Swing advice please?

[golf_bug]

I have been playing for about a year and play off 17. My bad shot these days is a snap hook. In fact, the majority of my shots start straight and drift left, though not dramatically. I had a lesson with the club pro last week and he identified my problem as casting i.e. I am releasing the club too early and letting the club head get ahead of my hands, hence it is closed slightly at impact.
I have been trying like crazy ever since to maintain some 'lag' in my downswing, but I am having very inconsistent results and I'm not sure I am actually achieving it.
I have attached some swing vids (taken in my back garden!!!!) for a 5 iron and a driver. Can anyone tell me if I am getting this 'lag' better? Has anyone any drills for this? Is there anything else technically I should be working on?
Thanks in advance!
Rich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuJoBc-cSXs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tj-2gTsgmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2U3nh5WQPQ

 

[Adjani]

Thats a very solid swing, what cure did the club pro suggest ? because to be honest, thats not too hard to fix.

I prefer not to give direct swing advice, but you and your pro should be looking at impact postion and how to achieve it.

That a very good swing and if your short game is ok, once you improve your striking that handicap will fall fairly quickly i suspect.

 

[golf_bug]

The pro didn't give me a fix really. He said my case was a bit 'unique' as it looks like I am leting the club head get way ahead of my hands, but somehow I catch up at impact. However, he said I am losing power by not maintaining the lag. Its frustrating as I'd like to know a drill so that I can get the sensation for wha I should be doing, but he said it was more about 'feel'.

 

[bobmac]

That is a very good swing.I see no evidence of an early release any more.
The next time you got to practice, try hitting some easy 7 irons and focus on keeping your weight on the INSIDE of your left foot at the end of the swing and try and reduce the 'REVERSE C'
Have you heard the phrase 'Turn inside the gate'?

 

[golf_bug]

Hi Bob
No never heard that phrase before.
Also, looking at the video myself it looks like my spine is titled forward a bit instead of back? Thats messed up right!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I don't actually see to much wrong with that. I wouldn't get too caught up with technicalities like lag as it can mess other things up (take it from who knows). If the majority start straight and drift left that sounds like a soft draw and a nirvana for many on here.

My bad shot is a snap hook but my swing is nowhere near as textbook as yours and mine is caused by an over rotation of the arms through impact brought about by my change in height during the swing (I posted my swing a while back and it wasn't pretty)

 

[bobmac]

This is the position I am a bit concerned about.

Imagine you are standing in a gate that is the width of your stance.

Try and turn inside the gate and dont smack your left hip against the gate on the downswing and feel the weight on the inside of your left foot at the end of your swing

 

[Adjani]

Its not messed up, just a neutral position, try sliding your hips towards the target a few inches at address, this will naturally tilt the spine backwards slightly, giving you a reverse "K"

I dont agree with the "feel" thing from your pro.

Dont search too hard for the answer to this though, it will come, and you wouldnt want to mess up what you already have, which is a simple, tidy and efficient swing.

Bob, can you freeze the frame at impact, face on with the 7 iron ?

 

[bobmac]

7 iron face on as requested

 

[andiritchie]

Not a bad swing there mate.

Looks a bit like Jonny Miller

 

[Adjani]

Thanks Bob, hands look ok, ahead at impact.

As you noted Bob, the reverse "C" through the downswing and at impact is not great.

For me, its some impact drills to get the feeling of driving through the ball and noting the body position when doing that.

 

[golf_bug]

Guys thanks so much for your time and comments - sounds like it ain't too shabby after all!
I tend to get too absorbed with the technical aspect of the swing and if I just relax a bit more I'd probably be more consistent.

Bob - I have never seen the 'gate' before but I can see where you are coming from. I tend to sway too much to my left on my downswing as a result of being told previously to clear my hips. Cure one problem and another arises!!!!!

 

[Adjani]

golf bug, try driving/powering to your left side using the right foot, rather than swaying there.

