Very flat halway back...help!

[jonny6hats]

Hey guys - been a lurker for a long time, but I have a problem that I'd be interested to see if anyone can help (nowhere else yet has managed!)

I saw my swing on video some years ago, and noticed that at the 9 O'clock position, down the line, my clubshaft is way outside the ball to target line.

Looking at professionals, they all seem to be either at the ball to target line, or inside the ball to target line.

I have tried 101 things to get me in this position and I simply can't manage it. I have tried over cooking the egg and getting it vertical, but it's fruitless.

I initially thought it was me swinging too much around my body, but even if I swing it straight up the clubhead still goes flatter relative to the swing plane of my arms. (also I note Hogan who swung his arms quite flat, but still the shaft is more vertical).

I saw some posts about the twist away and that it can cure an inside siwng-plane, so I brought that and it isn't covered

I brought some others too, but no mention of a flat takeaway (I thought it may be in hooking, but it isn't)

So is there any other causes anyone knows of? For what it's worth I can get myself in the perfect position during practice swings, the club seems to go there naturally. It puzzles me how then, it goes flat during a real swing.

 

[TeddyIrons]

I've seen quite a few swings that are too flat and I see two common causes (and maybe there are others).
i) pop-out - at the beginning of the takeaway the hands distance themselves from the body
ii) over rotation of left fore-arm early in the swing - although the left forearm rotates (pronates) in the backswing, a lot of high handicappers over do this pronation very early in the backswing - this leads to the club shaft being very flat, and the club head facing skywards. No matter what path you trace with your hands to try and be on plane, when you over-pronate you will have a flat looking backswing.

Often players will do both of the above to accentuate the effect.

 

[Matt 4-L]

Just what Teddy said plus a lot of high handicappers also take the club back first with their arms and hands and never turn the shoulders. If you want to keep the club out in front of you you HAVE to turn the shoulders.

 

[Brian Manzella]

I've seen quite a few swings that are too flat and I see two common causes (and maybe there are others).
i) pop-out - at the beginning of the takeaway the hands distance themselves from the body
ii) over rotation of left fore-arm early in the swing - although the left forearm rotates (pronates) in the backswing, a lot of high handicappers over do this pronation very early in the backswing - this leads to the club shaft being very flat, and the club head facing skywards. No matter what path you trace with your hands to try and be on plane, when you over-pronate you will have a flat looking backswing.

Often players will do both of the above to accentuate the effect.

Very good job, Teddy!

Really, the TRICK to fixing this problem is FIXING the movement of the RIGHT ARM.

It needs to stay ON TOP of the left arm as long as possible.

The HANDS need to move In, IN, IN , until the IN is done about 3/4th of the way to the top.

This helps the right arm stay on top.

It is like a really high dribble of a basketball, elbow out, belly-side of the forearm down.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

As a quick fix to see if you "look better" try making some full shots with your right thumb completely off the club. You might be surprised how less flat you look

 

[tongzilla]

Very good job, Teddy!

Really, the TRICK to fixing this problem is FIXING the movement of the RIGHT ARM.

It needs to stay ON TOP of the left arm as long as possible.

The HANDS need to move In, IN, IN , until the IN is done about 3/4th of the way to the top.

This helps the right arm stay on top.

It is like a really high dribble of a basketball, elbow out, belly-side of the forearm down.

Can the clubshaft point to the right on the first parallel even with the hands going in?

 

[rogerdodger]

Brian's suggestion is the only one that has worked for me. The right arm has to feel high, it really feels different. I overrotate halfway back, and the right arm suggestion in soft draw clicked.

 

[smooth]

Can right hand grip make a difference?

Very good job, Teddy!

Really, the TRICK to fixing this problem is FIXING the movement of the RIGHT ARM.

It needs to stay ON TOP of the left arm as long as possible.

Can the right hand grip influence this as well? I find that if i let my right hand get really 'strong' and under that i'm more prone to a flat takeaway. Getting the right hand 'on top' and more neutral seems to help. Perhaps it puts the right arm/elbow in a better position?

 

[lookingtolearn]

Can the right hand grip influence this as well? I find that if i let my right hand get really 'strong' and under that i'm more prone to a flat takeaway. Getting the right hand 'on top' and more neutral seems to help. Perhaps it puts the right arm/elbow in a better position?

Absolutely.

 

[birdie_man]

It helps me to make left arm only swings. The left arm will tend to want to go inside without extra lifting from the right arm. In execution, I always get a little buggered up if I start thinking of my right side. (though I am aware of what it does)

PS everyone look at the avatar above of 'lookingtolearn'...!

The King doing it real nice. (baby)

I had to go find the pic:

 

[cnadon]

Very good job, Teddy!

Really, the TRICK to fixing this problem is FIXING the movement of the RIGHT ARM.

It needs to stay ON TOP of the left arm as long as possible.

The HANDS need to move In, IN, IN , until the IN is done about 3/4th of the way to the top.

This helps the right arm stay on top.

It is like a really high dribble of a basketball, elbow out, belly-side of the forearm down.

Would it also help to rotate your right elbow at set up so it points more behind you, rather than toward the ground? Or is this asking for trouble?

 

[golfer24]

The 1st picture of Arnie looks like a flat position halfway back.

 

[blehnhard]

For every good player that has a shallower shaft angle coming down than the shaft angle going back, there must be 10 good players that have a steeper shaft angle coming down than the shaft angle going back.