NSA and Twistaway Question

[jerwmart1]

Quick question on the NSA swing pattern and twistaway. I recently solved a chronic slice problem with NSA 2.0 and COFF. My misses for the first time are to the left and am hitting my irons much better but for some reason I began to snap hooking my woods and driver.

One thing I noticed is that during my backswing with the twistaway, my right hand is really getting strong (working underneath) and it feels like my right hand is really working the twistaway. Also, I have noticed my skin on the right thumb is being worn but not blistered. I have tried to dial down the twistaway but it just doesn’t 'feel' like I can get a good backswing without it now. Should I start looking at one of the other videos such as NHA or SD and change my pattern or should I concentrate more on twisting with the left on the backswing? Thanks for any comments.

 

[Erik_K]

Is the ball starting left and hooking left?

I ask because it sounds like the face is fixed, but the path may be out to in. I think it is common to fix the face and then start to hit shots all over the left side of the course.

The next step may be getting the ball to start out to the right and falling to the left, or you can play a fade.

You can certainly watch the SD pattern video and give it a shot (same for NHA). However, if you have a case of severe pulls, I think we need to straighten the path out some.

Erik

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Just sounds like your grip is too strong and it's shutting the face too much, you need to grip it manzella neutral to really make NSA work; if you start getting it too strong and still employ that much twistaway FORE LEFT!

 

[jerwmart1]

Thanks for the comments. Played tonight and the first 14 holes went great with mostly straight shots and small draws and then all of a sudden I start hitting low pull hooks that start low left and then continue left with all irons and woods. Suddenly I felt like I wasn't doing twistaway correctly and could not figure it out on the course. Did not play the 18th so something is happening with my hands/wrists during a round so I am stumped. Weird!

On a good note I had some of my best chipping and bunker shots due to COFF and over and out!

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

jerwmart, sounds like a combination of closed face and an over the top or too far left path. Maybe you got a little tired and just had a path that was too left?

 

[jerwmart1]

I have encountered this issue at the beginning of my range sessions as well but I think that was part of my problem last night. After watching NSA again and swinging a bit last night when I got home I am hoping I found the root cause. I have only been golfing for a few years and one thing that has been a problem for me is overswinging. I'm a big guy so it is has been very challenging for me to turn off my brain from "hitting the ball hard" and have been working hard this summer trying to establish a good tempo. I recently ordered the orange whip trainer after swinging a buddies a few times. The whip made me feel like my swing was way too fast with little pivot.

Anyways, whenever I struggle with my swing I try to slow things down a bit and last night I discovered that I wasn't making much of a shoulder turn during my 'slower' backswing and was able to duplicate the awkward twistaway feeling. Only when I made a full shoulder turn did the more 'norma'l twistaway feeling return. It was late pretty late so I could be way off but I am thinking the full twistaway swing with only the arms was causing my upper body to come over the top with the closed face?? I am going to range this evening to test my theory. I appreciate the input and I will let you know how this works out.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

If you don't turn enough to get the arms "deep enough" it's hard NOT to have a too out/in path. So it is possible.

 

[jerwmart1]

Interesting range session last night. Short irons went well and then started with the weak starting left and continuing left pull hooks with the longer irons and woods. Grabbed the short iron again and same thing. I’m thinking WTF! Ensured good should turn and easy backswing but continuing to struggle. Almost finished with the bag and then instead of easy practice swings I start taking hard swings into the ground really feeling the lag on my right trigger finger and tearing up the range with divots like in COFF(glad I was the only one on the range). Stepped up and started striping my nine iron shots pretty dam straight with good compression. I just ensured I took hard practice swing divots while feeling the pressure on my right trigger finger. I then stepped up to the ball and dialed it back on the swing but ensured I maintained the lag feeling. Felt pretty good so I am hoping I am back on track.

I didn’t get a chance to hit longer irons and woods since I ran out of balls so I am wondering what adjustments if any should be done with the longer clubs…flatter plane, swing more around the body, more axis tilt?? Thanks!

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Sounds like you don't have enough axis tilt with the longer clubs which is generally natural for someone who is using NSA. Most slicers have an open clubface, a reverse pivot, no axis tilt through the ball and an out/in path.

NSA strives to fix all those things and it's easiest with the shorter clubs but as you progress you need more and more tilt at impact to continue the path you need to not slice it. I think in NSA brian talks about hitting "the box" or that might be COAFF. Focus on that for the longer clubs.

 

[jerwmart1]

Sounds like you don't have enough axis tilt with the longer clubs which is generally natural for someone who is using NSA. Most slicers have an open clubface, a reverse pivot, no axis tilt through the ball and an out/in path.

NSA strives to fix all those things and it's easiest with the shorter clubs but as you progress you need more and more tilt at impact to continue the path you need to not slice it. I think in NSA brian talks about hitting "the box" or that might be COAFF. Focus on that for the longer clubs.

Will do...Thanks for the feedback!