change or stick

[clubchamp07]

Ok for anyone who knows me on here will know I dont have a very attractive swing. It has been said to me many times over the years that I have alot of movement during my ball striking. Question is at 43 yrs old, do I try to change it or do I go with what I've got. My handicap is is 2.5. have been down to 1.5 and I play quite well. Consistency is really my big problem, I could hit a green with a 3 wood from 220 yds out then miss a short shot with my wedge. I play mostly for enjoyment. I love chipping around greens making shots up, to save par. I can hold my own. I'm never going to have a world class swing or swing it like Tiger, so should I stick with what I've got or should I try and get lessons to swing it like the top guys?

 

[JustOne]

...... POP!


That's the sound of a can of worms opening!

Are you trying to get your h/cap lower? have a better swing for the sake of others? have a better swing for your own peace of mind?

 

[thecraw]

100% stick with what you already have in my opinion. Look at Furyk, Darcy etc.

Whoes to say that your swing is not correct anyway?

Playing off 2 you clearly do something correct so stick with it. Short game master is a great skill to have.

 

[JT77]

if it aint broke..... I have a good looking swing and play off 12(11.5) atm, I'd happily have a Furyk esq swing and get down to low single figures!

I play with a guy in England who plays cack handed and it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen, but he has no desire to change, he is off 12 also, but believes that he can get lower even with this abnormal swing!

I guess you have to ask yourself, Do you want to? are you prepared to play poorly for a little while till you get it right? Do you have the time to do it?

If you choose to, good luck!

 

[bobmac]

I dont have a very attractive swing.

Just buy some new clubs

Seriously.......
Find out what causes your miss and work away gently at that.
You obviously dont need major swing surgery and any change will take a long long time to settle in.
Good rhythm is always important to improving your consistency at your level.

 

[Robobum]

I am in exactly the same sort of boat, short backswing, over the top movement and a little pull cut for everything.

Saw it on video for the first time on Monday and it was not pretty. Do I committ time and effort to making it look nice or do I carry on playing and enjoying getting round a golf course with what i've got??

100% in favour of going with what i've got, when it's "on" I can shoot in the 60's and when it's off it is still only high 70's, can't remember the last time I shot more than 79.

I can live with that, rather than spending x amount of months not knowing where the ball is heading as i try to reshape a swing of a creaky guy approaching his 40s.

 

[bobmac]

If your over the top hitting a pull cut, you would need to change your swing path, swing plane and probably your grip too.
Very very difficult and you might not ever break 70 again.

 

[Fyldewhite]

I've had the same thoughts. Got down to 5 with what I have. Never had a lesson, horrible strong grip, quick swing, low flight etc etc. Decided that I would probably have to play awful for a couple of years to make the changes I would need and at my time of life (47) can't justify doing that. Bottom line is that I enjoy my golf, have no ambition to get to scratch, never thought I'd get to category 1 to be honest and I'm likely to be of a good standard for years to come. So why bother? It's my hobby not my living.

 

[Smiffy]

Played with two Belgian guys in France last year. One was a scratch player, the other one off 5. The 5 handicapper played with a "cack handed" grip and hit the ball miles, and straight.
I'd have gladly swapped my text book swing for his

 

[Golfman]

I'd echo the stick with what you have comments.

Having worked hard on my game for a while it can be purgatory whilst major changes are undertaken. I stick at it but now the lessons I have are fine tuning and much more acceptable and less of an effort to incorporate.

Perhaps a short game lesson or two would be a better option than a major overhaul, especially if your shots tend to be lost round the green. This tactic is certainly paying off for Lee Westwood who has been working hard on his short game recently.

 

[Leftie]

I'd have gladly swapped my text book swing for his

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Stick why change if you can play good golf as it is. Maybe do a few minor tweaks here and there but dont change the full swing.

 

[clubchamp07]

Cheers guys, I went out today and just gripped it and ripped it. To hell with all that perfect swing stuff, I dont think it's for me. I was level for 18 holes today, was 1 under through 9 but had a few miss happs. Thanks again I'll stick with what I've got and enjoy it.

 

[Robobum]

If your over the top hitting a pull cut, you would need to change your swing path, swing plane and probably your grip too.
Very very difficult and you might not ever break 70 again.

Cheers Bob

For sale: All the clubs as listed belowin my signature!!

Wanted: Set of Crown Green Bowls!!

 

[bobmac]

Wanted: Set of Crown Green Bowls!!

These could be right up your strasse

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's pretty apparent my swing will never be textbook or anything other than a rocky horror show but it does repeat more times than not so I'm not pursuing the perfect swing. I do need to work on my tempo as that is probably that least main contributor to my bad shots (posture having been addressed - excuse the pun).

I'm still having lessons but I'm focussing this year on nothing further that 120 yards unless I have a real major meltdown and get a dose of the you know whats or a real swing fault. If I can chip and putt and hit my approaches closer then scoring will for the most part take care of itself. I'm not long and not looking for more length but just need to be more consistant off the tee. It'll come and its not how but how many.

 

[USER1999]

Flippin heck smiffy, what text book do you read?

 

[JustOne]

Cheers guys, I went out today and just gripped it and ripped it. To hell with all that perfect swing stuff, I dont think it's for me. I was level for 18 holes today, was 1 under through 9 but had a few miss happs. Thanks again I'll stick with what I've got and enjoy it.

When faced with a similar issue I decided to change. Then I changed back.... and now I've changed again on Jan 1st 2010. The indecision cost me big time, I had a shocking 2009 and injury didn't help. It's coming though, slowly, shot 1 over last month and beaten my h/cap 7 times in March so far.

It's a big change for me as my old swing was shocking, even though I was able to put bat on ball and get the ball in the hole I had a huge move to the right in my swing.

I still fight that move to the right and play like a 28 h/capper sometimes but it's getting better slowly. Only being on the practice ground twice this year hasn't really helped either

One of my buddies plays off 5 and has a swing like a bag of fighting cats, I'd rather have my swing and shoot 150!

Funny how people always mention Furyk when talking about swings with a lot of movement and yet he's pretty normal apart from the way he takes the club to the top. Apparently he brings the club back to the ball more consistently than any other player on tour (although you wouldn't know it after that shank up the last the other day).

Watch this swing whilst only looking at the top of his cap... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTuTrpWCZhU

 

[clubchamp07]

This was taken 2 years ago, not the best video but I was out with my young son. It lets you see the movement in my swing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abt_lwRZeVU

 

[drawboy]

I've seen a heck of a lot worse mate, It depends on your ambitions, do you want to carry on enjoying your game at a level 9/10ths of us will never achieve or do you want to play at + handicap? Only you can answer that and off of your handicap you are savvy enough to know what you have to work on if you do want to play at an elite level and what it takes to achieve it.