New Irons...the "S" virus has appeared...ahh

Okay, yesterday - playing with my old irons, used Tommy Armours - the s####s showed up - figured it out, I wasn't cocking my wrists - problem solved.

Today, got my new irons from EBay - T7 Irons, custom gripped and custom length. Took them to the driving range today...and mis-hit everything. I cocked my wrists, but instead of a nice flight - the ball went low left to right...sliced. Couldn't even hit my brand new sand-wedge...this really upset me.

I don't know what's going on - I tried slowing down my tempo and that seemed to help, but only when I didn't cock my wrists. Once I started cocking my wrists, I felt like I was slapping at the ball at impact. Shoul I try Greg's righthand drill? I tried it once, and it just didn't make sense - I felt like when I cocked my wrists I lost control at the top of the swing.

Another thing i was thinking about was maybe standing closer and bending the knees more - cause I must be rising up at impact. I've been trying to hit down on the ball, but when I do that I don't follow through enough and it ends up being a cut for than a flighted ball.

Btw - my max distance today was 160 with my 3iron...that made me feel really good

help!

I too am a long time sufferer of the dreaded laterals, but fortunately I took a lesson from a pro today and low and behold, they're gone! Now, what worked for me may not work for you, but I'll pass along the info nonetheless. First of all, the last thing you want to do is stand closer to the ball as it only will increase the chance of striking the ball on the hosel. My coach had me set the ball in the middle of the clubface, even a little closer to the toe first. Then he had me get up on the balls of my feet, almost to where it felt like I was leaning forward. My third flaw was that I had too much weight on my front leg during the set up position. I now have my weight more evenly distributed perhaps even favoring the back leg slightly. It feels like I'm leaning to the right when I start my backswing, but it is certainly a lot easier to make a nice, full turn now. Concentrate on starting your backswing with your shoulders and your wrists will cock naturally at the top. Then, start the downswing by rotating your front hip. If you're on the balls of your feet, it will be really hard to come over the top because you'll fall forward. After I got comfortable with this new set-up positioning, I must have stroked at least a dozen straight 7-iron shots. But the best part is when my coach left and I had a few balls to hit on my own. Just for kicks, I switched to my 3-iron and tried my new swing approach. No joke, I hit five of the purest shots that I've ever hit with that club. Again, what helped me may or may not help you, but at least you'll have something to try the next time you're out at the range. Good luck!

Matt

Have a look at this PDF

They key things here are making sure your weight is back on your heels so you dont fall forward and of course a nice light grip and relaxed release

HTH

Attached Files

shank.pdf (420.0 KB, 17 views)

thanks alot guys.

With your tips and guidance - thanks for the pdf - i've conquered the sh###s

Turns out I was standing way too close to the ball and I was swaying.

Unfortunately, my iron distances still won't go past 160 - just two weeks ago, when I broke 90, I was hitting great and my 3I went the 190 that it usually does; I don't understand where this loss of distance came from.

Thanks again guys and take care.

Matt,

New irons take some time to adjust to.

Just because the clubs are custom fit to you, doesn't mean you are used to using them. If you have been playing with clubs that don't fit you properly, changing your swing to adjust to clubs that do fit you is quite an adjustment.

I am 6'2" and had always played with standard length clubs. I played off an 8 and I was quite consistant. At the beginning of last year I put extensions in my shafts to get them to the correct length for my height. OMG, was it horrible!!!! I hit everything fat, I sprayed every club in the bag when I did hit the ball first and I was ready to take the extensions out and play with the short clubs again. I re-evaluated my swing via video and I realized than yes, I fixed my clubs to custom length, but I was still swinging like I had short clubs. Once I got myself into the correct position, the results were much better. It wasn't until late last year that I really got all the bugs out and started shooting the numbers I was used to seeing.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

thanks gord - it makes perfect sense, I was thinking I had made a huge mistake in getting my own custom set - but earlier today I checked the difference in lengths between my new 8iron and my old Tommy 8I - there was a difference in about 3 inches, my new one being the shorter.

So next time I go to the range (competition tomorrow morning) does that mean I should bend more at the waist to compensate for the shortness of the club? I think what my trouble could be was that I was a bit too upright - or if using the old Irons, the right setup -which is wrong witht he new irons?

Thanks again and hopefully I can get this figured out for tomorrow's comp.

Hey matt,

This might not help becasue im a new golfer but for me personally i find that its better to get closer to the ball than bending over more than normal. This might not help you but its just a thought.

thanks for the input Tejay - however, I think the idea of standing closer to the ball resulted in the Shnks - so I dunno if I want to go down that road again.

Hey matt,

Yes i agree its what works for you personaly mate. Good luck and happy golfing.

TJ

Best thing to do set your club so the face is square to the target. Bend from the waist and your club should be resting in your open left hand, square your feet and body to the target line. The butt of the club should be pointing at your belt buckle (or where it would be if you don't wear a belt!). When gripping your club, your arms should hang straight down from your shoulders. A little test, while in your stance, close your eyes and take your right hand (for righties) off the grip. Let your arm hang naturally and relaxed. With your eyes still closed, start swaying your arm slightly back and forth parallel with the target line. Once your hand reaches the club you are still holding in position with your left hand, grab a hold of the club - it should hit exactly where you need to grip with your right hand. If you are not on the correct part of the grip, adjust your club position until you hit the right spot.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

Gord, thanks for that tip - the visual of having the butt of the club pointing at my belt buckle is very enlightening, I actually wear bealts all the time - so thanks.

It'll be the first thing I do before starting the comp tomorrow.

Also I was watching some re-runs I had taped from the Golf Channel, it had Playing Lessons from the Pros and Tiger Woods special.

From the Playing Lessons - a good tip that Mark O'Meara suggested was on the downswing, do not try to aim to hit the ball up in the air with your clubhead - I was doing that alot today at the range, especially with the lower irons.

From TW - a good tip was the fact that he aimed for a spot in front of his ball, this incorporated the idea of keeping the clubhead through impact instead of quickly rising up like I had done earlier, which resulted in some mishits.

Man I have alot to work on