Different practice swing vs real swing

I have difficulty matching my practice swing to my real swing, almost like when I place a ball there it changes everything at times. I go from turning on plane to sucking the club too far inside with more of a lift than a turn. As I'm in the middle of a swing change I've noticed that this happens more often than not and that my old swing creeps in too much as well (all tied together). Anyone else have this problem?

Yup, putting the ball there changes everything mentally.

A practice swing does not have to be, or match, how you want to approach the upcoming swing, and has nothing to do with the ball.

Really, how do you know that you swing changes, have you compared video of the two? It might be that they're the same swing, but the ball exposed faults. But I agree with the above, a practice swing can serve to exaggerate your changes, so you don't have to think about them when things get real.

In my case the practice swing is more fluid than my real swing. And other differences as well. Frustrating some times. Working hard to get them closer together and improve my swing

Years ago when I actually worked on my golf swing, I realized that many of the 'positions' that I thought I should achieve when hitting a golf ball, were positions that I naturally achieved in practice swings. So this is EASY, I thought. Just hit a ball with my practice swing (I used LOTS of video at the time, although I did not have the ability to view it on the range).

One of my last attempts was my 'walk around drill' where I literally wandered around a big golf mat (it was winter and we were on the mats) taking continuous practice swings. Then I would wander into a position where one of those swings would hit the ball. Not only did that single swing that hit the ball change, when I viewed it on video I could see the difference (that I was unaware of) on my face. It was not a big deal, but it was different.

I finally decided that my practice swing had no closer relationship to my real swing that did Tiger Wood's practice swing have a relationship with MY real swing.

dave

Practice swing your not hitting ball. My practice swing I don’t bow my wrist, in my real swing I bow at the top somewhat to prepare for impact instinctively. Dustin does same thing, he cups on his practice swing

> @jimb6golf said:

> I have difficulty matching my practice swing to my real swing, almost like when I place a ball there it changes everything at times. I go from turning on plane to sucking the club too far inside with more of a lift than a turn. As I'm in the middle of a swing change I've noticed that this happens more often than not and that my old swing creeps in too much as well (all tied together). Anyone else have this problem?

The pain is real, I have posted this many years before, but could never get an honest answer, I think about 5 years ago I posted this. 5 years later still have not solved this riddle

Here are my Practice swings....

good positions, club stops at parallel, doesnt shift, right elbow gets underneath doesnt get stuck

regular

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRbCFeoQYA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRbCFeoQYA "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRbCFeoQYA")

Slow-mo

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4HSzbFO8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4HSzbFO8 "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4HSzbFO8")

Actual - Regular

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuOiNBNF54](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuOiNBNF54 "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuOiNBNF54")

Actual - Slow

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mq25ynIKU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mq25ynIKU "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mq25ynIKU")

way past parallel, right elbow gets stuck, Early extension. All kinds of madness..... Very different from the practice swing....

> @Exactice808 said:

> > @jimb6golf said:

> > I have difficulty matching my practice swing to my real swing, almost like when I place a ball there it changes everything at times. I go from turning on plane to sucking the club too far inside with more of a lift than a turn. As I'm in the middle of a swing change I've noticed that this happens more often than not and that my old swing creeps in too much as well (all tied together). Anyone else have this problem?

>

> The pain is real, I have posted this many years before, but could never get an honest answer, I think about 5 years ago I posted this. 5 years later still have not solved this riddle

>

> Here are my Practice swings....

> good positions, club stops at parallel, doesnt shift, right elbow gets underneath doesnt get stuck

> regular

> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRbCFeoQYA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRbCFeoQYA "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVRbCFeoQYA")

> Slow-mo

> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4HSzbFO8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4HSzbFO8 "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4HSzbFO8")

>

> Actual - Regular

> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuOiNBNF54](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuOiNBNF54 "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuOiNBNF54")

> Actual - Slow

> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mq25ynIKU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mq25ynIKU "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mq25ynIKU")

> way past parallel, right elbow gets stuck, Early extension. All kinds of madness..... Very different from the practice swing....

Those practice swings match your regular swing. Flat backswing. Face is wide open at shaft parallel. Early extend. If there was a ball there you’d hit way right.

