The Strike Zone

I did a lot of work at the range today, finally hitting some shots I was happy with after about 200 balls (Ok, I'm a perfectionsist). Everyone who sees my swing says it's immaculate but I just get the feeling I'm not getting it right for that crucuial couple of inches when the club contacts the ball.

I'm happy with my backswing. I feel it's nicely grooved and gets me in the right position but for some reason my contact is just not consistent enough with results varying between a nasty low hook, a push, and a beautiful high draw. The feeling I get when I don't hit it well is that I'm just not getting through the shot so I either turn my right hand over, causing the hook, or block the shot out.

When I try a 3-quarter swing my contact seems much more solid and distance is almost as good as a full swing. So, in the absence of further information, what am I doing wrong? I get the feeling it's mental rather than physical so some positive swing thoughts would be much appreciated.

PH,

Spraying the ball left and right is the right (trailing) hand trying to hit the ball in the side to side action, and not being used up and down.

This is not a mental thing, it is a physically using your hands incorrectly.

You have to keep your right wrist locked in the back portion of the side setup and only let the hands break and hinge up and down.

Thanks for the response Greg, I was wondering whether you could expand on that a little. I agree with your prognosis of the hand action through the hitting zone; it feel variable to me as if I'm not hitting through the back of the ball consistently.

I'm wondering what the correct movement of the right hand should be during the swing. I strive for a flat left hand at the top of the backswing so my right hand is fully cocked (the waiter holding a tray position). From that position it seems quite a delicate movement to get the right hand behind the ball at impact, which might explain the inconsistency of contact, but I can't envisage a different position that works at the top of the backswing without losing control with the left hand.

ph,

Its sounds like you are maybe sometimes swinging a little bit flat. It can result in the hands being a fraction low at the top leading to the pulling and hooking if you start back down to the ball from the outside. Get someone to check your hands at the top of the swing to make sure the clubhead isnt pointing left of target.

On a similar note, I heard a great tip recently from none other than Mr Gary Player. He said that the striking of the ball should be like the striking of a match...its a great analogy and one which I intend to apply next time I practice.

D.

Here is the drill for you: The Right hand Drill

Back at the range today trying to sort out my woes and gain some confidence back before I step up on the 1st tee again.

Darryl, Greg, thanks again for your input.

I have to say that for some reason drills have never been my thing but I worked out my own version of the "right hand drill" involving more of a full shot. I used a forward press of the hands as a swing-trigger to induce some set in the right hand, ensuring my left arm and shaft were in one line. After a slight change in address position the contact became more reliable.

I can get a bit "handsey" in the swing from time to time so I also worked on a steeper angle of attack to punch down and through the ball and that worked well too.

Finally I made my swing more compact as another legacy fault I have is overswing. Once it all came together I was hitting beautiful high, long draws with an exquisite feel at contact.

Can't thank you guys and everyone at GTO enough. It's great to get some intelligent and sometimes controversial debate on golf in all it's glory.

Dear Mr. Willis,
Your video instruction regarding wrist hinge was the most concise, thought provoking, awe-inspiring, treasure of information I have ever seen, heard, or read. Where have you been my entire golfing life.

Thank you very much,
Rocco

Interestingly what you 'feel' as a 3/4 swing is probably a full swing if you saw it on video (hence why you say it hit it much better when you get compact)

I think we mentally think we need to go further back for power but what actually happens is we lose connection and the right arm and wrists break down

When im practiting i try to think about the feeling of my arms going up to about 10' o clock only with my hands as far away from head as possible. This gives me good width and I find the downswing very natural from there

Great to hear! Thanks. I have been here. Glad you made it.