Backswing help needed

[duckjr78]

I think I finally understand enough terminology to ask the question that I can't seem to solve on my own. I have COFF and NSA and both videos have helped my knowledge of the golfswing tremendously. Now I need help with something else.

I pop-out fairly early in the backswing, and over-rotate my LFW. Then about halfway throught the backswing, my right elbow gets behind me laterally and bends more than 90 deg as I approach the top of the backswing. Also, the left elbow bends and the club crosses the line at the top. The toe of the club is almost straight down at the top of the backswing. The feeling I have is that halfway back to the top of the backswing, tension in the right shoulder sets in, and the LFW rotates the opposite direction that it rotates in the first part of the backswing. I think this is what causes the cupping of the left wrist, bending of the right elbow, etc.

From behind, with the driver, at the top of the backswing, I look a bit like Angel Cabrera. But what works for him with his talent and time to practice, simply doesn't work for me. Now that I understand the Dplane, my good shots are quite good. But the bad shots are horrific. They tend to be thin push slices that are so far opposite of the shot that I am trying to play, they tend to result in penalty strokes. Underplane flipping would be my best guess, with a wide open clubface. Every now and then a hosel rocket shows up as well.

Will extensor action help this backswing? Which pattern should I try? Is there a backswing that will help me get to a more orthodox position at the top, allowing me to lag the sweetspot on the way down? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[birly-shirly]

On your description, if your clubface is toe down at the top - aren't you needing more twist away? I'm not sure that a straighter left arm is the answer. In my experience, a straight left arm and a cupped left wrist seem to be a natural pairing, and vice versa, in that it's easier to maintain a flat left wrist on the way back if my left arm stays soft.

I think, if you have the clubface less open through your transition and into the downswing, then you'll be lagging the sweetspot instead of the hosel.

 

[spmurph]

Which pattern should I try? Is there a backswing that will help me get to a more orthodox position at the top, allowing me to lag the sweetspot on the way down? Any help is greatly appreciated.

IMO, Soft Draw Pattern. Keeping the LAFW from over-rotating was the key for me in lagging the sweetspot. You can always add some twistaway for closed clubface insurance.

I would also recommend Never Hook Again. It's not just for hookers and contains some great info.

 

[duckjr78]

I have had sucess with the twistaway. But there is something that happens in my backswing that seems to "force" my right hand/wrist/arm to push on the grip and bend my left wrist.

I should also note that this seems to increase in frequency with the longer clubs (longer backswing?). Where I may hit a really squirrelly shot 1 out of 5 times with an 8 iron, with a hybrid or wood off the ground it's more like 1 out of 2.

 

[Bonesy]

maybe you are powering/moving the club too much w/ your hands/arms. try a sharp hip turn to get the club moving to the top. from there, unwind w/ your lower body first.

 

[duckjr78]

maybe you are powering/moving the club too much w/ your hands/arms. try a sharp hip turn to get the club moving to the top. from there, unwind w/ your lower body first.

I think this may be a big part of the problem. I've noticed that my armswing finishes before my body turn does. In looking at swing sequence photos of the pros, it seems that their body turns almost always finish before their arms finish swinging back.

 

[greenfree]

L.C.T. more in handpath and some twistaway in the b.s.

 

[duckjr78]

L.C.T. more in handpath and some twistaway in the b.s.

Which pattern is this most similar to? I'd like to buy another video, but I'm not sure which one to go to next.

 

[greenfree]

Which pattern is this most similar to? I'd like to buy another video, but I'm not sure which one to go to next.

I think Softdraw might help you. Just a guess on which video, you could use things from different videos that you might need.

 

[Burner]

I have had sucess with the twistaway. But there is something that happens in my backswing that seems to "force" my right hand/wrist/arm to push on the grip and bend my left wrist.

I should also note that this seems to increase in frequency with the longer clubs (longer backswing?). Where I may hit a really squirrelly shot 1 out of 5 times with an 8 iron, with a hybrid or wood off the ground it's more like 1 out of 2.

I would bet money that all of your problems arise out of trying to add a bit of extra "grunt" at the top of your back swing.

This leads to cocking of the right wrist, bending of the left wrist, over bending of the right elbow - which, in turn, bends the left arm and causes you to wrap the club around your neck, crossing the plane line in the process.

Slow your back swing down to a blur and try to start the down swing before you get to the end of your back swing.

Surprisingly easy to do and very efficacious.

Remember - nothing gets hit on the back swing so save the effort for the down swing and apply it gradually.