question for you guys

[msrpo]

Thanks to all who post - I've learnt a lot here in a short space of time:

so i played my first 9 holes round today and it exposed a common flaw, that I've not really noticed on the range - but in retrospect it does come and go at the range too. (By the way, I've been using the NSA 2.0 video with success for the chronic banana slices)

My flaw throughout the round today was hitting the dirt behind the ball or thinning the top of the ball. (I think the thins were actually symptoms of the same flaw) So my question is this, what's the best drills to get through this and get the divot in the right place?

I know of 'aiming point technique' and seen the graphic of Brian's, but I struggle to do this - do I just need to keep practicing or is there a method?

I've also seen the 'catching the drop' video, but thought it was the NHA pattern so I've been wary of it.

I'd love to think it was just "beginner jitters" but I'm not sure.

Any tips?

Also - random old guy at the range said I was off the plane and should aim the butt of the club at the ball. What? I can hold the club vertically above the ball or lay it down on the floor and still point the but of the club at the ball - so what am I clearly missing? The random old guy could hit, so I reckon he knows something (I'm not a good picture learner, I'm better with "do this for this reason")

Thanks in advance...

 

[Chris Sturgess]

If you are hitting it fat and thin. Some possible causes would include: you might be getting too shallow now that you aren't swinging left and are bottoming out before the ball instead of just after contact, or you might have the ball too far forward in your stance, or you could be bobbing your head up and down during the swing. Post a video if you can.

 

[birdie_man]

"Dropping it" is just a way to get your hands out in front of the ball and "hit the box." (with the whole shaft)

That's what it influences......you move that low point forward. (out in front of the ball)

Drop your hands on the ball or ahead of it. "Shake the powdered sugar off your arms" so the cloud goes in front of the ball. Etc.

It is in NHA but all it is is a way to influence low point. It basically solely influences that one "dimension" of the swing. Think of it that way.

 

[birdie_man]

What? I can hold the club vertically above the ball or lay it down on the floor and still point the but of the club at the ball - so what am I clearly missing?

Not sure what you mean here. Maybe you can elaborate.

It is a good guideline........most important in the downswing tho. And obviously too. You ain't gonna even hit the ball if your club isn't tracing a line with the ball lying on that line.

Jim has a good little animation he usually posts if he still has it.

 

[msrpo]

Thanks for the reply's --lots of good stuff,

BirdieMan re pointing the butt of the club at the ball, what I meant was that I can point the butt of the club at the ball from any possible direction but without some idea of the "correct one" then how do I get it right? Moreover, what are the most common ways to diagnose if I'm below or above where I should be?

Thanks again guys

 

[holeout]

Question for you: what currently is your shot pattern?

What kind of shape do you get when you hit it well? What is your typical miss? What shape would an un-solid shot be? What miss are you afraid of (i.e. afraid of a snap hook, huge block, big pull, etc.)?

 

[msrpo]

I'm still beginning, but my major pattern when everything is going well (with a twistaway and good pivot around neck/sholderblade) is pretty straight, if I manage to 'lag the sweetspot' then a draw/baby pull. (I imagine a ribbon draped across the club face and stopping it flying off to lag the sweetspot). When I make a good contact with the ball my major miss is a push straight right I'd say between 1 and 2 o'clock if straight was 12 o'clock. (Lagging the sweetspot successfully helps this) However, I do often start my divots 3 inches behind the ball - and on that round it was almost every shot, and then the ball goes about 20 yards. I'd love to think it was beginner jitters but I think it was just exposing a real flaw I'd glossed over on the range. The shot I'm most scared of is the big banana slice - I did it everytime to begin with with no idea why. I still hit a few, but only when I fall out of NSA patterns (bad pivots and - most often - opening the clubface at the top of the backswing) I reckon I should get 'the movie' pretty soon!

 

[Ringer]

I like to put a Tee about a full 6 to 8 inches in front of the ball. Them make sure I strike both the ball and the tee.

 

[puttmad]

msrpo,

Two things which helped me cure the same problem:

1) Fat and thin can be caused by straightening the right elbow prematurely, usually by trying to hit the ball too hard (with your right arm)...
2) The Gary Player "walk-through" drill helps when you are curtailing your pivot (which leaves too much weight on your right side at impact), by making sure your complete you pivot right to the finish.