JerryB's "Gettin' Better" thread

[JerryB]

I scooted myself a little closer to the wall and away from the opener.  I was able to put my phone against the wall and take this video.  Is the angle and overall video acceptable?  Light's a bit of a problem, yeah.

 

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

Your right hand is too strong., you have late torso rotation due to being an arms driven swing. You shift pressure to the lead foot in the takeaway/backswing then to the trail leg late which causes a sway then as a result you get to the lead leg late.

You need to change your how and when you shift pressure which will improve your pivot. You need to use the chest and ribs to cause your body to rotate and not the arms

none of this is going to be easy and isn’t going to happen making full swings and at full speed.

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

On 11/5/2022 at 1:00 AM, JerryB said:

I scooted myself a little closer to the wall and away from the opener.  I was able to put my phone against the wall and take this video.  Is the angle and overall video acceptable?  Light's a bit of a problem, yeah.

 

 

I know it's not but I'm imagining all the plaster marks in the ceiling as areas a Club or Ball has hit and been patched

 

Keep up the great work!

[JerryB]

On 11/6/2022 at 8:34 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

Your right hand is too strong., you have late torso rotation due to being an arms driven swing. You shift pressure to the lead foot in the takeaway/backswing then to the trail leg late which causes a sway then as a result you get to the lead leg late.

You need to change your how and when you shift pressure which will improve your pivot. You need to use the chest and ribs to cause your body to rotate and not the arms

none of this is going to be easy and isn’t going to happen making full swings and at full speed.

 

Between this and previous critiques, where would you suggest I begin?

[JerryB]

Hit the gym yesterday before golf and again today.  Yesterday was more overhead press and other shoulder/upper back work which felt great.  Today was deadlift day and it didn't go nearly as well.  Everything today just felt incredibly heavy.  Wound up being one of those get in, do the minimum, and get out type of days.

Today notwithstanding, deadlifting 500 pounds has been one of my long-term goals.  Its ambitious but I'm hoping to get there by the beginning of next golf season.

[RickyBobby_PR]

31 minutes ago, JerryB said:

Between this and previous critiques, where would you suggest I begin?

I would start with finding an instructor and not going at it alone.

If you choose to go it alone then I would look at watching the beginners video series from Chris Ryan, or getting Monte Scheinblum’s setup fundamentals video, no turn cast and efficient swing, or join the athletic motion golf free website or upgrade to one of their paid subscription, or look at buying Eric Cogorno or Milo Lines courses and using the resources that come with them.

No matter what you need to get the fundamentals down of grip, stance and setup before proceeding into any swing work

[JerryB]

Hit the gym the last couple days...and upper body day based on bench press and a lower body based on squats.  Again the upper body day was decent and the lower body day was a bit of a struggle.  One week into a standard lifting program; feels good mentally.  Physically a little beat up, but also a good feeling.

I've got quite a bit of swelling in my right knee which isn't too unusual as I've had a couple surgeries in the past.  Other than gym and work I've been trying to keep off of it so no golf activities.  Temps dropped so I think the season is over although I'm still toying with the idea of layering up and getting out a couple more times before snows hit.

I've got a few golf books I've picked up over the past year and I'd like to sit down with them.  Hogan's Five Lessons for one, and also want to reread Penick's Little Red Book.  

[JerryB]

I have a couple of little mats that I can use rather than hitting off a thin rug.  If I stand on the rug and hit off the mat, whether the turf mat or the divot board, would that cause me any issues?  I worry about the ball being slightly higher than usual and leading towards more thin shots on the course.

Am I overthinking here?

[Tom the Golf Nut]

35 minutes ago, JerryB said:

I have a couple of little mats that I can use rather than hitting off a thin rug.  If I stand on the rug and hit off the mat, whether the turf mat or the divot board, would that cause me any issues?  I worry about the ball being slightly higher than usual and leading towards more thin shots on the course.

Am I overthinking here?

You are not overthinking it at all. You want to try to have your mat and your feet at the same elevation or at least as close as possible. That is why I had to insert the Optishot2 into my platform and also added thicker turf on the Optishot2. The system comes with a thin turf and Velcroed on hard plastic. Hit one fat and you know it!  I did wind up thinning a lot of shots on the course before I got things level at home. 

