Please Help with Downswing!

[Shooter McGavin]

I'm a 15 handicap and have been playing for only a couple years. I try to take a lesson every two months with the instructor i have seen since i started. I have more of an armsy release, 2ps release, roll release, whatever you want to call it.

 

My problem is on my downswing i clear my hips too early not allowing my arms to catch up and release and i end up leaving a decent amount of shots way out to the right. This has become a problem with most of my clubs but has gotten me into plenty of trouble with my driver since my home course has water in play on 16 of the 18 holes. Our last lesson my instructor told me he wants to see me considerably slow my hips down to allow my arms to speed up and release through the ball. We did a couple drills but i just can't seem to stop firing my hips so fast. Does anyone have any tips, drills, advice they can share?

 

Thanks Fellas.

[Logie]

Theres a drill called 1-2-3 Drill which is on the Plane Truth DVD (Got yesterday and watched).

 

1st step is to swing to the top of your backswing.

2nd step is to slide/bump your hip to the left at the same time dropping your arms to roughly waist height

3rd step swing through to your target and a full finish.

 

Try doing each step like a robot, taking your time to feel that your doing everything in time and together. Once you start to get the hang of it you can try doing it in one motion and speed things up till you get to your full tempo.

[Shooter McGavin]

Thanks, this is a two plane drill correct?

[dfw1500]

For you too be firing the hips too muych and leaving the arms behind it sounds to me like you are out of synch with your arms in relation to your pivot and that you have got arm run off at the top of your backswing.....this would cause you to be out of synch and would look like the arms are WAY behind the body coming down which would lead to a push or a disconnection coming through with the hands having to save the shot.

[Shooter McGavin]

For you too be firing the hips too muych and leaving the arms behind it sounds to me like you are out of synch with your arms in relation to your pivot and that you have got arm run off at the top of your backswing.....this would cause you to be out of synch and would look like the arms are WAY behind the body coming down which would lead to a push or a disconnection coming through with the hands having to save the shot.

 

 

That could very well be the case. Do you have any tips or drills?

 

And can you explain what you mean by arm run off?

[sheldonjhacker]

 

 

:wacko:

[Shooter McGavin]

 

 

:wacko:

 

 

In the video it seems like his hips are open at impact and i believe i am trying to achieve the opposite since my arms aren't able to catch up in my swing and i leave everything right.

[sheldonjhacker]

try this...

[Caddyguy]

I don't believe you can really fire your hips to fast, because fast hip is how people like big John, J.B. and the big hitters on tour get their distance. Without seeing your swing my guess would be you are sliding a little ahead of it along with the fast hip turn. By sliding ahead your hands will never catch up no matter how hard you try. My suggestion would be to continue with fast hips but be sure you arn't sliding a little at the same time. Keep the head still as you move through the shot.

[Logie]

Thanks, this is a two plane drill correct?

 

 

Yes its for two plane swing mate.

 

You need to becarefull of the hips to start the down swing you should bump/slide the hips only an inch or two, same time drop the arms down towards the right leg (Do not drop your shoulders, only your arms).

 

If you fire the hips off you will most likely get well behind the ball and hit it fat/thin, you weight will get trapped on your right side

[GreekGodX]

I have this same problem. I turn my hips too soon in my downswing and usually leave my hands open trying to get them to catch up. It doesn't happen so much in my irons but any woods/drive it is very evident.

 

I am taking lessons for this and what I have been working on is getting my arms to come down first, turning over and extending out towards the target. A good tip he gave me was imagine a person standing about 5 feet in front of you off your left shoulder and swing to them in the extension part. The key was getting my right hip to turn completely and be up on my right toe(right handed golfer). We first did it with 3/4 swing very slow tempo, without a full finish to check where the club was pointed. When doing this correctly ball goes straight or with a slight draw. I started off doing this with a 5-iron and then using my 3-wood(both off the ground.)

 

As you get more consistent doing it you speed up the tempo and eventually get into a full swing. Eliminating any kind of lateral movement will help you. I would make a big lateral movement to the left in the downswing that was also making it hard to square the face. Hope this helps!