recent observations...

[Erik_K]

I was messing around with my swing (my last round was absolutely horrid and I felt the need to tinker) and I noted the following:

Lately I have been battling weak blocks to the right with an open face. To alleviate this issue, I need to focus on twist-away and really 'drag the knuckles' through the ground. Fat shots often creep in to my game and getting the right hip over the ball at impact really helps.

The big issue seems to be a lack of body (not sure if this is the right term) on the takeaway. I feel that my torso doesn't move (rotary-wise) very early in the backswing and as a result the left arm gets over-rotated and the face tends to be open at the top. The backswing seems to be really hurting me.

I played on this little par 3 short course (all holes are 125 yds and less) the other day and when I focused on the lagging clubhead takeaway, get right hip over the ball at impact and drag the knuckles through - the shots were actually pretty solid.

Not sure if I have any good takeaway drills other than the old - keep the butt end pointed at the belt buckle drill. I have been trying to develop a more inside move via the SD pattern, but to no avail (granted I don't seem to find the time to really practice this...).

Erik

 

[The BC VIP]

Historic Golf Photos | The Ron Watts Collection | Jack Nicklaus sequence, La Costa, 180% 5-iron

Since no one else responded to this post, I’ll give you my current backswing thoughts in case they’re useful to you. My inspiration is the SD pattern and the picture of Jack from the link above. It took me a while to figure out how to keep the right elbow above the left in the backswing because I always over rotated my left arm and had a clubface that was too open for my swing pattern.

The feeling I use to keep the right elbow above the left is to make sure that the face of the club is “looking” at the ball as long as possible during the take away. I do this by using a very early twistaway motion. For me, the effect of the early twistaway is that it forces my hands inward, it keeps my right elbow above the left elbow, and it forces my shoulders and torso to make a solid rotation. It was an awkward feeling at first, but I didn’t get worse before I got better. An increase in solid contact was immediate and now that backswing feels like butter. I can hit a fade, draw, or straight ball using the same backswing because of Brian, his instructors, and this forum.

Hope this helps or at least gives you some new ideas.

 

[Erik_K]

Thanks!

That image is a powerful one to say the least - steep shoulders and at that camera angle the club face looks closed to me - even at hip height.

I think that is that image is a pretty good representation of a SD backswing.

Erik