Just wanted to share this

[TonyN]

I went through a phase of wanting a perfect looking swing and for a while, I was fixated on getting my right arm higher so my tricep was paralell to the ground at the top of the back swing, like this

My swing works and I was looking out for golfers who swing/swung like i do, with the right elbow tucked in tightly all the way through the backswing. Look who I found

I always disliked the fact that my left arm was so flat, but once I compared the pictures, I came to the conclusion, it doesn't make a blind bit of difference!

 

[minty18]

I think the key is how straight Tigers left arm is.

 

[TonyN]

Something I have a problem with doing naturally. At the range I can think about it. On the course if I do I'm in trouble

 

[minty18]

I've been very consistent lately, breaking 100 whenever i play, i play off 25 now.

My swing feels really grooved and consistent at the moment however........

I've always worried in the past as my swing has changed week by week and now my major concern is that my swing is always a round away from falling to pieces.

Trying to keep postive about the situation at the moment.

 

[TonyN]

Minty do you have lessons? if so how often?

I am playing very consistently now, even in the bad conditions. If i dont score well its because of my course management.

Yesterday I played about 14 holes and I think I was 6 over.

Today about the same and 7 over. No swing thoughts just line up, and play. Having a grooved swing is so essential. If i start to think about anything I am doomed.

The only 1 though I have is, take away wide, everything else just falls ito place from there!

 

[minty18]

I probly have about a lesson a month, but i play with the pro every couple of weeks so get a few pointers.

I struggle with a massive slice for ages which killed my confidence, thats now sorted and the handicaps coming down as a result.

It's looking good for 2009.

 

[TonyN]

As long as the pro is happy with the swing, you should be. Use the range to adjust any mino tweeks you feel you must and just hit balls on the course, no thoughts. I must admit its only in the last couple of months that I have been able to do this!

 

[minty18]

I honestly believe my handicap wil tumble this year. With the slice I was literally hitting 150yds off the tee and aiming miles left. Now i'm hitting 220yds+ fairly straight most of the time.

With a lot of short game practise this year and a bit better course management i think i'll get down to 20 and i'll be delighted with that. The pro is happy with my swing although he does tweak tiny bits of it but this is to get me more distance rather than correcting any major swing faults.

 

[andiritchie]

If you watch Pros swings they drop flatter on the way down,you just do this at the top of your swing,if its good enough for Mr Hogan its good enough for anyone.

Tigers left arm points at the ball,i have spent 15 months practise lessons to do that

Good swing

 

[Herbie]

There is a similarity to tiger in both still images, but a significant difference in ball distance away from feet,not a criticism just observation.

 

[nicksampo]

Probably due to the clubs there using (3 wood vs iron). I had a fairly flat swing August time and that was when I was most consistent, I had less length but I was straighter so if your getting the length its no bad thing! I then had a lesson and the pro got me steeper and to be honest until now my iron play has been terrible! By now I mean today!

I got someone to film swinging and I realised I had a massive overswing, head movement and it all looked abit slow. I then swung to what I thought was less than 3/4 and unwound a bit harder and was hitting it a full 20 yards further and really consitent.

Watching the new swing on film I was swinging to about parrallel to the ground and had a nice rythmn. So happy! sorry to hijack your thread but I had to share this aswell!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Having had my swing dissected on here recently I'm coming to the conclusion that if it ain't fixed... I am making good contact and have a nice shape on the shots and know my distances. I know it may not be textbook with the changes in height but at least it repeats. I plan to go to the range at the weekend and work on a better posture and takeaway/rhythm but we'll see how that pans out.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

All I will say is that there are far more good things going on in Tonys top of the backswing position than poor.

Also comparing to tiger is a bad idea.

We all have our own problems and abilitys so trying to emulate Tiger is mission impossible.

My swing is a long,long way from textbook believe me,went through a stage of county coaching years ago where they said you must do this,get in this position etc but found I ended up in no mans land between where I was and where I was never going to get.

This led to a downward spiral,stopped enjoying the game and I gave up for 6 years.

When I came back it was like having a blank canvas and just worked out a way that works for me but again its not anything like textbook.Tony find what works for you rather than searching for the perfect golf swing is my advice

 

[haplesshacker]

Minty

Well done on your progress, I know you were struggling a bit. What was the break through moment? Lessons, CF etc.

 

[minty18]

thanks hapless.

I'd say a combination of the custom fit and lessons but the biggest breakthrough point was playing in a pro-am.

It tought me how to get my head down, concentrate and how to recover after a bad shot. It's really happening for me at the moment and as i said, i just hope it continues.

 

[TonyN]

Alchemy your dead right and that is the point I am trying to make, doesn't matter what it looks like if it works. I wasn't trying to emulate tigers swing just used his text book picture as an example. I always thought my flat arms would give me problems. I used hogan to demonstrate this doesn't have to be the case.

 

[thecraw]

Its taken me untill last year to figure out my swing for myself and I generally now know what to do to get the ball round and what I'm doing wrong if I am swinging poorly.

I am not as good a golfer as alchemy however I am off single figures. Like alchemy said in another post, if I knew when I was 16/17 (where I was also off of 5) what I know now I would have been a far better golfer.

I only have one swing thought now where in the past I was thinking of club position at takeaway, top, downswing, impact, follow through. Its no wonder I got to the stage where I struggled to even take the club away!!!

Same with putting. I used to be so technical, thinking only of make a great stroke; really concentrated on that "perfect rock the shoulders stroke". Now all i think is hole it, no though goes to the stroke and for me that works better than anything. I have improved my putting no end by doing this, just getting the technical mumbo jumbo out of my heid which is full of budgie seed at the best of times!!!

 

[AlchemyGolf]

your right mate.

a common problem for me over the years is I have trouble clearing my left side.I get a bit closed at address and it all gets a bit in the way of the downswing.

I now aim 15 yards left with my feet but everything else hips,shoulders,clubface are at the target.I now feel I have this huge area to really hit through and extend through the ball.My shape remained as a draw as well when you would probably expect a fade.You can actually see this in the pic below even though I have completed the swing,the line of my toes is in the lake which may seem like madness.I actually watched Fred Couples at set up and thought that might help me with my problem at address,tried it and it worked so done it that way ever since.

 

[RGuk]

It's a great photo and tells a lot....well done!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If I may be so bold.....the reason why your swing works is THIS

So, if your plane is "correct" almost as soon as your start to come down, and stays on line right through impact and out the other side, you don't NEED to change your backswing to get better or more consistent.
All I would say though, is that if you are still flat and were of a mind to set the club a little more upright, your elbow would find it's place higher anyway.....

Take Luke Donald.....

Luke is getting closer and closer to a one plain swing, but no matter how flat he goes (a one plane swing by nature has to be flatter!!) his club is never "outside" of the ball. He is as flat as you can go before breaking this rule (if you believe on the rule).

It's not hard to improve (if you want to) and I reckon you should aim for as close a possible to "ideal" whilst you have enthusiasm to practice.

 

[ricardodaintino]

Quality analysis RGuk, I just learnt something, or should I say remembered something. The Mr X feature in last months issue of GM broke down a lot of basics and reminded me how I've strayed a bit since my early lessons/

So has the above! Fundamentals!!!

Back to the range tomorrow to work on that!