What/How Did You Practice Today?

[RickyBobby_PR]

50 minutes ago, Jnoble89 said:

Got back on the range today to work more on long irons and woods. Started out really struggling but then hit the reset button and tried to really focus on slowing down my tempo. I tried to be more deliberate in my backswing, "feel" a pause at the top, and be deliberate starting the downswing. This helped me to start making better contact. Early extension, as you'll clearly see, is still an issue as I don't do a very good job rotating my hips. I also am sure I am coming in too steep. I got some slo-mo on a few videos that I am posting here. One is a 6 iron that I actually made very good contact with and hit it arguably the best I've maybe ever hit that club. I also got a driver of again a good strike and as good as I can currently hit it, and a toe miss with the driver that resulted in a push fade. As always, I am open to feedback and constructive criticism. For whatever reason, the link won't embed for the 6i shot, but it is there above the driver.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-NrxlyJek_o?feature=share

 

typical things most of us amateurs do wrong. Arms are driving ten backswing instead of the chest and core.

Wrists have no vertical set and the swing is flat as well. You have what is considered a false turn because your hips are working the opposite of what they should be doing. Right hip is moving toward the ball in the backswing and left hip is doing it in the downswing. It should be left hip back in backswing and right hip back in downswing.

Because of the wrists, flat swing and how the hips are moving you get steep in transition and have to early extend to create room and to hit the ball.

Your shots are going to be inconsistent and will depend on how well you can time the hands up with the swing to make contact.

You need to learn proper takeaway and backswing. Do most of your practice with a high lofted club. No more than a 7i 

Some different options for working on these two parts.

 

[tdroma98]

Hit the range this morning for work on woods, including driver and it was a good session. Worked on ball position with driver, found I was creeping backwards at address, which was also affecting balance. 
Also worked on 5 wood, which is my go to club, and it was ball position and tempo.  Just get too fast at times.  Ball striking was good and seemed to work.  I'll get back out Friday morning, in time to play on Saturday and take it to the course.  

[RickyBobby_PR]

3 hours ago, Jnoble89 said:

Got back on the range today to work more on long irons and woods. Started out really struggling but then hit the reset button and tried to really focus on slowing down my tempo. I tried to be more deliberate in my backswing, "feel" a pause at the top, and be deliberate starting the downswing. This helped me to start making better contact. Early extension, as you'll clearly see, is still an issue as I don't do a very good job rotating my hips. I also am sure I am coming in too steep. I got some slo-mo on a few videos that I am posting here. One is a 6 iron that I actually made good contact with and was one of the better strikes I've had with that club. I also got a driver of again a good strike and as good as I can currently hit it, and a toe miss with the driver that resulted in a push fade. As always, I am open to feedback and constructive criticism. For whatever reason, the link won't embed for the 6i shot, but it is there above the driver.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-NrxlyJek_o?feature=share

 

What is your target in these videos? What type of shot are you trying to play?

[GolfSpy_KFT]

13 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

What is your target in these videos? What type of shot are you trying to play?

I had my alignment stick set up leading out to the yardage markers on the range. My typical miss is a fade/slice, so I really am just looking for straight ball flight right now. If it's a soft fade I am OK with that, but the main goal for now is to just consistently hit it straight

[RickyBobby_PR]

24 minutes ago, Jnoble89 said:

I had my alignment stick set up leading out to the yardage markers on the range. My typical miss is a fade/slice, so I really am just looking for straight ball flight right now. If it's a soft fade I am OK with that, but the main goal for now is to just consistently hit it straight

This is why it’s key to have the camera on the right spot. Your camera is pointing more to the right so it angles.

But it looks like your clubface is slightly closed and your hips and shoulders are slightly open to your knees in your driver videos it also looks like the ball maybe a bit too far forward on the stance which could be causing the open hips and shoulders. It’s not a big difference but it could affect the swing as well

The stance doesn’t look as bad in the 6i swing but your face looks closed there too.

Next time film a face on as well

[Bang60]

6 hours ago, Donn lost in San Diego said:

Banging away at the range for 3 things:

 

1.  a full 90 degree body turn so my gut faces the target at the end.

2.  a full reverse C bend like Dustin J at the end, I am looking up at the sky.