> @glk said:

> Those practice swings match your regular swing. Flat backswing. Face is wide open at shaft parallel. Early extend. If there was a ball there you’d hit way right.

while I am standing taller while practicing swinging, this is what I see

Practice -

Top of swing, - Parallel, elbow infront of body, not behind or over extended

Mid swing, right elbow driving down, not stuck shaft coming in more shallow, shaft plane at or outside the ball line.

right arm under plane, rotating and maintaining spine angle (YES face is open it would go dead right, but nothing the hands cant fix, and likely this is all because I am used to casting and early extending to get the face square rather than open) EE is the only thing that can save the swing? hips are opening

VS

Real swing

Way past parallel, elbow flying, Was way worse years ago

mid swing, elbow stuck, you can see Im ready to cast and the only way to save it is to early extend. shaft is super steep inside the ball line.

Impact, completely stuck hips, arched back (turtle back), no shoulder tilt at all, just ugly!!!!

Real swing is WAY worse than the practice swing?

One other comment to add to the analysis above. The practice swing impact position shows a clubhead pointed WAY/WAY to the right. Like off the planet. I would not want to take that to the course (unless I was able to control and compensate for it).

dave

> @Exactice808 said:

> > @glk said:

> > Those practice swings match your regular swing. Flat backswing. Face is wide open at shaft parallel. Early extend. If there was a ball there you’d hit way right.

>

> while I am standing taller while practicing swinging, this is what I see

> Practice -

> Top of swing, - Parallel, elbow infront of body, not behind or over extended

>

>

> Mid swing, right elbow driving down, not stuck shaft coming in more shallow, shaft plane at or outside the ball line.

>

>

> right arm under plane, rotating and maintaining spine angle (YES face is open it would go dead right, but nothing the hands cant fix, and likely this is all because I am used to casting and early extending to get the face square rather than open) EE is the only thing that can save the swing?

>

>

> VS

>

> Real swing

> Way past parallel, elbow flying, Was way worse years ago

>

>

> mid swing, elbow stuck, you can see Im reading to cast and the only way to save it is to early extend. shaft is super steep inside the ball line.

>

> Impact, complete stuck hips, arched back (turtle back), no shoulder tilt at all, just ugly!!!!

>

>

> Real swing is WAY worse than the practice swing?

>

Because your brain is trying to hit target in the real swing. You’d hit it awful if you managed to even make contact with your practice swing.

Most peoples' practice swings aren't anywhere near as good as what they think they are. It is extremely common to have a wide open clubface in a practice swing.

Exactice's above swing is a perfect example. In the practice swing his likely only result is a shank.

> @jut111 said:

> >

> Because your brain is trying to hit target in the real swing. You’d hit it awful if you managed to even make contact with your practice swing.

I understand that... to an extant... But the Real SWING is completely FLAWED right? but I can make contact, because I am doing all kinds of adjustments just to make contact. i.e. casting, early extending. These are NOT optimal for a "real swing"

The practice swing has much more correct positioning, YET the only thing is the face angle at impact would be open so the only thing that would be needed is to close the face and with all the proper body mechanics. The face angle is somewhat artificial and can be corrected. But all the flaws in the swing is like one bandaid over the next? What gives? IS the swing position in the Practice swing better then the Real swing or is the real swing better... Thats the point? Is the real swing not terrible?

Your putting wayyyyy to little emphasis on the face. It’s kinda a big deal.

And all those “flaws” in the real swing is you doing everything you can subconsciously to correct for that face.

> @Exactice808 said:

> > @glk said:

> > Those practice swings match your regular swing. Flat backswing. Face is wide open at shaft parallel. Early extend. If there was a ball there you’d hit way right.

>

> while I am standing taller while practicing swinging, this is what I see

> Practice -

> Top of swing, - Parallel, elbow infront of body, not behind or over extended

>

>

> Mid swing, right elbow driving down, not stuck shaft coming in more shallow, shaft plane at or outside the ball line.

