Interestingly, I have developed 3 different swings for different clubs.
Driver:
I used to use the tour-tempo swing (swing-set-through), but about a month ago, I found a tip in Oct 2013 issue of Golf Magazine. That is to hinge early in the backswing, maybe at 3/4 position, and then continue to rotate shoulders until back faces target. From there, it would be easier to hold the angle during downswing and delay the release until impact.
Even though I would start backswing slowly, with this new method, I could reach swing speed to about 95 mph, and gained about 10~15 yards.
Fairway woods and hybrid:
This is still the same swing as previously developed: more upright position for club shaft at 3/4 swing check point, then just lift it up from there to full back swing position. At downswing, remember to extend the target line well after impact.
Irons:
Since I occasionally would still shank (during 3 or 4 rounds in Sept~Oct, usually 3 or 4 holes, up to 6 or 7 holes at worst), I found I have to be 100% relaxed at address, feel absolutely 100% tension free for the entire body, legs, loose hands, arms, shoulders, before starting backswing. Then just extend arms during backswing, lift up to proper upright position, and then remember to extend the target line well after impact. (On Oct. 9, had a shank-free round at Crooked Tree. On Oct. 13, had a couple of shanks at some early holes, then got rid of it later in the round at Green Crest.)
For short irons set-up, maybe butt out a little more such that hands are closer to body. Then the same swing as Fairway Woods: more upright position for club shaft at 3/4 swing check point, then just lift it up from there to full back swing position. At downswing, remember to extend the target line well after impact.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Swing Change
On Saturday 8/10, shanks came again and again for about 6 holes... The bad swing started to affect fairway wood and Driver too during the round...
On Sunday afternoon, I decided to videotape my swing, and I immediately realized that my changed upright back swing was not on the same swing plane, upright at the beginning, but still turned to flat after 3/4 swing. Spent about 1 hour to make self corrections with the aid of videotaping.
Two adjustments: more upright position for club shaft at 3/4 swing check point, then just lift it up from there to full back swing position.
Then went to Crooked Tree, spent almost 2 hours working on this new upright swing. At the beginning, contact was not very solid, including some hitting from behind the ball. But soon after I started to make solid contacts, and distance was relatively good too. 8 iron about 125 to 130 yard, 7 iron about 135 to 140 yard... 6 iron and 5 iron contacts were not as good though... No more shank!!!
Also tried this new swing with 4 hybrid, 7 and 5 fairway woods. Solid contacts, straight flight too, with good distance, about 165, 175 and 185 yards, respectively.
But I still could not apply the new swing to driver yet. I would tend to hit it down and make the ball flight sky high...
Practiced again this evening at another range. Upper body bent down a bit more, lift club up to a position more along the body, instead of behind. It seems to work a little better. Will need to videotape again to confirm.
On Sunday afternoon, I decided to videotape my swing, and I immediately realized that my changed upright back swing was not on the same swing plane, upright at the beginning, but still turned to flat after 3/4 swing. Spent about 1 hour to make self corrections with the aid of videotaping.
Two adjustments: more upright position for club shaft at 3/4 swing check point, then just lift it up from there to full back swing position.
Then went to Crooked Tree, spent almost 2 hours working on this new upright swing. At the beginning, contact was not very solid, including some hitting from behind the ball. But soon after I started to make solid contacts, and distance was relatively good too. 8 iron about 125 to 130 yard, 7 iron about 135 to 140 yard... 6 iron and 5 iron contacts were not as good though... No more shank!!!
Also tried this new swing with 4 hybrid, 7 and 5 fairway woods. Solid contacts, straight flight too, with good distance, about 165, 175 and 185 yards, respectively.
But I still could not apply the new swing to driver yet. I would tend to hit it down and make the ball flight sky high...
Practiced again this evening at another range. Upper body bent down a bit more, lift club up to a position more along the body, instead of behind. It seems to work a little better. Will need to videotape again to confirm.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Got to stop shanks, again
At the range on Aug. 6, my first iron shot (7 Iron) was a shank. This was actually good because I should be able to quickly find the root cause, instead of waiting for it to come. From the divot, I determined that it was because of outside-in swing path, exactly the same problem that caused my shanks last year...
To avoid this extreme outside-in swing path, I placed a paper box beside the ball, and immediately got rid of shanks. Keep a more upright back swing, and also remind myself to slow down, take nice and easy back swing... The first couple of shots were not solid, hit from behind, etc. But later on I got solid contacts, and the shots were pretty straight, and sometimes fade or push to left. Pretty soon, I removed that paper box, and shanks did not come back even once for the rest of the range session.
