Practice April 24&25 Duke

I found a swing thought which really worked on Sunday. It is too bad when I "come" upon these breakthroughs in feeling and understanding that I do not figure out a way to remember them even though I am constantly writing about the journey that is the game. One of the amazing things which happens is I "let-go" and swing when these magical sessions occur. I am trying so much less and it is so much more fun because I am not working so hard, striving so......

I played with this swing thought before but couldn't find a recording of it in all the golf journal books on my shelf. Before writing it down I went back today to try it again and am more clear about the sensations and why it is a successful way for me to approach my swing. What would I say is the most important aspect of this swing? The focus on the front swing and finish position which results in better speed and compression with less effort. The miss goes right which I can live with as almost no balls go left.

The front swing is a straightening of the left leg with my left shoe gripping the ground for power, up into a finish onto a solid left shoe, a completely straight left leg and my head on top my my shoulder looking at the target being on balance. The relationship between my left wrist and the club are in a similar relationship as they were at the top of my back swing because there has not been any manipulation of the club face with my hands.

So what sets this front swing motion up, makes it possible? I'll start with the set up, the waggle and the backswing turn before I describe the front swing.

The Set-Up

I feel more over the ball with less knee bend and as straight a spine as I can achieve.

My left shoe is turned out and my feet are connected to the ground.

My chin is turned slightly towards the target

My left hand grip is strong and my hands are sorta low and ahead of the ball.

The clubface seems more open

Arms feel relaxed and hanging down

The Waggle

By slowly setting the club I rehearse the first part of the backswing where the club starts first without the clubface shutting going back

The way I am set up means I move the club a small bit and I am fully cocked/club parallel to the ground

The feeling is of pre-setting the angle so that all I have to do is turn back

The club seems to set out away from my body as I waggle because I have not turned at all to get the club to move inside....but that does happen later as I turn my hips alot!

There is something about this waggle which encourages me to swing left on the front swing.

The Back Swing

Is mostly about turning my hips and shoulders while staying within my footwork/foundation

My hands seems very passive and the backswing feels up and my hands under the shaft

The swing begins softly with my head staying in position. The opposite of a jump back to my right foot. I am relaxed and so my arms fold easily.

There is a definite end of the backswing and I am over the ball even though my club is all the way back

I sense enough leverage to change directions

The Front Swing

Again very passive hands as the club changes directions and drops into place

If I can trust and let go/ not tense up, there is lots of speed from centrifugal force

It seems like without the down-cock/squat from my old swing I have more time to rotate.

Lots of shots today where my finish had my left hand and wrist in great position which indicates I have not saved/flipped thru impact.

Short Ones

I played lots of pitch shots with this same initiating the front swing by clearing my left hip and straightening my left leg. It allows the hands to remain soft and passive. Like the club is set and the swing is simply turning back and through while staying "still" or over the ball. I would like to practice turning my head through as the club swings through which helps the face remain open and helps me play the shot without breaking down of flipping at it.

Opening the club face and using the same pre-set waggle is helpful.

Keeping my spine angle is also very important

Like a rehearsal of club back then turn through.

Going to try it again tomorrow.

Solid Contact

Finding a consistent "bottom" of the swing arc is what leads a golfer to making solid contact with the ball. This "bottom" is the lowest point in the circle of the swing. I have always known this but am curious if there is a effective way to practice achieving this consistency?

If you practiced off of hard pan or sand then you would get the instant feedback whether of not the bottom of your swing way slightly ahead of the ball and therefore you contacted the ball first just ahead of the contact you made with the ground. There is also the chance of somehow making a line on the turf and lining the balls up there so you can see where the divots begin....which tells you the same thing.

My swing when timed correctly contacts the ball first but if I am slightly "off" then I do not have the consistency of a really good ball striker. So I want to try and describe the aspects of my swing which I can pay attention to in order to improve my solid contact. There's nothing better than solid contact and also you absolutely know when the shot looks great but you could feel that your club did not contact the ball first.

I was in Tennessee this week with John and he has tried lots of different ways to help me with this issue. If you can not make solid contact you can not control the trajectory of the ball and the distance your iron shots travel.

Here are the feedback keys for me as I practice making solid contact.

1. the sound.....there is an unmistakable sound the contact makes when the ball has been struck purely.

2. the divot shape and depth.....the divots should be shallow and square and the direction should be left of the target.

3. trajectory.....the ball should be lower and fly through the air with ballooning up usually to the right.

4. distance....when practicing the ball when struck solidly will travel farther and it is helpful to pick a target where I can see the ball land and compare one shot to the next.

On day two I had lots of success with the ball throw swing but it was impossible for me to find any rhythm with this swing on day 3 on the golf course.

Starting the club back slowing without jumping back and turning my head under is where it all starts for me. At the end of the round yesterday I felt like my hands were ahead of the ball with the toe up and open....with my arms on my chest I was able to keep the club a consistent length as I turned back and thru within the confines of my feet/shoes/foundation. That is what I will practice today.