Rebuilding the swing

[krokodil]

After playing golf for the best part of 20yrs I've decided to overhaul the swing.
I played great last year and came down 5shots, but each and every time I played I never, ever felt I was releasing the club, and my ball striking is worse than when I played off 18 many moons ago.
After a few lessons with different teachers, I'm in no mans land trying to hit a mechanical shot. So the upshot is that i'm foregoing comps and booked in a batch of lessons and hopefully get something that not only will work but will feel good.
All a bit risky but, more than anything, I want to be happy with my swing and ball striking.

 

[bobmac]

Have you got a video of your swing?

 

[krokodil]

Bob,

I'll dig one out I done last year!

 

[ev123uk]

I'm going through a similar process although its lasting some time! i came down from 12 to 8 pretty rapidly summer of 2007 mainly through a streaky putting streak as much as anything else. I the played like a drain trough the early part of last year and deceided to see a pro recommeneed to me to try and get some fundementals in my golf swing in an effort to become a more consistent ball striker as ive always had a shot that goes way...and i mean way...left.

12 months on now and i feel i have become the most mechanical golfer ever! at times its a struggle to pull the club back as i have so many swing thoughts. I do go through spells of holes where i hit it great but i'm struggling to put a round together big time. I am still playing comps and my handicap is rising point one a week but i feel if i dont test this under some sort of pressure as i go along theres little point in it all.

I know i'm doing the right thing but it is difficult mentally to constantly post scores you know your capable of beating plus the constant scoffing you get from other "golfers" regarding your lessons being a waste of time but i'm deteremined to stick it out even if ti means going up a shot or two in the process first.

Good luck with your journey!

 

[krokodil]

cheers mate. Sounds like you're in the same place as me. I ended last year playing to about 8, yet utterly demotivated by my swing and ball striking.
I sent Bob a couple of videos of my swing, and when I look at them I totally cringe because as an amateur I see how poor some aspects are.

I played two comps this year and played to 15-16, my striking was just horrible. If I have some mechanics going forward I can live with it as long as they're the right mechanics, and I'm having faith that over time the fluency will kick in and I'll hit through the ball as I should!

Glad you're sticking with it mate, keep me informed on your progress!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think Faldo and Seve showed how difficult it can be to rebuild a swing and for it to flow naturally afterwards. I've great admiration for what you're doing. I went through a similar process three years ago from a very upright (Montyesque c 2000) swing. It was a winter of real heartache and misery and some rounds I couldn't even break 100. Now although my swing isn't text book it is a repeatable action and I know what my stock bad shots are and their causes. I'm working on my short game as that has been my achilles heel and once that slots into place I'm looking to get back down to 12 this year and hopefully 10 or lower next.

Keep at it and more importantly keep the faith in both the teachings of your pro and your ability to get it right.

 

[krokodil]

Cheers Homer, I know it's going to be a dark time and the pro has said as much, but I figure if I want to play another 20yrs the way I swing will not give me or my back much enjoyment. Hopefully I can send Bob a vid of something that doesn't induce quite as much disgust!

Obviously you found it hard, but you persevered. I've seen your swing, and from what I saw it looks like you clip the ball very nicely.

I just have to have faith in my ability and that of the pro...here's hoping!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I do hit the ball reasonably well. I'm not long as I lose some power in the loss of spine angle but it repeats and I know what the bad shot is. I've been out in +3 gross in the last three competitive rounds so its coming together. I just need to find a way of holding it together coming home.

My advice would be to try and avoid going for what is perceived to be a textbook and picture perfect swing but find something that is simple and functional. The less parts to the swing and the less mechanical you can make it the easier it is to find a temporary fix during a competitive round to get it round and the simpler it is to fix on the range.

 

[dandpl]

After playing golf for the best part of 20yrs I've decided to overhaul the swing.
I played great last year and came down 5shots, but each and every time I played I never, ever felt I was releasing the club, and my ball striking is worse than when I played off 18 many moons ago.
After a few lessons with different teachers, I'm in no mans land trying to hit a mechanical shot. So the upshot is that i'm foregoing comps and booked in a batch of lessons and hopefully get something that not only will work but will feel good.
All a bit risky but, more than anything, I want to be happy with my swing and ball striking.

Hi there

After ten years or so I got to 9 handicap and did the same tried to find a way to get better.... lessons...hit a draw not a fade etc etc etc worked hard at it over the years but went up to 14. Had more lessons worked harder at practice etc etc etc...

Finally about a year ago it dawned on me that when I relaxed and played "my" golf it all started to come together.

We are not all the same Trevino V Player. I think Pro lessons are great and would advocate them fully but do,nt lose what you have! Also you must find a pro you can trust and work with. (they are not all the same).

I do not think I have wasted my time. I am now a better golfer than before but there were a couple of rough years in there.

Good luck whatever you decide to do>

dandpl

 

[krokodil]

I think the trust in the pro is the biggest thing. This guy spotted a few things which I knew myself and he has great enthusiasm. Time will tell I guess.

So did you get the hcp back down to 9?

 

[Faldo_Fan]

As i guy who's had many many lessons and suffered the dark times you speak of....all i'd say is...keep the faith!
You have to trust what your pro is saying.....the changes will come good.

 

[ev123uk]

Hi, Hope the swing changes are going OK? I feel mine are coming along OK to the point where i at least feel i can be competitive again off 9. I'm also thinking more about the shot at hand rather than fundemenatls in take away etc which hopefully means i'm starting to enbedd some of the new stuff. I'm really focusing on swing tempo and grip pessure too now as i feel the longer i take preparing to play a shot, the tenser i get which leads to an inevitable hook.

Just became a dad 1 week ago though so the golf is taking a back seat for a while! (well ...at least a week anyway!!)