Hi fom New Zealand

Hi I am new to this site and thank you for having me. I am a New Zealander, 58 years old and play off a 10 handicap. I am currently having trouble with my game and would like any advice on what the first movement is on the downswing as keep getting an inside out swing and top half is in front of the ball. Thanks

Hi Keeny and welcome!

It seems to be a theme at the moment that people are joining this site from sunnier and warmer climates than England can boast at the moment! I'm jealous!

I suffer occasionally from getting my top half too far over or ahead of the ball.

Quite often the torso getting ahead of the ball is coupled with an over-the-top slicers swing. If you're getting in - out divots your arms are working against your body rotation. You're trying to get your arms inside whilst your body is rotating over and "outside" the ball. Pretty inconsistent in terms of distance and direction, but you're trying to do the right thing.

I can only speak from my own experience, but how we go about the downswing can be dictated by how we go about the backswing.

I have to make sure I practice "gearing my backswing". Clubhead goes first, then hands, then arms until I can't get my arms swinging back any further without moving my shoulders and then my hips will naturally follow a little. To start down, reverse it.

From the top, hips go left to transfer the weight (presuming you're a righty!). Not too far though. Try not to get the left hip outside the left foot. At the same time, right elbow comes in to the side. This moves your centre of gravity in order to move the weight and also gets your right shoulder down, leads to spine tilt away from the target and gets your lower half slightly ahead of your top half.

Then turn and fire the hips toward the target.

Simple eh??!!

__________________
Luke: I don't believe it!
Yoda: That is why you fail.

Cheers mate I will give it a go and see how it works over the next few games.
Appreciate that.
Yeah, the climate is pretty good at the moment here but we get some cold rubbish as well, not so much snow but low temperatures.

No worries mate!

Enjoy your time here!

hi keeny
welcome to GTO