The Downswing

TheCaddie

TheCaddie

Challenge Tour Pro
Joined
Sep 4, 2014
Messages
529
Visit site
How do you begin yours? I am struggling at the moment with a huge slice with my woods, and I feel like it's because I am coming out to in, and over the top. Which has got me thinking about how I begin my downswing, and I think it's the upper part of my body mostly.

Are there any tips you have for beginning the downswing, and keeping good tempo? Really want to nail a basic, OK, standard swing of my woods to get me onto the fairway, and right now, I just don't have it!
 
Like you I struggle with slice but Pro's told me my problem is getting the face back at impact as I am in to out.

Mark Crossfield does a good video on youtube about feeling as if the club drops down in backswing to swing in to out- if you let it drop it's almost impossible to get out to in
 
Exactly the same problem that I have been having recently, a weak cut with the woods off the tee. I had a brilliant lesson yesterday, where trackman stats confirmed the pro's assertion that I was out to in. We worked on a much bigger shoulder turn for me, then starting a downswing with a feeling of a drop of the club into an inside path to the ball. He left it up to me to work out what feels best, either a drop of the right elbow into the downswing, or a brush of the top of the left arm against the chest; either to attack from in to out.
 
I am dropping my arms, but feel like I am not clearing the club very well if that makes sense? Also feel like I am a bit too tense. Hence why I was mentioning how to kickstart the downswing, so I can clear the club.

Got a lesson tonight, so let's see what he says. I am probably completely wrong, and that's what I am finding frustrating at the moment. I have not played long enough to be know what I am doing wrong sometimes.
 
bumping the hips to the left once you finish your back swing should give you the room to drop the club inside.

Most who come OTT don't have much lateral movement and just unwind from the top.
 
What you feel you do and what you actually do can often be quite different. I wouldn't confuse matters now, see what you find out in your lesson first.
 
The big toe !...on the left foot for me as i'm a righty.

at the top of the swing i push the left big toe down like a switch, which then triggers the left leg, hip torso and finally shoulders.


There a chris ryan vid on youtube that shows a drill with a wedge under the right heel, if the club falls before impact it means you've spun out early, something i'm going to try as i'm suffering the 'pulls' of late
 
Jimaroid said:
What you feel you do and what you actually do can often be quite different. I wouldn't confuse matters now, see what you find out in your lesson first.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree!! It's what prompted me for the lesson in the first place, as I am tearing my hair out with it atm. Had my best ever round a few weeks back, and then since then, nothing is working!
 
the old books I've read - specifically those by Harry Vardon and Henry Cotton - don't mention much at all about the technique of the swing - plenty on grip, stance, address - and then just swing it. Tommy Armour talks a bit more on the swing - but more on backswing letting downswing take care of itself. Hogan certainly covers initiation of the downswing but very much in reference to the 'big elastic band fixed to you hip' that is stretched during your backswing hip-turn.

My lessons at moment are focussed on getting the backswing and position at top of backswing sorted - and it seems that if I get that right then the downswing seems to look after itself - as long as I don't force it from the top. And any forcing for me tends to come about if I get the backswing wrong.
 
ScienceBoy said:
I begin mine with a well practiced address position and alignment.

All my poor swings result from there and rarely anywhere else.
Click to expand...

What is your address position / alignment routine?
Im new to the game and I'm having alignment problems, I've got a lesson tomorrow, so hopefully I can get a good pre shot routine.
 
TheCaddie said:
How do you begin yours? I am struggling at the moment with a huge slice with my woods, and I feel like it's because I am coming out to in, and over the top. Which has got me thinking about how I begin my downswing, and I think it's the upper part of my body mostly.

Are there any tips you have for beginning the downswing, and keeping good tempo? Really want to nail a basic, OK, standard swing of my woods to get me onto the fairway, and right now, I just don't have it!
Click to expand...

I found this video very helpful. Hope the link works - if not it is by golfconfidencepro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=WL&feature=player_detailpage&v=jlxqjavxdjA
 
I created a thread today about how I was cured of mine last night. I put in details of the fixes too. Worth trying out.
 
BrianM said:
What is your address position / alignment routine?
Im new to the game and I'm having alignment problems, I've got a lesson tomorrow, so hopefully I can get a good pre shot routine.
Click to expand...

Lots of work with alignment sticks following 3 lessons on it.

I don't recall having any lesson in a long time on my swing except for the takeaway, its always alignment and posture. I usually mess myself up trying to adjust my swing when I actually should be adjusting my setup.

I just let the swing come naturally now, apart from the takeaway bit, there its just about getting the hands working away correctly. From there the rest just seems takes care of itself.
 
The 'zipper away drill' worked well for me. Picture a clockface with 12 as the target line and your body facing 3. Now at the top of the backswing, bump your zipper (trouser zipper that is/fly) towards 10:30 on that imaginary clockface, essentially sliding the hips to create room for your arms to drop in to, and simply swing.

It helped me immensely with curing an over the top downswing.
 
Had this very same problem myself lately and eventually figured out I was going to far on the back swing then bringing the club down over my right shoulder which forced an out-in swing path causing a masseeeve slice and I mean massive, this thing was like 100yds foward and then took a right turn and ended up on a different fairway altogether most of the time if not completely o.o.b !...:smirk:
 
I am trying to shorten my swing from something that is too long and results in a head rise. When it's good I can stop before the horizontal and can feel the hips bump to the left as a start. When it goes wrong any bone in the body may start it, especially if it's too long and too quick
 
Turns out it was 90% grip. I'd unknowingly changed it, and quite significantly. It made a phenomenal difference, and whilst I was still out to in a little bit and need to work on that, I hit maybe 1 or 2 slices, most went straight, and if I messed it up, they went left.

Was incredibly refreshing and cant wait to play on Sunday!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
First comp
Replies
12
Views
1K
kp17
kp17
Orikoru
I Am Terrible In The Wind And I'm Sick Of It
6 7 8
Replies
145
Views
10K
patricks148
patricks148
D
Set shrinkage.
2 3 4
Replies
75
Views
7K
Golf is fun
G
A
Memberships in Hampshire / Surrey
2
Replies
29
Views
3K
AngeloD
A
T
Hypermobile elbows anyone?
Replies
4
Views
1K
#NotTigerWoods
N
Top