"Instructor Needs Some Swing Advice"

[utopiapga]

Closed at the "Top"

As alot of you know I am an Instructor and a player myself here on the forum. For a long time I have played extremely well with a closed clubface at the top of my swing just like David Duval in the good years. I have played to a +4 handicap for over 2 years now and I am currently trying to do the Mini-Tour stuff when money and time are availiable.

My delema is that being an Istructor myself I just don't trust anyone to work on my swing but as we all know you cannot do it alone. Even the best golfer in the World "Tiger" has an Instructor, and no matter who you are you need that extra set of eyes out of the box to help you along.

My question to all of you is even though you have never seen me swing I have a nuetral grip, parallel set at the top of my swing and a flat wrist at the top but I still have a shut club face. My natural ball flight is a slight draw and when I am hitting "Great" I actually hit it dead straight. In my opinion I don't think this is that big of deal but has bugged me for along time. I have always wondered if I would be that much more consistant if I could correct this somehow. I have a very good one plane swing that is very repeatable and the only thing I work hard on is Tempo for me. The better my Tempo the better I can control my ball fight and trajectory.

So I am open to what all of you think out there and will take all critisism contructively and will also be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance and very much look forward to all of your reply's!!

Craig "Utopiapga"

[CRutherford]

I've played since the start with a dead shut face at the top, although I promise I can't touch a +4! Man that's amazing, and I swear if you hit that, I wouldn't change ANYTHING!

 

BTW, maybe you could PM me with a little info about stopping a shank, even if I do draw the ball. :)

:cheesy: :cheesy:

 

But serioulsy...PM me....please :blink:

[jportz]

From what I know of the one plane swing, it's ok to be a little shut at the top but never open. Of course I can only speak from what I've read in books...being a 5 hc myself I understand the swing well enough and from what I've heard, being a little shut at the top is fine...as long as it's just a little.

 

Do you think this is causing some inconsistency for you? Just curious why it's bothering you....is it just because you know that you do it?

 

I'll send you a video of my swing and you'll feel much better about your own. :)

[slicefixer]

Well, as a PLUS 4 handicap, unless your playing the easiest course in N. America, you shouldn't really be concerned IMOP.......ONLY if you can see a weakness in your ballstriking that is holding you back in tournament competition.......personally I'd be more concerned with working on my TOURNAMENT course managment/short game as it sounds like your a wonderful ballstriker.......

 

However, IF ya' just gotta' know the reason your clubface is shut it's most probably one of several reasons....

 

- your grip isn't "neutral," but, is actually strong......

- You sucking the clubhead a lil bit inside minus left forearm rotation....

- your left wrist is TRULY "flat" (which few good players actually are in reality) as that WOULD shut the face even when starting from a TRULY "neutral" grip.....most good ballstrikers left wrist DOES "flatten" from the angle of the "set" of their left wrist at address, but, it is NOT actually FLAT at the top......just "flatter" due to the proper "setting" of the right wrist in the backswing.....but its NOT TRULY flat as that shuts the face and lays the shaft off.......

 

Once again, I would NOT worry about it as you sound like a helluva' good player......work on your "mental game" so that you can take that +4 into your tournaments.......then I'll get to film you at Augusta pretty soon!! :) :cheesy:

[utopiapga]

Thanks guys for the responses so far I do appreciate every response.

 

jportz thanks man and I could always use a good laugh but thanks for the response just something as an Instructor I have always wondered about and decided to post this here to hear some of the responses.

 

slicefixer thanks to you as well, I am actually truely flat at the top with the wrist and this is probably why in fact I am shut at the top. I actually used to be a little weak with my grip but have been working hard on getting my "V's" in the correct position which feels a little strong to me but in reality I don't hit the pull hook anymore with this grip. Like you said I used to have a slightly weak grip which made me have really active hands and would tend to hit a pull hook in pressure situations whan I would slightly decell at the impact zone which caused my hands to roll over to quickly. Now with this slight grip change my miss is a slight push but much more managable and controlable than a pull hook.

 

Thanks again guys for the input and keep em coming...........

 

I am making note of alll your responses and putting it in my Teaching book I want to write some day. The good responses will get a piece of the pie...........

 

Thanks Craig "Utopiapga"

[slicefixer]

slicefixer thanks to you as well, I am actually truely flat at the top with the wrist and this is probably why in fact I am shut at the top. I actually used to be a little weak with my grip but have been working hard on getting my "V's" in the correct position which feels a little strong to me but in reality I don't hit the pull hook anymore with this grip. Like you said I used to have a slightly weak grip which made me have really active hands and would tend to hit a pull hook in pressure situations whan I would slightly decell at the impact zone which caused my hands to roll over to quickly. Now with this slight grip change my miss is a slight push but much more managable and controlable than a pull hook.

 

 

 

 

LOL....use to be my "nemisis" too my friend......miserable feeling isn't it......:) Glad to hear you solved it.....the changes you made were PERFECT! IMOP anyway....:cheesy: Anyway, its obvious you can really play so work your butt off on your "mental" game and short game......:cheesy: