Swinging across left leg

[rogerdodger]

If we try to swing across the left leg as opposed to away from it, how much farther forward does the swing bottom move? When my swing goes too much inside out, the swing obviously bottoms out farther behind the ball. Swing plane and ball position are responsible for taking a divot according to The Golfing Machine. Swinging across the left leg takes care of the swing plane, what do we do with ball position? How much more forward do we go?

 

[Kevin Shields]

If we try to swing across the left leg as opposed to away from it, how much farther forward does the swing bottom move? When my swing goes too much inside out, the swing obviously bottoms out farther behind the ball. Swing plane and ball position are responsible for taking a divot according to The Golfing Machine. Swinging across the left leg takes care of the swing plane, what do we do with ball position? How much more forward do we go?

I would think it would depend on how long the hands "hover" and how much lateral movement is involved.

 

[2mongoose]

It's definitely gonna be and feel a helluva lot more left to you but the dumb answer, and probably the right one, is that whatever ball position you start to hit it straighter with a divot that's straight is the right one

The tricky part will be to match the clubface to this path that is suddenly going more left and not curving the golf ball.

I'd start with a grip that can accommodate that (weaker).

 

[Brian Manzella]

If we try to swing across the left leg as opposed to away from it, how much farther forward does the swing bottom move? When my swing goes too much inside out, the swing obviously bottoms out farther behind the ball. Swing plane and ball position are responsible for taking a divot according to The Golfing Machine. Swinging across the left leg takes care of the swing plane, what do we do with ball position? How much more forward do we go?

The Golfing Machine is VERY VAGUE on Ball Position.

Then, there are the kooks that think it should move A LOT from club to club.

I use to prefer one pretty forward ball position for my better players.

It tended to work well for snap releases.

Now days, I customize for all students, but I use this basic idea:

LW up to the 6-iron, club in the middle of the feet to VERY SLIGHTLY forward, ball left of that—obviously.

5-iron up to 3-iron, club VERY SLIGHTLY forward of middle to slightly forward, ball left of that.

Ball off of left heel for driver with an orthodox wide driver stance.

Fairway woods and hybrids between the long irons and Driver.

YOU SHOULD BE SWINGING ACROSS THE LEFT LEG, so now you can have "normal" ball position.

 

[cnadon]

kook?

Sam Snead on ball postion

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dro8rhBZUJs[/media]

 

[Brian Manzella]

When I see folks show up for golf lessons with their ball BACK OF MIDDLE and hands WAY FORWARD with a 7-iron, they have NO CHANCE to hit a good solid straight ball.

And for the most part, make a good swing.

(Of course, some of these people come to me with their hands VERY HIGH, their right forearms VERY LOW, and a reverse pivot—but that's another problem)

​

So, just don't over do it, or you'll destroy the D-Plane.

Of course, there are kooks out there who are scared to death of D-Planes, and TrackMans.

 

[rogerdodger]

Thanks for the response, I am obviously playing the ball too far back in my stance. Must be common with too inside out swingers, the ball just feels better when it is back and hands are forward.

 

[pm4610]

I don't understand "swinging across the left leg" (or away from it for that matter).
I'd appreciate it if someone could give me an explanation...

Thanks,
p

 

[Brian Manzella]

Thanks for the response, I am obviously playing the ball too far back in my stance. Must be common with too inside out swingers, the ball just feels better when it is back and hands are forward.

Hey, whatever works for you. And for anyone else.

I just have WAY higher standards.

 

[rogerdodger]

thats the issue Brian, it is so easy to let a poor swingplane worsen every part fo the swing. Intellectually, I know ball up, hands midbody at address, no pop out in takeaway is what I need. When I get over a ball, I cannot convince myself that I can hit the ball from there. I need to keep watching soft draw and try to talk my wife into going to New Orleans under the guise of oyster eating.

 

[pm4610]

What's "pop out" in the takeaway?

 

[lookingtolearn]

What's "pop out" in the takeaway?

It's when the hands go "out" away from the body instead of following the body "in."

You can also look at it as the butt end of the club moving further away from your belt.

 

[c21heel]

I don't understand "swinging across the left leg" (or away from it for that matter).
I'd appreciate it if someone could give me an explanation...

Thanks,
p

This would be a good review. Can someone explain?

 

[mjstrong]

Alternative...?

Now days, I customize for all students, but I use this basic idea:

LW up to the 6-iron, club in the middle of the feet to VERY SLIGHTLY forward, ball left of that—obviously.

5-iron up to 3-iron, club VERY SLIGHTLY forward of middle to slightly forward, ball left of that.

Ball off of left heel for driver with an orthodox wide driver stance.

Fairway woods and hybrids between the long irons and Driver.

Do you find that using a students feet or "stance" is more effective than giving them a reference to their upper body? For example, instead of "Ball off of left heel for driver" you could say "below the left shoulder," or something to that effect.

It would seem that, depending on a student's tilt, weight distribution, etc. they may be playing with a different ball position than somebody with a different upper body setup.

For example, Player A could play the ball off their left heel, but if Player B has way more axis tilt at setup, he may play the ball further back than that, no?

 

[jake2]

Ball position & stance width?

The Golfing Machine is VERY VAGUE on Ball Position.
Then, there are the kooks that think it should move A LOT from club to club.

I use to prefer one pretty forward ball position for my better players.
It tended to work well for snap releases.

Now days, I customize for all students, but I use this basic idea:

LW up to the 6-iron, club in the middle of the feet to VERY SLIGHTLY forward, ball left of that—obviously.

5-iron up to 3-iron, club VERY SLIGHTLY forward of middle to slightly forward, ball left of that.

Ball off of left heel for driver with an orthodox wide driver stance.

Fairway woods and hybrids between the long irons and Driver.

YOU SHOULD BE SWINGING ACROSS THE LEFT LEG, so now you can have "normal" ball position.

I'd love to hear similar guidelines for width of the stance. How does that go with the ball positions? Does person's height (short/tall) change anything?

 

[Kevin Shields]

This would be a good review. Can someone explain?

Swinging across the leg (good or bad) is what faders or slicers usually do. It is also a good thought for underneath hookers to get them to keep the right shoulder higher and get more open at impact. They feel like they are putting their hands in their left pocket.

Swinging away from the left leg is just the opposite. A good thought for a draw (provided the clubface is sound) is to put the right shoulder in the right pocket which gives you more tilt and helps direct your swing to the right a little more- or away from your lead leg.