Swing Changes

[dannyra]

Golf Season is starting early here. Weather has been very mild for this time of year. I decided I'd take the early season and try to fix some things that's been killing me.

The last few years my swing just hasn't held up. Toward the end of the season my scores start ballooning. I get more and more inconsistent.

I know I'm capable of cutting my handicap in half. So this year I bought a range pass so I can work on the range a lot more.

Here is what I've been working on so far this year.

1. Grip. I have a tendency to get to handsy in my swing and roll my wrists creating a snap hook with my driver.
2. I've always been extremely steep in my swing especially with my irons. I've widened my back swing and that seems to of helped a lot, and it's helped me from closing the club face on the back swing.

One more note, I have a one-plane swing.

Here are my issues I'm having with my new swing.

1. With my wider swing arc I'm hitting nearly all my iron shots thin. When I do hit a solid shot with it, the accuracy is better than my old swing. Divots are about the perfect size when I do hit a good shot. With my old swing the divots were more like trenches.

2. With my driver I still occasionally hit the big hook. I'm pretty sure my grip is to strong.

3. This is an issue I had with my old swing too. I'm coming over the top slightly. Which causes my big misses to be a pull or pull hook. This seems to be the toughest one to solve as I feel like I'm staying inside pretty well on my swing. Even on my shots that go right on line, my divot points to the left.

Hopefully the wind will quit blowing in the next few days and I can get some video taken.

[Stillhacken]

Re: Swing Changes

For problem #1 I would check ball position and staying in posture.
For #2 Try the weaker grip.
For #3 .. Dont come over the top. Really you just need to groove the inside path into memory. The woosh drill works pretty good.
A problem I had with the one plane fundamentals was I could not get myself to stand farther from the ball. Once I did I did not have to manipulate my swing at all. Just back and around.
There are a lot more people on here more qualified to give advice. Hopefully they can help you.
Good luck.

[LowPost42]

Re: Swing Changes

Danny - in a proper rotary swing (body driven OPS) your divots will point left as you're swinging in-square-in.

[dannyra]

Re: Swing Changes

For #3 .. Dont come over the top. Really you just need to groove the inside path into memory. The woosh drill works pretty good.
A problem I had with the one plane fundamentals was I could not get myself to stand farther from the ball. Once I did I did not have to manipulate my swing at all. Just back and around.
There are a lot more people on here more qualified to give advice. Hopefully they can help you.
Good luck.

Maybe this is my issue. I'm fairly close to the ball. And I think my hip gets in the way of coming from the inside. On my divots, they tend to be deeper at the toe, this should help resolve that as well. Although I probably need my lie angle fixed slightly.

[dannyra]

Re: Swing Changes

I just got back from hitting a bucket of balls. I moved my ball position almost a whole club face away from the my body, to give myself some more space. That's brought me a little off balance but I hit a lot of quality shots. I split the difference a little later through the bucket and did have a few pulls, but no pull hooks. Overall I was very impressed with the trajectory and accuracy.

We'll see how it works later on. Whenever I make a change I hit a bunch of good shots the first day. It's the 3rd and 4th day trying something when the truth comes out about the change.

[BrianW]

Re: Swing Changes

If your problem is pulls where the ball flies straight out left then you are doing one or more of these things. I cannot suggest which without seeing your swing.

Hitting out to in with a clubface square to that path.

Or

You have the ball too far forward in your stance

Or

Your feet hips and shoulders are aiming too far left

Or

Your grip is too strong.

[Stillhacken]

Re: Swing Changes

I just got back from hitting a bucket of balls. I moved my ball position almost a whole club face away from the my body, to give myself some more space. That's brought me a little off balance but I hit a lot of quality shots. I split the difference a little later through the bucket and did have a few pulls, but no pull hooks. Overall I was very impressed with the trajectory and accuracy.

We'll see how it works later on. Whenever I make a change I hit a bunch of good shots the first day. It's the 3rd and 4th day trying something when the truth comes out about the change.

I know what you mean about feeling off balance. It kind of feels like your reaching for the ball and on your toes mostly. I fought this set up for a long tim e because it didnt look right and wasnt really comfortable. The bottom line for me was i hit better shots set up like this. I feel more comfortable standing more erect but my "flat" swing will not allow it. I need to be bent over at address.

[BrianW]

Re: Swing Changes

I know what you mean about feeling off balance. It kind of feels like your reaching for the ball and on your toes mostly. I fought this set up for a long tim e because it didnt look right and wasnt really comfortable. The bottom line for me was i hit better shots set up like this. I feel more comfortable standing more erect but my "flat" swing will not allow it. I need to be bent over at address.

To improve your balance try concentrating on your "Core" this is an area in your centre just above the hips and below the belt buckle, it's your centre of gravity, where your body balance is controlled. Try to feel that your consciousness is working from this area to maintain stability.