Short game technique causing full swing faults?

FormerBigDaddy · January 18, 2021

Hello everyone, so 2020 was a good year for my golf game. Went from around a 15 HC at the start of the year down to a 10 at the end. Mostly due to practicing my short game in my back yard. I have a couple of pins set up inside 25 yards and got an old range mat to hit off of. Basically when my kids are outside I'm outside hitting balls. The mat i got is pretty hard and lies are tight. I kind of like it that way b/c there isn't much room for error. I've found that using the bounce of the club and sort of dead arms technique works best. I sort of just focus on rotating back and through and let the arms go along for the ride. I think I'm holding off the release and arm swing through without really thinking about it. Works great inside 25 yards but I think this is where something bad may have developed. In addition to my backyard set up, I also have a net in my garage but i don't have a simulator so I'll hit a few every day but I enjoy hitting to targets in the back yard more. I don't actually go the range much so I rely more of the strike on the face as feedback. Slowly but surely this year I started developing heel strikes on fuller swings, even the occasional shank. Which is something I've never done in 20 years of golfing. My mishit has ALWAYS been a toe shot! Lately I'm hitting less full swing shots in my garage b/c its cold and short game is easier to practice when bundled up. Yesterday I played golf here in Maryland, it was about 40 degrees and I had the right attire but I not a winter golfer. I tried to blame it on the feeling of restriction with the extra clothes but now I'm thinking my short game technique is affecting my full swing. Almost everything longer than a wedge I was hitting off the heel and were weak push slices. Some where also thin and I think I even caught part of the hosel on one swing. All day I was completely baffled! My short game was money though... chipping and pitching was as good as it's ever been. Out of bunkers, rough, tight lies, different slopes... all good. Baffling!

When I got home I hit some balls into my garage net just trying some different things to try to move the strikes back out to center or toe side. Nothing i did for my backswing changed the strikes and even the feeling of OTT didn't help... then I kind of got pissed and swung as hard I could and bam, center. Why though? That's when it hit me that I may not be releasing the club and or not swinging the arms at all through impact. I took some swings where I sped up the arms and released and boom... toe. By definition, is what I was doing considered a "late hit"?

As anyone else ever encountered this? Is my reasoning sound? I don't really want to change my short game technique b/c it's the best it's ever been, but it affecting my long game is not an option either. Is awareness of this potential issue enough to avoid it by reminding myself to release it on fuller shots? Just wondering if anyone has been through this and what their answers were.

Thanks in advance!

Edited January 18, 2021 by FormerBigDaddy

mgoblue83 · January 18, 2021

Yes, your short game practice is affecting your full swing and your reasoning is sound. Another thing to keep in mind is that practicing off mats all the time is very likely to change your strike pattern and consistency.

FormerBigDaddy · January 18, 2021

1 hour ago, mgoblue83 said:

Yes, your short game practice is affecting your full swing and your reasoning is sound. Another thing to keep in mind is that practicing off mats all the time is very likely to change your strike pattern and consistency.

Thank you!

enders.seb · January 18, 2021

I've had a similar thing happen to me too. Lots of chipping in the backyard last season, and when I got on the course suddenly I was hitting push slices instead of my old reliable draw. For me the grip was a big thing. When chipping my grip became weaker and weaker, as I was trying really hard to maintain an open face and use the bounce etc. Not saying that's what's happening to you but something to possibly check. Another thing would be posture. When chipping I stand a little closer to the ball and that made it's way to my full swing as well, which could definitely lead to heel strikes. Anyway just my experience but hopefully it helps.

dlygrisse · January 18, 2021

The release patterns may differ.

Sons_of_Pitches · April 12, 2021

On 1/18/2021 at 3:40 PM, enders.seb said:

I've had a similar thing happen to me too. Lots of chipping in the backyard last season, and when I got on the course suddenly I was hitting push slices instead of my old reliable draw. For me the grip was a big thing. When chipping my grip became weaker and weaker, as I was trying really hard to maintain an open face and use the bounce etc. Not saying that's what's happening to you but something to possibly check. Another thing would be posture. When chipping I stand a little closer to the ball and that made it's way to my full swing as well, which could definitely lead to heel strikes. Anyway just my experience but hopefully it helps.

+1 on this. This was 100% my issue when practicing/focusing only on the short game for extended periods of time and then trying to hit normal shots. Stronger grip is king in my golf game with anything other than a wedge. I just need to remind myself during my pre-shot routine to make sure I got the proper grip for the shot.