[Kenny B]

1 hour ago, JerryB said:

I have a couple of little mats that I can use rather than hitting off a thin rug.  If I stand on the rug and hit off the mat, whether the turf mat or the divot board, would that cause me any issues?  I worry about the ball being slightly higher than usual and leading towards more thin shots on the course.

Am I overthinking here?

Nope!  Not overthinking it.  @Tom the Golf Nut is correct.  It's something I'm having to deal with right now as I finish my hitting bay.  Still working on my solution, but don't have the mat or the turf for the bay determined yet, so don't have a feel for how much of an issue it will be until I get them.

Find another piece of carpet, some thin foam, cardboard, or gallon ziplock freezer bags with a layer of sand inside; anything to raise you feet to the level of the mat.  Might need some double stick tape to keep them from sliding around under the carpet.

[MattF]

Same as @Tom the Golf Nut and @Kenny B. When I made a hitting platform I made sure that it was low enough that it was level with the turf mat I had bought.

[cnosil]

15 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

You are not overthinking it at all. You want to try to have your mat and your feet at the same elevation or at least as close as possible. 

I’ll play a little devils advocate here.  While flat lies are good for most of your practice when working on basic swing fundamentals,  we also have to remember that not all lies on the course are flat.  If we were making an ideal setup, we should be able to effectively hit the ball when it is below, level, or above our feet.   

[Tom the Golf Nut]

2 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I’ll play a little devils advocate here.  While flat lies are good for most of your practice when working on basic swing fundamentals,  we also have to remember that not all lies on the course are flat.  If we were making an ideal setup, we should be able to effectively hit the ball when it is below, level, or above our feet.   

I agree if you already are an established player and have a repeatable swing but like you stated when you are still working on fundamentals (trying to build that repeatable swing, create muscle memory, and work on swing planes in the early stages of your development of your golf swing), you should stay on the same plane. 

I can tell you for a fact in my case, I had some issues. The Optishot base is 2" high and then add in the Jag Man Joe's better hitting turf and it was 2-1/2" higher than my feet.  Playing and practicing on the simulator all winter raised my swing up that much. With a1.68" diameter golf ball sitting on the ground in the spring, I was sending worm burners down the course. Obviously if the ball was on a tee, I was ok. After a week or two of trying to get my swing back down to the ball I built the platform and spent several weeks getting back to normal.   

But to your point, I also practice on a 4' x 4' matt that I place on 3/4" plywood and then elevate one side or another to practice downhill, sidehill and uphill shots. But I am still practicing with my feet and ball on the same surface just at a different angle.  

[Kenny B]

13 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I agree if you already are an established player and have a repeatable swing but like you stated when you are still working on fundamentals (trying to build that repeatable swing, create muscle memory, and work on swing planes in the early stages of your development of your golf swing), you should stay on the same plane. 

I can tell you for a fact in my case, I had some issues. The Optishot base is 2" high and then add in the Jag Man Joe's better hitting turf and it was 2-1/2" higher than my feet.  Playing and practicing on the simulator all winter raised my swing up that much. With a1.68" diameter golf ball sitting on the ground in the spring, I was sending worm burners down the course. Obviously if the ball was on a tee, I was ok. After a week or two of trying to get my swing back down to the ball I built the platform and spent several weeks getting back to normal.   

But to your point, I also practice on a 4' x 4' matt that I place on 3/4" plywood and then elevate one side or another to practice downhill, sidehill and uphill shots. But I am still practicing with my feet and ball on the same surface just at a different angle.  

Totally agree on the established player.  Hitting off uneven lies is just another facet of golf that needs practice, but the fundamentals need to be developed and practiced as well.  

I think I will work that into the final design of my hitting bay.  The way I'm designing the hitting mats, I think it would be fairly easy... well, there I go again... thinking!!!  

[JerryB]

Finished the second week of Wendler's 5/3/1 basic template for powerlifting which centers around overhead press, squat, bench, and deadlift, with some pulling exercises, ab work, and other accessories thrown in.  Have managed some rep PRs which is great.  

Tried to add some running but my right knee swelled up badly.  I've had meniscus and ACL reconstructions so the swelling isn't unusual but it is lingering.  I actually kinda enjoy running but I need to find some cardio work that I can stick with.

I've dropped a pound or two but more important is that clothes are already fitting differently, so that's a plus.  

I'm still wandering into the garage often but it's not heated and it's been pretty cold this week.  Not doing much besides trying to exaggerate my rotation hoping to increase my flexibility.

