Tension at top of back swing

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Simon,

Forget about one/two plane swings yours is perfect, don't even go there....!!

If you watch your video once you hands reach about you eye level on the backswing everything is perfect, the problems start after this your left wrist starts to cup and your right elbow comes out, the club then drops behind you.

All you need to do is shorten the swing slightly to stop at head height with your hands. When you overswing the club does some serious re-routing on the way down loosing you power.

As for spine angle take a more aggressive stance with more knee flex and a very slight lean into the ball, this will give you a good spine angle.

Also on the backswing keep the left foot planted on the ground, this will help with the overswing and also creat the 'tention' in the right leg we talked about a few weeks ago.

P>S a single figure swing is a 'single figure H/Cappers' swing


Ian.

http://redgoat.smugmug.com

Have a look at some pro swing from behind, then watch your own, you are on the exact same swing plane.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Wow, thanks for saying that! If you are ever in Singapore, I gotta buy you a drink!

Went to the site and saw some of the pro swings.. Some of them look kinda weird

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Simon,

http://www.golfspan.com/

Look at this web page and watch the video on coil, I think this is just what you are looking for.


Ian.

[ubizmo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

http://redgoat.smugmug.com

Have a look at some pro swing from behind, then watch your own, you are on the exact same swing plane.

That is a very good web site. The thing I found most interesting was the Faldo/Price backswing video, in the "fundamentals" category. The narrator draws attention to the seemingly closed club face during the takeaway. I found it interesting because this is exactly the sort of backswing that works for me, when I can do it. It's useful to see that later clubface opening done by someone good!

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Todd,

It just goes to show how the golf swings at normal speed seem to appear the same and yet so different even between the best in the world.

Notice how Goosen and Els both go back on the inside and down on the outside, a big no no in teaching.

Woods and Scott both let the arms leave the body on the backswing...........wow.

There is hope for us all.............................lol



Ian.

[ubizmo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Todd,

It just goes to show how the golf swings at normal speed seem to appear the same and yet so different even between the best in the world.

Notice how Goosen and Els both go back on the inside and down on the outside, a big no no in teaching.

Woods and Scott both let the arms leave the body on the backswing...........wow.

There is hope for us all.............................lol

Ian.

I did notice the "over the top" feature of Goosen's and Els's swings...definitely a big no-no. Maybe I should send them an email and suggest they work on correcting that!

I was looking for any "constants" in all those pictures. There aren't many, but maintaining the "tush line" is one. Trouble is, that's very difficult for a golfer to monitor on his own. Another constant in the setup is the vertical line from the butt end of the club down to the right toe line. I found that interesting because it gives a "checkpoint" for setting distance from the ball--although there's variation in the arm angle ("reachers" versus "danglers"). For most of the players pictured, there's a straight vertical line from the front of the shoulder down to the the lowest point where the right hand touches the club. But in http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/120429/1/4326586 the line from the front of the shoulder touches the butt of the club. The caption says this is because it's a longer club. This is something worth knowing more about, because I find that getting that distance right in the setup is really important. I thought the arm angle would be the same for all clubs.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Thanks Ian yep that's exactly what I was looking for. I noticed that this comes easier when I do a longer takeaway, and have started letting my left hand take a bit more control during the takeaway. If not, I sometimes run the risk of doing a reverse pivot...

Curious thing. There were some shots where I could actually see the clubhead behind me at the top of my swing, through my left eye peripheral vision. Is that a sign of over-rotating or is that normal?

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

No Simon,

This is what I mean by your right elbow lifting up at the top of your swing, you also have a slight cupping of the left wrist, this causes a "across the line" at the top, hence you can see the club head. Also this is why you do alot of re-routing on the downswing. watch your video frame by frame until you hands reach your eyeline............perfect.

Once you go past this point you drift across the line and start down on the wrong plane, simple answer shorted your swing slightly.

Watch you video again and compare the above with the pros...................except John Daly of course who right elbow lifts so far his feet can see the clubhead.



