Learned a very important lesson today.

[SwooshLT]

 

 

 

Aesthetically? No but from an impact position, you're in a much better spot....to me....than in video one...similar to Rory....certainly not as nice or as powerful but similar move.....not an insult btw , his swing is pure .....yours is effective.....effectiveness is what golf is all about .....i.e. Furyk, Trevino, Floyd, Berger, etc etc....move the ball forward consistently enough....AND I think you know and trust action #2....or at least scores say that....

 

I've never really looked at it that way. No doubt I trust #2 more. Example, Hole 6 is a par 3 with water all down the left side, hazard short, false front, and a large collection area right. There's also a bunker left. Its a VERY intimidating shot, yesterday it was 177 to a tucked pin with a left to right wind. I pulled 7 iron and just got up and hit it. Barely missed the green left. If I'd have played that hole on Sunday I'd have been out of my mind trying to play that tee shot.

 

 

We can't fight our natural body and our tendencies....look at Martin Kaymer....he tried adding a draw or become a drawer of the ball to fit Augusta.....now back to old thoughts....

 

Most of us try to "fix flaws" with "new and better" swings....but does that improve our golf? While I agree that improving and being MORE efficient is obtainable, that fine line of regression and loss of confidence while in the process , could do more damage.

 

Me for example.....across the line at top and clubface open....grip change? Too much time and energy.....I'm a 5 and have been at scratch before....so remember those feelings....older now and while I still want to shoot in the 60's on occasion, I know it won't be through a swing change. Putting, pre-round prep, course management, fitness, self-management and trust/commitment to each shot are far more important at this point.

[FlyingLaw1]

I like your "loop under" action—it's a natural shallowing move that promotes effortless speed.

 

I know an older guy who has a similar action on his swing, and he's one of the best strikers I've ever seen in person. Dude just doesn't miss many shots, and he can't swing hard enough anymore to miss way left.

 

I wouldn't change a thing.

 

That's probably why I produce the results with this swing v. the other one. Literally my only thought while swinging is getting the ball "under" the swing plain. That's a move I simply cannot do with the one I was working on--trust me, I've tried.

 

You look like you have too much front bend in the "new" swing. Who told you were to close to the ball, too vertical, etc?

 

You're looking at him. Made the rookie mistake (even though I've been playing golf for 15+ years) of trying to make my swing look and function like something I probably would not be able to do. Lesson learned....

[Krt22]

Perhaps the mistake wasnt trying to make a change, it was trying to make a change without a little help from a professional. =)

[NXT]

Great thread OP! I like the second swing better, you get your trail side through more than the first. Keep us posted on your discoveries.

[WILDTHING]

From a purely aesthetic perspective, I actually like your 1st swing better until transition where you do not seem to have done the 'Sam Snead' squat move (could be because you are swinging a shorter club) , while adducting your right elbow (ie. pitch elbow) coupled with secondary tilt (ie. a slight OTT). Can't really see what your hand release action is from your videos.

 

But if you are swinging to a target in your 2nd swing with freedom , in balance and without strain and your swing matches your intent/picture, then why bother to change?

 

Be interesting to see a face-on view of both swings.

[Swisstrader98]

F84k?? Inside joke?

 

I have to admit it, I have no clue what this thread is all abt. Old swing vs new swing. Old swing more natural and hitting more greens and fairways vs overly technical new swing=bad??

[FlyingLaw1]

Managed to make it out for a quick round yesterday. (walked 18 in 2 and a half hours!). This is the more natural feeling swing with a 7 iron (same club as the video of the swing I had been working on). FWIW this shot was absolutely flushed. Pin was on the back of the green--shot it at 182 but down wind. I flew the green and ended up 24 yards past the flag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxaWE61qmsE&feature=youtu.be

[FlyingLaw1]

From a purely aesthetic perspective, I actually like your 1st swing better until transition where you do not seem to have done the 'Sam Snead' squat move (could be because you are swinging a shorter club) , while adducting your right elbow (ie. pitch elbow) coupled with secondary tilt (ie. a slight OTT). Can't really see what your hand release action is from your videos.

