The OS Golfer's Thread!

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

My neighbors and I are huge golf fans. We've been taking videos of eachother on our iphones and analyzing them in slow motion. I'm really trying to increase lag. Keep my wrist cocked through the swing and explode my wrist through the ball. Trying to get Ben Hogan type lag. I've got a smash bag that I use every night. I'll get to the range a couple times a week and hopefully get 1 or 2 rounds in a week.





Before I was doing this......Because I could never get it through my head what exactly they were saying and subconsciously I would do it.



I've been casting for years and its been killing my distance. Anyway, it dawned on me that a lot of the motion I needed was similar to skipping a stone. So I've been concentrating on that motion. I'm right handed. Getting the hips to get open and clear, bring the right arm down, keep the right wrist cocked until it gets past the ball and towards the target and then unhinging the wrist. The results have been very good. Just have to get the timing down. Instead of my left arm dictating the swing, I've really just concentrated on performing the swing from the ground up getting the turn to start the swing, let the arms naturally drop and then at the end ripping through with the wright arm/wrist.

Last Saturday on a 417 yard straight away par 4, everything clicked. Driver, Utility wedge to 3 feet, tap in birdie. Im getting my 9 iron close to 150 with this. The longer irons and fairway woods need some range time, but I've got my 60 degree going close to 85 yards, 58 degree around 95, utility wedge around 115, Pitching Wedge 130-135. The swing is much more fluid, requires less effort, and I stay in balance. If I can keep my Driver in the 270 range, I should be looking at some really solid scores going forward.

Anyway, get someone to film you from the side and watch it in slow motion. With the technology on the phones now, I even have my 8 year old daughter film me. Seeing your swing will really open your eyes.

[BBallcoach]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Actually, just learned to chip.. Watched a video from Phil Mickelson I believe. You want to get your feet somewhat close, then make a putter swing, not breaking wrists etc. You still want to kind of "pop" it. After I get off I'll find that video. I have chipped a few in now since and I couldn't chip at all before.

Yes, but he also says you want your wrist bent into an L and then swing like a putter, the face stay perfect throughout the chip. I switched to his method and became a pretty decent chipper.

[TheBleedingRed21]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Yes, but he also says you want your wrist bent into an L and then swing like a putter, the face stay perfect throughout the chip. I switched to his method and became a pretty decent chipper.

Actually, no. You don't really have much wrist hinge in a chip (I am talking 2-5 yards), if you mean a pitch shot, then yes, the wrist does hinge that much but the left wrist stays straight all the way through.

It is hard to explain in words, but it is pretty much a putting stroke, and maybe your wrist slightly bends, but I do not think it is supposed to bend like an L.

I am assuming you know the difference between chipping and pitching.. believe it or not, tons of golfers get them confused, just making sure we are on same page haha.

Anyways, I got a round scheduled at 1 tomorrow, excited to get back out and try a new pre-shot routine to hopefully become way more consistent. Right now, I feel like I have 5-6 different swings!

EDIT::

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lyzcyrBoab0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

There is a great video to show what I mean, he even explains how people bend their wrist on the chip and it is incorrect.

[pietasterp]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Working on pronating/rotating my arms into the impact area, rather than un-hinging my writsts. Seems to really be helping my consistency. But it just feels so weird right now. And as soon as I stop thinking about it or start to get a littler tired/careless, I go right back to my old crap cut swing.

It seems to me that the golf swing is like what people say about QB throwing mechanics: you can tweak and make changes, but under pressure, you inevitably go back to what your baseline/underlying motion is. I guess the key is to drill yourself so your baseline is the fixed/improved swing. Of course, easier said than done....

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Working on pronating/rotating my arms into the impact area, rather than un-hinging my writsts. Seems to really be helping my consistency. But it just feels so weird right now. And as soon as I stop thinking about it or start to get a littler tired/careless, I go right back to my old crap cut swing.

It seems to me that the golf swing is like what people say about QB throwing mechanics: you can tweak and make changes, but under pressure, you inevitably go back to what your baseline/underlying motion is. I guess the key is to drill yourself so your baseline is the fixed/improved swing. Of course, easier said than done....

