I can't fix my swing problem.

[Teevino]

Re: I can't fix my swing problem.

Good stuff, youre proving this to yourself which is great. Did the fairway shots go well. Good approach shots, good distance and accuracy?

Definitely good distance and accuracy improved probably 50%. Actually starting to hit some greens from 50-75 yards out. Not pulling the ball all the time on my approach shots like before.

The greens on the better course I play had been aereated so were full of holes and sand. The other course I play is a very low grade course with really poor greens anyway. So that may have hurt my ability to take any strokes off this weekend. Again didn't add any so that was very good for me while working on something new...

[Teevino]

Re: I can't fix my swing problem.

pnearn, I hit 50 on the range today and was very pleased with the result. First I slowed my backswing way down, stayed relaxed and swung the club when over the ball with the same tempo and relaxed feeling as my practice swing. I started my downswing from the chest turn and everything else really just falls in place after that. I trusted the club was on path and sure enough it was. It took all the concerns about "trying to hit the ball" totally out of my psyche. Sheeez what a relief. I told you I was ready for a new high

Getting this far with a swing I could trust allowed me to start zeroing in on why I was slicing the ball. I made two other adjustments and the ball straightened out.
1. Even though my club looked sqared up at setup I decided to turn it in a bit more figuring I must be getting to impact with an open face.
2. I placed the clubhead center about 1/4 - 1/2 inch further out from the ball (not back from but out as in across the ball).

Doing these two things combined with all the other mechanics I have picked up here (cupped right wrist, I cock when the club is back at parallel to the ground, checking my feet for parallel, checking my grip, keeping my arms and hands relaxed and loose et al...) and boom I made solid contact 98% of the time and hit to my target or within 5 to 15 yards of it (either side) probably 85% of the time. This is at least a 45% improvement in my driving results (actually probably better than that but I'm trying not to overstate things too much.)

The best thing is I feel that for the first time I know "my personal mechanics" and therefore what gives me the best results when I do them all in synch.. So if the ball suddenly goes extreme right or left I know I didn't set up properly or I just started my swing badly. I corrected several bad shots today by realizing exactly what I had done wrong to get that result. When I checked it on the next drive I got the good hit and result. Kewl!!

Really sweet.. Thanx a lot for your very helpful suggestions

[pnearn]

Re: I can't fix my swing problem.

Excellent, great stuff. Keep at it and reeeeelaxxxx

[Robert O' Keeffe]

Re: I can't fix my swing problem.

Alex,
Forget high speed. You know the old saying "low and slow". What i do to try and get the back of lefthand straight is push the club back in a straight line along the ground. If you do this and stop when you have the club paralell you should see the back of your left hand straight and your right hand cupped. Also try to slow down your swing by thinking tempo thoughts i.e. "tick,tock" or "up, down" If you work on this you will find that it doesnt matter much about having a fast swing. Look at the pros on the TV. Most of them have a slow tempo, but their key is that this tempo never changes. Wheteher it is a short pitch or a 200yd. 4 iron they always strike with the same tempo. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Robert

[Teevino]

Re: I can't fix my swing problem.

I have noticed that about the pro's Robert. How easily they swing.

What I have been doing previously to ensure cupped wrist, is I have been cupping (waggling the clubhead back) before starting my swing. I did notice however that when my club gets to parallel when I just do a "normal" swing back, that my left wrist is straight, creating the cup in the right. So yesterday I started doing a smoother move back and letting this happen "naturally" as you describe. Thanx for the feedback, I appreciate that input.

I Played 18 after hitting about 25 on the range yesterday. My shots on the range were so good even with my 5 iron that I could hardly wait to get to the course. Score on front nine was not great even though I was hitting the ball well overall (I think I may have been overly pumped.) On the back nine I shot a 47 which is a personal best for me and only the second time I've broken 50 in nine holes. My contact and accuracy or so much improved that I almost don't trust that I can keep repeating it, yet I do.. I've actually got to get use to being a better player. I don't see myself that way .. Still a hacker though, just a better hacker.. Thanx ya'll..

Gonna be a hot one today so I'm going to play in the heat of the day today when everybody (I wish) else is waiting for it to cool down. My kind of weather.