>

>

> right arm under plane, rotating and maintaining spine angle (YES face is open it would go dead right, but nothing the hands cant fix, and likely this is all because I am used to casting and early extending to get the face square rather than open) EE is the only thing that can save the swing? hips are opening

>

>

> VS

>

> Real swing

> Way past parallel, elbow flying, Was way worse years ago

>

>

> mid swing, elbow stuck, you can see Im reading to cast and the only way to save it is to early extend. shaft is super steep inside the ball line.

>

> Impact, completely stuck hips, arched back (turtle back), no shoulder tilt at all, just ugly!!!!

>

>

> Real swing is WAY worse than the practice swing?

>

I think we figured out why you can't develop accuracy in driver..... (its the swing)

I think the only reason you don't have the big arm overrun in your practice swings is because you watch the clubhead swing back on everyone of those swings. Other than that, your downswing is literally one big compensation to close up that face.

> @copperjeff said:

>

> I think the only reason you don't have the big arm overrun in your practice swings is because you watch the clubhead swing back on everyone of those swings. Other than that, your downswing is literally one big compensation to close up that face.

Roger that!... Sorry dont want to thread jack...as the point to validate the OP's post is that somehow the practice swing is way better than the real swing.

AND HECK yes this is ALL the reason why my accuracy suffers. I figured..... going back to my thread for that specifics.... BUT to the OP yes.... real swing suck worse then practice swing...

> @jut111 said:

> Your putting wayyyyy to little emphasis on the face. It’s kinda a big deal.

>

> And all those “flaws” in the real swing is you doing everything you can subconsciously to correct for that face.

OK Can I ask a favor can we jump to my thread so I dont thread jack this?? I WANT and APPRECIATE and am LOOKING for all the help I can get.

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1775328/why-cant-i-develop-accuracy-in-my-driver#latest - please help me here in this thread so this one doesnt get derailed! Thanks!

> @Exactice808 said:

> > @jut111 said:

> > Your putting wayyyyy to little emphasis on the face. It’s kinda a big deal.

> >

> > And all those “flaws” in the real swing is you doing everything you can subconsciously to correct for that face.

> OK Can I ask a favor can we jump to my thread so I dont thread jack this?? I WANT and APPRECIATE and am LOOKING for all the help I can get.

>

> https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1775328/why-cant-i-develop-accuracy-in-my-driver#latest - please help me here in this thread so this one doesnt get derailed! Thanks!

Of course, however Thank You for posting those stills and swings into this thread. It really does a great job of illustrating where many many people are at.

> @copperjeff said:

> > @Exactice808 said:

> > > @jut111 said:

> > > Your putting wayyyyy to little emphasis on the face. It’s kinda a big deal.

> > >

> > > And all those “flaws” in the real swing is you doing everything you can subconsciously to correct for that face.

> > OK Can I ask a favor can we jump to my thread so I dont thread jack this?? I WANT and APPRECIATE and am LOOKING for all the help I can get.

> >

> > https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1775328/why-cant-i-develop-accuracy-in-my-driver#latest - please help me here in this thread so this one doesnt get derailed! Thanks!

>

> Of course, however Thank You for posting those stills and swings into this thread. It really does a great job of illustrating where many many people are at.

I figured so! I know my swing is a MESS HAHAA Pictures are worth a 1000 words right, IN all fairness too it was a pain in the rear to print screen and still each image LOL!!!!!!

If you wanted to try to take the practice swing shown "to the ball", I would suggest that you do that by trying to make that practice swing at a golf ball, but at address close the clubface about 30 degrees. I suspect that all hell will break loose, but you never know.

dave

This is nearly universal in all golfers.

Practice swings are way more aesthetic than actual swing.

Actual swing is way more functional and it’s not even close.

The “pretty” practice swing most people have would run out of golf balls before 9 holes were completed.

> @jut111 said:

> Your putting wayyyyy to little emphasis on the face. It’s kinda a big deal.

>

> And all those “flaws” in the real swing is you doing everything you can subconsciously to correct for that face.

Exactly. The OP answers his own question in his little descriptions.

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> This is nearly universal in all golfers.

>

> Practice swings are way more aesthetic than actual swing.

>

> Actual swing is way more functional and it’s not even close.

