Right Shoulder

[jkgt]

Belated happy new year to all!

I have this recurring problem that I just can't seem to shake.
I am coming into a period of playing the best golf I have ever played...my goal here is bogey golf for now...but I consistently duff my 3 wood about 80-100 yds down the fairway. At best I hit a low line drive, which I did once this afternoon, leaving myself a 10 ft birdie putt which I made!
I have been experimenting with a cure of setting my right shoulder lower than my left (I'm right handed) at setup. But on a subsequent hole today when I hit my 3 wood duff, one of the guys I was playing with who is a single digit handicap said my right shoulder was too low and that I must keep my shoulders level at address. Which is it?

Thanks,
Jerry

[ilang]

Re: Right Shoulder

Hi,It seems a common problem with high handicap players,that I have played with.The main fault that I noticed with them,they always hit from the top.Forcing the club on a steep angle of attack on to the ball.Take the club head away from the ball in a wider arc,make sure you start the downswing with your legs and not your shoulders.Hit the back of the ball,not the top.The fairway woods have a lower centre of gravity to get the ball air-born,so dont try and lift the ball.Hit through the ball in a straight line.
Cheers Ilang.

[Jeff Mann]

Re: Right Shoulder

The right shoulder has to be lower than the left shoulder at address for the following simple reason.

At address, the right hand has to reach down below the left hand to get into its appropriate place on the grip. If one didn't drop the right shoulder slightly, then the right shoulder would have to move forward to allow the right hand to be lower than the left hand on the grip. That would mean that the shoulders would not be square at address. If you want to have square shoulders at address (which is often regarded as being a good decision), then the right shoulder must be lower than the left shoulder.

See this diagram from the book "Swing Like a Pro".

See - http://jeffmann.net/SLAP-RightShDown.jpg

Of interest, note that the right elbow is minimally bent at address and that the hands are held slightly to the left of center (just inside the left inner thigh). That hand position is the natural, automatic, end-result of dropping the right shoulder at address. If one has the hands centralised at address, then it is a sign that one does not have the correct shoulder alignment at address.

Jeff.

[BrianW]

Re: Right Shoulder

I agree with Cmays regarding your shoulder angle.

I think you should be looking at the way you position yourself to the ball as well. You probably have your sternum set way behind the ball due to your low right shoulder, this will result in a swing plane that bottoms too early resulting in you hitting up onto the upper part of the ball. Have the ball around 2 inches inside your left heel and move your right foot back so that it is just outside your right shoulder when using a 3 wood, keep the ball teed fairly high. Try to sweep the ball off the tee while the clubface is rising just past the low point of the arc bottom. See if you can leave the tee in the ground after the swing.

[jkgt]

Re: Right Shoulder

OK, I understand that there is a natural tendency towards a lower right shoulder because of the way our hands go on the club, but the message I'm getting is don't do anything to exaggerate that phenomenon.
Now, riddle me this: when in the fairway, what is the consensus for ball placement with a 3 wood, as I'm wondering if this is a part of my dilemma.
Thanks,
Jerry

[BrianW]

Re: Right Shoulder

I recommend the ball be placed in line with your left armpit for any shot, you should move your right foot right or left depending on the shot. For a 3 wood move your right foot to the outside edge of your right shoulder. This will enable more of a sweeping action. For a wedge move the right foot in so the ball is centre of stance.