hanging on the back foot and flipping

[wetdogg]

Can anyone out there help me. I am a scratch golfer who has been struggling with my golf swing for over a year now. i have been having lessons all the time with a very credible teacher, but am still struggling!

 

Anyway, my tendancy is to spin my hips too quickly on the down swing. My left arm plane gets to far out as a result and i bow my left wrist underneath to get the club somewhat on plane. My hands and arms try to catch up, and i end up flipping through the arms, while hanging on the back foot ( back foot is planted to the ground for far too long). I hot a lot of flip hooks and the occasional high right as a compensation move.

 

My teacher tells me to keep the hips quieter on the down swing (right foot back drill, keeping hips closed), then when i get to the delivery position, rotate the club through with my body. This is very hard for me to feel and do in such a dynamic move.

 

 

CAN ANYONE HELP ME???

[jtgolfing]

Hi

It sounds like you are starting the downswing too agressively! Your body needs resistance to move and you only have resistance through your feet with the floor. At the top of the swing you are standing with the majority of weight on your right leg, so if you start the downswing too agressively the body will not allow a weight transfer to take place and remain on the right foot. You can prove this by hitting a few gentle wedge shots (they should be no problem for you). If this is the case then you have to change the way you start the downswing. As you know turning the hips too quickly is not the answer. Most golfers are convinced that a quick hip turn will increase the clubhead speed. In truth the hip turn will also turn the shoulders and the shoulders should be parrallel to the target line in impact, at which point the arms, hands and club are back in their starting positions (approx.). The problem is that the hands have 10 times the distance back to impact as the shoulders so you will have to move them 10 times quicker!!!! The average speed of a professionals shoulder turn is unders 2mph, their hands are moving at over 20mph and the clubhead 120mph (driver).

Try starting the downswing with the arms, do not block the body but have the feeling that it is turning passively. Remember you have created alot of tension between the upper and lower body in the backswing, by just relaxing you will turn back to the ball automatically. Have the feeling you are swinging your arms back to their starting position. Hold the club as lightly as you can and let it release to the target.

It is best to practice this without a real ball, but with an imaginery ball. Imagine the ball fly to the target with every pratice swing. Then hit a real ball but do NOT think about the swing, instead remember the ball flight of the imaginery ball. This method of training stops you having too many swing thoughts.

 

Have fun!!

 

JT

[mikpga]

Assuming that you are turning your hips too aggressively, which in my experience, most people don't even come close to clearing their hips(rotation vs lateral sliding). However, if you are clearing too soon or aggressively, try to point your front foot in towards the ball. This will make it very difficult to rotate the hips through.

 

Mike

[mayes]

Assuming that you are turning your hips too aggressively, which in my experience, most people don't even come close to clearing their hips(rotation vs lateral sliding). However, if you are clearing too soon or aggressively, try to point your front foot in towards the ball. This will make it very difficult to rotate the hips through.

 

Mike

 

I went through similar struggles a few years ago. Mikpga's advise worked for me. Turn you left foot inside to about 2 O'Clock with every club in the bag. Please take some easy practice swings before taking full swings because it will add some stress to the knee and hip. This should help with getting the feeling of starting the swing with something besides a hip turn and/or snapping the left knee back.

[ultra45]

i was turning my hips too quick and hanging back...an instructor told me to try and sense that my upperbody was starting the downswing and that my right shoulder was getting through... that got my weight transfered over to my front foot and i started making a lot better contact...

[Golf31]

You have just described my problem. I have worked for a long time to correct this problem. Foot and flip is how it feels. I have found two thoughts that correct the problem when it gets really bad.

 

1. I concentrate on the my feet. The feet are very sensitive if you let them. I hit several buckets with no shoes on to get the feeling of balance and control. Without shoes on you will notice that going after a drive will hurt your feet and all sense of balance is done with the upper body instead your lower body. When I put my shoes back on I repeat the same swing but focus on soft feet. Imagine you are walking on a gravel driveway and you must walk softly for it not to hurt.

 

2. I focus on seeing the club head swing through the ball. You will be amazed at this drill when used with the feet. When I am in control I can see the club head 3 inches before the ball and 3 inches after the ball. I don't really see the club head moving, just a flash of the head. If I concentrate on looking for the head I keep things slow and smooth. It puts my swing in the correct sequence. I have learned that not being able to see my club head means I am out of sequence and getting too fast. Use your practice swing to see your club head.

 

I know this may sound very strange but I have had your problem for years. I would hit balls great on the range but snap them on the course...especially during competition. Believe me, I tried everything and seen some of the best teachers in the country and this is the only thing that worked for me.

 

I wish you luck because I know how painful it is.