>

> The “pretty” practice swing most people have would run out of golf balls before 9 holes were completed.

A question for you @MonteScheinblum why do we use the real swing to find the faults then? In the pics above it is completely obvious why he has to make the adjustments on the real swing. Because if he hit with the practice swing he would be right of right (with longer clubs, I suffer the same problem). If @Exactice808 goes to an instructor for help, the instructor will try to fix the EE, the casting, the arm overrun. The instructor will completely ignore the practice swing and see what is plainly evident; that the body does it all to square the face. So the real question, using the posters practice swing, what does he need to do to square the face?

This is why golf instruction is so frustrating to me. I've been going to instructors for years with the above issue. It all starts the same. Fix path, too steep, EE (for those instructors that even know what it is). And it all leads to the same thing, shots going right of right, because I can't get the face closed with the driver. It's funny that I can hook, draw, hit it straight, fade, and slice a 7i, but I have one shot shape with a driver (at least that I can count on).

My practice swings have a steady head looking at the ball, while my real swing has my head following my arms it the backswing and swinging too far back as well. Overswinging (I never feel like I've turn enough even when overswinging) is my biggest fault and it causes me to lose balance, fall onto my back foot and get stuck as well. By stopping my backswing at what feels like half way back it tends to correct the problems, but it's just not that easy to fix after swinging poorly for many years. Lots of mirror work and slow motion swings are working to fix my swing but it is taking a long time and is frustrating when I overswing during a round of golf. Golf is tough.

> @trilerian said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > This is nearly universal in all golfers.

> >

> > Practice swings are way more aesthetic than actual swing.

> >

> > Actual swing is way more functional and it’s not even close.

> >

> > The “pretty” practice swing most people have would run out of golf balls before 9 holes were completed.

>

> A question for you @MonteScheinblum why do we use the real swing to find the faults then? In the pics above it is completely obvious why he has to make the adjustments on the real swing. Because if he hit with the practice swing he would be right of right (with longer clubs, I suffer the same problem). If @Exactice808 goes to an instructor for help, the instructor will try to fix the EE, the casting, the arm overrun. The instructor will completely ignore the practice swing and see what is plainly evident; that the body does it all to square the face. So the real question, using the posters practice swing, what does he need to do to square the face?

>

> This is why golf instruction is so frustrating to me. I've been going to instructors for years with the above issue. It all starts the same. Fix path, too steep, EE (for those instructors that even know what it is). And it all leads to the same thing, shots going right of right, because I can't get the face closed with the driver. It's funny that I can hook, draw, hit it straight, fade, and slice a 7i, but I have one shot shape with a driver (at least that I can count on).

Are we talking about real practice swings or these slow-mo abominations?

> @SNIPERBBB said:

> > @trilerian said:

> > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > This is nearly universal in all golfers.

> > >

> > > Practice swings are way more aesthetic than actual swing.

> > >

> > > Actual swing is way more functional and it’s not even close.

> > >

> > > The “pretty” practice swing most people have would run out of golf balls before 9 holes were completed.

> >

> > A question for you @MonteScheinblum why do we use the real swing to find the faults then? In the pics above it is completely obvious why he has to make the adjustments on the real swing. Because if he hit with the practice swing he would be right of right (with longer clubs, I suffer the same problem). If @Exactice808 goes to an instructor for help, the instructor will try to fix the EE, the casting, the arm overrun. The instructor will completely ignore the practice swing and see what is plainly evident; that the body does it all to square the face. So the real question, using the posters practice swing, what does he need to do to square the face?

> >

> > This is why golf instruction is so frustrating to me. I've been going to instructors for years with the above issue. It all starts the same. Fix path, too steep, EE (for those instructors that even know what it is). And it all leads to the same thing, shots going right of right, because I can't get the face closed with the driver. It's funny that I can hook, draw, hit it straight, fade, and slice a 7i, but I have one shot shape with a driver (at least that I can count on).

>

> Are we talking about real practice swings or these slow-mo abominations?

