I've gotten great help from Confessions, Never Slice & Soft-Draw, but have a particular problem I could use some drills for. I tend to have an overactive lower body, meaning legs breaking down and sliding toward the target and hips and shoulders spinning out with hands slapping at the ball powerlessly from way too far behind. This is a major power leak, but the only way I know how to fix it, which is locking down my legs and slowing down the hips and shoulders, is also terribly weak. Can anyone suggest some drills to get the hands through the ball in time? FWIW, I think I generally swing back on-plane, although I do sometimes overswing with the arms (but I don't think this is sole cause of this issue for me). Thanks for any help!
Help with swing sequencing
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Erik_K
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A few thougts without seeing your swing...
Make sure you weight stays between the arches of your feet. A big move (laterally) back and forth can cause all sorts of issues.
The right foot should never be 'actively' pulled off the ground. Rather the pivot and the turning of the hips through the ball pulls the right leg/foot foot toward the target. It's almost a sliding motion of the right toe over the ground as you pivot around your left leg.
I would not over think-this issue. Ever play any other sports, such as baseball or football? A lot of the power in the golf swing comes from the lower body. When I am swinging well, sometimes I think of throwing a baseball or football while I am swinging. Never, not once, when I throw a ball do I think of the sequencing. Thus, to me, when people have sequencing/tempo problems it's often problem with their mindset before striking the ball.
Don't hunt the ball, swing through it.
You also mentioned swinging through with the hands. There's no better drill for aiming point and even some pivot work then Doyle's bunker drill. Get in the bunker with your wedge and draw a line. Swing down and take divots that are nominally straight (maybe they will curve more left with the shorter irons). If you are hitting behind the line - there's your flip.
Swing slow and smooth. At first don't worry about the straightness of the divot. Make sure you make contact just before that line by using your PIVOT. When you can do this 7-8x out of 10, move up to a 7 iron, then a 5 iron.
Brian and Ben have a variation known as the 'Great Wall of China' and to further develop your pivot you can erect a wall of sand (3-4" tall) and now you'll really need to use your pivot to blast the head through the sand. Trust me, when you learn to use your pivot - the ball stands no chance!
You could be having a host of other issues, such as an improper takeaway or top of swing position that doesn't promote a proper lower body sequence. If you are overly steep on the downswing, your hips and legs will not want to cooperate! If they do, big pulls to the left are possible.
**************
Regarding path. It's certainly possible to have excellent aim, but an overly steep (or even too flat) path. If your lower body is not active, then the shoulders spin out and you cut across the ball - divots way out to the left.
So when working on the range or in the bunker, the direction of the divot is related to the path. You may need to feel like you are swinging more out to right field. Aim for the inside of the ball while keeping the weight between the arches of your feet.
Certainly the proper amount of Axis Tilt is critical to getting the right shoulder deep enough so it can drive down plane. You need the room to swing down to the inside...
Erik
Make sure you weight stays between the arches of your feet. A big move (laterally) back and forth can cause all sorts of issues.
The right foot should never be 'actively' pulled off the ground. Rather the pivot and the turning of the hips through the ball pulls the right leg/foot foot toward the target. It's almost a sliding motion of the right toe over the ground as you pivot around your left leg.
I would not over think-this issue. Ever play any other sports, such as baseball or football? A lot of the power in the golf swing comes from the lower body. When I am swinging well, sometimes I think of throwing a baseball or football while I am swinging. Never, not once, when I throw a ball do I think of the sequencing. Thus, to me, when people have sequencing/tempo problems it's often problem with their mindset before striking the ball.
Don't hunt the ball, swing through it.
You also mentioned swinging through with the hands. There's no better drill for aiming point and even some pivot work then Doyle's bunker drill. Get in the bunker with your wedge and draw a line. Swing down and take divots that are nominally straight (maybe they will curve more left with the shorter irons). If you are hitting behind the line - there's your flip.
Swing slow and smooth. At first don't worry about the straightness of the divot. Make sure you make contact just before that line by using your PIVOT. When you can do this 7-8x out of 10, move up to a 7 iron, then a 5 iron.
Brian and Ben have a variation known as the 'Great Wall of China' and to further develop your pivot you can erect a wall of sand (3-4" tall) and now you'll really need to use your pivot to blast the head through the sand. Trust me, when you learn to use your pivot - the ball stands no chance!
You could be having a host of other issues, such as an improper takeaway or top of swing position that doesn't promote a proper lower body sequence. If you are overly steep on the downswing, your hips and legs will not want to cooperate! If they do, big pulls to the left are possible.
**************
Regarding path. It's certainly possible to have excellent aim, but an overly steep (or even too flat) path. If your lower body is not active, then the shoulders spin out and you cut across the ball - divots way out to the left.
So when working on the range or in the bunker, the direction of the divot is related to the path. You may need to feel like you are swinging more out to right field. Aim for the inside of the ball while keeping the weight between the arches of your feet.
Certainly the proper amount of Axis Tilt is critical to getting the right shoulder deep enough so it can drive down plane. You need the room to swing down to the inside...
Erik
I believe no one knows your swing better than you, but I am wondering how you came by understanding that these are your problems. Is this something you became aware of yourself through observation, or is it something you're being told you do?
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