 

But if you are swinging to a target in your 2nd swing with freedom , in balance and without strain and your swing matches your intent/picture, then why bother to change?

 

Be interesting to see a face-on view of both swings.

 

The swing that I'd been working on (the one in the video titled "Swing 1") is a more "technically" sound swing. Its just really hard for me to do the squat move and that's really what I'd been working on. I was changing swings as the one that I've played so well with recently has more timing in it than I'd rather have... But if I can instinctively time it... then I guess a change won't net me anything in the long run?

 

I'll see if I can get a face on video.. Probably won't be today because we have lots of rain today.

 

F84k?? Inside joke?

 

I have to admit it, I have no clue what this thread is all abt. Old swing vs new swing. Old swing more natural and hitting more greens and fairways vs overly technical new swing=bad??

 

I'd been working on a new swing (Video titled "Swing 1") and was playing very poorly. Warmed up for league Monday and decided to try my "old" more comfortable swing (Videos titled "Swing 2" and "Swing 3") again. Played very well with it.

 

I have to admit... I have no idea what F84k means... Where did you see that?

[FlyingLaw1]

Perhaps the mistake wasnt trying to make a change, it was trying to make a change without a little help from a professional. =)

 

I have been haha. I used to work for a top 100 pro and we play/practice together fairly regularly. He'd been working on me turning better and using less wrist. My problem with the swing I had been working on is I still had too much hand movement at the top of the back swing which lead to an "over the top" move that left me with a *very* weak toed shot or a fat pull. I'd essentially been playing like that for the better part of a month and half.

[WILDTHING]

The swing that I'd been working on (the one in the video titled "Swing 1") is a more "technically" sound swing. Its just really hard for me to do the squat move and that's really what I'd been working on. I was changing swings as the one that I've played so well with recently has more timing in it than I'd rather have... But if I can instinctively time it... then I guess a change won't net me anything in the long run?

 

I'll see if I can get a face on video.. Probably won't be today because we have lots of rain today.

 

 

Actually FlyingLaw1 , you seem to be doing the Sam Snead squat and a type of pitch elbow adduction move in Swing 2. See how your head dips about an inch or 2 during transition and early downswing? Further , see how your clubshaft shallows in the downswing (compared to your backswing) which shows you are doing a bit of right arm adduction .

 

Its a good Sam Snead type squat because it isn't very extreme (ie.unlike the vertical drop of 4 -6 inches seen in the old Tiger Wood swing).

[mfm22]

I guess you found Your ' perfect " swing after all ... You appear to be tall so more upright makes sense ... less mechanical and more athletic is always good

 

Scores don't lie . Not many can look picture perfect - Adam Scott like , probably better to not even try

[Cicero]

Hi all,

 

Just wanted to share with you what happened to me the last couple of days and the lesson its taught me (for now). The last couple months--since golf season kicked off really--I've been working on my swing and have been trying to get it more "technically" sound. I've really been trying to maintain posture and eliminating early extension. I've been really fighting golf and way over thinking it. I've shot a few upper 70s but mostly in the 80s, after averaging a 74.5 last year. This year I'm playing to a 8.8 where as finished last year with a 1 handicap. This past Saturday I shot an 87 followed by a 89 on Sunday.

 

Last night at league (its a 4 man scramble format) I was warming up on the range and almost literally said "f84k it." I completely reverted back to the swing I had when I was younger.... Standing way too close to the ball, way too vertical, way too much wrist, so much early extension I'm practically standing straight up at impact. On the range I was flushing everything. Played with it and hit a couple shots that were way off the mark but hit the ball WAY straighter and WAY further than I have been all season. On 18 I hit driver 8 iron (on a par 5) to 3 feet and made eagle on my own ball.

 

Today I just had time for 9. I played from the tips, one bogey and two birdies to shoot 1 under--with a par on a par 5 where my chip shot hit the flag and the ball ended up about 2 inches from the hole.

