Drill to maintain spine angle

[PktLadies]

I am a 6 handicap and used to be scratch, trying to get my game back where I was. I recently went to a indoor golf centre here in Vancouver to have my swing videod from every angle. I found I was getting 'stuck' at impact causing a serious snaphook or block slice. I was told of one drill where you put a chair behind you (back against your bum) and try to feel your forward cheek hit the chair through impact and follow through to ensure that I am getting proper turn and keeping my spine angle in tact. Its okay, but I was hoping someone out there may have other suggetions for drill to maintain/improve my spine angle.

Thanks for your help!!

[rotator]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

Hi,

As you know, that's a good golfer's miss, getting stuck, and you are clearly a good golfer.

It may seem like spine angle related, but it could be the result rather than the cause.

Usually, the reason for getting stuck is because you've taken the club away too much to the inside initially and therefore you will come back too much from inside. Two things will then happen, either blocking the shot because the arms are cramped behind you and you can't release in time, or as a recovery mode you will throw the hands over and creating a snap hook.

On your videos, is there any indication of this in your case. Tiger had this problem for a long time. He changed his swing so he almost lifted his hands up and took the club to the outside of his hand/target line until he broke wrists and carried the club back on plane. I believe you can still see the residual of being aware of his miss shot, when he makes his practice motions. He is trying to have the body in synch with the arms. He and Butch Harmon (his coach at that time) described and demonstrated his earlier swing which had the inside takeaway and the hips flying ahead, as the "ole" swing.

Ted

[PktLadies]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

I think you hit the nail on the head. I appreciate your reply. I went back to the same place and you can actually compare your swing to pros side-to-side on the computer swing. I compared mine to tigers and my club position at the top was okay - but wow was it inside on the takeaway. I used to have a really flat swing resulting in hooks and couldnt hit a fade if my life depended on it. While i was playing at my best I had corrected that so I guess some old habits are coming back on the take away.

Thanks Ted, I appreciate your help!!

[rotator]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

Hi PktLadies,

It's nice to have feedback, whether I was on the ball or full of s...! Either way, it's for my education also, and I appreciate your reply.

I hope that it's a long lasting fix.

Ted

[mattney]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

it sounds like u could be sliding ure hips on the downswing instead of turning them sounds like thats what the chair drill was about ,trying to get ure left hip to turn behind u instead of sliding

[dagosa]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

I am a 6 handicap and used to be scratch, trying to get my game back where I was. I recently went to a indoor golf centre here in Vancouver to have my swing videod from every angle. I found I was getting 'stuck' at impact causing a serious snaphook or block slice. I was told of one drill where you put a chair behind you (back against your bum) and try to feel your forward cheek hit the chair through impact and follow through to ensure that I am getting proper turn and keeping my spine angle in tact. Its okay, but I was hoping someone out there may have other suggetions for drill to maintain/improve my spine angle.

Thanks for your help!!

As we age and our golf game declines, I feel a concerted effort to counteract the ravages of time is needed. Posture at address is the most important part of maintaining spine angle; which according to many is the key to good ball striking.

It is very difficult to maintain your posture through your swing unless your hip muscles are activated and used to support your rotation. Simple flex, extent, adduct and abduct movements with light ankle weights , will teach your hips to join in on the fun. Well activated hip muscles I believe, are a key to consistent golf.

From there, try to make good posture natural and a part of your daily life, so it's not a thought in your swing...golfer's with good posture find it easier and more natural to rotate through the ball with a consistent spine angle.
For example, "keeping your butt out" (lordosis) with an straightened lower and upper back, helps lock the spine angle in address.

[kershawm]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

I know this thread is older but I have the same problem.....I think. Things tend to deteriorate as I progress through the round. When I'm on, I'm on. But once the hooks start, I can't stop them. What is the best drill to do during the round to survive the getting stuck behind and flipping the hands problem?

I played Sunday but had a lot of time before the round so I went to the range....big mistake. I started out hitting fine then "it" showed it's ugly head and stayed with me the whole round. I knew what the problem was but couldn't stop. I'm thinking a really good drill might help one survive a round if it shows up on game day.

Thanks,
Mike

PS Where is the place where you can compare your video swing with the Pros?

[BrianW]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

The attached video is good for this problem:

[keepyourheaddown]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

The attached video is good for this problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNwSfz0_KDM

a lot to think about in a split second

[BrianW]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

a lot to think about in a split second

If you want to fix a problem then you have to practice doing it correctly. Normally you start off doing a drill slowly so that you understand the correct movement and feeling, you then repeat it many times slowly so that you start to ingrain the action. You then start to speed the drill until you can do it without thinking. An average golf swing lasts around two seconds.

[LowPost42]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

If you want to fix a problem then you have to practice doing it correctly. Normally you start off doing a drill slowly so that you understand the correct movement and feeling, you then repeat it many times slowly so that you start to ingrain the action. You then start to speed the drill until you can do it without thinking. An average golf swing lasts around two seconds.

