Finding a trigger

[mitrik]

Hi everyone. Long time forum lurker posting for the first time -- curious to hear thoughts on a widely discussed idea of a swing trigger. I've put two videos of my swing at the bottom of the post. A little context behind the topic:

 

I'm a low single digit handicap (hoping to get to scratch this summer), pretty much self taught, and feel I have a solid grasp of my own mechanics and matchups to make my swing functional. This might sound absurd, but I feel like one of my biggest battles in terms of where I can improve is actually just starting the swing. To be honest, my backswing has never felt natural -- always extremely mechanical. It might feel/look solid for a couple days or rounds, but it's usually just a matter of time before certain positions or timings feel awkward and I end up overthinking the backswing and manipulating things which makes it worse. It becomes harder and harder to start the swing when I'm playing, and I often have a few seconds before hitting a ball where I'm just idle. Honestly it's an extremely stressful 5-ish seconds that feels like 5 years sometimes, especially under pressure. As expected, I typically play better when I think about literally nothing, but those rounds are few and far between.

 

My backswing has a tendency to get on the laid off side, and I also have pretty fast hips (my hips typically run out of room to turn while my arms are still trying to complete a backswing, which is another part of the issue). I've had people tell me to try to get more across the line, try to finish the backswing with the hips to sync up, try to have the butt end of the club point at position x at time y, etc., but as I said any conscious thought about manipulating a backswing makes it worse. In general, I'm just looking for any tips in terms of success anyone's had with certain swing triggers, certain mindsets or thoughts that has made it easier to just get over the ball and hit it, or just any feels or advice that has made others' backswings feel more natural while also not compromising backswing structure. I'm also always open to hear out swing tips or critiques in general. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17 by mitrik

[Djmc25]

Not a pro, but nice swing. I like to press a little pressure into my lead foot as the go signal to start my backswing. 
 

For me if I add pressure to the lead foot it automatically tells me body to shift pressure to the back foot, which then has me shift it back to the lead foot. It sort of sets the rhythmic nature of the swing for me.

 

Shawn explains it well:

 

 Shawn Clement How To Start The Swing
 

Hope that makes sense. Good luck. 

[mitrik]

6 minutes ago, Djmc25 said:

Not a pro, but nice swing. I like to press a little pressure into my lead foot as the go signal to start my backswing. 
 

For me if I add pressure to the lead foot it automatically tells me body to shift pressure to the back foot, which then has me shift it back to the lead foot. It sort of sets the rhythmic nature of the swing for me.

 

Shawn explains it well:

 

 Shawn Clement How To Start The Swing
 

Hope that makes sense. Good luck. 

 

Thanks! Appreciate the feedback and reference. Pressure triggers for me are sometimes hit or miss, but I certainly still have some experimenting to do. Shawn does always have great explanations.

[CSagan]

Pretty dang good for self taught. Hips could go a little more lateral on downswing to get over lead foot. Maybe a little more arm depth to help with across the line. 
 

Id hit some balls with a glove under right armpit to get some depth and get hips more towards target. Should neutralize that path a hair although that little cut swing loooks nice. 
 

 

[CSagan]

As far as a trigger, step drills would help. 
 

just something to get you moving dynamically. Do some every time you hit balls and after a month or two it’ll start to bleed in. 

 

[mitrik]

12 minutes ago, CSagan said:

Pretty dang good for self taught. Hips could go a little more lateral on downswing to get over lead foot. Maybe a little more arm depth to help with across the line. 
 

Id hit some balls with a glove under right armpit to get some depth and get hips more towards target. Should neutralize that path a hair although that little cut swing loooks nice. 
 

 

Thank you for the feedback! Those suggestions definitely make a lot of sense. My eye does prefer a cut 99% of the time but that's a good thought to keep in mind to keep my path close to neutral when it gets a bit too outside-in.

 

I'll definitely have to try to incorporate step drills more deliberately in my scoring-oriented practice. It's another one I've messed around with a bit but never really got over the uncomfortability window. I do really like them for speed training.

[phizzy30]

No tips for the swing as I try and stay from that because it's not my area of expertise, however, I had the same problem as you briefly many years ago.  I would literally stand over the ball and freeze up.  I waggle the club much like Jason Dufner does which is my swing trigger.  Good luck in finding yours, but a simple waggle or two could help initiate your swing.  It doesn't have to be as exaggerated as Dufner's. 

Edited February 15 by phizzy30

[mitrik]

1 minute ago, phizzy30 said:

No tips for the swing as I try and stay from that because it's not my area of expertise, however, I had the same problem as you briefly many years ago.  I would literally stand over the ball and freeze up.  I waggle the club much like Jason Dufner does which is my swing trigger.  Good luck in finding yours, but a simply waggle or two could help initiate your swing.  It doesn't have to be as exaggerated as Dufner's. 

