The wonders of video.

[theeaglehunter]

Having seemingly overnight developed a bout of inconsistency I today decided to record myself using my phone to try and discover what has changed since I last looked at my swing, and indeed since yesterday when everything was great. Well it was obvious that a number of faults have crept in including a very active head, an overswing and a very wristy take away all problems contributing to my bout of pushes / draws with my irons. Having addressed these points 1 by 1 on the range, after my 9 holes, towards the end of the session I was back on form and striking it brilliantly- I suppose I should have recorded the good swing for future reference but I was to happy with hitting balls on the range at that stage!

I therefore have two questions:

1) How can faults devlop seemingly overnight ?

2) Has anybody else used a video to get themselves out of a rut of form? I now intend to do this more regularly to keep an eye on different parts of my swing that tend to go wrong. I know I am no pro but even to my untrained eye some faults are obvious and easy enough to fix.

I just hope they don't come back tomorrow...

 

[USER1999]

Yes, I often video my swing, and yes, faults can creep in in ten minutes, let alone over night.

 

[Down_The_Middle]

I had a similar thing happen to me. Had been cracking the ball well,then all of a sudden started to get a bad fade-slice going.Went down the range today and hit everything well. I blame the cold weather.

 

[TonyN]

yes, I often video my swing. Have put it up a few times.

More often than not though I can feel the mistake myself

 

[ademac]

I got a nice new video camera for crimbo and my regular playing partner and I have convinced my younger brother to film a whole round(only the shots,not the walking in between!) It'll be good to watch just for a look at what others see when I play, if nothing else it should be a bit of fun!

 

[Robobum]

Video is great for spotting things and for ensuring the "adjustments" you make are correct and not just ingraining another fault.

Even pros at the very top develop a swing fault during a round, a quick trip to the range with their coach post round and they are right back on it (generally)

 

[HTL]

Whenever I can drag HID to the range with me I record my swing, its a great method to improve your game.

Any chance you can put your video up mate?

TonyN you got a new video with your new sexy sticks.

 

[RichardSanderson]

I have video analysis during each lesson. This enables the pro to point out where you are going wrong instead of relying on you visualizing it in your mind. My bad habit is to let the club head to go slightly wide on the downswing resulting in an unwanted fade.

As a result the pro can then give me drills to practice in the range.

Aside from the video, a mirror goes a long way too. I try not to practice at a range that doesn't have mirrors.

 

[theeaglehunter]

Whenever I can drag HID to the range with me I record my swing, its a great method to improve your game.

Any chance you can put your video up mate?

TonyN you got a new video with your new sexy sticks.

I suppose I can stick one on youtube- like I said it was whilst I was swinging with a number of random faults so don't expect much

 

[theeaglehunter]

I have just stuck the video on youtube, don't laugh to much- I have now eradicated a few of the faults. I was trying to hit a draw hence the slightly over active wrists/ lack of extension 'through' the ball and closed club face at the top. . The shot actually worked out well- it was one of my better executions during the round!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V_8XW4YLAss

I am however open to criticism so that I can then record and post my swing on a better day and prove you all wrong

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Eaglehunter

That didn't look too bad although the only criticism I would have is that your posture seems very upright. I think you may benefit from more flex in your legs which I have found in the past is a root cause of my lateral head movement. Apart from that pretty solid.

I get my swing videoed every time I have a lesson and the pro uses software to draw lines onto clips to illustrate points and positions and mails thwm after each lesson so I can build up a reference library and look back over them.

My wife often films me at the range as well and I can normally see very easily where the problem lies. That said I am getting very close to a solid repeatable swing now and I can feel very acutely and see from finish positions and the way I strike through the ball what has gone wrong. I can tell when I have come too far inside and had to come OTT and can feel my hands coming across the line or feel my hips rotate out too early both resulting in high short fades/slices.

I can also feel when I have swung too far and got trapped on the way through and had to get overactive with my hands and can feel at impact whether I have rolled them over and know straight away if it will hook.

It is great knowing my swing so well. The only downside is it is one thing knowing what the fault is, but it is another to make sure it doesn't happen.

 

[Macster]

I agree, you do look very upright ? Are you very tall ? If so, have you considered extending your clubs ?

Only other thing I noticed, and I add I'm no coach, is the rather interesting head movement you have ?

Try and keep your head completely still over the ball, and looking at the ball, right thru your takeaway and backswing, and only letting your right shoulder push your head through as you impact the ball.

Mind you, that may just cause you a whole lot more issues then !

 

[theeaglehunter]

I agree, you do look very upright ? Are you very tall ? If so, have you considered extending your clubs ?

Only other thing I noticed, and I add I'm no coach, is the rather interesting head movement you have ?

Try and keep your head completely still over the ball, and looking at the ball, right thru your takeaway and backswing, and only letting your right shoulder push your head through as you impact the ball.

Mind you, that may just cause you a whole lot more issues then !

If you read what I have written previously I am well aware of the head fault and others! I have always done it when trying to hit a draw for some reason but I don't know why! I'm not one to usually shape shots so it doesn't usually bare its head (no pun intended! )

I don't really want this post to become a critique of my swing which i have mentioned was poor today- I will post again with a decent swing and then become open to more detailed advice. This is about the positive impacts of video through recording my swing so I can see the faults you and I have mentioned. I only really posted the video as HTL asked me to lol!

In terms of having longer clubs I am 6ft 2" and have custom fitted irons + 1/4".

I will however consider how upright I am, and try and flex my legs more like homer suggested. To be honest I never remember being that upright anyway, but I accept it is an issue! My last video lesson was in the summer and I certainly wasn't then, and other than that I had a lesson in October when this wasn't pointed out so I think it may be a new fault worth addressing.

 

[andiritchie]

Whats wrong with standing upright your tall and most modern swings the player stands more upright.

Your swing looks alright,your head moves but thats just how you do it,forcing your head still will limit your turn so that will take shed loads of work.

Good swing plane going back as you said you where hitting a draw you should extend to where you want the ball to start,its looks like you hitting a cut.

You dont need over-active wrists to draw the ball you just need extend through the starting line and hit with a square face it will draw

 

[HTL]

Looks much more relaxed and controlled to mine, I like it, don't know what it is but your leg movement looks a little odd?

What you playing off?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It wasn't meant as a critique of the swing but an obeservation tied into your earlier comments. If you were having an off day then I wouldn't really worry and put it down to a bad day at the office. There are many ways to swing the club and get results (Daly, Furyk etc) so if it is working regularly then go with it.

 

[theeaglehunter]

no problem Homer! I understand all of you will only be trying to comment with the best of intentions. So cheers for the feedback guys. I will post another video at some point where all feedback will be welcomed and acknowledged, it is just this wasn't the intention of the thread!

HTL, I play off 21 but my worst round in the last while has been 16 over so I am due for a cut when the competitions start!