I trust those that have gone to school for the science of it. Brian is supported by neuromuscular experts, who state that when it comes to drilling an action to create a new neuro-pathway (create new "muscle memory") the brain doesn't differentiate between a full speed drill and a slow-motion one. So to drill super slowly, making sure your movement is correct, is more effective than drilling in 'real time' where your movement may be incorrect. The most exhilirating example of this came when I attended a clinic to learn about biomechanically correct movement in a golf swing.

The first few times you make the move, it's a foreign feeling. Then, after a dozen or so reps, you can do it with relative ease. The part that was completely mind-blowing was the inability to execute that move while in a golf stance with a club in my hand. I couldn't believe the amount of focus and willpower I had to exert, and how slowly and deliberately I had to move once I grabbed a club - because I was fighting against the well-established neuro-pathway that "knows" how to move with a golf club in my hands. After quite a few minutes and loads of concentration, I could move properly with a club in my hands. Then they put a ball down in front of me. I may as well have simply stepped out of my car at that point and grabbed my clubs - I had to concentrate even harder now that the 'task' had changed.

I've been doing slow-motion drills for almost a year now. Never a great big number of repetitions, but a dozen or so quality reps a day. It completely translates into my full speed, full swing - even though I don't practice my full swing at full speed.

[keiko]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

Lordosis is "sway back" or "pushing the hips forward"; it is not keeping your "butt out"
good posture in golf is setting up at address with the shoulders fairly erect and the arms hanging down from the shoulders. The core is activated when one gets into an athletic position.
Sticking one's "butt out" while used for years, has very limited benefit.

As we age and our golf game declines, I feel a concerted effort to counteract the ravages of time is needed. Posture at address is the most important part of maintaining spine angle; which according to many is the key to good ball striking.

It is very difficult to maintain your posture through your swing unless your hip muscles are activated and used to support your rotation. Simple flex, extent, adduct and abduct movements with light ankle weights , will teach your hips to join in on the fun. Well activated hip muscles I believe, are a key to consistent golf.

From there, try to make good posture natural and a part of your daily life, so it's not a thought in your swing...golfer's with good posture find it easier and more natural to rotate through the ball with a consistent spine angle.
For example, "keeping your butt out" (lordosis) with an straightened lower and upper back, helps lock the spine angle in address.

[jbrunk]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

I am a 6 handicap and used to be scratch, trying to get my game back where I was. I recently went to a indoor golf centre here in Vancouver to have my swing videod from every angle. I found I was getting 'stuck' at impact causing a serious snaphook or block slice. I was told of one drill where you put a chair behind you (back against your bum) and try to feel your forward cheek hit the chair through impact and follow through to ensure that I am getting proper turn and keeping my spine angle in tact. Its okay, but I was hoping someone out there may have other suggetions for drill to maintain/improve my spine angle.

Thanks for your help!!

When people use the term 'getting stuck', it really just means you are swinging too much to right field (inside out). Your pivot stalling out too early and you can't 'get' to the ball. The carry drill that was referenced above will probably help, just make sure it is driven by your pivot.

I also think 'spine angle' talk is ****pola as well. People think it means something because that is Peter Kostis' fix for everything. If you are talking about posture and/or balance that is a different story.

If you have some control of the face and are swinging on a decent plane, your posture and balance should be fine.

[dagosa]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

Lordosis is "sway back" or "pushing the hips forward"; it is not keeping your "butt out"
good posture in golf is setting up at address with the shoulders fairly erect and the arms hanging down from the shoulders. The core is activated when one gets into an athletic position.
Sticking one's "butt out" while used for years, has very limited benefit.

Please don't get into a debate about lordosis with me. I am well experienced in the medical field and officially...
Lordosis: Inward curvature of the spine. Normally, for example, the low back demonstrates lordosis. The spine is not supposed to be absolutely straight, so some degree of curvature is normal.
One of the primary reasons for low back pain and disfunction in athletic moves is exemplified by your statement. Failure to retain a degree of lordosis as one ages by proper core training and posture exercises is a key component to that. Please read Dr. McKenzie on low back maintenance as a beginning to further help your understanding.

[keiko]

Re: Drill to maintain spine angle

"please don't get into a debate.....etc." I have spent the past 45 years as a medical professional and could say alot but I refuse to be drawn again into a useless diatribe.
I am just going to ignore your posts from now on.
Good luck.

Please don't get into a debate about lordosis with me. I am well experienced in the medical field and officially...
Lordosis: Inward curvature of the spine. Normally, for example, the low back demonstrates lordosis. The spine is not supposed to be absolutely straight, so some degree of curvature is normal.
One of the primary reasons for low back pain and disfunction in athletic moves is exemplified by your statement. Failure to retain a degree of lordosis as one ages by proper core training and posture exercises is a key component to that. Please read Dr. McKenzie on low back maintenance as a beginning to further help your understanding.