Please help this beginner

[Lifter]

Below are a couple videos of my buddy:

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_MtfFK1Bznw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/udWGF7nnGRQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

He's a beginning golfer. When I first saw his swing, I couldn't believe that he is. I think he has TONS of potential.

What are the major things that you would first have him implement in order to eliminate his slice (vast majority but not all)?

My guess is that he should focus first on vertical handpath on the downswing. Once he achieves substantial improvement there, he should start trying to finish totally on his front foot rather than his back foot (which you can see in the video).

What do y'all think? Are these the most important things to focus on? Or would other areas of focus probably achieve bigger results?

 

[Olof Karlson]

Wow, be sure to tell him he has an incredible swing for a beginner! I think he could probably stand a bit closer to the ball, it looks like he's reaching for it with his arms.

It looks like someone might have told him to keep his head still, he doesn't have much of a "pull back". I'd tell him to let his head move backwards a bit in the backswing, which I think could free him up a bit in the swing. Just fixing this could fix the back foot finish.

I'd focus mostly on basics like these, and then kinda see what happens a bit. I think his swing could evolve a bit on its own if the basics are practiced.

 

[Lifter]

On head still, I'm not sure I agree. Seems to me that a Stack and Tiltish sort of pattern, with the head staying fairly centered, might be a good fit for my friend.

I agree with standing too far away from it. That was one thing I saw. Another thing I see is that he's across-the-line at the top. However, my feeling is that those issues are less important than the downswing horizontal hand path and backfoot finish. It'll be interesting to see if others disagree with me, though.

 

[johnnymarlboro]

NSA in my opinion. Get him to fix that grip and release the club with a full swivel. Right now it looks like he's releasing the club alot like you do. Certainly a valid pattern, but he'll run into the same issues as you as he gets better. Better to learn the other way while he's new to it.

 

[Lifter]

NSA in my opinion. Get him to fix that grip and release the club with a full swivel. Right now it looks like he's releasing the club alot like you do. Certainly a valid pattern, but he'll run into the same issues as you as he gets better. Better to learn the other way while he's new to it.

Thanks johnnymarlboro! By "fix that grip" are you saying that his grip is too strong (like mine)? Seems to me that he'd need to learn to consistently draw the ball or hit it straight before we'd ever start to weaken it (since that would promote left-to-right spin).

 

[johnnymarlboro]

You can't just give him a weaker grip with what he's doing now. Then he'll just flip it square. The strong grip is just a bandaid because he doesn't know how to release it right. If he did release it with a full swivel with that grip he'd hook it off the planet. I believe that's a reason why Brian likes to give alot of slicers neutral grips, so they can get to "wedding ring up" and feel a full release. If you look at his "face on" his hands never cross over. He holds it off and chicken wings his left arm. I think NSA is what he needs.