Help with a Block

[bdbl]

Butch Harmon describes the problem I'm having to a tee - sorry.

"...a block flies straight right. Blocks occur when you slide too hard with your lower body on the downswing (above). The club drops behind you and swings too much from the inside. You have too much lateral motion and not enough turn through the shot."

Butch Harmon: Why You Miss Right: Golf Digest

Interestingly I [mostly] don't do it in practice and [again mostly] only do it with one of the bigger sticks off the tee.

If anyone has any additional drills or suggestions I'd be grateful.

[keiko]

Re: Help with a Block

It could be as simple as not completing the release at/after impact. If you are holding on to the release, blocks can occur. Gripping too tight at impact and not letting the club release.

Butch Harmon describes the problem I'm having to a tee - sorry.

"...a block flies straight right. Blocks occur when you slide too hard with your lower body on the downswing (above). The club drops behind you and swings too much from the inside. You have too much lateral motion and not enough turn through the shot."

Butch Harmon: Why You Miss Right: Golf Digest

Interestingly I [mostly] don't do it in practice and [again mostly] only do it with one of the bigger sticks off the tee.

If anyone has any additional drills or suggestions I'd be grateful.

[BrianW]

Re: Help with a Block

The above is good advice Robin. Make sure you do not get the club stuck behind you in the downswing, working on the 'Pump Drill' can help with this.

[keiko]

Re: Help with a Block

The pump drill is great and I recommend it with one caution: in order for the drill to be effective, it MUST be done with passive hands/arms. For someone to do the drill with tension is a waste of time.
One needs to "feel" what its like to do the drill without tension; funny thing happens, the less tension one has in hands/arms while doing the drill, the more one notices how active and alive the swing/drill becomes.
The natural hinging should feel like one cannot stop it, it is an overpowering feeling at first until one realizes that's the way the swing should feel-awesome, effortless, power.

The above is good advice Robin. Make sure you do not get the club stuck behind you in the downswing, working on the 'Pump Drill' can help with this.

[bdbl]

Re: Help with a Block

Brain and Keiko, thanks for the input.

Make sure you do not get the club stuck behind you in the downswing.

This is pretty much what happens I think

Used the pump drill last year to some good effect, will have another go now.

I've also noticed that on-course where, see OP, the problem is worst, I tend to pick the club up more quickly than when relaxed on the practice range, losing width and getting steeper - any thoughts on this as cause and effect?

[BrianW]

Re: Help with a Block

Brain and Keiko, thanks for the input.



This is pretty much what happens I think

Used the pump drill last year to some good effect, will have another go now.

I've also noticed that on-course where, see OP, the problem is worst, I tend to pick the club up more quickly than when relaxed on the practice range, losing width and getting steeper - any thoughts on this as cause and effect?

You may be allowing your forearms to rotate in the takeaway and allowing the club to get too far behind you Robin. Make sure you keep the arms and wrists passive in the first two feet of the takeaway.

This little video from Butch Harmon may be of some help.

[KrudlerAce]

Block Shot

I found a great drill that works for me.

Try doing some practice swings with your feet together. This forces the arms to bring the golf club down and through to the target line. It stops the shoulders from opening up on the downswing which causes the block or pushed golf shot.

Practice this drill a few times with a club before the shot you are having trouble with. It worked for me.

[miffin]

Re: Help with a Block

I get called Brain too!!!

Brian

[BrianW]

Re: Help with a Block

I get called Brain too!!!

Brian

No Brainer

[keiko]

Re: Block Shot

You are right, feet almost together, swing half to half-back and through, allowing the arms and wrists to stay loose and just dropping down into the slot.
Most of the time when accomplished correctly, one can hit 75% or more of full swing distance.

I found a great drill that works for me.

Try doing some practice swings with your feet together. This forces the arms to bring the golf club down and through to the target line. It stops the shoulders from opening up on the downswing which causes the block or pushed golf shot.

Practice this drill a few times with a club before the shot you are having trouble with. It worked for me.

[rogue]

Re: Help with a Block

Accuracy is a combination of clubface and swingpath. For ultimate consistency a player should have their swing path at the target so they need not compensate with the clubface. The compensations will vary the amount of curve with every shot and slight thin and fat shots will also struggle directionally. if the swing path is toward the target then the player will experience more consistency even on off center hits.

Releasing more is just masking the real problem - your swing path. A player who slides and has a swing like you describe (more of a good player with good dynamics' fault) with too much lateral motion and not tenough rotation is usually the result of an in to out swing path. Its a chicken or egg situation which came first but i theoriese closed clubface followed by swing path in to out followed by sliding etc to make better contact with that path.

Change your swing path - a great analogy is one of the nail through the ball aimed at the target. You will find that your body action will become less slidey, more rotational and stacked although it will take a while for it to become ingrained.

Another few methods to achieve this
1. try to get your divots to aim a little left for a week or so
2. Practice starting the ball left and then fading onto target
3. Spray paiint a line on the floor leading towards your taregt and practice daily with it.

but i still think the hammer and nail is best