Can't hit 5i through 3w with new swing changes.

[Bill Miracle]

Trying to absorb and incorporate as much off this site as I can before my lesson with Brian in 2.5 weeks.

I am hitting 6 iron through lob wedge much better but am falling apart on 5i through 3wood.

Actually hitting the driver OK (good to fair).

Is there something I am missing in trying to incorporate Brian's instruction (video answers and articles) in these clubs???

Thanks

 

[mrodock]

Tell us how you mishit the longer clubs.

 

[Toolish]

And what you have worked on recently.

 

[Bill Miracle]

Working on and shot pattern....

And what you have worked on recently.

Working on grip, set-up, proper pivot 1 and 2. Mainly, I am getting a real weak shot that hooks with 5i and either hooks or slices with 3w and 5w.

From the 7 to 5i, the shot gets really unpredictable and what I call weak. I can hit a 7i 150-160. When I really connect with 5i, 180+...however, most of the time 160 and terrible dispersion.

7i-lw...great strides. Hitting full lw @ 80-90, sw 100, gw 115, pw 125, 9 135-140, 8-140-150, 7 150-160. the power is usually there and when I miss, it's a pull which means I didn't swing out to right or a push meaning I did and came back too far inside. Easily correctable.

Not so on the 5i, hybrids and fw woods. Struggling big time to figure out the area I am off.

 

[grs]

I am having a similar issue 6 iron - SW is great never hit them better, but long irons and woods I am hooking the ball, low snap hook, its really frustrating because I used to hit my fairway woods great and my other irons terrible, it almost feels like my grip with the longer clubs feels too strong, but when I compare my left wrist to the club face they are in sync. My guess is for some reason I am coming too far inside with the longer clubs on takeaway so I will work on that, any other suggesstions would be greatly appreciated though.

Thanks

 

[Perfect Impact]

The longer clubs, played more forward, need you to use a weaker grip, proportional to how FAR forward the ball position. It is because the more forward you make contact, the further the body AND ARMS have turned and rolled leftward. You are experiencing a natural, good thing, and failing to adjust because of its different demands. Clubs are manufactured with a lead angle such that the handle end leads the club into impact. That angle is less the more forward the ball. Hence the club gets more closed by the time it gets there when that lead is less.

You nailed it when you said "my grip with the longer clubs feels too strong." IT IS. But not for all clubs. You cannot compare the back of your left hand to the clubface and expect it to be the same for all clubs isolated from impact position. Your grip with your PW when "square for impact" for THAT CLUB will be closed for your 3-I.

 

[Bill Miracle]

Correct me if I am wrong...

Isn't that a great reason to use Brian's netural grip...making sure that "The back of your left hand and
left arm should be fl at to each other and
directly facing the sky. After checking
this position, look at the score lines on
the clubface, they too should be parallel
to the ground, matching the left arm and
left hand (pic 3). When you have this
alignment, you can monitor the clubface
with the back of your left hand. This easy
equivalent makes clubface control much
more reliable and is why it has been
employed by players like Ben Hogan,
Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Johnny
Miller, David Toms and Tiger Woods."????????

I think I am doing that (in other words, I check this alignment with every club, including driver) and still have issues with weak shots with these clubs.

The longer clubs, played more forward, need you to use a weaker grip, proportional to how FAR forward the ball position. It is because the more forward you make contact, the further the body AND ARMS have turned and rolled leftward. You are experiencing a natural, good thing, and failing to adjust because of its different demands. Clubs are manufactured with a lead angle such that the handle end leads the club into impact. That angle is less the more forward the ball. Hence the club gets more closed by the time it gets there when that lead is less.

You nailed it when you said "my grip with the longer clubs feels too strong." IT IS. But not for all clubs. You cannot compare the back of your left hand to the clubface and expect it to be the same for all clubs isolated from impact position. Your grip with your PW when "square for impact" for THAT CLUB will be closed for your 3-I.

 

[Perfect Impact]

If you do what you describe, then why are your longer clubs closed at impact while that is not the case with the shorter ones? IMO it is related to the point I make: rotation of the arms occurs during a swing such that the backs of your hands are NOT going to be at the same position relative to the target line on all clubs.

Take a PW in your hand and make your grip. Hold it out directly in front of your tummy with your arms stretched level and notice how the face is oriented. Now put it on the ground. Do you not THEN have to change your grip to get it "right"?

Do the same with your driver. Do you not also adjust the grip for THAT club to "get it right?"

Would you imagine using as strong a grip for the PW as you do for your driver?

These are areas to check your own procedure: it doesn't tell all, only most of what goes on.

 

[Brian Manzella]

YIKES!!!!

30 year.

Please don't change your grip with different clubs.

Worst advice ever.

George, WTH?

Anyhoo, sounds like NOT ENOUGH AXIS TILT, either on the backswing or downswing or both.

On the backswing MAKE DAMN SURE your hips TURN ONLY!!!

On the backswing MAKE DAMN SURE your right shoulder FEELS LIKE it doesn't get any higher than it is at address and the left shoulder lines up with the right hip at the top.

On the downswing PUT YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER INTO YOUR RIGHT HIP POCKET as your first move down.

MAKE DAMN SURE your tailbone stays ahead of your neckbone through the finish swivel.

Whew!

 

[Perfect Impact]

Do you use the same ball position for all clubs, Brian? Despite the mfr of lead angle into the clubs?

 

[Toolish]

Changing grip club to club sounds like a recipe for disaster...

You say if contact is made more forward then the hands have rolled more, I have always thought that the hands are in the same spot (essentially) at impact no matter what the club. The reason for the forward ball position is less forward lean built into the club.

If you take your grip at an impact fix type condition that should cover any changes required IMHO.

 

[dbl]

George, be reasonable. The guy is soon to be in a live lesson with Brian, so don't confuse him worse than he is.

 

[EdStraker]

Do you use the same ball position for all clubs, Brian? Despite the mfr of lead angle into the clubs?

The width of my stance varies, but the ball is in the same position relative to my left shoulder. Ben Doyle introduced this to me when I took a lesson with him 3 years ago.

Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and numerous other golfers keep the ball position constant and are very successful with it.

 

[Perfect Impact]

Fair enough... But information about realities liberates, no? It's good TO explore these items.

Some day BM and GH can compare notes in person. Prolly find a lot in common. And a lot VERY different.

Yes, TSH, if you are going to see Brian, which I did not know, by all means let him splain it if he sees it diffint than I do.

 

[Brian Manzella]

George,

I teach Ball Position multiple ways to different golfers depending on their needs.

This lead angle thing is not reality, though.

 

[Perfect Impact]

We don't agree about LA. but agree on personalizing the instruction - as long as it doesn't compromise "perfect" mechanics for the pupil...

 

[Bill Miracle]

Ah sooooooo.....so that's how ya do it!!!!

I think it's the downswing! Thanks for the tip! I assume I keep the grip as I have...like the article shows....for all clubs. Just make sure the back of the left wrists and the scoring lines keep the proper angles.

Can't wait to get to the range.

30 year.

Please don't change your grip with different clubs.

Worst advice ever.

George, WTH?

Anyhoo, sounds like NOT ENOUGH AXIS TILT, either on the backswing or downswing or both.

On the backswing MAKE DAMN SURE your hips TURN ONLY!!!

On the backswing MAKE DAMN SURE your right shoulder FEELS LIKE it doesn't get any higher than it is at address and the left shoulder lines up with the right hip at the top.

On the downswing PUT YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER INTO YOUR RIGHT HIP POCKET as your first move down.

MAKE DAMN SURE your tailbone stays ahead of your neckbone through the finish swivel.

Whew!