backswing problems

[jpgolf]

i feel like my backswing is either too flat or the clubhead is already inside at hip level. don't want to manipulate it because it feels contrived and not natural. any suggestions?

[BrianW]

Re: backswing problems

Trace the extended ball to target line with the shaft in the backswing, this will stop getting too far inside and keep you on plane.

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

thanks bryan. i've tried that and it makes me dip my left shoulder. to give you an idea of my backswing, i'm a 'swinger'...i let the club swing freely as possible. as i shift to the right, sometimes i sway, sometimes i dip, and oftentimes i feel the clubhead go inside my stance line at hip high. tried to make the club swing more 'outside' but then i feel like breaking the 'plane'. if i do a more rotary motion with my swing, i start hooking. crazy isn't it.

[BrianW]

Re: backswing problems

You need to try anchoring your right foot, try pointing it slightly inwards at address. Then as you take the club back get the feeling that you are really pivoting on the inside of your right foot so that your weight does not move outside this position, you should also feel as if your shoulders are turning level and you remain stacked. When you start the downswing work on starting down with your arms for a moment before your shoulders start to unwind, this should keep your back to the target for a moment longer.

These things may seem a lot to work on but along with tracing the target line they should get you to the top on plane and allow your arms and torso to rotate into impact together, this should stop you hooking. Do not rush the backswing or transition either, they should be smooth and gradual so that you slowly bring on the power as you come into the ball.

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

hello bryan,

thanks for the quick reply. i also try to keep my knees pointing in as hogan suggests. it does help me rotate. what i noticed is my right hip turns more than usual. is that okay or should i try to keep it from turning? to give you an idea also of how i play...i have a 7 handicap. my irons and short game is passable (i think...hehe) but it's my driver and woods i can't seem to control. i want to hit a soft draw but most of my shots with these clubs are a slight fade, pull and an occasional hook. it's frustrating when i can't execute the shot i want to do. i've also tried slowing down my transition but i end up losing distance. and i've also tried tracing the line with my clubhead and it is a lot of work as you said. but if i do it on the course, i get out of sync and shots go all over the place. would like to know your thoughts. by the way, i have a 7 handicap. thanks again.

[BrianW]

Re: backswing problems

Hi Jp
Dont be concerned by your hip turn as long as you are keeping your weight inside the right foot. To create a draw you need to make sure your swing path is just outside the direction of your clubface. Go to the range and work on aiming your clubface in the direction you want the ball to take off and your swing path just a little outside. Dont try hitting left to stop a fade , it just makes it worse, you MUST hit slightly in to out to draw the ball.

You need to work on these changes at the range, the course is not forgiving enough to make a swing change.

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

thanks! i'll try it on the range. like your advice on pivoting on the right foot. seems to stop the sway. hope it works. will keep you updated.

jpgolf

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

dear bryan,

i tried to do the things you said, anchoring my right foot, turning it more in (as it turned out, my right foot was open) or more perpendicular to the target and then i kept my shoulders more level (and as it turned out, my shoulders would go off plane on the backswing) and eureka...i've been swinging really well. hat's off to you for recognizing my problem through our correspondence only whilst my golf friends couldn't seem to identify what was wrong with it. out of curiosity, are you a golf pro?

i need your opinion now on the short game. is it more advisable to keep my weight on the left side for pitching and chipping? and if i do, is there still a weight shift on the backswing?

hoping for your input...again. lol!

thanks a lot!!!

[BrianW]

Re: backswing problems

dear bryan,

i tried to do the things you said, anchoring my right foot, turning it more in (as it turned out, my right foot was open) or more perpendicular to the target and then i kept my shoulders more level (and as it turned out, my shoulders would go off plane on the backswing) and eureka...i've been swinging really well. hat's off to you for recognizing my problem through our correspondence only whilst my golf friends couldn't seem to identify what was wrong with it. out of curiosity, are you a golf pro?

i need your opinion now on the short game. is it more advisable to keep my weight on the left side for pitching and chipping? and if i do, is there still a weight shift on the backswing?

hoping for your input...again. lol!

thanks a lot!!!

Hi JP,

Glad to be of some help, I am not a Golf pro, just someone who has studied and played the game for some time and takes a great interest in the technicalities of the game.

