Diagnosis please...

I am just wondering if any of you guys can "self diagnose" your swing (either as you are doing it or on video), or do you need an outside opinion (pro or fellow golfer)?

hi S2K3

i have got to the stage where i can "self diagnose" my swing

only recently i had a case of the sh*nks for the 1st time and by going back to basics did i cure it.
i realised i was losing posture and looking up too quick, hooking with driver i was swinging too far inside on the BS,
generally if i hit a bad shot i usually know why!

I must be able to self-diagnose to some degree, because so far I'm self-taught in golf. I have a decent understanding of the physics of sports in general, especially swinging/ball striking. I've been playing softball and baseball for 30 years (started when I was 5 and never stopped).

So far I have taken care of my own slice on my driver and taught myself how to hit irons.

Yes, Uuuuumm No!

I can normally see whether my tempo is out or I am fanning the club inside etc. At times something has started to happen with my ball flight and I cannot see or feel the cause, I think that as a swing gets better then very small errors can produce bad outputs like sh***ing which can be close to a perfect swing.

When these things happen I find it best to get in front of a PGA coach and let them source the problem for me. I had one recently where I started to hit with an open clubface, I just could not see why I was doing it or what had changed, it turned out I had started to get my shoulders ahead of my arms at impact.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Absolutely, Ball flight tells 90% of the story. Get used to using this as your indicator and you can adjust your swing while playing-necessary since we all have times while playing when the swing is less than perfect.
Also, divots tell alot.
P.S. How do you like the SMT driver; do you have the assassin shaft in it?

With the advent of a great coach (who has created a ton of wonderful videos) I'm able to examine my swing and see what's wrong.

Where I struggle is trying to do what's right!

I've setup a model where I use my camera, laptop and V1 home to make sure I setup properly (simply 'step into the lines on the screen!')

The next step for me will be to watch myself hit balls 'live', and the next step beyond that will be to setup the Vector Pro to get some data.

I really like the SMT DB455 - looks great and gives me the results I want.

I used to have an Aggressive nRAGE (x-stiff) in it but I found it kind of "whippy".
Since I have a Ashton x-1 3wood with an Assassin (x-stiff) in it I had an idea of what it would be like in the SMT ... little bit soft still.
So I decided to go with the Evolution (x-stiff), which makes it a pretty stout club (and very tip stiff) ... I like the combo but it is not for everyone.

Woah... you found the Assassin 2 in X a little soft in the 455? You, sir, are a man amongst men - and to be playing an Evo X in a deep bore? I found the Evo S in the Spectrum (deeper bore still) to be a touch stout (and a little harsh in single digit temps), I can't imagine the X.

However, I'll be testing out a VS Proto in a Spectrum in the Spring - based on a fitting system I'm experimenting with, it's supposedly right up my alley (and the Evo is a little 'stiff' for me - again, supposedly).

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True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

I am also internet and self taught (only a 1/2 hour lesson with a pro to tell me what I already knew - overswing, overswing, overswing).

I joined an indoor winter facility with a video camera. The reason why I was posed the question; was that other guys at the facility are essentially practicing on camera ... hit a few balls ... tape and review a swing ... hit a few more balls ... tape and review another swing ... and repeat for an hour or more. Hmmmm, why does this sound like LP's dream practice session?

I have forced myself to video once a week, and the rest of the time I spend there is working on what I was doing wrong in the last video ... overswing (see a pattern yet).

Since most of my time spend is working on one thing in my swing, I am finding that I am able to diagnose my swing ... take a swing on camera and know what was wrong or right before reviewing the video ... which has been a surprise to me. I was just curious about who else is doing this.

Charles

PS - LP if I was to get my driver reshafted I would probably go with one of the LD versions of the Assassin (if I stayed with Accuflex).

Yea I can diagnose myself, I know the root causes of most faults and why I make them and I have corrected myself from even pretty drastic swing faults in the course of a round. This basially comes from reading as much as I can on the swing and asking detailed questions whenever I get some tuition, I had a 10 minute free session at a golf show with the excellent Kevin Craggs early this year and I took the opportunity to ask him several questions.

As for shafts, Graf Blue Tour X, tipped is the only way to go, NVS Proto has to be very heavy to get the best out of it I tried an 85 gram in an X and it was very good but I still prefer the Blue.....just suits me. Havent really tried any of the silly long drive ones though

Tried the Fujikura Banzai on a 3 wood and it was awesome, but I dont think they make one in a driver length.

D.

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Longniddry Golf Club Champ 2005.

In the Taylor Made Bag:

Callaway FT-3 Tour 9.5 Aldila NV 65S

Callaway Steelhead 3 Wood

Callaway Steelhead 5 Wood

Callaway X-16 3-PW

MacGregor Tourney 52 Degree

Cobra Phil Rodgers 59 Degree Rusty

Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Callaway Tour iX

I am self taught. Anything I do, I figure out on my own. I will use any and all available help as well. I may be independent but I'm not stupid. If somebody has done it before and put it on video, I'll check it out. But in the end, I'm the only person who makes decisions on my technique.

Hi Martin,

Please can you clarify what you meant by not being stupid?

Let me rephrase that.

"I may be independent but I'm not stupid: I'll use any and all available help and if somebody has done it before and put it on video, I'll check it out."

Were I stupid, I would refuse any and all available help and I would not check out what others have done before.

Thanks Martin, that makes perfect sense.