What does this mean?

[Big D McGee]

No follow-through =long, high shots!

Hi all. This Saturday, I took advantage of the mild temperatures and broke out my clubs and my new push cart. Aside from getting some great exercise (the course I played is EXTREMELY hilly), my round was going pretty poorly. I didn't have my driver, and was worm-burners with everything except my wedges. I chalked it up to rust and decided to play 2 balls and consider the round "practice".

Something funny happened on #12, though. I hit my tee shot into the trees, but pretty close to the green. I figured what the hell, I'll try and punch the ball out. I took my normal stance, made a 3/4 backswing, and swung pretty fast, but stopped my follow-through about 1/2 way. Lo and behold, the ball took off high and soft, *plop* right on the green.

The next hole, I hit an ok 3-wood, and had about 175 to the green. I took a 5-Iron, normal grip, stance, alighnment, and once again shortened my follow-through. Bingo, another GIR, and a pretty good shot.

So what am I doing wrong on my full follow through that leads to worm-burners and shanks? I don't want to be making a funny no-follow through, even though the results are often good.

HELP!! Thanks!! :)

[857 Pro-Ti]

Most likely it's the shortening of your backswing that is giving you better ball striking along with better accuracy. Most people tend to have too long of a backswing and would benefit from taking 3/4 swings rather than trying to RIP at it :)

[themouth1]

I have seen people that do that. It is usually caused buy letting the club head pass your hands on the way through. When you hit a punch shot, the goal is to hit the ball with your hands forward. It you let the club head pass them, the ball will go straight up. This is how I hit the ball high when I want to. I just release the club a bit more. In your case, you are probably holding on to the club so tight that it doesn't release at all. This will cause shanks and low shots. When your swing thought is to hit the ball high, you are releasing the club. I would try to think of hitting shots with dead (passive and soft) hands and see if that helps your full swing. Good luck

[KeilwerthSX90R]

If you describing high and soft as a bad abnormally high shot then I think themouth1 is dead on.

 

If you are saying that you are hitting good shots with a 3/4 swing (which is what I think you're saying) then I think 857 pro-ti is right. By shortening your backswing your body and arms are probably more matched and are more in sync going through. Also - at least for me - I find that my abbreviated follow throughs usually result in a better extension of the arms through the shot. For me, I think it's the visual of the arms ending away from my body, out in front where as on a full swing my final visual is of my arms around my body more.

[Big D McGee]

I have seen people that do that. It is usually caused buy letting the club head pass your hands on the way through. When you hit a punch shot, the goal is to hit the ball with your hands forward. It you let the club head pass them, the ball will go straight up. This is how I hit the ball high when I want to. I just release the club a bit more. In your case, you are probably holding on to the club so bad that all it doesn't release at all. This will cause shanks and low shots. When your swing thought is to hit the ball high, you are releasing the club. I would try to think of hitting shots with dead (passive and soft) hands and see if that helps your full swing. Good luck

 

This very well may be the case, although I consciously try to keep my grip pressure very light. I think I may be gripping a little too hard on the way down. I think I will practice an abbreviated follow-through, to get the feel of my hands passing the ball first. Hopefully I can translate it into a complete backswing after a couple of hours at the range.

 

I will also be aware of shortening my backswing. I can clear my hips pretty fast, and my swing speed is very good, so I don't think I'll experience that much loss of distance by shortening my backswing. It will certainly go longer than a worm burner. Besides with today's technology, almost anybody can hit a hybrid 4I over 200. :tongue:

 

Thanks for the feedback, it's all really helpful!! :)