I am referring to real practice swings. In my real practice swings you can see that I come from the inside and with longer clubs the face remains open through impact, not squaring to well after impact. The club is too far behind my hands and my hands make it to the left side of my body at impact. So my real swing tends to get the path moving left to try to square the face. I don't purposefully do this, nor do I try to drag the club. It just happens. I had good luck getting the face squared with the "tumble" move, but that just gets the shaft super steep. My last instructor had me drive hard to the left, while essentially doing the motorcycle move. This method works well for everything but the driver, and I put so much lateral stress on my lead knee that I was barely able to walk by the end of a round of golf. So I am ditching that...

> @trilerian said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > This is nearly universal in all golfers.

> >

> > Practice swings are way more aesthetic than actual swing.

> >

> > Actual swing is way more functional and it’s not even close.

> >

> > The “pretty” practice swing most people have would run out of golf balls before 9 holes were completed.

>

> A question for you @MonteScheinblum why do we use the real swing to find the faults then? In the pics above it is completely obvious why he has to make the adjustments on the real swing. Because if he hit with the practice swing he would be right of right (with longer clubs, I suffer the same problem). If @Exactice808 goes to an instructor for help, the instructor will try to fix the EE, the casting, the arm overrun. The instructor will completely ignore the practice swing and see what is plainly evident; that the body does it all to square the face. So the real question, using the posters practice swing, what does he need to do to square the face?

>

> This is why golf instruction is so frustrating to me. I've been going to instructors for years with the above issue. It all starts the same. Fix path, too steep, EE (for those instructors that even know what it is). And it all leads to the same thing, shots going right of right, because I can't get the face closed with the driver. It's funny that I can hook, draw, hit it straight, fade, and slice a 7i, but I have one shot shape with a driver (at least that I can count on).

If your instructor doesn't understand enough to realize the root cause is mainly an open club face (although there are obviously other things leading to this as well), then you probably need a new instructor.

As far as fixing his clubface, one thing is he needs to flex that left wrist a lot more at some point. I''l let the real instructors dig more deeply into this as he has other backswing issues going on that aren't helping the situation.

> @trilerian said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > This is nearly universal in all golfers.

> >

> > Practice swings are way more aesthetic than actual swing.

> >

> > Actual swing is way more functional and it’s not even close.

> >

> > The “pretty” practice swing most people have would run out of golf balls before 9 holes were completed.

>

> A question for you @MonteScheinblum why do we use the real swing to find the faults then? In the pics above it is completely obvious why he has to make the adjustments on the real swing. Because if he hit with the practice swing he would be right of right (with longer clubs, I suffer the same problem). If @Exactice808 goes to an instructor for help, the instructor will try to fix the EE, the casting, the arm overrun. The instructor will completely ignore the practice swing and see what is plainly evident; that the body does it all to square the face. So the real question, using the posters practice swing, what does he need to do to square the face?

>

> This is why golf instruction is so frustrating to me. I've been going to instructors for years with the above issue. It all starts the same. Fix path, too steep, EE (for those instructors that even know what it is). And it all leads to the same thing, shots going right of right, because I can't get the face closed with the driver. It's funny that I can hook, draw, hit it straight, fade, and slice a 7i, but I have one shot shape with a driver (at least that I can count on).

Practice swing is meaningless.

I don’t know about other instructors, but I’m very vocal about those things you listed being results and effects, not causes. I never directly address things like EE and flipping, because those are functional compensations and that’s why you don’t see them in practice swings.

As a matter of fact I have videos specifically address that flipping, casting and EE are not swing faults.

> @Exactice808 said:

> > @copperjeff said:

> >

> > I think the only reason you don't have the big arm overrun in your practice swings is because you watch the clubhead swing back on everyone of those swings. Other than that, your downswing is literally one big compensation to close up that face.

> Roger that!... Sorry dont want to thread jack...as the point to validate the OP's post is that somehow the practice swing is way better than the real swing.

>

> AND HECK yes this is ALL the reason why my accuracy suffers. I figured..... going back to my thread for that specifics.... **BUT to the OP yes.... real swing suck worse then practice swing...**

>

Not really. If you actually made contact with your practice swing the ball would go a mile right, face is wide open at impact..like almost 45* open.