrees. You'd have to be a contortionist to turn 170 degrees from the address position. In other words instead of your belt buckle facing the target it is about ten degrees further around, right?

[pnearn]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

My guess would be you are using your arms to try and get widtth in the backswing instead of just letting the body turn them back

You then have to 'sling' at the ball coming down which pulls you right around

Try and feel a more compact, shorter backswing where the body turns. I can swing the arms wayyy back but hardly turn the body. The full 90 degree shoulder turn will actually move the arms less far back than people thing (3/4 swing) - thats when the arms have to stop, no additional lifting, wrist collapsing etc

[timberwolf]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone.

I tried doing what BrianW suggested when playing today and my short irons (P-6) were pretty good and consistent but my long irons were still hit and miss, either striking the ball well or ending up with the excessive turn. I'll try working on it a bit more and if I can't get it sorted I'll guess I'll get a couple of lessons and see if that can resolve it.

TW

[timberwolf]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

I think that would be more like 100 degrees. You'd have to be a contortionist to turn 170 degrees from the address position. In other words instead of your belt buckle facing the target it is about ten degrees further around, right?

Try standing at your address position and then rotate your shoulders as far round as you can. Then imagine ending up there after swinging the club and then the lower back pain that comes with it

[BrianW]

Re: Excessive Body Turn

Try standing at your address position and then rotate your shoulders as far round as you can. Then imagine ending up there after swinging the club and then the lower back pain that comes with it

I have promoted this system a number of times. I think you should give it a try:

http://www.newgolfswing.com/newgolfswing01.php