Ian.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Man I really need the videocam. I was pretty sure I've already shortened my swing that night. Looks like it only "feels" that way... Now I look at the pro videos. If I can actually see the clubhead, then I am definitely way across the line huh? Embarassing...

Yes I notice that I cup my left wrist, actually as a result of trying to hinge my right wrist. I'll need to get that sorted.

Will be having a lesson tonight with swing analysis. Will post it up later

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Just noticed something interesting :

http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio...ingplane2.html

The 2-plane swing has both the characteristics of :

1) Erect posture
2) Coming across the line at top of backswing

Now I don't want to insist I'm right (in fact I'm sure I'm not), but it's interesting that these 2 factors are indeed part of the 2-plane swing?

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Took some videos at the range this morning..

From back :
http://www.eys.com.sg/simon/Simon_Sw...back_mpeg2.mpg
or
http://www.eys.com.sg/simon/Simon_Sw...back_mpeg1.mpg

From side :
http://www.eys.com.sg/simon/Simon_Sw...side_mpeg2.mpg
or
http://www.eys.com.sg/simon/Simon_Sw...side_mpeg1.mpg

Think I improved on the followthrough a bit, but I noticed that I am standing very straight (shoulders horizonal), while the pros are usually quite bent. Not sure if there's any drill to get the right position at the followthrough?

Still not getting the oomph at impact. Again noticed that pros' bodies are quite curled up at impact, but mine again seems too straight. Again, any drill to get the right position at impact?

Any other comments much appreciated! Thanks!

[pinyo8]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Your initial setup is much better now. However, on your backswing, you actually straight out your body (You can see it as your head level goes up). By doing that, you wont get that coiling effect. Make sure that your spine angle stays that way for the entire swing, including your follow through!

Try this to get the coiling and uncoiling feeling:

1) Cross your arms on the front of your chest (so your palms touch your shoulders)
2) Set up as if you were going to take a swing (with a ball but no clubs).
3) Now, imagine you are swinging by turning your waist and try to get a really tight coil. At this position, your head should be behind the ball and the back is facing the target.
4) Start your downswing by unwind your hips, and your upper body should unwind naturally. Remember to keep your head behind the ball! (this is what you dont do also as your come up over the ball).

Once you get that feeling, try it with a club. Your arms and clubs are an extension of your upper body so just let it follow when you turn your waist.
If you can get your swing to feel more like that drill, the "oomph" will come.

Give that a go plus if you can, take a video of you doing the drill (if you want to try it out).

have fun!

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Hi Matt thanks for that observation - in fact this weekend I was exactly trying to work on my head position. I noticed how straight my body get after impact and my head stays straight at the follow through. I notice the pros usually still have their head slightly tilted to the right, so I am going to work on this next. I think I've been trying to straighten my head which in turns forces my body to get straight/erect, instead of maintaining the spine angle at followthrough. I think this also relates to clearing the hips for the swing and will probably help me get a better throughswing. Does that all make sense?

[Simon Woo]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Tried to maintain my spine angle, even at follow-through.. Hope it's a step in the right direction?

MPEG 1 :
http://www.eys.com.sg/simon/Simon_Sw...Back_mpeg1.mpg


MPEG 2 :
http://www.eys.com.sg/simon/Simon_Sw...Back_mpeg2.mpg

[TeachingPro]

Re: Tension at top of back swing

Simon,

The ache in your chest is probably caused by the lack of muscle mobility in that area. After 2 hours of practice I'm not suprised your muscles are fatiqued and sore. By regular stretching and muscle toning the fatique and soreness will reduce or you could just practice 2 hours every day until your muscles are used to it, it is the same thing (sort of).

But to answer your main question, the "tension" should be in your right knee and thigh. The best way to feel this is to reherse throwing a ball like a baseball pitcher would. The same "tension" you feel when you have wound up on the right side to throw the ball is the same you should feel at the top of the backswing.