Pitching and chipping are a little different as the chip requires a low flying shot so the ball is in the air a short time and runs out further, the pitch requires the ball in the air longer and less run out.

There are some similalarities in the way you set up for the two shots though. It is important that your sternum is ahead of the ball in both shots, this keeps your weight forward onto the front foot and encourages you to contact the ball with a crisp downward blow, you should also pull the leading foot back a little so the hips are preset slightly open. Lets consider the Pitch first:

As I said the pitch wants the ball to fly higher with spin so that it stops up quickly on landing, the crisp downward blow will do this. The ball needs to be set midway in your stance and your feet around a foot apart, your sternum forward and hips set slightly open as I explained earlier, this is done due to the pitch being a shorter version of the full swing so that you do not have time to clear the hips in the downswing. You do not need to shift your weight back on the backswing but you do need to make a full shoulder turn and set the wrists early. In the downswing hold on to the hinge in your wrists as you come through the shot, this allows you to maintain the loft set at address, if you want a higher softer landing pitch then do the same shot but open the clubface and align and swing left of target (Like a bunker shot) Do not try to turn the clubface over like in a full shot, keep the clubface pointing upwards in the follow through. The distance will be controlled by the distance you take the club back but always finish with the hands quite high to ensure you have accellerated through impact.

For the chip, setup the same way with sternum and weight forward but take a narrower stance with you feet almost together and slightly open. Have the ball just off your back big toe. Pick out a point for the ball to land that is around 3 feet onto the green and select a club that will allow the ball to roll out to the hole from there. Take the club back and through with just a small amount of wrist hinge and a small amount of shoulder rotation, just enough to stop the swing from feeling too wooden. Again no weight shift required keep the weight on the front foot and create that nice crisp downward contact.

I hope this is of some help to you.

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

hi brian,

just wanted you to know i broke par for the first time in my 10 years of playing golf. aside from your tips which helped a lot, i found out that i might have been gripping my driver the wrong way. made the necessary changes and voila...my drives were in control. thanks again!

[jpgolf]

how to release properly

i've noticed my hands tend to 'flip' after impact wherein my left wrist breaks and my palm is almost facing the ground. my iron shots are usually a soft draw although my bad shots are pulls or hooks. i'm quite inconsistent with my hybrids and fairway woods, usually hitting behind or even topping them. my drives are generally a high soft draw but my bad shots are pulls, push and the occasional push slice.

i've tried several 'tips' like keeping the left wrist facing the target at impact. it works well with the driver and irons but not with the woods again. and if i'm not careful, i tend to pull my drives. i also tried keeping my wrist angle on the downswing but this leads to inconsistency and most of my bad shots are push and push slice. i've also tried to 'rotate' my left hand at impact so my palm is facing the sky but again this is causing a lot of topped shots or big hooks.

i see the pros seemingly rotate their left forearm/hand at impact and wonder how they do that without making a big hook like what i'm doing. any ideas on this? i want to have a drill to make me release the club properly that will work for my driver, woods and irons.

[BrianW]

Re: how to release properly

Start by making a neutral grip, your current grip is probably too strong and leading to hooks.

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

hello again bryan,

i am using a more neutral grip and my drives are improving significantly especially if i concentrate on not flipping my wrist after impact. my problem is if i do the same thing (not flipping) on my fairway woods and hybrid, i tend to top them or ground them...really ugly shots. any thoughts?

[BrianW]

Re: backswing problems

Hitting thin and fat tends to be from the same problem, that is allowing your weight to stay on the back foot in the downswing, this may also be the reason why you are flipping your wrists. Try to make the first move in the downswing a transfer of weight to the front foot, feel as if the club is pausing at the top for a moment while your hips start to move forward and rotate.

[jpgolf]

Re: backswing problems

once again, i'm amazed at how you seem to understand my swing problems even without seeing me play. i do have a tendency to hang back a little bit although i start my swing with a lower body shift. but i think i don't pause enough on my upper body/arms as they just follow my lower body. guess i was thinking of ben hogan's advice wherein he said as you move your hips, your arms will just follow. anyway, i'll try out what you said. hope this fixes my problem. thanks again.