Small Change Big Difference

[User 105]

I think I've mentioned a few times but my driver has been giving me big problems. For about the past 6-8 weeks it's ranged from average, maybe 50% of FIR, to I haven't got a god damn clue where it's going to go. I had back to back rounds where I didn't hit 1 FIR !!

I've been to see the pro a couple of times. The last time about 10 days ago and the changes he's made just haven't been working, despite spending lot of hours on the range working on them. I lost about 100 yards off my distance and I'm still all over the place.

He has been trying to get me to turn my shoulders through the swing more and not let my arms go with them.

I've been getting really frustrated so I spent today just going through google searches and and youtube videos to see if I could work it out.

Everything I was reading and watching seemed to point to me not rotating my hips. What it looks like I've been doing is getting to the top of my swing with a good hip and shoulder turn. I start to transfer my weight and uncoil. BUT I've just been uncoiling my shoulders and not much of my hips.

So that's been restricting my swing and leading to an almost cut off follow through. I just assumed it was me not releasing through the swing and finishing the swing off. When in fact because my hips weren't rotating though it was restricting my follow though.

I went up the range this evening to test my theory and oh my god. I started, as I usually do, with a slower version of the swing to work the change in and absolutely nailed it with no effort in the swing at all. The freedom it's created my making sure I rotate my hips is unreal. This has led to a real hit through the ball and full release, without putting much effort in. My swing just feels sooooo much looser.

I started to gradually ramp up the power and even with the wind in my face and heavy rain I was driving it to the back of the range, which is a good 300 yards.

I know this is only one range session but the change just feels sooo right.

So instead of dreading this weekends round I'm now absolutely gaging for it and can't wait to see if this transitions to the course.

I wish you guys could see the grin on my face right now

And hopefully just in time for the club champs next weekend

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Always good when you make a change and it finally clicks. Went to the range tonight and wasn't hitting it great until I moved fractionally closer to the ball at address. Bingo.

Keep working at it and go out on Saturday and stick with it even if you have a bad round. The problems come when you start chopping and changing on the course and back on the range afterwards. In the end you'll get confused and frustrated. Take it from one that knows.

 

[User 105]

The funny thing is this is so obvious to me now I think about it. I've always had trouble finishing off my swing and it's always felt restricted and forced which causes all sorts of problems.

Just making sure I turn my hips through the swing has just loosened everything up. I don't have to think about the follow through, it just happens

I must have hit 30 drives in a row long and with a gentle draw. Then hit some 8 irons to get out of driver rhythm and then hit another 15. It was just effortless compared to my previous driver swing.

 

[Farneyman]

I started to gradually ramp up the power and even with the wind in my face and heavy rain I was driving it to the back of the range, which is a good 300 yards.

Now thats how I want to hit a ball I am planning to do some practice on the range this winter to work on my distance which I hope will be achieved by slowing my swing down. 300yards, probally not but then again .......

 

[USER1999]

300 yards with range balls is HUGE. Have you measured the range on Google earth, because it sounds short.

 

[steviep]

The funny thing is this is so obvious to me now I think about it. I've always had trouble finishing off my swing and it's always felt restricted and forced which causes all sorts of problems.

Just making sure I turn my hips through the swing has just loosened everything up. I don't have to think about the follow through, it just happens

I must have hit 30 drives in a row long and with a gentle draw. Then hit some 8 irons to get out of driver rhythm and then hit another 15. It was just effortless compared to my previous driver swing.

You have a similar problem to me, where my hips stop turning on the downswing and I get handsy and start flipping the ball left. The main swing thought at the moment is to keep the right hip turning on the downswing and through impact. It worked a treat on the range the other evening, but the important bit is trusting it in the stableford tomorrow.

 

[freddielong]

Headcover under your right arm (if Right handed) drill is perfect for this

 

[User 105]

300 yards with range balls is HUGE. Have you measured the range on Google earth, because it sounds short.

Murph, we have got decent range balls at our place. Expensive, but they are decent.

Just checked google earth and from the bays to back of range is almost bang on 300 yards. Which is a bit worrying as the comp tees on the 17th are just over the bank at the back of the range at about 310 yards according to google earth. But I'd think you'd need to carry that distance as the bank should stop everything else.

tbh, I'm not so worried about the distance it was the accuracy that was the problem. Anything in the 250 region is plenty good enough as far as I'm concerened

Can't wait to get up the range later and see if the change is still in effect. It's been the missing part of my game for a while now. I've been scoring well simply because of my irons and short game. It'll be interesting to see how this effects my scoring playing from the fairways occasionally

 

[Alex1975]

Great post, nice to hear about your big grin, i love it when a plan comes together. Good luck in the champs!