3.  Trying to swing a driver, NO SLICE.

Working on core muscles. Also doing Paloff presses.  Look it up, it is a simple exercise for the core.

Hey been doing that and didn't know it had a name "PALOFF" press, I have a Green stretchy that I've been using for awhile doing a few moves with a increasingly loaded weight. Feels good and can be as easy or hard as you want...

[GolfSpy_KFT]

1 hour ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

This is why it’s key to have the camera on the right spot. Your camera is pointing more to the right so it angles.

But it looks like your clubface is slightly closed and your hips and shoulders are slightly open to your knees in your driver videos it also looks like the ball maybe a bit too far forward on the stance which could be causing the open hips and shoulders. It’s not a big difference but it could affect the swing as well

The stance doesn’t look as bad in the 6i swing but your face looks closed there too.

Next time film a face on as well

So in the future, I should have the camera more directly behind me? Just so I am understanding correctly 

[Dweed]

Started out to play but shot a double, triple and bogie on the first 3 holes. It was such a beautiful day, low 70's  sunny and light wind. Couldn't waste it. Decided just play trying to make contact and not worry about score at all. Had a few good strikes, and a couple of ooops. Overall, driver wasn't my friend today, or maybe I wasn't the friend for the driver.

[Triple_Putt]

Rain this afternoon and finished work early so spent some time rolling putts in the basement. Felt okay but just wasn’t sinking them on my mat. An abysmal make rate. Threw the clubs in the car, going to hit the range tomorrow and roll a bunch on their green tomorrow and try to get a little confidence back before playing 18 this weekend  

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Left the Rapsodo at home today, so when I went to hit a bucket at lunch, I focused on hitting to targets. Still hit a few drives, but rather than hyper focusing on distance and club/ball speed, I paid attention to shape and what the ball did after it landed. It was a bit freeing, to be honest. I may have to leave the Rapsodo home more often. 

[Bang60]

Got greedy today trying for more distance as I was happy with my strongish grip so I thought stronger still will give me the Draw right  be buggered, I either went straight left or a nasty slice so I calmed down and nailed it straight 6metres short of the 6th green short par4 219 metres to the front. ...

[Fongle]

Took a half bag to the range, 56°, PW, 8i, 6i, 4i, 2i, driver. Been a couple weeks since I've had a proper hit while I've been resting my elbow, so I just took my time and started from my 56° and worked my way to my driver, just really focussing on my tempo and making good contact. Once I'd hit through all my clubs I switched back to my 8i and drilled hitting draw fade draw fade on repeat until I had 10 or so balls left, and then just hit some short feel shots with my PW. 

Felt great just to be swinging again, and was nice not feeling any issues with my elbow at all. 

[ScottyHapas]

Hit the range and had a pretty good session dialing in my irons. Got to my fairway wood and driver and started having an issue with wrist extension in my leading hand. I’m all the sudden slicing everything. I go back to my mid irons to reset my swing. Work my way back up again. Get to the fairway wood and have a nice fade. Get the driver out and BAM!!! Back to club face open. 
 

Should I just leave the driver in the bag on the range? 
 

Thanks,

Scott

[Ben_Davis]

3 minutes ago, ScottyHapas said:

Hit the range and had a pretty good session dialing in my irons. Got to my fairway wood and driver and started having an issue with wrist extension in my leading hand. I’m all the sudden slicing everything. I go back to my mid irons to reset my swing. Work my way back up again. Get to the fairway wood and have a nice fade. Get the driver out and BAM!!! Back to club face open. 
 

Should I just leave the driver in the bag on the range? 
 

Thanks,

Scott

I find myself with the same lead wrist issue with my longer clubs (3 wood, driver). My swing thought with those clubs is to keep my trail wrist and hand in the “serving tray” position. It, generally, keeps my lead wrist in flexion to supinate through the ball. 
 

As for the driver on the range… not sure what type of range your hitting on. Personally, I leave the driver in the bag if it’s a mat only range. I need a particular aesthetic to get into a driver setup. 

[cnosil]

12 minutes ago, ScottyHapas said:

Should I just leave the driver in the bag on the range? 
 

Range should be where you work on the driver.  