Hard to stick with, though.  If I'm not on the course anything golf related feels like a chore.  I have next week off and it is supposed to warm up slightly so I might try to get out again.

[JerryB]

Funny thing happened when the weather warmed up a bit this week; I didn't want to golf.  Now that I'm hitting the gym regularly, my interest in golf has dwindled.  It appears that I can do one thing or the other but not both.

So I've cleaned my clubs and put them away for the winter.  I've got an extra set (and then some) still near the net in the garage should the itch hit.  It's only been a couple weeks; we'll see how I feel during that random two day stretch in February when it nears 70°!

In the meantime I've picked up two golf shirts and am close to pulling the trigger on a black Friday ball deal or two.

In the gym I've been a little sluggish but managed to set PRs on all four main lifts.  I got 160lbs for overhead press and 185 for 12 reps on bench press.  I deadlifted 405 for a double a hit 345 for 6 reps and 365 for 4 on squats.  Feels good.

[Kenny B]

8 hours ago, JerryB said:

Funny thing happened when the weather warmed up a bit this week; I didn't want to golf.  Now that I'm hitting the gym regularly, my interest in golf has dwindled.  It appears that I can do one thing or the other but not both.

So I've cleaned my clubs and put them away for the winter.  I've got an extra set (and then some) still near the net in the garage should the itch hit.  It's only been a couple weeks; we'll see how I feel during that random two day stretch in February when it nears 70°!

In the meantime I've picked up two golf shirts and am close to pulling the trigger on a black Friday ball deal or two.

In the gym I've been a little sluggish but managed to set PRs on all four main lifts.  I got 160lbs for overhead press and 185 for 12 reps on bench press.  I deadlifted 405 for a double a hit 345 for 6 reps and 365 for 4 on squats.  Feels good.

I know it's tough when winter sets in, but I still suggest you spend even a little time all winter working on golf-specific exercises and technique; flexibility and motion.  It doesn't take long to make 25-50 swings every day or two, even without a ball, just to stay loose.  You will be way ahead in the spring when I know you will want to get out and play again.  Hope to see back here in the spring!!

[JerryB]

On 10/31/2022 at 5:33 PM, JerryB said:

I'm a lazy, lazy man.

I think my biggest issue with winter golf is that I can't just get up and go.  There's a little more prep involved and even then I'm still a bit uncomfortable.  I have a bad habit of losing interest if a situation isn't perfect but I think with golf I'll probably go through this a couple times every winter where I go out and get discouraged.  I may eventually stumble into a setup that I enjoy.

Speaking of setups, an unintended consequence of putting my net in the garage is that now I can't use it for a month or so.  The Christmas stuff has been brought out and in order to make room, some furniture has been moved into the garage.

Been dropping some strong hints about a larger driving mat and a putting surface, hopefully I've been a good boy this year.

[RickyBobby_PR]

48 minutes ago, JerryB said:

I think my biggest issue with winter golf is that I can't just get up and go.  There's a little more prep involved and even then I'm still a bit uncomfortable.  I have a bad habit of losing interest if a situation isn't perfect but I think with golf I'll probably go through this a couple times every winter where I go out and get discouraged.  I may eventually stumble into a setup that I enjoy.

Speaking of setups, an unintended consequence of putting my net in the garage is that now I can't use it for a month or so.  The Christmas stuff has been brought out and in order to make room, some furniture has been moved into the garage.

Been dropping some strong hints about a larger driving mat and a putting surface, hopefully I've been a good boy this year.

If you are really trying to improve then now is the time to do it. You have a setup that allows you to work on swing mechanics and not worry about ball flight and results. The more work you put in now in the offseason the better you will be come the golf season. If you don’t put in the work you will regress and be worst off and then have to spend time trying to get back to where you 

[JerryB]

On 11/26/2022 at 10:35 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

If you are really trying to improve then now is the time to do it. You have a setup that allows you to work on swing mechanics and not worry about ball flight and results. The more work you put in now in the offseason the better you will be come the golf season. If you don’t put in the work you will regress and be worst off and then have to spend time trying to get back to where you 

This is exactly why I started this thread; to get called out when I start dogging it.  I moved some things around in the garage and should be good.  On that note, I tore up my hands on deadlift day over the weekend so it'll be a few days until I can grip a club properly.

Does anyone have a suggestion for one of those swing analyzer tools or something else that would give me feedback on film?