Just getting started

[RIduffer]

I bought COFF and Building Blocks a few weeks ago and have been practicing my chipping and pitching a couple hours everyday. I feel I'm on the right track (good contact, hands forward at impact, divot after the ball, etc.) but I think I still have major clubface issues. Basically, the longer the shot, the more I can feel myself trying to square the clubface. I've heard people mention "lagging the hosel", and that's definitely what I feel.

I've read Brian's articles on the grip, the twistaway, and lagging the sweetspot but, to be honest, it's just not clicking yet. My grip has never felt right (I feel my right hand slipping at impact), and when I try the twistaway wrist-hinge I end up getting really handsy and out of sync. Would NSA or another video clarify most of these issues for me or should I start bowling?

Thanks for any suggestions and I appreciate all that Brian and the other staff offer here.

Mike

 

[spktho]

Welcome to the site.

Speaking from experience, take care of the club face issue before moving on and developing some other compensations that will have to be dealt with also.

The best way that I can describe the twistaway or the proper left forearm motion is to hold your left arm out straight in front of you, with your left hand in a fist and a flat wrist. Then stick your thumb out (it is pointing straight to right). This is your top of the backswing left wrist position.

Now rotate your forearm so your thumb is pointing straight up while keeping your left wrist flat. This is the impact position.

Keep rotating your forearm so that your thumb points left with a flat wrist, this is the follow through position.

When doing the chip, pitch and punches in COFF, make sure your left wrist goes through these positions(actually will be holding the impact position with a bent right wrist and flat left wrist if you are doing sustaining the line of compression) and have a "turning down" feel with the left wrist at first. At the same time make sure your right wrist stays bent through impact. Doing the chips and pitches one handed with each hand/wrist/arm moving correctly also helps.

After all that, NSA does a great job with explaining proper grip and wrist conditions during the swing. Also goes over some drills that are the next step from the chips, pitches and punches like club face down, club face on the movie screen and wedding ring up.

 

[RIduffer]

Thanks spktho. I have been lurking on the forum for a while but don't have any knowledge to offer, and a little sheepish with my newbie questions.

Anyway, your description of the left wrist movement makes sense. I have noticed I can now hit left-hand-only chips. But I think I need to go alot further with my chip/pitch exercises and maintain that flat wrist all the way through, instead of flipping it after impact.

 

[dannyc]

RI,

you are definitely in the right place!
i wish i had this forum when i was starting out...of course i started golfing long before the internet...
i would recommend getting nsa. for $10, you can learn more about the golf swing in 45 mins than your regular foursome combined will ever know.
also, i would recommend you keep working on the twistaway. that alone shouldn't make you feel armsy or out of sync. imo, learninig to twist the shaft (counter and clockwise) as much or as little as you want will benefit your game.

 

[RIduffer]

Thanks dannyc. I started watching NSA, and practiced some of the moves at the range today.

 

[RIduffer]

Really working hard...nothing happening with NSA so far. Guess it's going to be a a lot of work for me.

 

[RIduffer]

OK, swing is starting to feel much different, and I'm hitting some solid shots with alot more power. Now that I'm getting the hang of twistaway, I can see how my body naturally stops coming OTT, casting, etc.

Currently, my clubface is pretty shut at the top, as I'm using alot of twistaway. If I'm not careful I can hit some nasty hooks on occasion. But when I try to use less twistaway, I lose the solid contact.

Does this mean I'm opening the club on the way down and losing twistaway if I need to have it so shut at the top? Or is it kind of a gradual process of blowing up the slice swing and then getting more orthodox positions later on. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Matt Bryda]

If you keep hitting hooks, work on trying to hit the box (the whole club hitting the box just past impact), assuming you have achieved impact hips.


Matt

 

[spktho]

If you keep hitting hooks, work on trying to hit the box (the whole club hitting the box just past impact), assuming you have achieved impact hips.

Matt

Also make sure you have axis tilt--tailbone in front of neck--with the right shoulder low at impact.

I would suggest having the left wrist flat at the top and the club face matching(parallel to) the left wrist.

Sounds like you are doing some good work. For me, the major battle is controlling the club face. Get this down and it opens up the whole swing.

 

[RIduffer]

Thanks so much for the input guys. I guess you are referencing the last couple sections of NSA (hit the box, axis tilt) to correct the left misses. I re-watched those tonight and will practice those moves.

Also, watching Golf Channel tonight and noticing my clubface is not really as shut as I thought in comparison to the pros. Looks and feels shut to me, but I've probably played long enough with an open clubface that my idea of square is just wrong.

 

[Kevin Shields]

I bought COFF and Building Blocks a few weeks ago and have been practicing my chipping and pitching a couple hours everyday. I feel I'm on the right track (good contact, hands forward at impact, divot after the ball, etc.) but I think I still have major clubface issues. Basically, the longer the shot, the more I can feel myself trying to square the clubface. I've heard people mention "lagging the hosel", and that's definitely what I feel.

I've read Brian's articles on the grip, the twistaway, and lagging the sweetspot but, to be honest, it's just not clicking yet. My grip has never felt right (I feel my right hand slipping at impact), and when I try the twistaway wrist-hinge I end up getting really handsy and out of sync. Would NSA or another video clarify most of these issues for me or should I start bowling?

Thanks for any suggestions and I appreciate all that Brian and the other staff offer here.

Mike

Is there anyway you can post a still of your grip or a video of your swing?

 

[RIduffer]

Is there anyway you can post a still of your grip or a video of your swing?

Not right now, but I will try to within the next couple weeks.

Incidentally, my grip is feeling somewhat better after watching NSA. Think I needed to get the heel pad of my left hand a bit more on top of the grip. I also have pretty large hands, and have gotten more stability switching to midsize grips.

Thanks and I'll do my best to get a video up.