[howardn]

I've been playing since I was 12 or 13. I was second man on my HS team, and never quite made the starting team in college. I was a 5 for one summer when I was 20, and I'm a 15 now, though lately I'm playing like a 25. I've taken a lot of lessons from some very good pros over the years. I've also done some hi-tech swing analysis, from an infra-red high-speed skeletal analysis in Palm Springs to most recently Golf-Tec.

The current problem, my current problem, is that I am suddenly unable to stay down with my irons, all my irons. I can hit the most beautiful on the screws drives that I shape almost like a pro, but I cannot put the blade on the ball. What is strange is that on my practice swings with the irons, I have a relaxed swing, and take a nice consistent divot. But when I am hitting the ball, I release early, sometimes shank, and I'm definitely coming across the ball, and looking up before I make contact. I used to hit beautiful high draws, and now my best irons are slight pulls.

If I go with the stack and tilt, I can make good contact and improve my iron consistency, but within a few rounds my back will start to spasm, so I don't want to rely on that.

I think I have a good take away move, but I don't feel comfortable getting to the top (if I ever get there) and obviously my timing on the downswing is a disaster. Again, I seem to be able to do it OK without the ball, good divot and swing line, and I am very comfortable with the driver and even the 20 degree hybrid (usually).

I know from the past that the fix is usually one pretty basic flaw. I am getting a little older (56) and a bit out of shape, but still have good flexibility. I switched from stiff shafts to regular graphites several years ago, though all the shafts but the driver are tipped a 1/4 inch. (I don't think that is the problem, though they are feeling a little stiff.)

Appreciate any help or suggestions.

Howard

[keiko]

Howard,
We all go through things like what you are experiencing. Try these two things:
1. On backswing, make sure you are getting into the tray position, the angles at the top where left arm is fairly straight but not rigid and the right arm is at 90 degrees. This coupled with a decent shoulder turn should put you in position to start your downswing on plane.
2. On downswing, feel like you are pulling the butt end of the club down the line-ball to target line. This will force you to stay in the shot.
Go slow at first until you get it right.
I believe you are coming out of the shot with irons for some reason. You are changing your spine angle at impact, lifting up and out.
Another drill, do the pump drill and hit balls like that.
Let me know how it works.

[howardn]

Good suggestions Keiko, and I appreciate the reminder that this is something that happens to others. It does seem that when things all of a sudden go wrong, and you can't figure out the fix, that your game is doomed, or at least in long term golf purgatory. I think you are right about my transition. I'm probably not finishing my shoulder turn. I'm definitely lifting up and out, too. Good diagnosis. I'll work on your drills. I'm not sure what the pump drill is, though. I'll see if I can find it.

Thanks, Howard

[howardn]

I think this is the drill:

http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction...cleanslotdrill

[keiko]

Dating as far back as Hogan-folks have used the pump drill-you can google it and see it performed by many, many including Hogan.
I have a little twist on it and I like to do it in front of a full length mirror at the range at first.
I take my club to the top and stop-I look at my angles, ie. left arm straight but not rigid, right arm at 90 degrees, and good width, ie. hands far from my head, wrists hinged properly, ie. left is cocked and right is hinged, I look at my left knee bent in pointing behind the ball and the right leg is being posted on, weight has shifted to the right but I am in balance. I then allow the downswing bringing the right elbow to my hip or a little in front of it depending on my club, my hands are ahead, my left wrist glove logo is pointing down the line and my right wrist is still bent back on itself, the butt end of the club is pointing down at the ball at this point.
Stop there, now repeat 2 more times and hit the ball with the last pump.
Sounds complicated but you know all these moves I am describing just do a check to make sure the elements I mentioned are there then go ahead and do the drill and hit balls with the 3rd pump each time.
Hogan told many this drill was the only way he would practice to get to his perfection and he was right.

Originally Posted by howardn

Good suggestions Keiko, and I appreciate the reminder that this is something that happens to others. It does seem that when things all of a sudden go wrong, and you can't figure out the fix, that your game is doomed, or at least in long term golf purgatory. I think you are right about my transition. I'm probably not finishing my shoulder turn. I'm definitely lifting up and out, too. Good diagnosis. I'll work on your drills. I'm not sure what the pump drill is, though. I'll see if I can find it.

Thanks, Howard

[GregJWillis]

Originally Posted by howardn

I think this is the drill:

http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction...cleanslotdrill

This drill is probably the best solution to the iron problem you are having. This really creates the proper position to impact for everything else to work naturally.

[howardn]

You are absolutely right Greg. I've been watching it and practicing it for the past couple weeks and my game is starting to really come together. It's that first little move from the top that Jim McClean calls the "free ride", dropping the right shoulder causing the elbow to drop into the side, that really sets me up. When I connect that to the arm's going to the lag position, I am most of the way to the solution. My issue from there is controlling the clubface to trap the ball and staying down with the shot. But at least I'm hitting close to 50% well, with the mistakes being squirts to the right (open clubface) and long hooks. I find that when I can stay behind the ball through impact (on the inside of my right foot), I'm getting the best results.

Originally Posted by GregJWillis

This drill is probably the best solution to the iron problem you are having. This really creates the proper position to impact for everything else to work naturally.

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