I thought I cured my shanks, so I went out to play at Crooked Tree this evening. The first couple of iron shots (6 iron, PW) were good. And then shank came again, at Hole 4. Maybe I was waiting too long over there. Remind myself to pay attention to setup, weight balance, and also to slow down back swing. Hit a couple of good 6 irons at Hole 5, and a good PW at Hole 6. Then shank again at Hole 7 with 5 iron (into water), and at Hole 8 with 6 iron. Made adjustment to address toe at set up, and it worked ok at Hole 7, 8, and 9.
At Hole 10 and 11, shanks again (7 iron). At Hole 12, I found my Hybrid 4 Iron also starts to suffer from outside-in swing path. At Hole 14 (downhill par 3), I placed a sleeve box beside the ball. After my shank (7-iron), all 3 balls came out of the sleeve box... This again confirmed outside-in swing path. Then I suddenly realized that I also need to swing along body-line, and to extend impact line (feel the club head to hit it out), in addition to a nice and easy back swing. With this swing thought, I made a couple of solid hits with 7-iron at Hole 14.
Then during the rest of my practice round, Hole 15~18, I made all solid contacts (PW, 6 iron, 7 iron, 8 iron), no more shanks...
---------------------------------
To cure pull/hooks for fairway woods / hybrid, changed to more upright swing.
Recently, changed to more upright swing for irons too.
Below are some ideas to keep in mind:
During the round, there are 2 cures: base-ball grips, address the ball with iron toes.
http://www.golftipsmag.com/instruction/faults-and-fixes/lessons/shank-stoppers.html
At the range:
Several things to keep in mind or try:
Grip: try more palm than fingers for left hand (not much difference)
Weight balance: weight under shoe-laces
Setup: not too close, nor too far away from ball
Back swing: upright swing, arm fully extended
Swing tempo: back to basic easy effortless swing, or try swing-set-through tempo
Initiate down swing with lower body...
Swing along body-line, extend impact line...
Always check swing path, with aid of a paper box
Finally, be confident, no more fear of shanks!!!
To avoid this extreme outside-in swing path, I placed a paper box beside the ball, and immediately got rid of shanks. Keep a more upright back swing, and also remind myself to slow down, take nice and easy back swing... The first couple of shots were not solid, hit from behind, etc. But later on I got solid contacts, and the shots were pretty straight, and sometimes fade or push to left. Pretty soon, I removed that paper box, and shanks did not come back even once for the rest of the range session.
I thought I cured my shanks, so I went out to play at Crooked Tree this evening. The first couple of iron shots (6 iron, PW) were good. And then shank came again, at Hole 4. Maybe I was waiting too long over there. Remind myself to pay attention to setup, weight balance, and also to slow down back swing. Hit a couple of good 6 irons at Hole 5, and a good PW at Hole 6. Then shank again at Hole 7 with 5 iron (into water), and at Hole 8 with 6 iron. Made adjustment to address toe at set up, and it worked ok at Hole 7, 8, and 9.
At Hole 10 and 11, shanks again (7 iron). At Hole 12, I found my Hybrid 4 Iron also starts to suffer from outside-in swing path. At Hole 14 (downhill par 3), I placed a sleeve box beside the ball. After my shank (7-iron), all 3 balls came out of the sleeve box... This again confirmed outside-in swing path. Then I suddenly realized that I also need to swing along body-line, and to extend impact line (feel the club head to hit it out), in addition to a nice and easy back swing. With this swing thought, I made a couple of solid hits with 7-iron at Hole 14.
Then during the rest of my practice round, Hole 15~18, I made all solid contacts (PW, 6 iron, 7 iron, 8 iron), no more shanks...
---------------------------------
To cure pull/hooks for fairway woods / hybrid, changed to more upright swing.
Recently, changed to more upright swing for irons too.
Below are some ideas to keep in mind:
During the round, there are 2 cures: base-ball grips, address the ball with iron toes.
http://www.golftipsmag.com/instruction/faults-and-fixes/lessons/shank-stoppers.html
At the range:
Several things to keep in mind or try:
Grip: try more palm than fingers for left hand (not much difference)
Weight balance: weight under shoe-laces
Setup: not too close, nor too far away from ball
Back swing: upright swing, arm fully extended
Swing tempo: back to basic easy effortless swing, or try swing-set-through tempo
Initiate down swing with lower body...
Swing along body-line, extend impact line...
Always check swing path, with aid of a paper box
Finally, be confident, no more fear of shanks!!!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Top of Back Swing Position
Here are some tips for where to stop your back swing. I found Nick Faldo's method is best for myself.
Top of Back Swing position:
Nick Faldo's way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKHCGNT-hPw
Tom Watson's way:
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2011-01/watson-top-swing
Jon Woodroffe's way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeV3RQR0Kwc
Top of Back Swing position:
Nick Faldo's way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKHCGNT-hPw
Tom Watson's way:
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2011-01/watson-top-swing
Jon Woodroffe's way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeV3RQR0Kwc
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Some notes to myself
I started to apply tour tempo golf (swing-set-through) to my irons earlier, and it worked for a while. Then I tend to have a couple of shanks. Then I slowed down my back swing, making some adjustments...
Recently I had an experienced golfer look at my iron swing (slow takeaway, easy swing, more upright position at the top), and he told me I got a problem with my swing plane. More upright position at the top would leave my natural swing plane, so I need to keep it a little flat...
Then I practiced with this swing adjustment, trying to keep it on the swing plane during the whole back swing. This would also slow down my back swing. It seems to work, except that I would hit it fat occasionally.
Tried this new swing for all clubs including driver and fairway woods during a couple of rounds. Results are not bad, maybe lost some distance for driver, but not too much, around 10 yards...
I thought I would stick to this new swing for good... But tonight at the range, I started to shank again at the beginning all of sudden with 7 iron. Switched to driver, same swing, distance not good. Tried swing-set-through, solid contacts, longer shots... then tried swing-set-through with irons, also solid contacts, straight shots with good distances for almost all irons (9 through 5, did not try PW).
This is interesting... I guess I will have to switch between the two swing styles back and forth, which ever works...
Another note: I found the reason why I tend to pull/hook with fairway woods: I got an inside-out swing path.
Recently I had an experienced golfer look at my iron swing (slow takeaway, easy swing, more upright position at the top), and he told me I got a problem with my swing plane. More upright position at the top would leave my natural swing plane, so I need to keep it a little flat...
Then I practiced with this swing adjustment, trying to keep it on the swing plane during the whole back swing. This would also slow down my back swing. It seems to work, except that I would hit it fat occasionally.
Tried this new swing for all clubs including driver and fairway woods during a couple of rounds. Results are not bad, maybe lost some distance for driver, but not too much, around 10 yards...
I thought I would stick to this new swing for good... But tonight at the range, I started to shank again at the beginning all of sudden with 7 iron. Switched to driver, same swing, distance not good. Tried swing-set-through, solid contacts, longer shots... then tried swing-set-through with irons, also solid contacts, straight shots with good distances for almost all irons (9 through 5, did not try PW).
This is interesting... I guess I will have to switch between the two swing styles back and forth, which ever works...
Another note: I found the reason why I tend to pull/hook with fairway woods: I got an inside-out swing path.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Swing Adjustments
It seems I need to struggle with iron shanks every summer (June/July)... Had a couple of shanks
From previous experiences in 2012, tried baseball grip, it works, but I still tend to pull to left as before.
Tried to fully extend arms, and move ball position a little forward, this one does not work as well as before. Maybe extending arms would tend to overswing...
Back to basic, here are some swing tip videos (Paul Wilson) that I reviewed:
How to relax and increase swing speed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lROE1r9S9D4
(this is a different approach than swing-set-through, and it takes more practice/time to gain swing speed, but it could help to build a more consistent swing)
How to swing like Ernie Els:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yju_MLjGqWM
Effortless Golf Swing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwpdkuC3H_k
For irons, now I would try effortless golf swing, back swing to a more upright position, try not to over turn / over swing, and use lower body (waist/hip) to generate swing speed. Tried this at Crooked Tree range, and it seemed to be working, at least for this evening...
For fairway woods, I would do the same as irons.
For driver, I would still use swing-set-through method.
I think when I am getting more comfortable with this new swing adjustment for irons/fairway woods, then I will try swing-set-through tempo because at that time I would know exactly where to stop at the top of back swing, and just go there directly and more quickly...
From previous experiences in 2012, tried baseball grip, it works, but I still tend to pull to left as before.
Tried to fully extend arms, and move ball position a little forward, this one does not work as well as before. Maybe extending arms would tend to overswing...
Back to basic, here are some swing tip videos (Paul Wilson) that I reviewed:
How to relax and increase swing speed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lROE1r9S9D4
(this is a different approach than swing-set-through, and it takes more practice/time to gain swing speed, but it could help to build a more consistent swing)
How to swing like Ernie Els:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yju_MLjGqWM
Effortless Golf Swing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwpdkuC3H_k
For irons, now I would try effortless golf swing, back swing to a more upright position, try not to over turn / over swing, and use lower body (waist/hip) to generate swing speed. Tried this at Crooked Tree range, and it seemed to be working, at least for this evening...