 

I completely threw everything I've learned about the golf swing out the window and shot under par (well for 9 holes).

 

Will I completely abandon my quest for a perfect golf swing? I haven't decided yet. But I've definitely learned that a lot of us (I'm probably more guilty of this than anyone) way over think things trying to swing the club like the current PGA tour pros. I started doing what felt "good" and amazingly started playing 10+ strokes better literally over night.

 

Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

I’m kind of on the same path. I started playing with a very long and very upright swing. I’ve been working to flatten and shorten my swing for years. But it seemed like every time I’d goof off and make a really long, upright swing at the range, I’d hit a good shot. Then I’d go back to fixing my swing, because I shouldn’t swing long and upright, in part because I thought I needed to swing flatter or deeper to open up through the ball.

 

Well, after hitting it good on the range on those goof-off shots (which my brother said looked like a really good motion), I decided to go with it. I’ve been making swings purposely swinging long and upright. The funny thing about it is that my pivot has improved, and for some reason I don’t get, I can finally turn open through the ball more than I had.

 

I’m going to stick with it for the season and see how it goes. If my contact and score do what I think (hope) they’ll do, I’m never gonna try to shorten my swing again.

[Mike_C]

This thread needs this classic line....

 

It ain't how, its how many...

[Smash Factors]

Don't mean to bring you down, but it's likely that you'll eventually come across the old problems with that swing which inspired you to change it in the first place.

 

You don't just revert to your old swing and suddenly everything is great. Doesn't work like that.

 

The swing in the first video looks fine to me. P3, 4 and 5 are real good. You're just a little laid off or dead-handed, but who cares. Lot's of great golfers have played that way.

 

Don't kid yourself. Go back to that swing and figure out how to make it work.

[FlyingLaw1]

Don't mean to bring you down, but it's likely that you'll eventually come across the old problems with that swing which inspired you to change it in the first place.

 

You don't just revert to your old swing and suddenly everything is great. Doesn't work like that.

 

The swing in the first video looks fine to me. P3, 4 and 5 are real good. You're just a little laid off or dead-handed, but who cares. Lot's of great golfers have played that way.

 

Don't kid yourself. Go back to that swing and figure out how to make it work.

 

How right you are.

 

Played Sunday. Hit the first 7 greens. Then BAM. i remembered why this swing was something I've been moving away from. It became a MASSIVE and completely unplayable hook.

 

Not all is lost, however. I've been able to really focus on getting the club down into the slot with the new swing because of feeling myself do it over the last couple weeks. So I guess in a way I've got a much more technically sounds swing with a couple elements of the old one. In fact, much of what you all liked about the old one I'm now working to incorporate in my new one (with the help of my pro).

 

Thanks all for your thoughts and guidance!!

[Mike_C]

Here is my quick comment. Shoulder turn too flat and not 90 degrees around the spine. I do this myself, the error turns into dropping the club in, and early extension. This usually results in an uncontrolled hook.....

 

 

 

 

 

Study this video from Monte, it has been a big help for me.

 

 

 

 

[FlyingLaw1]

Here is my quick comment. Shoulder turn too flat and not 90 degrees around the spine. I do this myself, the error turns into dropping the club in, and early extension. This usually results in an uncontrolled hook.....

 

 

 

 

 

Study this video from Monte, it has been a big help for me.

 

 

 

 

 

That's a great video! Learned a lot about my own golf swing by watching it. Thanks!! I know what I'll be checking next range session.

 

 

One thing my little "experiment" taught me (I think it's actually stuck this time?) is to not thing about the golf swing when executing a shot.

 

I've been lucky to have time to play three days in a row this week. All three of them in the 70s. Shot a 77 today that really could have been much lower but I went 4 over the last 4 holes a really sloppy 5 on a par 3 and...got to 17 tee and there was a group on the green and two waiting at the tee... Same with 18. Took well over a half hour to play a par 3 and a short-ish par 5. By the time I hit my tee shot on 18 I had totally lost my rhythm. After "smoking" my driver all day long I pulled it OB and made 7. *Sigh*

[northgolf]

So, what did you learn?