[RickyBobby_PR]

27 minutes ago, ScottyHapas said:

Hit the range and had a pretty good session dialing in my irons. Got to my fairway wood and driver and started having an issue with wrist extension in my leading hand. I’m all the sudden slicing everything. I go back to my mid irons to reset my swing. Work my way back up again. Get to the fairway wood and have a nice fade. Get the driver out and BAM!!! Back to club face open. 
 

Should I just leave the driver in the bag on the range? 
 

Thanks,

Scott

Any swing related issues become more prevalent the longer the club. 
 

Whatever is happening with driver is actually happening with your other clubs but the compensations get harder with the driver.

As for leaving driver in the bag that’s a yes and no answer. No you shouldn’t, because you want to make swings with it, yes because practice swing should happen with irons and more so higher lofted irons. 5-6 swings with driver is all that’s needed on the range. This advice was given by a high level instructor 

[StrokerAce]

44 minutes ago, ScottyHapas said:

Hit the range and had a pretty good session dialing in my irons. Got to my fairway wood and driver and started having an issue with wrist extension in my leading hand. I’m all the sudden slicing everything. I go back to my mid irons to reset my swing. Work my way back up again. Get to the fairway wood and have a nice fade. Get the driver out and BAM!!! Back to club face open. 
 

Should I just leave the driver in the bag on the range? 
 

Thanks,

Scott

31 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Range should be where you work on the driver.  

If you're only working on the things your good at you're not going to get better. 

Certainly not fun: but work on the things you suck at until you figure it out.
Go to the extreme - if you're slicing hit a gigantic hook. club path, alignment, stance, ball position - change it all up 

[ChazBlack12]

11 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

If you're only working on the things your good at you're not going to get better. 

Certainly not fun: but work on the things you suck at until you figure it out.
Go to the extreme - if you're slicing hit a gigantic hook. club path, alignment, stance, ball position - change it all up 

I like this mentality.. typically if i can control fade a few irons I know i'm in a good hitting position (play a natural draw). When people tell me they are hitting the 3-wood good, but losing the driver, i can almost guarantee its issues with taking a bigger swing and losing that good set position at the top or.... they have a 46 in. shaft they have no business of hitting. Unless they are over 6 foot, 6'1 I think non-competitive golfers should cut down the driver. gain so much more control and face awareness.. and they won't lose any distance. Everyone should try chocking down a couple inches when they start to lose the driver

[tricket3d]

Practiced yesterday and discovered my feet were too far apart on my drives. Could not believe I was able to add 5mph just by narrowing my stance. 

[cksurfdude]

19 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

You need to learn proper takeaway and backswing.

Gonna check out those videos, too, thx .. one of my (many) bad tendencies is rolling the wrists "in" on the takeaway...

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 minute ago, cksurfdude said:

Gonna check out those videos, too, thx .. one of my (many) bad tendencies is rolling the wrists "in" on the takeaway...

Common for a lot of ams, including me. 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Great session today. Some face contact drills after a warm up. Then trying new things with my 4i. I finally hit a shot that carried 10yrds past my 5i so I can do it, just not often. Still thinking about a hybrid to replace it. Then some driver work. Last round struggled and realized my arc depth was way off. Got that adjusted and then did 20-25 swings all out. Did get a prgr reading of 165 ball speed on a shot that was playable. I have potential. 
 

then on the putting green did some aim point work and speed control. Great session all around. 

[GaryF]

20 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

typical things most of us amateurs do wrong. Arms are driving ten backswing instead of the chest and core.

Wrists have no vertical set and the swing is flat as well. You have what is considered a false turn because your hips are working the opposite of what they should be doing. Right hip is moving toward the ball in the backswing and left hip is doing it in the downswing. It should be left hip back in backswing and right hip back in downswing.

Because of the wrists, flat swing and how the hips are moving you get steep in transition and have to early extend to create room and to hit the ball.

Your shots are going to be inconsistent and will depend on how well you can time the hands up with the swing to make contact.

You need to learn proper takeaway and backswing. Do most of your practice with a high lofted club. No more than a 7i 

Some different options for working on these two parts.

