Feeling Smothered

[Jmoneyyy]

So recently I have noticed myself throwing my hips towards the ball in my downswing almost like I’m trying to bail out of my swing.  This is causing extra pressure on my back so I know something is not right.  Also causing my swing to feel smothered and forced. Any idea what could be causing this?
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCF7JA_R59o

[straightshot7]

You're losing a ton of height in your backswing. That's probably why you're feeling that way. If you search YouTube you can probably find some good videos discussing why you might be doing that and how to stop. Overall it looks pretty good. But try to feel like you're keeping your height in your backswing. Then from there it's okay to dip on the downswing.

 

this is at the top of your backswing:

 

Edited December 21, 2020 by straightshot7

[Jmoneyyy]

Thanks a lot man for the feedback!! I played baseball in college and am eager to learn a new swing. I noticed this dip too and have a couple questions after doing some research... As you can imagine the longer that the club gets in my hand the more inconsistent my ball striking becomes. Two main misses are a screaming hot low hook that runs off the course or a towering block cut 20-30 yrds off target. 

 

 

 

Are my hips and shoulders aligned at setup? What kind of shot does it look like I am setting up for? If the hips are open and shoulders are closed I would assume that rotation is extremely restricted through the swing. 

 

What part of my lower body should I feel pressure at the top of the backswing? Where should I feel that power is stored? 

 

I really appreciate the feedback and am stoked that I stumbled across the greatest game on earth... Golf! Cheers

[Jmoneyyy]

On 12/20/2020 at 11:28 PM, straightshot7 said:

You're losing a ton of height in your backswing. That's probably why you're feeling that way. If you search YouTube you can probably find some good videos discussing why you might be doing that and how to stop. Overall it looks pretty good. But try to feel like you're keeping your height in your backswing. Then from there it's okay to dip on the downswing.

 

this is at the top of your backswing:

 

Is this swing better or worse? I don’t seem to be losing as much height in the backswing..

 

 

[straightshot7]

On 12/22/2020 at 1:44 PM, Jmoneyyy said:

Is this swing better or worse? I don’t seem to be losing as much height in the backswing..

 

 

Yeah it looks like you lost less height in the backswing.

 

If you just started playing recently then your swing is really good. 

 

It would be best to work with a good instructor near you.

 

It looks like you may have some early extension but it's hard to see on this video.

 

If you want more input here, post a high quality face on video and one directly down the line.

 

Have fun. You'll figure it out with practice. 

Edited December 31, 2020 by straightshot7

[BraxtonFullerton]

As another lefty who came from baseball; I just want to add that you have balance issues. You look like you're barely holding on at a few points in your swing... this is going to cause a lot of your path issues (pulls and blocks). Slow down the swing and work on balance. Bring the club back and pause at the top of your backswing. Can you hold it there or are you about to fall over? Hold your finish; are you falling over, is your back screaming at you to get out of that pose?

All good things to work on that will establish a less punishing swing and better repeatability.

 

[straightshot7]

16 hours ago, laneholt said:

Jmoneyyy,

 

     If you google - images of Tiger Woods at impact ( under Golf Digest images ) you will notice that Tiger’s he’d also lowers during his DS! As a matter of fact most great players do. It is simply a matter of balance. PULLING the shaft and club head downward  plus the a average weight of the Human arms and hands ( 28 lbs ) creates some serious centrifugal force on the torso . Since the number ONE ( 1 ) goal of the Human bodies balance mechanisms is to keep you in balance and upright this is a NATURAL OCCURRENCE! Your knees / lower body are working as they are Human designed . DON’T concern yourself with something you have NO CONTROL OVER . You can’t alter those !

    Beside , I can easily tell by your divots you have NO trouble contacting the ball cleanly . 
 Now - your HOOKS are another story UNRELATED  the your head lowering . 
     We can discuss that if you want ! I do know why !

Yes, no one said it was a bad thing to lose height in the downswing.

 

If you look at my first post above, you'll see I showed images where Jmoneyy lost a lot of height in his backswing.

 

Which is not something Tiger Woods or other great players do. 

[Jmoneyyy]

On 1/1/2021 at 7:39 AM, laneholt said:

Straughtshot7,

   You are correct and I should have also pointed that out , but J has a very fast BS and what I described concerning HUMAN BALANCE MECHANISMS still applies to him. Swinging / rotating  the entire upper torso around over the lower body is a very physical action and our automatic balance mechanisms will engage. Nothing we can do to alter them anyway and not necessary to focus on them , but balance is extremely critical in the golf swing . 
   It appears that J strikes the ball very well. I would like to hear from him if he doesn’t!

Thanks for your reply ? I ‘ ll try to be more definitive. 

Hey guys I appreciate all of the feedback... It may appear that I strike the ball fairly well, which is true some days but the consistency is not there. I hover around the 90-100 range as I struggle keeping the tee ball in bounds. It feels as my clubs get longer I lose control and feel of my swing.

As Braxton noticed, I do have a loose grip on the club at the top of my backswing. My left hand seems to want to fall off of the club. I am able to slowly take it back and stay connected but am confused as to what may be causing this disconnection at live speed.
 

As the weather is starting to warm up, I have been practicing more lately. I am still battling a pretty gnarly two way miss between a high block slice and a low snappy hook. I will attach two more videos that may show some flaws if seen by the right eyes!

I would love to conversate with anyone who may have a viewpoint on my struggles. I hope you all are easing your way into the golf season of 2021, stay safe and cheers. 

[Jmoneyyy]

@laneholt 

@straightshot7

@BraxtonFullerton

 

Thank you all for your feedback!!! 

 

[TheDeanAbides]

Sort out your posture. That lower back curvature makes me cringe in pain. Feel like you're tucking your tailbone under you a little by engaging your core. It'll help. 

[Jmoneyyy]

@laneholt

 

 

 

I will try to get a better video that isn't so off center in the next couple of days.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by Jmoneyyy

[Jmoneyyy]

@TheDeanAbides Yeah you are right... my posture looks terrible and painful. I feel like I am tucking in my pelvis but in reality it just looks like I am sticking my butt out. I would imagine that a strong core is essential to a stable swing. Definitely need to fix that.. Setting myself up for failure it seems