Pressure point on left thumb on downswing

[jay_x]

Hi All,

I've been trying to add more lag to my downswing and I've been playing with consciously putting more pressure on my left thumb (PP #1) instead of my right index finger (PP #3). I feel like I get more lag this way thus more distance. Has anyone else tried this?

I'm only 5'7 135 lbs so distance has always been a struggle for me. I'm barely hitting my 7 iron 135 at this point with my MP32s. I do hit the ball solid with a nice draw so I'm fairly certain I'm on plane. When I swing the speed stick, I usually register around 95mph so I'm trying to pinpoint where exactly I'm losing distance.

My friend tried to teach me float loading by not cocking my wrist on the backswing then cocking it on the downswing. I do feel like I get more lag this way but I'm having a hard time hitting the ball solid (mostly fat shots).

Any help/input would be greatly appreciated. Happy Super Sunday!

Jay

 

[fronesis]

My first question would be: are you sure you have a flat left wrist?

Here are the reasons I ask:
- I'm only about 15 pounds heavier than you, and I hit a 7-iron about 170
- I don't know much about swing speed, but I was on a launch monitor last summer and it measured me at 82mph with a 5-iron, so not that fast.
- Thus, the fact that you can swing the stick that fast but only hit a 7-iron that far, AND the fact that you say you hit a 'nice draw', makes me wonder if you aren't hitting a little leakage hook.

If you are generating that much clubhead speed, then without clubhead throwaway I would expect you to hit it a bit further.

But those are just guesses!

 

[flapro]

Jay, I would try downcocking rather than lag loading; downcocking drives the hands down and ahead, leaving all that lag from the clubhead into the ball.

Hi All,

I've been trying to add more lag to my downswing and I've been playing with consciously putting more pressure on my left thumb (PP #1) instead of my right index finger (PP #3). I feel like I get more lag this way thus more distance. Has anyone else tried this?

I'm only 5'7 135 lbs so distance has always been a struggle for me. I'm barely hitting my 7 iron 135 at this point with my MP32s. I do hit the ball solid with a nice draw so I'm fairly certain I'm on plane. When I swing the speed stick, I usually register around 95mph so I'm trying to pinpoint where exactly I'm losing distance.

My friend tried to teach me float loading by not cocking my wrist on the backswing then cocking it on the downswing. I do feel like I get more lag this way but I'm having a hard time hitting the ball solid (mostly fat shots).

Any help/input would be greatly appreciated. Happy Super Sunday!

Jay

 

[pecky987]

Hi All,

I've been trying to add more lag to my downswing and I've been playing with consciously putting more pressure on my left thumb (PP #1) instead of my right index finger (PP #3). I feel like I get more lag this way thus more distance. Has anyone else tried this?

I'm only 5'7 135 lbs so distance has always been a struggle for me. I'm barely hitting my 7 iron 135 at this point with my MP32s. I do hit the ball solid with a nice draw so I'm fairly certain I'm on plane. When I swing the speed stick, I usually register around 95mph so I'm trying to pinpoint where exactly I'm losing distance.

My friend tried to teach me float loading by not cocking my wrist on the backswing then cocking it on the downswing. I do feel like I get more lag this way but I'm having a hard time hitting the ball solid (mostly fat shots).

Any help/input would be greatly appreciated. Happy Super Sunday!

Jay

have you seen flipper?

 

[jay_x]

I have watched Flipper and NSA 2.0. Everytime I hear that someone relatively close to my size is hitting it so much farther than me with similar (or slower) swing speed it really blows my mind. I definitely have a leakage in power somewhere though I don't know quite where at this point. I've watched slow motion video tape of myself and my hands are in front of the ball at impact with what looks like a flat wrist. Does this verify that I'm not flipping? What is the best test to see that I'm not flipping still (it was an issue of mine before the video).

Also, how exactly do you perform downcocking? Is that the same as float lagging where I cock the wrist on the downswing?

I've been through 3 pga pros already and none of them has been able to solve my power leakage. It's quite frustrating.

Thanks for all the help!

Jay

 

[thefuture37]

What does your "triangle" look like at impact. Is your left arm perpendicular to the ground at impact? Upload a face on video.

 

[jay_x]

Swing video (both face on and DTL)

Here is a swing I recorded at Golftec. I've changed my backswing plane since then in that I take the club more vertical now then drop down to the plane (to rid of the little loop you see on the video and get a wider arc). However, if you pause it at impact, my hands are in front and the triangle is still in tact.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XUxDDsP7g-8

I'll tape my updated swing tonight and upload it as well.

Thanks and please keep the comments coming!

Jay

 

[thefuture37]

A little bit flippy. You are obviously very good at it though. You might be able to get more lag if you try more of a snap release. Your arms look very passive at the beginning of your downswing. Try to get your hands in front of your right leg by the time you get to the "toe up" position in the downswing. In that video your hands start to release the club before this point. Look at the youtube of charles howell III swingvision for an example.

 

[Kevin Shields]

Here is a swing I recorded at Golftec. I've changed my backswing plane since then in that I take the club more vertical now then drop down to the plane (to rid of the little loop you see on the video and get a wider arc). However, if you pause it at impact, my hands are in front and the triangle is still in tact.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XUxDDsP7g-8

I'll tape my updated swing tonight and upload it as well.

Thanks and please keep the comments coming!

Jay

I'd keep your left shoulder lower than your right until all of your weight falls on to your font leg. "No axis tilt until after sit down" - Brian Manzella You tilt back too soon and get an underplane right shoulder causing you to create "forward" in your swing. Otherwise known as......flip

 

[matt kluck]

Good reply Kevin

Now I see some confidence in your replies. Keep learning and keep up the good work! MK

 

[cmartingolf]

Jay,

You don't have a bad action. I'd clean up the lay off in the back swing so it doesn't haunt you down the road. You look like a snap hook is lurking with most clubs??

Hitting it far is fun. Hell, I'd like to hit it farther too. Hitting it pure is way more important.

I wouldn't worry about which type of load you use as long as you have some. I don't see much. To quote HK or BD (don't know who said it) put your mind in your hands. You'll feel if the weight of the club is working against the hands as you pivot. Right now, you aren't doing that.

I'm a big fan of hitting fairway bunker shots with the mid irons. It's great for all kinds of things: strength, balance, low point monitoring, etc.

Go hit 100 balls off some sandy soil or a fairway bunker. Please report back what you've taught yourself after doing this. I bet you answer a lot of your own questions.

Good luck.

 

[jay_x]

I think I figured it out!

Went to my friends garage because he has a net after reading the suggestions. I looked at my old video and noticed that I really swayed to the left on the downswing as one of the replies noted. Then I remembered a post that Brian posted on straightening the left leg on the pivot. I started doing this and all of a sudden my swaying was gone and the whoosh was a lot louder! I had to record the difference:

http://theaveragegolfnut.com/misc.html

It's only my sweats passing the line on the fixed swing (left side). I can't wait to try this at the range tomorrow! Thanks for everyone's input! This is truly the best golf forum on the web.

Jay

 

[sonofflipper]

Hello Jay...I like your swing. Looks like you might be slightly "close" to the ball...I would try moving away slightly and with a 'slightly' wider stance. Don't get too mechanical...distance is only a number!