Tell me something I don’t know…

[milesgiles]

In 30 years and a dozen lessons, there’s one drill I’d barely heard of, never used, and is maybe the biggest single ‘secret’ of the pros.

 

Perhaps it’s only recently popular, perhaps it’s just a wrx thing, but do yourself a massive favour, read and watch everything you can about the 9-3 swing. Game changer.

[CasualLie]

Except for the fact it is the most viewed and replied topic by far on Golfwrx instruction forum,

 

 

but you are right...big secret.

Edited November 25, 2020 by CasualLie

[milesgiles]

7 minutes ago, CasualLie said:

Except for the fact it is the most viewed and replied topic by far on Golfwrx instruction forum,

 

 

but you are right...big secret.

 

I know it’s popular NOW, on here.. that’s exactly what I wrote.

[PracticeSwinger]

17 minutes ago, CasualLie said:

Except for the fact it is the most viewed and replied topic by far on Golfwrx instruction forum,

 

 

but you are right...big secret.

I had actually seen that drill about 10 years ago... love it!

[PracticeSwinger]

7 hours ago, scooterhd2 said:

The golf swing is not a swing. Instead it is a throw. 

 

We go to goodwill and buy a dozen cheap clubs. Find a park with some free space and literally try to throw the clubs as far as you can. A one handed, trail arm throw.

 

If you are reasonably athletic it wont take you long to figure out how to maximize your throwing distance. You take that motion to your 'golfswing' and everything that you have been reading about shallowing and OTT and lag and spine tilt, etc, will automatically be happening. 

 

 

There’s a video on the main site talking about that exact topic - although it’s not a one handed trail hand throw (missing the ‘underneath’ / external rotation / side bend / rotation aspect of the throw that you automatically get)... interesting take!

[RichieHunt]

There's no such thing as 'looking up' in the golf swing due to vestibular ocular reflex which means the eyes have a natural reflex in them where if you're looking at something (i.e. a golf ball) as your head turns your eyes will automatically turn the opposite direction in order to continue to look at the object.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[b.mattay]

To get good with wedge distance control, practice getting it wrong on either side (James Ridyard tip).

 

Example-70 yard wedge shot, hit one about 85 yards and then about 55 yards and then try 70. You will be amazed at how close that third ball will get. When can you then hit 75, then 65, then 70, your feel for distance will be fantastic. 

Edited November 26, 2020 by b.mattay

[PracticeSwinger]

1 hour ago, RichieHunt said:

There's no such thing as 'looking up' in the golf swing due to vestibular ocular reflex which means the eyes have a natural reflex in them where if you're looking at something (i.e. a golf ball) as your head turns your eyes will automatically turn the opposite direction in order to continue to look at the object.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

Thank god!... and now we can lay to rest the : ‘I topped that ball because I turned my head before impact’ excuse

[Jimjam651]

9 hours ago, MtlJayMan said:

And I thought it was one of the few things I did know... no worries, constantly working on it!

Haha I've just re read it and I sounded so flippant apologies!!

 

What i mean is, we get so caught up in swing theory and technique that we often forget strike is the most important thing!

[A.Princey]

4 hours ago, MtlJayMan said:

Thank god!... and now we can lay to rest the : ‘I topped that ball because I turned my head before impact’ excuse

Lifting your head is sometimes a direct result of raising spine angle and having your shoulders come up and out of the shot, so in essence, not entirely a dead concept. Something to think about!

[TheDeanAbides]

Spend 90% of your putting practice inside 8 feet. The tour average from this distance is only 50% and from 16 feet it's 20%. Get good inside 8 feet and work on pace control from further and you're miles ahead of the game. 

[PracticeSwinger]

5 hours ago, A.Princey said:

Lifting your head is sometimes a direct result of raising spine angle and having your shoulders come up and out of the shot, so in essence, not entirely a dead concept. Something to think about!

Definitely agree - and I'm a victim of this (not that much lifting but backing off / losing spine angle) and working on it... was more related to the comment made by a lot of amateurs saying they topped it because they wanted to look at the ball flight early on - and it's relation to vestibulo ocular reflex

[PracticeSwinger]

4 hours ago, TheDeanAbides said:

Spend 90% of your putting practice inside 8 feet. The tour average from this distance is only 50% and from 16 feet it's 20%. Get good inside 8 feet and work on pace control from further and you're miles ahead of the game. 

Definitely losing too much strokes there... when you combine that with the approach dispersion of tour players (further away from the hole on average than most think) and you can see that these guys are awesome at up and downs and 'short' range putts

[TheDeanAbides]

31 minutes ago, MtlJayMan said:

Definitely losing too much strokes there... when you combine that with the approach dispersion of tour players (further away from the hole on average than most think) and you can see that these guys are awesome at up and downs and 'short' range putts

Yes, the tour average from 3 feet is around 85%. 

