Cannot shake my John Daly swing!

[TG8 46]

I have had a long john daly swing since I was 13 years old(now 30). No matter what I try I simply cannot shorten it.  Iron play is fine but my driver is so inconsistent. When I was younger my driver was consistent somehow but in the last 5 years im all over the place with mostly pulls. Anyone struggle with this and have any tips or drills to try? I know most people will say “just shorten it“ but its tough especially when it slices and feels well under powered when i try it. Silly post for most people who have never had a long swing but its a struggle!

Edited July 30, 2021 by TG8
Added video

[bens197 12,848]

A long swing isn't a death sentence.  Some guy named Mickelson just won a major championship a few weeks ago with a backswing that would make JD blush.

Rather than try and harness it, I would focus on your tempo and rhythm.  This sounds more like a timing problem than body mechanics, especially since your iron play isn't frustrating you.  

Send a few videos of your face on and down the line swing and there will be plenty of folks smarter than me who could possibly steer you in a good direction.

[TG8 46]

19 minutes ago, bens197 said:

A long swing isn't a death sentence.  Some guy named Mickelson just won a major championship a few weeks ago with a backswing that would make JD blush.

Rather than try and harness it, I would focus on your tempo and rhythm.  This sounds more like a timing problem than body mechanics, especially since your iron play isn't frustrating you.  

Send a few videos of your face on and down the line swing and there will be plenty of folks smarter than me who could possibly steer you in a good direction.

Thanks I’ll work on getting a better video. I’ll upload a winter video !

[RickyBobby_PR 10,135]

More than likely you are collapsing your trail elbow, more thank likely have a reverse pivot and/or really late wrist set.

as mentioned send video otherwise it’s all speculation

[TG8 46]

Video uploaded 

[bens197 12,848]

21 minutes ago, TG8 said:

Video uploaded 

Simply stated, there's a disconnect between your arms and torso.  You've got some solid action man, when I read your initial post I was expecting train wreck...this is not a train wreck.  

Great fundamentals...I say this a lot around here...remember to swing YOUR swing.  This is a good golf swing.

[Shankster 33,161]

Yeah.  That is solid.  Wish mine was that smooth.  
 

Not a pro, so I don’t see any issues, but if you say there is ones. I’ll believe you.

[Hook DeLoft 748]

I am NOT a golf instructor, so remember that.  If you want to shorten your backswing, try feeling like you are using your right hand to push your left arm straight in the backswing.  Another drill is to feel like you are keeping your right arm straight during your backswing.  Having said that, your long backswing may be a function of better than average flexibility.  In that case, just working on tempo may help more than anything.  Good luck.

[Lacassem 17,426]

Man I am not going to critique a swing because I can barely correct mine but that looks like a bomb. I had a long swing and have reeled it in. Plane mate has helped me a lot and has been a really good assist for me in the short few months I’ve had it.

good luck, again swing looks pretty mint to me

[TG8 46]

I wish i was bombing it.  Swing 112mph with 2800-3000rpm spin.  Feel like im being robbed of some distance. Average driver is 260-275 yards 

[Shankster 33,161]

Buy a new driver…. That is always the right answer isn’t it?  I used to feel the same way.  All I did was widen my stance, and swing a lot harder… things went much better.  ymmv.

[Lacassem 17,426]

25 minutes ago, TG8 said:

I wish i was bombing it.  Swing 112mph with 2800-3000rpm spin.  Feel like im being robbed of some distance. Average driver is 260-275 yards 

What do you think the issue is? That spin is in a pretty good realm and at 112 you are definitely losing distance somewhere. Do you know what your ball speed is on average?

[TG8 46]

Sorry for the guessing but it was right about 159-160 if i recall but i need to get back to a simulator to verify. Nearest golf shop is a near 2 hour drive  

[Kenny B 34,257]

Nice powerful swing... wish I had it!  I'm not a swing coach, but I believe you are not using your long swing efficiently.  The longer the backswing, the longer it takes to get back to impact.  At the top of your backswing your first move down in transition is with the upper body, so you have to early extend to make contact.  Look at your butt throughout the swing (no, I'm not that kind of guy!).  Look where your right hip is at address... at the E in Power.  Then look where it is at impact... a lot closer and the left hip has moved to the R in the next word... 5 letters closer to the ball.  That's early extension.  Need to shallow the club in transition.  However, I could be wrong; my eyes are old and that swing was fast!!

[RickyBobby_PR 10,135]

You start with a flat shoulder swing that leads to disconnected arms from body and no hip depth. Because of the disconnect and flat turn you and lack of hip depth you end up collapsing the right arm and getting more than 90*. Due to all of this your transition and downswing you early extend at the top of the swing and drop the right shoulder and eventually throw your hands at the ball.

The good thing is you have some good athleticism and hand eye coordination. 
 

Working the left shoulder down and towards the ball and keeping the arms connected to the chest until the left arm gets parallel will fix your issues. Also letting the upper body turn the hips in the back swing.

here’s a good video

 

 

[TG8 46]

21 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Nice powerful swing... wish I had it!  I'm not a swing coach, but I believe you are not using your long swing efficiently.  The longer the backswing, the longer it takes to get back to impact.  At the top of your backswing your first move down in transition is with the upper body, so you have to early extend to make contact.  Look at your butt throughout the swing (no, I'm not that kind of guy!).  Look where your right hip is at address... at the E in Power.  Then look where it is at impact... a lot closer and the left hip has moved to the R in the next word... 5 letters closer to the ball.  That's early extension.  Need to shallow the club in transition.  However, I could be wrong; my eyes are old and that swing was fast!!

Great tips and made me laugh hard

[TG8 46]

21 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

You start with a flat shoulder swing that leads to disconnected arms from body and no hip depth. Because of the disconnect and flat turn you and lack of hip depth you end up collapsing the right arm and getting more than 90*. Due to all of this your transition and downswing you early extend at the top of the swing and drop the right shoulder and eventually throw your hands at the ball.

The good thing is you have some good athleticism and hand eye coordination. 
 

Working the left shoulder down and towards the ball and keeping the arms connected to the chest until the left arm gets parallel will fix your issues. Also letting the upper body turn the hips in the back swing.

here’s a good video

 

 

Awesome info thanks

[garyt1957 32]

On 7/30/2021 at 3:53 PM, RickyBobby_PR said:

More than likely you are collapsing your trail elbow, more thank likely have a reverse pivot and/or really late wrist set.

as mentioned send video otherwise it’s all speculation

This was me to a tee. I used to play after work with my Dad. We would rush to the course to beat the league. To get loose I would swing my driver with the head cover on and let my arms collapse at the top to pull me a little more. It eventually worked it's way into my swing and really messed me up. Years later and I still overswing but not as bad.