Same swing for everything?

What I want to know is; should I be playing substantially the same swing for all shots? Clearly there will be some differences - the angle of swing plane, and the position of the ball in the stance.

But other than that? For example, am I looking to clear the hips through a 9 iron the same as I do through a driver? Is the RH drill as valid for a PW as for a 3W?

Yes, keep the same swing for all full shots - and, yes, the RH drill will work for any club as it is basically giving you a solid position and, based upon your rotation, a square club face at impact.

What is the right hand drill please?

Brian

Whoops it's OK. I found it.

Brian

You can have the same ball position for all clubs. It's the stance that is wider or narrower so it appears that the ball is farther back or forward as a result. Or, you can have the ball at different positions according to the club you are using or according to the shot you are playing.

For example, you could put the ball back for a punch or for a low shot under a tree. Or you could put the ball forward for a flop shot or to adjust to the slope, etc.

You could swing the same way for all club. Or not. You could swing steeper for short clubs and flatter for longer clubs, etc. Or you could adapt to your clubs' lie angle and swing accordingly. Or when you tee it up.

I read frequently that irons should be hit downward and the driver should be hit either flat or slightly upward.

There is no rule or law that either forces you to swing a certain way or that prevents you from swinging a certain way. After all, you choose what you will do with the club in your hands.

That's true, Martin. But, I guess the real point for the non-professionals is to create a swing which will repeat - easier to do if you've only got one of them!

Hello All:

This is one of those "if a tree falls in the woods..." questions that golf likes to present us.

Jack Nicklaus who at one time was an ok golfer said that he liked to think of all swings as being similiar from driver through wedge. Jack also said he "NEVER" missed a short putt in tournament play. Neither statement is exactly true but Mr. Nicklaus was a clever guy and he used simplicity and positive thinking in a very productive way.

Modern technology proves that there are distinct differences in set-up positions, angle of attack etc.. for the various shots we are required to hit on the course. The driver swing is different, in some respects from the short iron. The swings are also very similiar which can be used to a players advantage if they have the correct mindset.

You could, I suppose, look at each shot individualy and have a separate thought pocess for each. Or you could use the string of similiarites and just focus on the set-up aspects which are subtly different and have the most impact on the various shots. Our natural golf instincs usually take care of the rest of those variances anyway.

By the way did anyone find my Pro v-1 in the woods under that fallen tree......

Tim S

Same swing mechanic is to be used for all clubs, but the only thing that changes is your swing plane. As the club gets longer, your plane will naturally flatten out in addition to your hands getting further from your body during setup. Why does the hands get further from the body? With longer clubs the swing arc is bigger and produce more clubhead speed, therefore it will pull your hands further from the body. Regardless...., the swing mechanic is still the same.

I swing the same way for all clubs except when chipping and putting where I use a pendulum type swing. OK the swing length, tempo, stance and weight distribution may change but I always swing the same way. Swing plane gets set by the length of club and our height.

Why make it difficult for yourself?