I Need Help!!!

Okay, here's the deal. I've been a long time shanker, but when they're gone, I play quite well (I shot even par 72 last summer). But lately they've been bad, really bad. I've read all of the posts and actually signed up for private lessons from two different pros at courses near my home. Those help when I'm there, but they haven't translated to better results on the course. I don't have the means to provide a video of my swing, but I'm almost dead positive that something is severely breaking down on my downswing. I'm so frustrated right now that today after shooting a 93, I almost considered giving up on this game once and for all. Of course, I would never do that because there's nothing more satisfying than playing good golf. What I need from you, my fellow GTO members, is any and all advice on what a proper downswing should feel like. I have a nice shoulder turn and hip rotation on my backswing, but from the top, I'm friggin' clueless. Any swing thoughts, drills, ideas, cues, etc. would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Frustrated in Phoenix

at address does your weight favor the balls of your feet or your heels?

I've had some success trying it both ways. It's harder to come over the top when my weight is more towards my heels, but it also results in some thin shots. When I focus on keeping my weight more on my on the balls of my feet, I sometimes lose my balance on the downswing and shank it badly. Which do you suggest that I stick with????

Just really focus on basics. I would do the feet together swings on the driving range just to get some feel. I'd also recommend a couple of short game sessions practicing 3/4 wedges from around 80 yards out. Those really seem to help me get the feel of swing back. Oh, and swing while holding the head side of the club, then switch. If you have the swing to shoot even par, I am guessing you are just losing the feel of the club and need to that "sensation" back.

2 quick questions

1. Do you feel you take the club away with your shoulders or your hands?

2. How do you 'feel' your transition? Hips, shoulders, legs?

If youve exhasuted all the s***k cures, You may without realising it be blocking the ball which is caused from coming too far from the inside. Because you *think* you are coming OTT this makes you take the club back even further inside and then aggresivley turn/slide the lower body into the ball leaving the club face way open, You get annoyed, the hands tense up and the whole thing gets worse and worse. Ive been there

Try and forget swing plane and distance. Just take a good setup position and concentrate on just turning the shoulders back and through with soft hands and arms, with 1/2 - 3/4 swings only. The shoulder turn will take the club where it needs to go. To you this may look steep or inside but forget that, thats perception. Do this in slow motion a few times and note whether the clubface is square at impact. Once you get your mechanics back you can then start to swing faster

HTH

If you shot 72 than I would think your fundamentals are ok. If you are hitting well with the pro standing there, then there is no reason to think you cannot hit well without him. Is it possible you are thinking way too much? Start trusting your swing more and get more target focused. If you need to have a swing thought pick one and stick too it.

keep it centered or favor the heels. NOT THE BALLS. If you find yourself shanking doing this it is probably because you are coming out of your spine angle. Just a note, Hogan favored the heels, it is in his book

It amazes me how often Hogan's fundamentals come back into play. It is almost like he was the master of the golf swing

Wow folks, thanks for all of the suggestions. I know I have it me to play good golf, but like one of you said, I've lost the sensation of what a good swing feels like. I'm going to the range now to try some of your tips. Thanks again GTO members and I'll be sure to post my results in a couple of hours. Wish me luck!!!!!

2. How do you 'feel' your transition? Hips, shoulders, legs?

Herein lies the problem. When I get to the top, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel anymore. One of my coaches tried to simplify things by telling me to just uncoil. When I try this, my right shoulder comes whipping around causing me to you know what. Do you have any advice on what I should feel during the transition into the downswing? Thanks P!!!!!

If you just concentrate on swing your hip backwards, everything else just falls in line. Imagine a bungee cord is tied to your left hip directly behind, and at the top of the back swing it is set off which spins your hip back the other way.