Where do I start?

[tgmnut]

EdZ,
Would HITting golf balls with the feet together be a good idea? It would seem to be a good idea if developing a top of the head swing center is the goal.

[tgmnut]

I have new video up of my swing after 2 days of trying to eliminate my forward sway. Feedback please!!!

http://www.geocities.com/robmont64/swing2.html

[BIG_SEXY]

I have new video up of my swing after 2 days of trying to eliminate my forward sway. Feedback please!!!

http://www.geocities.com/robmont64/swing2.html

Looks like you punched a midget in the face




The above is my thought of how hitters look through impact.

Your stroke looks better than the first one. Has your ball flight improved?

[tgmnut]

Hey Big Sexy, (man that sounds wrong)
My ball flight is higher and definitely straighter. My divots are much better as well. They were too deep before. As for the two swings posted on the geocities website, the one on bottom felt like a better swing and the ball was struck more solidly. What do you see in my swing now that you don't like? I'm craving feedback. Thanks.
p.s. what do you mean looks like i punched a midget in the face? is that a good thing?

[bambam]

I don't like how you lay the club off early and then try to get it back on plane...I don't like it because it's one of my biggest problems Hitters don't need to swivel the club like that, just pick it up with your right arm and punch it w/ your stump. Looks like you could let that right elbow fly a little, too. Check out the down the line video of Ted in the gallery and compare your down the line view with his.

That looks like my backyard! Boilers? You still in Indiana?

[tgmnut]

I don't like how you lay the club off early and then try to get it back on plane...I don't like it because it's one of my biggest problems Hitters don't need to swivel the club like that, just pick it up with your right arm and punch it w/ your stump. Looks like you could let that right elbow fly a little, too. Check out the down the line video of Ted in the gallery and compare your down the line view with his.

That looks like my backyard! Boilers? You still in Indiana?

Yup, Lafayette to be precise. Dad, sister, and myself all Purdue grads. Dad's a Purdue engineering prof. One of my good friends is Dustin Keller's (starting TE) older brother. Where's Summitville?
I'll take a look at Ted's motion tonight or tomorrow morning.

r

[Mike O]

TGM Nut,
Really too much too discuss- I'll just hit the high points of my analysis.

You my friend are an ATHLETE! With that body you can flat out KILL IT!

Of course, not to start some big debate but you are absolutely a swinger- with angled hinging (don't get caught up in that not worth it- anotherwords it just is- if you decide to make certain other changes in your movement then it will change)

If you are just trying to fix a forward sway by whatever method say keeping your head back- and everything stays the same - you'll never fix it! Personally, I look at the big picture and what's going on here? Power, Power, and more Power! How do you emphasize it? Body goes down and forward on the downswing- that sets up the power move- which is the second half of the downswing to impact- you Pull up, Pull up, Pull up! What do you pull up with - everything!- the more mass you can get involved the further the ball goes! The actual effort is more Pull up and make that club head move to the right to maximize the lagging clubhead, Pull up and keep fighting that clubhead lag by making it go straight to the target or out to the right! Hey, it's a great way to have a powerful swing. And even that clubface wanting to make that horizontal hinge motion via centrifugal force is an additional lag affector because you're fighting that also- creating more lag. You're a lag junkie. So Power wise you have no issues- however, accuracy is fleeting- certainly not as consistent day to day as you would like it- you either have it that day or you don't! And each new day is a mystery until you're three holes into the round and realize the pattern of consistency for that day - whether it's good or not.

So besides the "forward sway"- what else happens as a result of that general "move" that I described- or better said what other problems do you have as a result of your chosen method of applying power? Not much hip rotation accomplished at impact. Notice the lack of spine tilt as you straighten out of it. Also, notice the really high hands after impact and into the finish- a much more vertical plane. The Chicken wing left elbow after impact - somehow works with these issues. In addition, it's all about getting that power into the ball- afterwards the finish is just impact fallout and not a destination for you - as the club bounces off the back and down to your side.

So that's what I see- the big picture and then how all the little pictures tie into the same big picture. So the question is this - Can you let go of the power mind set over the short term- 2-4 years- as you develop a more sound and accurate game - one that will eventually have an opportunity to actually hit the ball further but in the short term will not allow you to hit it as far? Not an easy road to take- believe me I know! Probably comes down to how badly you want to be a lot better and what your willing to do to get better.

Personally I wouldn't start with the forward "sway"- it's too integral to your pattern - you need to make easier changes first - and then eventually you can attack the forward sway if it is there still and you feel that you want to change it.
The easier changes are:

1) Work on maintaining the spine angle through impact and into the finish- Sorry no more pulling up for power!,

2) Professional Pose your finish on each swing-
A) for consistency,
B) To check if you still have spine tilt- which means you had it through impact

You can infer more changes from my post above - not so important which one you do- The question is which ones can you do and still hit the ball fairly well- while you are making the change?

How do I know all that- because I've done all those swings myself by experimenting at one time or another.

Said you wanted feedback- that's mine- good luck with the game.

P.S. it goes without saying that you need to go full out with all your shots including the short irons- because if you don't you mess the pattern up- you don't have that heavy lag feel etc.- of course if you are doing that and not hitting them accurately- then your one course of action is to say "swing more in control" and that is where you need to head but that thought won't work well with your swing- you need to change the movement first. You may have in the past flipped flopped between full out short shots and efforts to swing the shorter irons "in control". Unfortunately, while that's what makes the driver your best club- great lag and fairways that are wide enough where you are not concerned about accuracy- which usually produces good accuracy, but if you get a narrow fairway or have a short iron into the green and think about accuracy for one minute - you're dead! Lag junkies don't usually do well with accuracy thoughts!

Finally, I realize that I'm guessing so i could be completely wrong on all accounts- so if anything helps great- if it is all junk then move on. But if you are able to make those changes then on every golf day- you'll be able to completely control your ball and not just wonder where it will go.

[bambam]

Great post, Mike. I wondered if he was swinging.

Straightening up for power is one of my tendencies, too. Do you have any good drills for working on a constant spine angle? I've been doing aquired motion and find when I start pulling up for power there's no way I can keep my hands and club from finish swiveling.

Where's Summitville?

45 min to 1 hour almost straight east of you on 28; really close to James Dean's old home of fairmount. My brother-in-law is finishing up vet school at Purdue and my sister works in the IT department. I heard the Purdue courses are pretty nice; I've been meaning to get over there and play a round w/ my brother-in-law.

[BIG_SEXY]

Hey Big Sexy, (man that sounds wrong)
My ball flight is higher and definitely straighter. My divots are much better as well. They were too deep before. As for the two swings posted on the geocities website, the one on bottom felt like a better swing and the ball was struck more solidly. What do you see in my swing now that you don't like? I'm craving feedback. Thanks.
p.s. what do you mean looks like i punched a midget in the face? is that a good thing?

I'm not qualified to judge anyone's stroke pattern, maybe Yoda or Yoda's Luke will make an appearance in this thread?

I'm weird and come up with silly phrases like "punch the midget."

The midget is the position of my right hand at impact fix, and I try to reclaim this position on the downswing.

[bambam]

I'm also not qualified, lol! Those were just things I've been told on my swing.