 

These are very good videos that resonate with me, although I’ve only watched the first 2.  I’ve been working off and on to hopefully improve my iron accuracy.  Have translated some of my thoughts to the driver too but treating the 2 separately as my FIRs are up to 85% with very good distance and trajectory.  Irons a different story.  With both, I’ve made a concerted effort to make sure I am bringing the backswing inside.  

Sorry no video, but with the irons and confirmed with trackman, I had a tendency to Slight to moderate outside to in path, slightly closed club face resulting in moderate to strong pull draws.  While trying to improve and bring inside, resulted in strong draws that start better online but the thought of coming inside resulted in rolling the forearms and feeling my swing is too flat.  The next increment was to attempt a more vertical backswing.  This has had very positive result with shots more online with a slight draw, some have gone a bit right but no loss of distance (ie, not a weak fade trajectory).

over the past 2 years I have concentrated on making my swing predominantly with rotation.  In the video he talks about blending the set and start of the backswing, which I really like.  I tried breaking down the 2 parts down in my living room and it just feels weird and unnatural, but when I blend, I think I get close to what is desired and feels natural for the first segment of the swing.  I think I also have had a tendency to not flex my knees enough and at times probably look like the guy in video #2.  

The past couple months, I’ve tried to get more athletic with my knees and spine tilt, but still catch myself during setup that I fall into old habits, but it’s easy to correct during the setup.   Even though the guy was swinging with more vertical set in the video, I still don’t like how he looks with the downswing and appears to he straightens up out of his tilt and a bit armsy.  I don’t like it because I tend to come out of my stance and working on maintaining better tilt thru the shot with a better finish.  Anyways, a lot to work on but just thought I’d comment. 

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

7 minutes ago, GaryF said:

Irons a different story.  With both, I’ve made a concerted effort to make sure I am bringing the backswing inside.  

Can you elaborate on what you are bringing inside? 
 

Is it handpath or the club?

8 minutes ago, GaryF said:

The next increment was to attempt a more vertical backswing.  This has had very positive result with shots more online with a slight draw, some have gone a bit right but no loss of distance (ie, not a weak fade trajectory).

A more vertical backswing is good. Makes shallowing easier if the pressure shifts and rotation are correct.

10 minutes ago, GaryF said:

I tried breaking down the 2 parts down in my living room and it just feels weird and unnatural, but when I blend, I think I get close to what is desired and feels natural for the first segment of the swing.  I think I also have had a tendency to not flex my knees enough and at times probably look like the guy in video #2.  

There is nothing natural about the golf swing. Something new should feel unnatural and weird. Breaking it down is a good way to teach the mind and body what to do, with the goal to have it blend.

14 minutes ago, GaryF said:

Even though the guy was swinging with more vertical set in the video, I still don’t like how he looks with the downswing and appears to he straightens up out of his tilt and a bit armsy.  

If you are referring to the golfer receiving the lesson I agree but keep in mind he is making a swing change and it’s important to compare where he was to where he is. As he improves that move will be less armsy. But if you watch porzak you don’t see that in the swing. 

[GaryF]

18 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Can you elaborate on what you are bringing inside? 
 

Is it handpath or the club?

A more vertical backswing is good. Makes shallowing easier if the pressure shifts and rotation are correct.

There is nothing natural about the golf swing. Something new should feel unnatural and weird. Breaking it down is a good way to teach the mind and body what to do, with the goal to have it blend.

If you are referring to the golfer receiving the lesson I agree but keep in mind he is making a swing change and it’s important to compare where he was to where he is. As he improves that move will be less armsy. But if you watch porzak you don’t see that in the swing. 

Good question, a bit of both.  But the first video clarified about bringing the hands along the target line alignment stick, but I think I have also been bringing the hands inside of  that line.  When I become more vertical with the set, I feel like my hands stay more along that line.

I agree nothing natural with the swing and changes will feel unnatural, but the instructor did stress ‘blend’ and it was his subject that said he needed to feel each part.  When I do get the vertical set I do it with rotation and don’t feel the need to do it piecemeal. I don’t always get it correct, but I can feel the combination happening when I do get in better correct position.

And yes, was referring to the guy going through a swing change, but he was doing that on the initial swings before the swings.  With the guy in the video, I assume that would be addressed at a later time while initially focusing on getting the club set properly.  It’s just that I have had that tendency, out of habit and lower back issues, and it’s really hard to break the habit.