 

As far as I can tell, all you are saying is you spent a lot of time attempting to learn by researching the golf swing and your attempt failed, so you reverted back to know nothing and you had a fluke round.

 

Where is the learning?

[FlyingLaw1]

So, what did you learn?

 

As far as I can tell, all you are saying is you spent a lot of time attempting to learn by researching the golf swing and your attempt failed, so you reverted back to know nothing and you had a fluke round.

 

Where is the learning?

 

I had spent weeks working on my swing and playing like garbage. Completely abandoning that and just swinging the club with a swing that was comfortable to me instantly dropped my scores significantly--and stayed lower for a while. Though I've since realized that particular swing can beinconsistent so I've gone back to the swing I was working on but have incorporated elements of the more comfortable one.

 

What I've learned (what I was referring to in my last post) was to play with the "free-er" feeling I experienced while playing with the "comfortable" swing. I.e. not thinking about the golf swing while I'm swinging it. That as much as anything lowered my scores.

[northgolf]

So, what did you learn?

 

As far as I can tell, all you are saying is you spent a lot of time attempting to learn by researching the golf swing and your attempt failed, so you reverted back to know nothing and you had a fluke round.

 

Where is the learning?

 

I had spent weeks working on my swing and playing like garbage. Completely abandoning that and just swinging the club with a swing that was comfortable to me instantly dropped my scores significantly--and stayed lower for a while. Though I've since realized that particular swing can beinconsistent so I've gone back to the swing I was working on but have incorporated elements of the more comfortable one.

 

What I've learned (what I was referring to in my last post) was to play with the "free-er" feeling I experienced while playing with the "comfortable" swing. I.e. not thinking about the golf swing while I'm swinging it. That as much as anything lowered my scores.

 

Weeks? Seriously?

 

You are a 1 hdcp and you post like scoring under par is significant. At a 1, you must post under par about 25% of the time.

 

You spent weeks and all you proved is you wasted weeks.

 

Three rounds in the mid/high seventies this past week? 1 handi?

 

Something stinks here.

[FlyingLaw1]

So, what did you learn?

 

As far as I can tell, all you are saying is you spent a lot of time attempting to learn by researching the golf swing and your attempt failed, so you reverted back to know nothing and you had a fluke round.

 

Where is the learning?

 

I had spent weeks working on my swing and playing like garbage. Completely abandoning that and just swinging the club with a swing that was comfortable to me instantly dropped my scores significantly--and stayed lower for a while. Though I've since realized that particular swing can beinconsistent so I've gone back to the swing I was working on but have incorporated elements of the more comfortable one.

 

What I've learned (what I was referring to in my last post) was to play with the "free-er" feeling I experienced while playing with the "comfortable" swing. I.e. not thinking about the golf swing while I'm swinging it. That as much as anything lowered my scores.

 

Weeks? Seriously?

 

You are a 1 hdcp and you post like scoring under par is significant. At a 1, you must post under par about 25% of the time.

 

You spent weeks and all you proved is you wasted weeks.

 

Three rounds in the mid/high seventies this past week? 1 handi?

 

Something stinks here.

 

I haven't played to a 1 this year. That's what It was at the end of last season. I just haven't updated my profile. When the season started I wanted to get my swing more fundamentally sound so it was less reliant on timing as I haven't had as much time to play. That's what I have been working on and doing so the early part of the season. During that time my handicap went up to a 10.X. Right now its a 8.8 and trending to 6.4. Prior to the last couple weeks I had one round in the 70s this season. So yes, based on the work I've done and how poorly I was hitting the ball all spring, getting back into the 70s is a big deal to me. As for as wasting weeks, I hit 10 greens today. I haven't done that in years, so I'd say it's been time well spent.

[crapula]

Swing 1 has a steep transition.