[glk]

10 minutes ago, TheDeanAbides said:

Yes, the tour average from 3 feet is around 85%. 

Actually 99% from 3 feet.  In 2019 worst on tour from 3 feet was Charley Hoffman at 98.35%.   Median was 99.5%.  13 players were 100% with between 357 to 834 attempts.

Edited November 26, 2020 by glk

[golfsticks]

Dropping into the slot is not a position, it's an area,  a compromise between a leading or lagging shaft finding middle ground.

 

Saw a wild turkey walking and it looked like Ray Floyd's gait. 

 

 

[nitram]

Own the bottom of your swing. 

[Nard_S]

The short game is more about distance control than anything else. Line is a function of speed, always.

 

Swinging the club on plane or under plane involves intents moving the hands off plane. Throwing hands out at target line and above plane results in club's COM being further behind and lower than trying to swing hands on plane. "Throwing out is down" is one example where the counter intuitive works and common sense does not.

 

 

[Scottbox]

Trail hand shots are great for your game. Start with little swings where you keep the right wrist bent through impact, then eventually move up to full shots. Taking your lead hand off the club will make your body pivot properly and help educate your hands.  

[PracticeSwinger]

2 hours ago, golfsticks said:

Dropping into the slot is not a position, it's an area,  a compromise between a leading or lagging shaft finding middle ground.

And it has to be the most important 'area' in golf... happens so fast - tough to repeat shot after shot, from different lies, different clubs... awesome game

[PracticeSwinger]

1 hour ago, nitram said:

Own the bottom of your swing. 

solid... happens so fast - tough to repeat shot after shot, from different lies, different clubs... awesome game

[PracticeSwinger]

1 hour ago, Nard_S said:

Throwing hands out at target line and above plane results in club's COM being further behind and lower than trying to swing hands on plane. "Throwing out is down" is one example where the counter intuitive works and common sense does not.

Indeeed; very counter intuitive... without proper body rotation at the bottom it feels that you're in a position for a complete: backing off, losing spine, flip

[cardoustie]

learn how to play around the greens with both your SW (more bounce) and LW (less bounce) from the rough and tight lies.

I go with two heights and two ball positions (this includes traps) depending on run out wanted

 

learn how to hit low shots, so many players can't

 

sometimes it is OK to play for bogey .. ie 185 left over a lake and into the green

 

have a go to club on super tough holes, could be a 5w or a hybrid or a choke down driver

 

learn how to hit half wedges with more body turn, so many new golfer cannot hit a 40 yard shot

 

CONTROL THE CLUBFACE

 

 

 

[golfsticks]

We start with a fundamental, and strike with an anatomical. 

 

[The Pearl]

Face-On/Side Saddle is a far superior way to putt.  The only reason to putt conventionally is because of the infamous "that is the way it has always been done" rational.

[PracticeSwinger]

2 hours ago, cardoustie said:

learn how to hit half wedges with more body turn, so many new golfer cannot hit a 40 yard shot

 

CONTROL THE CLUBFACE

Good ones... half wedge shots are so critical to score... and I can't say I control the clubface - yet

[PracticeSwinger]

37 minutes ago, golfsticks said:

We start with a fundamental, and strike with an anatomical. 

both forearms supinating towards impact - right?

[golfsticks]

1 hour ago, MtlJayMan said:

both forearms supinating towards impact - right?

Uh-huh.  

 

Want more?🤣

 

 

[NoTalentLefty]

You’re ugly and your mother dresses you fun. And no one ever told you until now. 

[freowho]

Without seeing your swing and assuming you have decent basics like the grip etc, I think the most important thing you can do is build speed. Not because you have to play golf at full tilt but because that speed means you can play golf easier. Tour pros can hit 6 iron 200 yards but choose to hit it 185. And, hitting the ball "hard" and hitting the ball "far" are different things. Most tour pros spent their childhood trying to hit the ball as far as they can. Trying to hit the ball far actually makes the swing better as well. You will pivot better, side bend better, load the club better, the body opens up, etc. 

Go to the driving range. Tee the ball up and try and send the ball over the back fence, regardless of which club you have. Then try and hit as low and as far as possible off the deck with a middle or short iron. Going to the driving range should be like going to the gym. You should be sweating, sore and need bandaids on your fingers. 

I like what @Lefthook said "Golf is not a theoretical or intellectual game."  

Most of what a tour pro does well has been built through physical exertion. 

Technique aside, the best thing you can do for your short game is practice distance. Chip and putt to the edge of the green rather than to a hole. Work your way around the green so you are constantly adjusting for length and slope.

Good luck.