If you watch the 5 iron swing again face on, you`ll notice you start the move into the downswing by collapsing the right knee, which throws you into the reverse "C" shape.

You load up on the right thigh at the top of the backswing, use that coiled power to drive back off the right foot through the downswing. It will take some practice and timing, but you should see an improvement in the quality of the ball striking.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[The23rdman]

I don't wish to be contrary, guys, but that isn't Golf_bug's swing. It's his practice swing. I've almost never seen a swing with a golf ball in the way that looks the same as a practice swing.

Even getting some video of you hitting a sponge or air ball will do, but you have to be hitting something.

 

[Smiffy]

I don't wish to be contrary, guys, but that isn't Golf_bug's swing. It's his practice swing. I've almost never seen a swing with a golf ball in the way that looks the same as a practice swing...

I hate to say it but I do tend to agree.
My golf swing without a ball sitting in front of me is a thing of beauty, smooth, powerful, and with a beautifully balanced follow through.
In fact, without a ball in front of me, I play off scratch.

Put a ball down in front of me and ask me to swing the same way??? No chance.

The only guys I see swing anywhere near the same with or without a ball are the really good, single figure golfers.

 

[golf_bug]

Smiffy/23rd man

I agree with what you are saying - a practise swing aint the real thing! I just wanted some general advice on things I could improve and the posts so far have been very helpful.
I think the main difference when you have a ball in front of you is tempo as being relaxed goes out the window. The technical problems in my golf swing are the same regardless of whether there is a ball in front of me, but I agree they may become more exaggerated. The 'reverse C' which others have pointed out is a good example - I had no idea this was a bad thing, but now I know its something I can work on.

 

[The23rdman]

Smiffy/23rd man

I agree with what you are saying - a practise swing aint the real thing! I just wanted some general advice on things I could improve and the posts so far have been very helpful.
I think the main difference when you have a ball in front of you is tempo as being relaxed goes out the window. The technical problems in my golf swing are the same regardless of whether there is a ball in front of me, but I agree they may become more exaggerated. The 'reverse C' which others have pointed out is a good example - I had no idea this was a bad thing, but now I know its something I can work on.

That's not necessarily true, mate. I have a fault that creeps into my real swing that I can keep out of my practice swing. Yes, it's down to tension and tempo, but it's still a fundamental fault. Just hit a foam ball and you'll get much more usable answers.

 

[bobmac]

Even getting some video of you hitting a sponge or air ball will do, but you have to be hitting something.

I'm afraid I dont agree. I agree that a practice swing is seldom the same as the real swing, but I've seen enough over the years to guess golfbugs' real swing will be faster and his leg drive will be a bigger slide giving an even bigger reverse C.
His backswing will be even longer so his his arms will be late coming through getting his hands trapped behind him. This will cause the block or the flip (snap hook)
But as most folk know, without actually standing with and watching someone swing and hit the ball, all we can do is suggest drills which might help.
I would suggest you have a playing lesson with a pro and let him see your down and dirty swing
Good luck and good swing btw

 

[RGDave]

Have you ever seen the video (now dvd) "Lessons with Leadbetter. ~#1.?

In the video, he has a pupil called "Bill" (or something) and your swing reminds me of Bill before the lessons and drills Leadbetter gets him to do...

See if you can find it, or I might be able to dig it out and send it to you.

As bob is on board I'm not commenting....

To my eyes (and I DID watch if frame by frame) I can only see pushes/hooks when it goes wrong.....could be good though.

 

[golf_bug]

Have you ever seen the video (now dvd) "Lessons with Leadbetter. ~#1.?

In the video, he has a pupil called "Bill" (or something) and your swing reminds me of Bill before the lessons and drills Leadbetter gets him to do...

See if you can find it, or I might be able to dig it out and send it to you.

RGDave
Thanks for your comment. Not seen the Leadbetter vid and there doesn't seem to be any links on the web. If you could send it to me that would be great.