Need help! Weight shift and sliding...

[cgrier]

Ok, so i thought my long swing was the big problem in my swing but even with a short swing i am all over the place. I have been hitting a ton of thin blocks so i know i am somewhat stuck and swinging up on the ball too much.

After watching some tour swings on swing vision i am amazed at how still their lower body looks in first moves of the downswing. I tend to get my left hip sliding toward my target and upward as my first move in the downswing. I am really struggling with getting my weight shirf correct also. I need some major help on how to get properly loaded up on my right side. I tend to get too much weight or not enough weight on my right side. I am not sure whether i am sliding to my right in the back swing or not. I feel as though i constantly am battling either a reverse pivot or just not being able to get to my left side. My finish usaully feels like my left knee is bent, my lift hip is facing the target, and my back is still arched way behind my hips. This problem coupled with a my weight shift issues are just cold blooded murder to the golf swing.

I feel as though i cant even work on my sliding until i learn how to properly get loaded on my right side at the top of my swing. If i can get to that point then i can work on my first move down. I have a great swing plane but thats about it. I hit everying from fat shots, mostly thin shots, straight hooks, high straight fades, high block fades, and blocked hooks. Basically the sliding gets me stuck inside and swinging up on the ball. It's a real toss up where my ball is going to go. Trying to play golf right now would be scary. Anyone willing to help me with theses axe murdering moves in my swing are welcome. I am beyond fustraighted and cannot take much more!

Please!

[Neil18]

Re: Need help! Weight shift and sliding...

Oh my you sound a little in trouble. First thing, don't tie yourself up in knots thinking too hard about weight shift. It's all so much simpler than you're making it for yourself

If you've got a good plane that you like and it suits you then that's great.

When you swing back, just feel your weight settle into the inside of your right foot. Keep that right leg flexed exactly as it was at address. Some weight can still be on the balls of your left. Maybe split it 60 - 70% on the right, 30 - 40% on the left. There's no point in moving it all onto your right, cos you've only gotta move it all back again. A lot of pros stay very central on their backswing.

I'm a little concerned about you stating your first move is to slide your left hip forward and upward. From the top, you need to picture unwinding from the ground upwards (in the main! - I'll come to that in a bit!**). Your weight should re-plant to your left foot (most, if not all of it) and your left hip opens gradually back toward the target.

** As I say, the whole unwinding starts from the ground up, except that as you shift your weight back to the left (and this is the hardest part) drop you left arm down to start the downswinging of your arms. Get this right and it should stop any "over the top" moves. Do it with your left arm only though. Any taking over by your right hand at this point destroys your downswing plane.

And that's pretty much it. Once you start the chain reaction in the right way, it should be easier to continue it in the right way.

With the description of your finish, it does sound like there's some excessive forward slide in there leading to a reverse C finish. Not much good for your swing or your back!

This little post is just designed to try and get you thinking about it a different way, but the's no substitute for hands on teaching. See your pro.

N18

[cgrier]

Re: Need help! Weight shift and sliding...

so transferring my weight to my left foot should start the chain reaction of the downswing? Sounds good. I have been doing a drill where i start with my feet close together and i lift my right foot to my right as i make the backswing (transferring to my right), and then i feel like i am just stepping back with my left to transfer back to the left and start the downswing at the sametime. Sounds just like what you said, and should be a good drill for me! Seems to really get me in a great finish postion w/o the reverse c. Are there any more drills like this?

[arch11]

Re: Need help! Weight shift and sliding...

To feel the sensation of weight shift i suggest you try Gregs walking drill. Going by your post i think you are sliding and sticking a shaft or your umbrella in the ground behind your right foot (right hander) you will find this out very quickly. Make sure you turn your shoulders, pretend the ball is your pivot point on the way back your left shoulder should be pointing at it when you reach the top of your backswing and on the downswing drive your right shoulder at the target. I was struggling to brek 80 two weeks ago until the only thought i put in my head was to drive the right shoulder at the ball and through to the target your lower body will do everything else naturally.

[vp27519]

Re: Need help! Weight shift and sliding...

Finish the swing and pose till the ball hits the deck. This will help with weight transfer and balance.