Yep, freezing up and hitting a bad half-committed shot sucks. It's a great point too that everyone really does have to find their own trigger. I guess that's why I'm here trying to build on/steal ideas until I find the one, lol. I do love the idea of the waggle, but as I'm sure you know liking the trigger idea is sometimes unexplainably different from being in the moment on the course. I'll certainly give it another shot and see if I can make it any more dynamic and natural.

[Hawkeye77]

Isn’t trying to implement a conscious trigger when trying to implement conscious thoughts in your backswing is a big issue for you maybe going the wrong direction?

 

No coach here but I’m in the camp of a little waggle or some movement to keep some motion going or active as you set up. 
 

I would avoid like the plague random swing tips. 
 

Do you have a solid, repeatable PSR?

 

 

Edited February 15 by Hawkeye77

[mitrik]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Isn’t trying to implement a conscious trigger when trying to implement conscious thoughts in your backswing is a big issue for you maybe going the wrong direction?

 

No coach here but I’m in the camp of a little waggle or some movement to keep some motion going or active as you set up. 
 

I would avoid like the plague random swing tips. 
 

Do you have a solid, repeatable PSR?

 

 

I wouldn’t say I’m trying to implement a conscious trigger and conscious backswing thoughts at the same time, it’s more along the lines of trying to leverage a trigger that keeps me active so I can avoid having to ever think about “what it looks/feels like” at any point. Sorta similar to a general philosophy that guys like Drew Cooper and Dr. Kwon subscribe to. The idea of one thing, movement, or sequence setting everything in motion so the momentum of the clubhead becomes a primary driver of the backswing. Just looking to bounce off ideas of other players really and hear what has worked for everyone.

 

I agree on the random tips point, and I think I’m fairly good at acknowledging good/bad swing tips at least for my own game. But I’ll never be one to deny hearing out and trying to understand someone else’s perspective on certain ideas. Taking in info is how I learned in the first place and I just like discussing swing theory. 
 

As far as pre shot routine, I am pretty comfortable with my PSR. I have no issues picking my start lines, target, and visualizing my shot in general. It’s usually pretty brief and effective. Like I said, the only issue I really have is at the end of the routine when it’s time to literally just pull the trigger. No matter how brief and effective my PSR is, if I freeze up at the end of it then there probably won’t be 100% commitment to my shot.

[Jeselnik]

Pressure shift for you.  Might take some adapting to depending on how bendy your spine is now……..You will learn to love it.

 

JNIK

[Hawkeye77]

5 hours ago, mitrik said:

I wouldn’t say I’m trying to implement a conscious trigger and conscious backswing thoughts at the same time, it’s more along the lines of trying to leverage a trigger that keeps me active so I can avoid having to ever think about “what it looks/feels like” at any point. Sorta similar to a general philosophy that guys like Drew Cooper and Dr. Kwon subscribe to. The idea of one thing, movement, or sequence setting everything in motion so the momentum of the clubhead becomes a primary driver of the backswing. Just looking to bounce off ideas of other players really and hear what has worked for everyone.

 

I agree on the random tips point, and I think I’m fairly good at acknowledging good/bad swing tips at least for my own game. But I’ll never be one to deny hearing out and trying to understand someone else’s perspective on certain ideas. Taking in info is how I learned in the first place and I just like discussing swing theory. 
 

As far as pre shot routine, I am pretty comfortable with my PSR. I have no issues picking my start lines, target, and visualizing my shot in general. It’s usually pretty brief and effective. Like I said, the only issue I really have is at the end of the routine when it’s time to literally just pull the trigger. No matter how brief and effective my PSR is, if I freeze up at the end of it then there probably won’t be 100% commitment to my shot.

 

No idea what "leverage a trigger" means, but it sounds like the problem is you get in your own way with too many thoughts, which is a recurring issue and overthinking in general.

 

Now searching for the next or a new thought/trigger/move that will solve the issue of too many thoughts.

 

I don't know how you get to the root of it, but I'd take a session with a quality instructor who has a some background in helping folks with what you are describing (or a sports psychologist)?  I'd say just accept your swing works and not obsess over it or get in your own way, but that's easy to say and I'm just not getting the impression you can get there your own ---- never any harm reading whatever comes/listening to anything, but I think it's all chasing your tail without getting a line on someone in person who can actually help (and someone here may have that).

Edited February 15 by Hawkeye77

[Zitlow]

A forward press kickstarts the swing. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 15 by Zitlow