Un-f***ing my swing

azgreg

So, I've struggled of late. Irons and wedges have been just fine. Driver, fairways, and hybrids (less so) have been trash. I'm topping and getting toe hit shanks. It came to teh point that for Monday and Tuesdays' tournament (MGA World Championship) I was considering just taking irons and playing all teh non par 3s as an extra stroke. You get disqualified for breaking 80 anyways. I've hit the range hard this week trying to fix it and I think I found my fault. When I set up to the ball I do teh following:

Pick out my line
While holding the club in my right hand I square the face of the club behind the ball to my target
Step in with both feet together even with the ball
Take a step with the left foot to the left
Take a step with the right foot to the right
Get my distance from the ball
With the club still in my right hand I set my left hand on the grip
Set my right hand on the grip

All this takes just a moment.

With the help of a friend I noticed something. When I set my right hand on the grip my right shoulder moved forward slightly opening up my shoulder plane to that of my feet and hips. This was causing an over the top swing path which got worse the longer the shaft.

Does this make sense to teh swing gurus here?

braveheart

azgreg
My quick reply, I’m not anything near a guru, is to first place the club behind the ball with your left hand only on the the club. Then add your right hand and step out into your stance. This automatically helps me keep my shoulders on the target line rather than being open when the right hand with club is done first.

PA-PLAYA

Where is ball contact on the face of the club?

It's always good to start there

azgreg

PA-PLAYA
Low and out at the toe. Today I was hitting everything much better except the driver. Tops and low hooks.

Eguller

How’s your tempo with the long clubs ? 😉

azgreg

Eguller
I might be over swinging a bit.

sdandrea1

azgreg I might be over swinging a bit.

Here's a tip I got from a pro about 20 years ago. When your ball striking goes to shit, choke down an inch, club up 1 or 2, and then 3/4 swings until you're hitting it solid again. Not a shit load of thoughts crowding your brain and your instincts will take over (if you trust them).

Typhoon

Like Braveheart touched on, your right hand needs to come from “under”. This puts your right arm below your left in a down the line camera view. And it gives you proper shoulder tilt.

What you’re doing now … if you took a down the line camera view your right arm would be higher or blocking the view of your left arm AND your shoulders would be level… no bueno.

What is weird though is isn’t this how you set up with your irons as well?

As Eguller said, overswinging?? Throwing the club down from the top with no lower body, just spinning out with your shoulders?

I just like to start with proper set up.

rsvman2

I do think it makes sense. Move the right shoulder back and put the right hand 'under,' for lack of a better term.

This might sound weird, but with driver I try to think of myself as under the ball rather than over it.

Finally, feel like you are starting the downswing with your back still facing the target. This thought will help avoid the over the top move.

pellmell

Without a picture or video of your swing it's not easy to recommend solution, but it sounds to me like a balance issue, with too much weight toward the toes or heels at address, which can happen with lack of knee bend.

On shalowing the club on the downswing, this is how it's done...

backinit

Past a 45 degree angle with the wrists at the top? That gives me the low lefts.

azgreg

Much more godderer today. Slowed it down a bit. Go back tomorrow and double check a few things before the tournament on Monday.

azgreg

Time to step away for a few weeks and then get back to basics.

KCee

azgreg Your miss with the longer clubs sounds like mine. With the irons I can actually set up open and hit them well; even re-route the club inside and hit a draw. Once I go to hit the hybrid, fairway or driver I tend to do better if I pull my trail foot back a bit.

I also tend to overswing even more the longer the club gets. Longer clubs are lighter which may be part of my problem. My previous irons 5-P were all about 450g with backweights because I need heft to slow down. I tend to lose control of the club at the top so I try to focus on taking the club straight back without rolling the face open and then start the downswing with my hips/body and keep my right elbow connected. I will go from toe shanks to heel strikes doing this and have to set up off the toe of the driver, but it works. Now I need to fix my putting again 😞