Please Critique my Swing - given up on coaching

Old 1991 swing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mWfuFJEOJ8

Guys I've given up on changing my swing and gone back to the old way i got to a 3 handicap on. Thanks to those that have commented on the old one but after lots of lessons I just dont know where the ball is going and at least with this swing I know it will go right to left.

Anyhow if anyone has some comments on this one then it would be much appreciated.

The previous swing is here
How the pros want me to swing (I think)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB1jvdp1-Ls

It would be helpful to see a front on video. Bit confused on which video is what you are using now?

Your 1991 swing is more compact, you have a shorter backswing and the clubface tends to be more open at the top. In the new swing the backswing is longer and the clubface is more shut.

I suspect that you are not squaring the face in your new swing: Have you changed your grip, ball position or wrist cup?

Brian - thanks for that - I have labled them properly now. I cant do any other angle at my driving range.

First off, you have great rhythm. Your right knee is straightening, this is causing some problems. You lose distance because you are not coiling against anything. Keep the right knee flexed. When you pivot to your right side, you are creating power. Second, you are picking the club up. Third, you are getting stuck on your downswing. This is causing you to hit hooks. Your arms are getting traped behind your torso. Stand a couple inches further away from the ball.

Aside from those comments, you have great rhythm; also, you have an awesome transition from the top of your swing to the first move down, and fantastic balance.

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Jordy Scerbo
Golf Instructor

Seems to me the area the coaches were looking to change is the take away, which was a little on the inside on the 1991 video. However, this is getting a little overdone on the new swing and you seem to be going outside the natural swing plane and hence slightly coming over the top for an out-to-in path.

However, the tempo and balance are indeed good. Most important, the head maintains its height throughout the swing.

I don't want to put a spanner in the works here but the second (pros prefered) swing is much better that the old one, which is a good 3 h/capp swing but can't hit a fade for a gold pig.

The takeaway is loads better and allows you to drop to the inside on the way down, the problem I think is you have not given it enough time to work in with the lower body.

Your lower body is a young swing with early hip rotation and once it starts to work more with the upper body you should see real big improvements in cosistancy and ball striking.

There is nothing you can do only keep working with the pro until the lower body parts naturally feels that something has changed, thus changing your ball flight back to what it was before or perhaps a little straighter.

Just takes time mate stick with it.


Ian.

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Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

Your number 1 problem is your right leg is strighten out.

Tony, I love your swing. The ball looks like it gets some great trajectory and your rhytm and tempo is admirable. all I see wrong is the right knee straightening.

Can't wait to see more videos, always a pleasure to see such good swings.

a little straightening is ok, the most important things about the right leg is that the angle remains the same and that tension builds up, not the knee flex
now if he straightens up this much on an iron then it may be too much on a driver, but if it stays about the same IMO no big deal.

Tony, when you gonna post a face on because from behind looks like there are not many big issues, but face on could give us a whole new perspective, or reinforce the idea that there is not much to clean up

However, the tempo and balance are indeed good. Most important, the head maintains its height throughout the swing.[/quote]


This is a find from GregJWillis not so long ago. I was very surpised to see so much vertical movement from Tiger Woods, especailly after a summer of lessons, where I was told that such a move would lead to a host of problems, and as much has been said in other golf literature.

I am beginning to believe tha you can have more than a few quirks in your swing, if it works for you.

James



A great set of Pro swings detailed for you...
http://www.golftipscc.com/profiles/index.html

Thanks guys - I'm very confused now as I shot 72 CCR 68 on Wednesday (dropped the handicap from 9.0 to 8.0) - I have even started looking at Raymond Floyd videos to see that my old 1991 swing looks a bit like his.

Great swing .
your take away on the later swing is much more improved ( your are managing to keep the clubhead outside of your hands for longer) ,on the old swing you came a little bit inside on your take away. If you look at the top of the back swing of your old swing you will notice that you are a little flat. with the improved take away of your later swing you are steeper at the top .
Even the very best players continually work with their coaches, so why shouldnt we lesser mortals.
Try to keep the flex in your right leg.If you allow your right leg to lose too much flex it could lead to a reverse pivot
keep it up mate .
Aft

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the dog wags the tail....the tail dosn't wag the dog

Hi

Like your swing.. The only thing I noticed was that you're losing your spine angle a bit through impact, most likely not enough for any alarm.. (atleast on the 1991 video)

I'm going for an overall swing look similar to yours.. I was an OK Golfer for many years but haven't played for the past 3 years.. I video taped myself today hitting balls, seriously, I looked like a beaver swinging a dead cat but I was still hitting them all out of the middle although my aim was only an area guess.. (that'll take a bit of practice to get back)

IMO many people spend too much time on the swing.. (I don't mean beginners with glaring mistakes, talking about looking for swing perfection) Developing general co-ordination is much more useful, to me.. Save your last 15 balls at the range for bouncing on the end of your club, flicking up then hitting.. Get to where 20 out of 20 is easy then a ball sitting on a tee is just begging to be hit..

Tiger changes his swing 3 times a week and still would be angry if he got a bogey.. There's more going on under the surface that you can't pick up on a video camera.. (IMO)

Would love to see your swing - upload it.

I've shot 72 & 71 in my last two rounds - all with the swing change back to the old ugly thing that did work in 1991. I havent played since 1991 (I used to practice chip and putts with Nick Ohern for 10 cents a shot) but returned to golf in 2005 with the promise that I would fix the swing and never swing with that big left to right fade/hook. Anyhow its now almost two years with no success so I made the decision to ''go ugly" and at least try and score.

After flipping back and forth from swing to swing a couple times, I only noticed 2 things that really stuck out. And it goes along line with what everyone else is saying....

1) Better takeaway in your recent swing. Bringing the club inside isn't a bad thing, but you can't do it too early in the back swing. You are doing a much better job now.

2) The right knee is getting straight. HOWEVER, you do squat (a la Tiger). I would focus on keeping more of the original angle.

Besides that. Looks like you hit the ball pretty darn well. Your 2 "issues" (if you even want to call them that) are so minor.

I like the slow motion. Must have a nice camera!

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What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft