Bit of advice please!

[Herbie]

a mate did do one on youtube... one sec, can't access at work but will see if i can get someone to send me the URL.

nigel

Now your course of action seems right to me now oops that was meant for the above post.

 

[jeffc]

There is only 1 option here worth taking and that is GET LESSONS. You will not improve with out them.

Go get the lessons, learn the basics, get the swing right,grooved and settled, then go get properly fit for a driver!

Couldn't agree more, this is basically what I did and haven't looked back although I think the swing is continually developing with new swing thoughts coming up as you develop.
After six months with a fine driver, TM R7 graffaloy stiff shaft 9.5 degree, I was not hitting it any further than my 3 wood and with total inconsistency basically I was not good/fast enough for it.
I went to clays and had a fitting done for a driver where basically I was fitted with a regular red graffaloy shaft 10.5 degree launch MX560 (good deals at the mo as they are discontinuing this driver) and it transformed both my consistency and distance.I also tried the MP600 but again like the R7 I was not good enough for it.
Don't get me wrong a bad shot is still bad but the shots which would be 20yds right or left are now 10 yards off centre. Like Tony IMO / experience I can't reccomend enough that if you have adressed the basics of set up, stance, grip etc with a pro and your swing doesn't have major issues of slice or hook you need the right shaft and launch angle for your speed of swing. BTW I am normally totally anti techno and gadgetry !!!

 

[TonyN]

Interestingly you still play stiff in the woods Jeff, How do you get on with these nowadays?

 

[Cernunnos]

I'm sure the teddy bears are happy...lol

 

[jeffc]

Hi Tony
thought somebody might notice that, I find them fine but just don't seem to be a problem like I had with the driver, the same goes for the irons.
I bought all the woods together when I started playing again but have always struggled with the driver.
Given enough money I would like to CF them all to see if it did make a difference but at the mo my swing has settled down and when I am playing well they all work well. The MP30's I really like.

 

[TonyN]

Do you play your woods off the floor or only a tee?

I wonder if you swing a little quicker with them to compensate for the stiffer shaft. Being more lofted than the driver, I guess they are going to be more forgiving with a wayward swing path.

Do you find this the case?

 

[nmartyn]

ps. i can't get the link to me and some friends playing which is on youtube... but if you look for 'Golf Hainault' or user bennettonix you should be able to find it

let me know if you do!

 

[jeffc]

Do you play your woods off the floor or only a tee?

I wonder if you swing a little quicker with them to compensate for the stiffer shaft. Being more lofted than the driver, I guess they are going to be more forgiving with a wayward swing path.

Do you find this the case?

I tend to use the three from the tee and the five of the deck as it's more consistent. If i play into the wind I'll use the three wood of the deck as it's flight is lower and more penetrating into the wind (can't do a Tiger stinger as yet or ever for that matter).
Wether I swing faster with the three and five wood I don't know but it may be co-incidental as they are so much easier to use.
My swing speed was 90mph which is pretty average and as I said the MX560 custom fitted has transformed my driving it is soooo easy to use and now is much longer than my 3 & 5 woods.

 

[TonyN]

Martyn, I have found the video and it is clear you have a number of faults with your swing. I dont want to sit here and pull you to pieces but it is clear that the basics are not in place.

Just a couple I will mention.

1) your hands are ahead of the club head at address, this imediatley leaves the club face open and will cause a left to right shape.

2) your feet are not aligned correctly, poor balance, poor rotation etc.

3) your left arm is bent on your back swing, total loss of control etc.

O and you throw a club better than you drive a ball just kidding.

I hope you dont take offence at these points but it just kinda backs up the arguement of lessons.

 

[RGuk]

i went into AG last night to get a new grip fitted and mentioned this to them. he took me out on the range and watched me hit a few balls and said that the club/shaft is not suited to my swing/build etc.

he's suggested coming in for a 30min session with him so he can recommend the perfect setup for me, and to be fair Taylor made were next to me in the range doing a demo and he steered me away from them.

just a bit concerned that having spent £120 on my G5 i could be being lined up for another expensive outlay!!

I've not even read most of this thread.....

What shaft do you have in the G5?

I bet it's a fairly normal one, in which case the bloke is talking you into a sale, and f.w.i.w. I don't believe a word of it.

If he'd put you on a launch monitor and discovered some way-off stuff with your swing, then maybe, at a push????

If you've got a regular flex Aldila or similar, the problem is easily rectified.....you've just got to get better.

Now for the rant - NOT AIMED AT YOU.

