Confused

[mferraguti]

Trying to make this short: Took a lesson from a pro who's a proponent of keeping right elbow in on backswing, Kuchar-like, swinging from inside out. In doing this, I began laying the club off (I think that's the correct terminology), and to over-compensate, came over the top and was pulling and pull hooking. To compensate for this pulling/hooking, I went to a weaker grip with improved results, but again nothing consistent...always fighting going left. I didn't realize this coming-over-the-top was happening until another pro took a look. He suggested that I take club straight back making sure, at 9 a.m., club was parallel to target line, instead of behind me; and then, from there, taking it straight to top. Getting better results but still hard for me to feel the correct plane. Now right elbow feels like it's flying a bit on backswing. My son may be right in that I am over-thinking this with little feel/confidence and no consistent results. Good drive one swing. Massive hook the next. For what it's worth, I play with a strong left hand. Thanks for any insight.

[Matt10]

Re: Confused

Try swinging with a focus on your left arm/side. The right/rear arm is meant to have an over the top move, the left/front arm will have an inside out natural path.

[cyc53870]

Re: Confused

You may have to experiment a bit more... a weaker grip... do the feet together drill, etc.

[mferraguti]

Re: Confused

Try swinging with a focus on your left arm/side. The right/rear arm is meant to have an over the top move, the left/front arm will have an inside out natural path.

I'm trying to get an understanding about your suggestion. If I consciously try to swing out after impact, is that a part of focusing on the left arm considering an inside out path? Or could you suggest another swing thought to better understand how to focus on the left/front arm? Thanks much.

[mferraguti]

Re: Confused

You may have to experiment a bit more... a weaker grip... do the feet together drill, etc.

Is this drill simply swinging with the feet together? And what does that promote? I will experiment more with the weaker grip, although my preference and comfort is with the stronger left hand. Thanks.

[Kevin Doty]

Re: Confused

You should really look for a decent golf school/instruction to help you with your swing faults. There are several that aren't too expensive, that have online lessons to help you. Beats paying a pro a small fortune for 1/2 hour lesson - can't get enough instruction out of that. An online tutorial is not too expensive, and you can refer to it as often as you like should you forget anything . . .

Good Luck!
Kevin

[Mizunoman]

Re: Confused

Along the same lines as Kevin there, dont waste your time and money on a instructor that is trying to teach you how to swing like a specific player. Kuchar is what, 6'2"-6'4" and was a scratch or better golfer before he changed his swing to the monstrosity we have to watch on screen these days. His "swing" is a direct reaction to his faults.

If you are of similar stature, strength and age and you have the same problems he had when he changed his swing, then fine, his swing method might work for you, but if not got to a teacher that teaches the player, not the method.

Simple tips are few and far between, because pro's can't charge an hours tuition for them. But here are a couple I have alway fallen back on when not striking the ball well.

1. Picture the ball as a cube, your only concern is to strike the corner nearest your right foot, that way you always hit from the inside.
2. Always get the left shoulder under the chin (ignore your arms, they dont matter) on the way back, and always get the right shoulder to knock the chin out of the way on the way back down.
3. Always have belt buckle and chest to the target on the follow through, especially on the wedges.
4. Your centreline should ALWAYS be behind the ball, especially as you attack it.

Follow those 4 basic premises and you should hit the ball more or less the same every time. I wont guarantee you that "the same" wont be a 20 yard hook or a 30 yard fade, but by and large it should happen pretty much every time, and if you know what will happen every time then you can worry about playing golf. Remember the game is "Golf" not "Hitting Balls", you dont need to hit it like Rory every time to make a score, if you did, Zach Johnson would be selling insurance for a living.