I recently signed up for Peacock Premium so I can watch some of the BIG  football games this fall, and I found some episodes of ‘Private Lessons’.  One was on the same topic of club path and an alignment stick at 45*.  It got me thinking about my driver which again the results are very good.  But something that I started doing a few weeks ago was to change my eye point when starting the driver backswing.  I had always looked at the back of the ball where the club would strike.  The change was to focus on the back-side, at a point about 45* toward me.  For some reason, this has really helped with reducing or eliminating OTT and giving me many more drives with a slight draw.  As an analogy, better sense of having a club path that would be right of second base, which keeps my spine more tilted. The other change that I experimented was to have a golfpride MCC +4 on my driver.  I feel like it’s easier to keep a more relaxed grip and better control. A more relaxed grip for me translates in less to no tension n my forearms, 

Anyways, my main point of all of this is I really enjoy the videos and your commentary you post here and feel I’m learning a lot. Thank you!
 

 

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

2 hours ago, GaryF said:

Good question, a bit of both.  But the first video clarified about bringing the hands along the target line alignment stick, but I think I have also been bringing the hands inside of  that line.  When I become more vertical with the set, I feel like my hands stay more along that line

The hands should move along that line or inside of it. The club should not get behind the hands, adds to the amount of work needed to get the club in the right position on the downswing.

A game of opposites. The hands go in the club will go out, and then in transistor hands move out and club will move back. Dan Carraher talks about this and if you watch any of his videos on instagram or YouTube you will his students hands get close to the trail leg

2 hours ago, GaryF said:

And yes, was referring to the guy going through a swing change, but he was doing that on the initial swings before the swings.  With the guy in the video, I assume that would be addressed at a later time while initially focusing on getting the club set properly.  It’s just that I have had that tendency, out of habit and lower back issues, and it’s really hard to break the habit.

Correct. In that part of the lesson they were working on getting the club in a better position on the takeaway which will help get it in a better spot in the backswing. This doesn’t always lead to improved downswing right away and that could take time because the body is going to want to do what’s comfortable.

Good instructors don’t give their students too much to work on and work on the issues that will lead to improvement in playing better quicker and then build on that, but that next pience could be 4 weeks away or even longer

[BobBC78]

NKGC range and practice green today. At the range I hit 7i, 27*H, and drivers. Started out driver trying to make the fastest swings that I could; need to be careful of the effect of my speed training because in trying to swing as fast as possible, I actually did sky the ball today. 

On the practice green worked on chipping (SW and UW) and putting. 

[Bang60]

6 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

Gonna check out those videos, too, thx .. one of my (many) bad tendencies is rolling the wrists "in" on the takeaway...

Nah not looking at any video I'm hitting driver reasonable certainly better than I have in a long time...

[Triple_Putt]

Hit the range today like I wanted. Tried to focus a lot on my putting and well… I’m not exactly thrilled. My reads were pretty good just seems like I wasn’t lining up correctly. Frustrating as my putting was coming around or so I thought as of late 

On a more positive note the Edel irons are still feeling fantastic, and I can actually hit my hybrid with a bit of confidence lately. 

[GaryF]

3 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

The hands should move along that line or inside of it. The club should not get behind the hands, adds to the amount of work needed to get the club in the right position on the downswing.

A game of opposites. The hands go in the club will go out, and then in transistor hands move out and club will move back. Dan Carraher talks about this and if you watch any of his videos on instagram or YouTube you will his students hands get close to the trail leg

Correct. In that part of the lesson they were working on getting the club in a better position on the takeaway which will help get it in a better spot in the backswing. This doesn’t always lead to improved downswing right away and that could take time because the body is going to want to do what’s comfortable.

Good instructors don’t give their students too much to work on and work on the issues that will lead to improvement in playing better quicker and then build on that, but that next pience could be 4 weeks away or even longer

For me, the wrist/forearm rotation causes the poor positioning of the club behind the hands scenario, but it’s a good checkpoint during the backswing when on the practice range and develop the correct ‘’feel’.  When I play, i play by feel and  try to eliminate the thought during the swing, and  reserve the analytics to post-swing for a very short time to asses what my tendencies happen to be that day.