I really gets my goat the kind if bull that passes the lips of some golf salesman. This whole custom fitting lark makes it too easy for folks to flog new gear suited to their swing "at that time" regardless of whether the player is planning on changing their swing (improving, hopefully) or whatever. You can custom fit any club to make the most of a crap swing, but most golfers want to play/practice/improve/go for lessons and fitting equipment to a swing riddled with faults and inconsistencies should be the last resort for the occasional player who just wants to be the best they can without putting in any hard work or take lessons.

It's like me going into a tailors and saying "I want to look good in a suit" and them tailoring a suit to fit my fat belly and chubby cheeks when what I want to do deep down is get fit and slim then look a millions dollars in something off the rack at Moss Bros.

If a player says "I have no intention of getting better, sell me a £300 driver to fix my excuse for a golf swing" fine, but £50 on two lessons and a couple of months hard work at the range will see any old lump of metal seems like a driver made in heaven.

It took me 3 years SOLID golf to start hitting a driver well, and I suspect it will take me 4 years this time around. I never blame the club.....

 

[jeffc]

Hi nmartyn had a look at your film clip

I am no expert so just a couple of thoughts as you seem to have a good basic swing but you seem to come across the ball hence the slice with your shoulders open when you strike the ball.
try to relax ,When you address the ball for your shot you have really tensed up with both arms straight and tense and pushed away from the body. the right elbow, should be slightly bent.

Have a look at this link it's dead easy http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MN9jqem-POM&feature=related

 

[nmartyn]

how did you know which one was me????

 

[TonyN]

Cause everytime it was your turn, your name came up in big letters

 

[nmartyn]

the guy did tell me i was stretching and leaning into the ball, on my toes and i needed to stand a little closer, rock back more on to the balls of my feet and to 'flatten' my swing a little. this definately helped as did his pointer about making a slight pause at the top of my swing....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Agree with the majority of what has already been said. There are a number of swing faults that are clear from the clip and I strongly advise lessons as the course of action especially over the winter. Now is an ideal time to rework your swing and cure the faults so you can come out next season in the warmer weather and be straight out the traps.

I have to be honest and say I think this guy is smelling a quick sale so I'd keep my credit card under lock and key, go along to the freebie and smile politely and ask any questions you feel pertinent and then thank him for his time and tell him you need to have a think.

 

[MVP]

your not nigel martyn as in Leeds united? ??

 

[jeffc]

IMO as a point of principal do not go just to USE the guy, he is only doing his job.

If you have no intention to buy no matter what he shows you purely to get info on your swing (which by all accounts you plan to change anyway) it would be wrong to behave in this manner.

Sorry only an opinion on correct behaviour seeing as us golfers are always harping on about our sport being the only one left with principals

 

[HomerJSimpson]

jeffc

I'm sorry but I disagree. The guy was wrong yesterday to stop the OP from approaching the TM demo day and at least getting their input so I don't think the honourable thing is cutting both ways. I'm not entirely sure that the info the guy is giving is that accurate (i.e. the thing about size and weight being the reason the R shaft is too whippy - I thought it came down to swing speeds and kick points) and I just get a sense of him usng the fitting process as a salew lure.

I may be wrong and I hope the OP comes on here later and gives us the full SP.

 

[jeffc]

Hi Homer
agree 100% with what you say about the sales pitch, I'm just saying don't lower yourself to their level.

Also the ruthlessness of the sales people I think is sometimes matched by the purchasers in the sense they use the facility to get the info they want and then bugger off to buy it on ebay. I don't blame the retailers for charging for a fitting which is only refundable if the customer buys.

 

[Herbie]

Martyn, I have found the video and it is clear you have a number of faults with your swing. I dont want to sit here and pull you to pieces but it is clear that the basics are not in place.

Just a couple I will mention.

1) your hands are ahead of the club head at address, this imediatley leaves the club face open and will cause a left to right shape.

2) your feet are not aligned correctly, poor balance, poor rotation etc.

3) your left arm is bent on your back swing, total loss of control etc.

O and you throw a club better than you drive a ball just kidding.

I hope you dont take offence at these points but it just kinda backs up the arguement of lessons.

What I noticed along with your comments Tony(and I agree with them) is (as is common) the practice swing is much better than any swing on the ball hes doing. Also I believe he is reaching out too far at address which adds to the lost balance. His natural way of swinging is seen in his relaxed practice swing, thats the swing he needs to use and grow with, if he doesnt take the advice of lessons he may well find himself with a mule of a game, dont you think?