Don't know if you saw my post on the last page, but I was talking precisely about this. Rotate the hips, let he arms fall, lean back and then rip the wrists through. Do not start the swing with your arms, in fact, keep the arms as quiet as possible.

[Matt10]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I posted this a couple months ago - it is my before and after swing.

This is what my instructor, Josh Nahm, from firekeper has recommended - and I went from this:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MxJ4lIj00qI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

to this:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dB40MebpHBU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The feeling on the downswing for me is actually the key for why my ball striking has improved drastically. I have lag now.

- At the start of the downswing, you must rotate your right arm (rightie) or left arm for lefties. Basically, the feel is as if you are showing your right palm to the sky.

- As this is performed you must have the thought of swing OUT. To help, I picture baseball - where I am trying to hit a line drive between 1st base and 2nd base. This works everytime - and results that nice right-to-left draw ball flight. In addition, you will get more compression because the angle of attack (which was my problem) is less steep - but I will also be able to attack from the inside rather than come over the top.

Hope that helps a little. I can explain the backswing too if needed.

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I posted this a couple months ago - it is my before and after swing.

This is what my instructor, Josh Nahm, from firekeper has recommended - and I went from this:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MxJ4lIj00qI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

to this:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dB40MebpHBU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The feeling on the downswing for me is actually the key for why my ball striking has improved drastically. I have lag now.

- At the start of the downswing, you must rotate your right arm (rightie) or left arm for lefties. Basically, the feel is as if you are showing your right palm to the sky.

- As this is performed you must have the thought of swing OUT. To help, I picture baseball - where I am trying to hit a line drive between 1st base and 2nd base. This works everytime - and results that nice right-to-left draw ball flight. In addition, you will get more compression because the angle of attack (which was my problem) is less steep - but I will also be able to attack from the inside rather than come over the top.

Hope that helps a little. I can explain the backswing too if needed.

Yep, we call that holding the Pizza Box and swinging to 1 o'clock. Of course you also have to ring the bell and skip the stone. The second swing looks solid, but you are still unhinging your wrists early. The longer you keep them cocked the better.

[Matt10]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Yep, we call that holding the Pizza Box and swinging to 1 o'clock. Of course you also have to ring the bell and skip the stone. The second swing looks solid, but you are still unhinging your wrists early. The longer you keep them cocked the better.

Oh yeah! Love that analogy, fist.

I definitely unhinge earlier - I haven't tried too much hinging or unhinging conciously - might have to start doing that

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Oh yeah! Love that analogy, fist.

I definitely unhinge earlier - I haven't tried too much hinging or unhinging conciously - might have to start doing that

What distance do you hit your clubs in the air? I am convinced based on what I see and where you are unhinging your wrists, you could add 20 yards to each club.

Everyone focuses on keeping the left arm straight, getting a solid turn, yada yada, but none of that matters for distance purposes if the wrists unhinge too early. Sure you have to get into the right position to hit the ball, but assuming you can do that, the snapping the wrist through contact is the most important element if you want to boom drives and be hitting into par 4s with lower irons and going for par 5s in 2.

The course I play is 7016 from the tips with 7 par 4s over 400 and a 633 yard par 5. Every yard of distance helps.

[pietasterp]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Don't know if you saw my post on the last page, but I was talking precisely about this. Rotate the hips, let he arms fall, lean back and then rip the wrists through. Do not start the swing with your arms, in fact, keep the arms as quiet as possible.

Saw it - really good post.

Keeping that angle like Ben is darn near impossible, though - at some point, it almost seems like I'm never going to get around on the ball in time. But I guess you just introduce it little by little. I'm focusing on basically never consciously unhinging my wrists, but letting them stay cocked and just rolling over my forearms. Sort of works, but it's a work in progress right now.

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Saw it - really good post.

Keeping that angle like Ben is darn near impossible, though - at some point, it almost seems like I'm never going to get around on the ball in time. But I guess you just introduce it little by little. I'm focusing on basically never consciously unhinging my wrists, but letting them stay cocked and just rolling over my forearms. Sort of works, but it's a work in progress right now.

Practice just swinging with your right arm. You will notice you have a ton of lag if you just swing with that arm. Its literally the same motion as skipping a stone. Then after a hundred or so swings with just your right arm let the left arm go for the ride. You are unhinging your wrists because at some point you let your left arm take over.

To see this swing a club with your right hand only and you will see the nice lag. Just like skipping a stone. You can't unhinge that right wrist until its facing the target or passes by your left thigh.

Then swing a club with your left arm only. I bet you break that wrist almost immediately.

Moral of the story the arms are just along for the ride, they shouldn't dictate anything, turn your hips, lean back, and see where your arms are without even moving them, they should be down by your side with the wrists still cocked. turn your shoulders toward the target and your wrists should be over the ball. Now uncock the wrists. now the momentum should carry our arms up through to 1 o'clock.

[Matt10]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

What distance do you hit your clubs in the air? I am convinced based on what I see and where you are unhinging your wrists, you could add 20 yards to each club.

Everyone focuses on keeping the left arm straight, getting a solid turn, yada yada, but none of that matters for distance purposes if the wrists unhinge too early. Sure you have to get into the right position to hit the ball, but assuming you can do that, the snapping the wrist through contact is the most important element if you want to boom drives and be hitting into par 4s with lower irons and going for par 5s in 2.

The course I play is 7016 from the tips with 7 par 4s over 400 and a 633 yard par 5. Every yard of distance helps.

I hit a slight draw, so here goes:

G: 110
P: 130
9: 135
8: 145
7: 155
6: 160
5: 170
4: n/a - I don't hit it, use hybrid usually
3hi: 185
3W: 200
Dr: 220

As you can see, my yardages could be significantly higher - but I know what they are. I don't hit the 4 out of preference for my hybrid. I'm not tall, just barely 5'8. I got some weight on me though at 210 from previous lifting and soccer/athletic - but lately more fat than muscle (no gym, rarely exercise). Driver carry is 220 on average, my longest drive of playing is 285 on a level set up - no wind. Swing speed needs to be figured out though as it's been a while.

I'll work on the hinging of the wrists. Snapping the wrists kind of reminds me of Mike Austin style, but not quite that much supination (or is it pronation) past the ball (so not flipping at it).

[fistofrage]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I hit a slight draw, so here goes:

G: 110
P: 130
9: 135
8: 145
7: 155
6: 160
5: 170
4: n/a - I don't hit it, use hybrid usually
3hi: 185
3W: 200
Dr: 220

As you can see, my yardages could be significantly higher - but I know what they are. I don't hit the 4 out of preference for my hybrid. I'm not tall, just barely 5'8. I got some weight on me though at 210 from previous lifting and soccer/athletic - but lately more fat than muscle (no gym, rarely exercise). Driver carry is 220 on average, my longest drive of playing is 285 on a level set up - no wind. Swing speed needs to be figured out though as it's been a while.

I'll work on the hinging of the wrists. Snapping the wrists kind of reminds me of Mike Austin style, but not quite that much supination (or is it pronation) past the ball (so not flipping at it).

Your swing is fine, you can add an easy 10-15 or so yards per club by keeping those wrists hinged longer, and I'm not talking about being perfect, just holding those wrists back a little longer and changing nothing else. The casting early actually promotes that little draw you have. Its taken me a long long time to stop casting at the top and I still can't keep my wrists hinged long enough, and that's even knowing completely what I have to do. In fact, I probably won't ever be able to get maximum lag. I think some people are born with it naturally and some aren't. Some people have that natural lag as soon as they pick up a club. Same with baseball, everyone would like to have Cabreras swing, but all you can do is put in the work and try to improve what you have.

On a side note, I play with a couple guys who are 5'8 or so, and one is about 310 off the tee and the other is in the 280 range. Timing > Size.

[TheBleedingRed21]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Since I had gotten my new clubs, I had messed my swing up and could not do anything! Finally got into a pre-shot routine (much like the pros do every shot) and today, I did it before every shot and never hit my irons better, despite the score. The score came from some bad putts and a 36% fairway on drives, had to punch out of trees a lot.

*Note - the yardages on the score card are incorrect for the most part. The GPS had that one 3 that I used a 6 that is listed as 138 but GPS showed 155.

[jmaj315]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Heading to florida tomorrow

Supposed to play almost every day. Scorecards will be plentiful this week!