Range Drill FAO Hywell

[HTL]

OK, tried the drill last night and now have a big hook. Was me just swinging like a plonker, its a good drill and I will be trying it again on Friday after I sleep off the hangover form tonights work bash.

 

[TonyN]

Someone give him a Scooby Snack

I know he isn't on a green, just the fact you cant see the tee markers and the area he is standing in looks roundish, and gives the impression of a green with the longish grass behing him.

 

[RGuk]

Why is he teeing off a green. I tried getting the hands higher tonight, wooo too much at once lol.

Don't try......it'll just happen. If you get back to 8-9 o'clock nicely and then set the club well, they'll go up on their own!!!

OK, so Ernie's in white, you're in red.....it's only a smidge to go mate!!!

 

[TonyN]

You think so dave? You think they'll go up on there own with the new drill? I am starting to get used to the new take away but not sure if my arms are any higher.

 

[RGuk]

You think so dave? You think they'll go up on there own with the new drill? I am starting to get used to the new take away but not sure if my arms are any higher.

I'd put a bet on it. Some things in the swing follow one another; as b follows a and c follows b. If you get in good shape at the set, as you turn to the top your arms are certain to find a better place.

Here's another picture for you.

Faldo is the most upright (yellow), then Ernie (white), and then you (red).....

Faldo sets the club (butt end) pointing mid-way between the ball and his feet, Ernie nearer the ball. If you are swinging inside a touch and then flat, as the takeaway settles, your temptation to continue going around yourself (as opposed to lifting, which you need a little) will lessen.

I call it natural physics.....I don't know what a pro would call it.....no idea!!!

 

[TonyN]

Probably the same. Do you think setting the wrists early in the swing would acheive this(not that I am about to try).

Love what you have done with the pics and it also helps me to understand where I need to be.

 

[RGuk]

I'm not sure. My lesson (on Monday) was the first time I have ever discussed how and when to set my wrists. It's always happened at about the right moment but my new guy is the first to spot how "vague" the actual movement is. I have to do lots of wrist cock exercises and work on a fast and deliberate moment.

I've got it right a few times at the range and it's pretty magic.....I was doing 12 wrist cock reps between each 7 iron and then cracking the ball on almost every shot.

 

[TonyN]

Setting the wrists is not something I have ever studied, or worked on, uncocking/unhinging is the first thing I HAD to work on.

Once I get used to my new takeaway, I might bring this up with my pro, see what he thinks about me getting the arms up a bit higher.

 

[RGuk]

The only thing I should say, at this point, is that anyone prescribing to the "one plane" swing will probably not have the same fascination as Faldo (and me) with exact nature of the top of the swing.
Take Vijay for example, he's very close to swinging back and down the same, not as close as Lorena Ochoa (I might add) but damn fine nonetheless.

Here's the man. Sadly, I don't have the top on a still picture.

I can't see him getting his hands as high as Faldo, that would throw everything out surely. Ernie is the best "in-between" for my money.

 

[TonyN]

I'd say. Faldo's looks impossible to me right now, but ernie's doesn't seem too far off.

A few of you guys have said you have tried the drill and keep losing money( i take no responsability) so why dont you try use items that wont fly down the range.

One that come to my mind was cotton. Take a good length of it, and role it up into a ball (x2) and it should stick to the range mat I would imagine. Nice bright colour too so it stands out against the green.

 

[RGuk]

A few of you guys have said you have tried the drill and keep losing money( i take no responsability) so why dont you try use items that wont fly down the range.

I just use or or two wedges with the shafts either side of the ball and pointing 15-20 degrees right.
Hard to believe, but I did this solidly for 2 months in 1995 (ish) and spent two seasons merrily drawing the ball without any fuss....

What I would give for that now.....

 

[RGuk]

I practised a great deal with a "T" in the early days. One club parallel to target in front of my feet and another in between my feet (aimed at the ball).....I then just move my feet to the right for longer clubs.

Here's my pathetic attempt to draw it.

On a range mat, I then take a SW and lay it outside the ball aimed right.

I'm sure if anyone reads this, they'll just laugh, but I have a little story.....

Some of us were lucky enough to play Lytham not long after the 2001 (?) Open. One of the lads (that had scoreboarded) was a good player (off 8 i.i.r.c) but was pulling and slicing. We went to a range up the coast and I got him to hit 100 balls using this drill and the next day, he was straight enough to go round to his h'cap (more or less).

Doesn't really matter how dodgy the swing, if you can learn to come from the inside a bit (3 ball drill, whatever) you'll eventually lose the nasty pulls for good.

 

[TonyN]

Good effort on the drawng dave, Its amazing how many pro's I have seen warming up in this simple way!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As Rolf would say "can you see what it is yet". I have tried that drill but found I got fixated on swinging down the line of the outside club that sub-consciously I'd start getting flatter as I tried to come inside until the only way I could make a swing was to come steeply over the top.

That said I was chasing the elusive draw at the time from a very poor starting position (an already upright swing path) and so it was probably more about me than the concept.

 

[RGuk]

That said I was chasing the elusive draw at the time from a very poor starting position (an already upright swing path) and so it was probably more about me than the concept.

As you say, probably you....sorry M.

The thing is (and I don't need to tell you) that I started this type of drill after generally flattening my swing (one of the first things I did about a year in (1994)).

It's a strange business. I've been working hard now for 3-4 days on my takeaway and set. Although it's not ingrained or even comfortable, what I notice is how easy it is to get the downswing "where I want it" from a good position at the top.

I'm always amazed at how upright swingers (ooh, er) manage to come down so well. Jim F has no trouble at all and Faldo (who is more upright than Vijay or Ernie) was able to choose at will his desired path through the ball.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree entirely Dave. The problem I get is trying to find an equilibrium between too flat and having to come OTT (high fades and slices) or too upright (reverse pivot). When I do get the happy mid point on the range I feel invincible and know where the clubhead is all the way through. Unfortunately it isn't there all the time yet especially on the course where it counts. but as my picture showed I'm nearly on a decent plane. I'd like to get a higher plane but working on quietening the hands through impact, tempo, and less moving parts is more than enought to occupy my tiny golfing brain both at the range and when playing.