For fairway woods, I would do the same as irons.
For driver, I would still use swing-set-through method.
I think when I am getting more comfortable with this new swing adjustment for irons/fairway woods, then I will try swing-set-through tempo because at that time I would know exactly where to stop at the top of back swing, and just go there directly and more quickly...
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
4 Birdies in One Round！
I got four birdies in one round at Glenview on June 2, actually within 7 holes.
Previous personal best was 2 birdies in a round.
Glenview West
Hole 1, par 4: driver, hybrid 4 iron, then chip in from about 15 to 20 feet.
Hole 4, par 3: 8 iron, about 120 yard, putt from about 15 feet.
Hole 6, short par 4: driver, 3/4 swing pitching wedge, putt from 4 or 5 feet.
Hole 7, par 3：8 iron again, putt from 2 feet, gimme range.
However, the other holes did not go that well, with 5 pars, 6 bogies, and 3 double bogies, leading to 80, just one short to break 80.
9 green in regulation, but 1 3-putts, and a couple of bad chips. 31 putts in total.
Previous personal best was 2 birdies in a round.
Glenview West
Hole 1, par 4: driver, hybrid 4 iron, then chip in from about 15 to 20 feet.
Hole 4, par 3: 8 iron, about 120 yard, putt from about 15 feet.
Hole 6, short par 4: driver, 3/4 swing pitching wedge, putt from 4 or 5 feet.
Hole 7, par 3：8 iron again, putt from 2 feet, gimme range.
However, the other holes did not go that well, with 5 pars, 6 bogies, and 3 double bogies, leading to 80, just one short to break 80.
9 green in regulation, but 1 3-putts, and a couple of bad chips. 31 putts in total.
Struggling with pull / hooks
I have applied tour tempo golf to all clubs for a couple of rounds and several range sessions. The results were more consistent, but now I tend to pull or hook with almost all clubs, especially fairway woods, except for driver, which tends to draw.
I figured that there is too much hand action than body turn, or I started down swing with hand rather than lower body while trying to do "swing set through ". So I spent a couple of range sessions to make corrections. It seems to work, at least pull is less severe for fairway woods and irons. however, driver shots go more straight now, or even fade / push occasionally.
I figured that there is too much hand action than body turn, or I started down swing with hand rather than lower body while trying to do "swing set through ". So I spent a couple of range sessions to make corrections. It seems to work, at least pull is less severe for fairway woods and irons. however, driver shots go more straight now, or even fade / push occasionally.
Friday, May 17, 2013
2013 Golf Season Notes
2013 golf season started a little late, at the end of March. So far I have played about 8 or 9 rounds. The first round was at Crooked Tree, and it was terrible, with almost every part of my game in a bad shape. If I recorded my score correctly, it would be around 100...
The next weekend at Glenview was pretty good, amazingly in low 80s. Every part of game seemed to be back to normal, except that I kept pulling fairway woods. Then a week later, it was in low 90s again.
So far, I had about 2 good rounds in low 80s, 3 bad ones in 90s, and others in between. The problem is inconsistency: pull for fairway woods and irons, and sometimes fat shots or off-center hit of irons.
While trying to fix these problems, I found my driver was relatively more consistent than other clubs. Why is that? Driver used to be the most difficult club for me... The reason is that I have applied "tour tempo golf" only to driver, but not to other clubs yet, thinking that I need distance more than accuracy for driver, but for other clubs, I need accuracy more than distance. This is probably a miss. Maybe I should apply it to all clubs.
With this idea in mind, I tried it out at the range (Crooked Tree), and it seems to be working. Another tip to myself, extend the arms, and a little more upright backswing.
Will test it out in a round at Glenview tomorrow...
The next weekend at Glenview was pretty good, amazingly in low 80s. Every part of game seemed to be back to normal, except that I kept pulling fairway woods. Then a week later, it was in low 90s again.
So far, I had about 2 good rounds in low 80s, 3 bad ones in 90s, and others in between. The problem is inconsistency: pull for fairway woods and irons, and sometimes fat shots or off-center hit of irons.
While trying to fix these problems, I found my driver was relatively more consistent than other clubs. Why is that? Driver used to be the most difficult club for me... The reason is that I have applied "tour tempo golf" only to driver, but not to other clubs yet, thinking that I need distance more than accuracy for driver, but for other clubs, I need accuracy more than distance. This is probably a miss. Maybe I should apply it to all clubs.
With this idea in mind, I tried it out at the range (Crooked Tree), and it seems to be working. Another tip to myself, extend the arms, and a little more upright backswing.
Will test it out in a round at Glenview tomorrow...
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