Hoping to Improve

[golfpacman]

Just got back into golf again after a few years off.

Seems like I am having a bit of trouble in being consistant/straight and my distance is short.

I have been able to get my woods and irons to be atleast 70% straight with the remainder always going hard right.

I have found by slowing down my golf swing I can keep it straight but have lost all power in distance.

For example I can barely hit 3/4/5 irons at all if I do maybe 110-130 yards.

6/7/8/9 Irons anywhere between 80 yards and 120 yards.

Driver or 3 wood 150 to 190 yards. Barely able to get 200 yards if I want it to be straight.

I have read the online tutorials regards grip/posture/stance etc. Any other help guides along those same lines I can check out.

Or any specific ideas please I need some help.

THANKS,

G-Pacman- Haverhill, MA

[Golfbald]

GolfPacMan,

Two drills that might help are done with a soft thick rope. Get 1 rope 8 feet long and 1 rope 4 feet long.
The 8 foot rope drill is loop the rope on the ground with a tent stake or around something put you hands on each end and move your hips from 4 oclock to 10 oclock. Relax and let your hips move but not sway. Keep your head (eyes) on the middle of the rope. This is the lower body action and shoulder turn.
The 4 foot rope drill is use the rope like a shaft. Swing the rope so it hits the back of each arm to the elbow. Try to snap the rope at the bottom.
I gave these drills to a 14 year old just starting out. He went from a 130 yd. driver to about 200 yds in one lession.

Try it.

GolfBald

[golfpacman]

Thanks Golfbald

Thanks for the input, I will give it a try and let you know how I made out.

[golfpacman]

Another Question on Stance-- location of ball

I am having a very hard time finding the proper amount of distance between myself and the ball. I understand the larger the club the further away you should stand. Any tips?

[Golfbald]

Setup

Hey Pac,

How did those first drills work?

The setup is a matter of measurments and all measurements can get better. If you want accuracy, follow the detail directions below. I have taught this to numerous folks and they seem to straighten their shots out, once they understand it.

A good setup starts with a neutral grip. Grab the club in your right hand with your arm extended so the left can be placed properly. Put the club straight in front of you stand straight up with good posture. Place your left hand out as if to shake hands with someone. Place the club straight into your left hand. The location should be in the seam between your palm and fingers. There is a natural depression there that the grip will settle in. Then close your hand around the club. The thumb goes against the hand, no gaps. A check point would be if you open your hand up, your hand will be straight again. You can drop your right hand now. We will get that later in the sequence.

Still in your good posture, good!!! Stiffen your knees slightly to take the bend out. Do not lock your knees. Bend slightly at the ball and socket joint of the hips not the waist. A check point would be to place your right hand in th crease of your leg, you should feel the bend there not above. Your back will be straight and your shoulders not slumped. The club is still straight out in front of you at this point. Next set your left wrist by lowering the club until the wrist is in a neutral position. Do not drop the wrist below neutral. Continue to lower your body intil the club comes to rest on the ground. Without moving the club to body postion move your feet to bring the club to rest behind the ball. You may have to do this paragraph instructions several times until you get used to this distance to the ball. The club head should be square to the target and flat on the ground the way the club was designed to sit (lie and loft). This is square and neutral. There are no compensations.

The right hand placement is next. I didn't forget about it. If you move you right hand to your left right now they should be directly accross from each other. The right hand must fit under the left without changing the orientation of the square left hand. You shoulders also must tilt with you left shoulder slightly higher than the right. This measurement when done correctly will keep the shoulders square and help prevent the slice. The the right knee and bend it toward the ball without moving the left knee. The left wrist may begin to straighten. That is ok. Just don't move the left knee it will open the shoulders or open the clubface. Now the right hand will fit under the left. Take the right hand and act like you are picking up a pail of water. Index finger will be out slightly. Thumb against the hand. Just remember left hand direction, right hand power. You have to know how both hands work, they have different jobs. Now loosen the knees until the pressure is relieved. Don't overexagerate the knee bend it causes too many problems in balls getting away (hooks and slices).

The feet angle is a matter of what you need for flexability. Older folks need a little more turn so a greater angle out on the right foot will allow the right hip to turn more freely. Decreasing the angle will help the swayers some. The left foot should be positioned out to a degree, that when the swing is completed you are facing the target. This could change with every club.
The total angle between the feet should be about 40* - 50* depending on the player.

Following this sequence you will be square to the ball. When my shot starts to fade or draw without me setting up for that shot I always pull this out because I probably missed something. If you do the setup by the numbers for 21days, practice in you living room, backyard, range. You will see the results and ingrain it into muscle memory. Then you just need a checkup from time to time. Learning aa square setup first will allow you to setup for fades and draws and move the body and club to play these shots. It all comes down to fundementals. Fundementals are often boring to do but the results will make the game more fun. I dropped 10 shots by learning this. It is not easy, but shooting some pars and birdies are the light at the end of the tunnel.

I know this is alot of information. Being an Engineer with Lockheed Martin I study the movement of objects in relation to their parts. This golf setup works with any body type. I am not a PGA Professional but am sought out for my knowledge on motion. It's easier to teach this than it is to put down on paper. If I missed anything I will add later.

Golfbald

[golfpacman]

TO GOLFBALD

THANKS ONCE AGAIN, I will be putting both of your suggestions to use this weekend. Look for my reply as to how I am doing with them.

THANKS

GolfPacman

[Golfbald]

One Step closer to birdie!!!

If you don't understand something or need a further explaination just let me know...

Golfbald

[golfpacman]

Golfbald- Advice reply

Hello,

Hope everyone had a good outing this weekend.
I took the information you had given me and tried it this weekend.

I was able to keep the balls straighter. I decided to stick to my irons only. This helped me keep my mind off of the long ball. I was hitting my irons with more force for sure.

I still have some questions as too your second piece of advice on the stance/setup. I am going to give it some more time over this week to see if I can get a handle on it.

Thanks,

MAX

[Golfbald]

Hi Max,

Glad to hear it's working a little better.

If you want to make some really quick gains, and actually see what I am talking about. Go to http://www.peacerivergolf.com and order Mike Austin/Mike Dunaway's video. You won't be disappointed. Being an engineer for a major aerospace company I have opportunities to check information against computer models and separate theory from reality. I find alot of teachers try to teach feel. You can teach the reality of a golf swing (mechanics), feel is an individual interpretation of the swing mechanics.

I have checked the information in this tape against alot of data. I have also checked it against Homer Kelly's "The Golfing Machine" book. (This is like the Golf Bible for teachers.) All of the information in the tape is correct, accurate and doesn't discuss feel. I have read alot of things on this web site some things are fact, some are fiction, some try to discribe what they think they feel. If you look at a great golf swing frame by frame in slow motion you can see what the motion truely is. Most teachers have the individual motions correct but teach them in the wrong sequence or are not sure what the correct sequence is. Remember this, the golf swing is one motion not individual parts everything must develop from the motion that comes before it. Learn the motion and unlock the power.

GolfBald