golfrewind.com

Hi there. Think I discovered something dramatically yesterday.

A few of you has read some of my posts and know that I struggle with a outside to in swing, or at least a swing that causes both pulls and slices/severe fades.

Sadly I have become so "good" at timing the release of my hands that I didn't notice the issue in the full aspect that I did yesterday.

IT WAS MY SPINE ANGLE!

Maybe it is obvious too you, and it should be to me as well, but my pro didn't see it and that disappointed me.

If you look at the spine as a "plane angle", because thats actually what the spine is. Your arms are connected to the spine and revolves around the axis your giving it. If the axis is not steady the plane will change in and during the swing.

And here's is why that lead my to pulled shots. I have been straightening up and discovered it yesterday. When the spine straightens up suddenly the swingplane is pushed outside of its original position. The only way back to the ball is to pull the arms across the body making the club appear to be coming outside to in.

I experimented a couple of times and it worked spectaculary just focusing on not straightening up.
shots where 50% more accurate right of the gate. Problem? Well It was a bit heavy for my back so I will need to train it up or else I will not be able to do it.

Whether you've discovered the exact cause of the problem or not, spine angle changes lead to all sorts of problems, especially with impact.

It's fantastic that you've become so involved with swing mechanics at such an early stage in your golfing career. Let me suggest watching the PGA tour on TV, paying special attention to slow motion footage of players swings. Also, get a Golf Digest subscription and look at the breakdown (large foldout in every issue) of professionals' swings from different angles and positions. Watch what they do, mimic their positions, listen to Peter Kostis and even Johnny Miller as they explain what certain movements lead to in the golf swing. For many people, the best way to learn to swing properly is monkey-see, monkey-do.

haha :D ME MONKEY

Well I have actually done all that already, but I'm not the best monkey. I have watched almost every swing vision on youtube there is to discover what all great golfers have in common.

There is always room for error, that's what Ive found out. But my spine angle change was enormous (I saw it on camera). The only reason I have been hitting the shots is eye/hand coordination.

The fact that my 7 iron is more upright than the others helps me. Because I looked very bent over, although athletic with my 8 iron. I think thats why I have a tendency to pull myself up alot because I can't hold that posture through.

I will experiment more and come back with the results.

Hi Max,
Sometimes straightening of your spine angle can be caused by trying to create too much of a back swing, particularly, if you have some back pain or limitations as I do. In addition, not being able to maintain the angle of the flex in your back knee will cause your spine angle to change also. Perhaps one of the two culprits, or both, could be in play.
Cheers,Bob

I know my back knee straightens, just like another leftie, Phil . The similarities ends there though

Could that also be a cause for a inconsistent swingplane?

Absolutely, if your knee loses the angle, your plane will change from a little more rotational to a little upright without a corresponding change in hip flex. You should always strive to maintain all your angles; otherwise, the effort you put into grip, alignment and posture at address goes for naught and you must make athletic corrections in transition to return to impact....something that only works with great athleticism and lots of practice.
Work on it, I think you will see a marked increase in consistency within a week or two.

Have fun, always, on the golf course,
Bob

ps. a lot of the time straightening your back knee on the back swing is a result of taking it back too far too fast!

Experimented today with the knee bob.
Im definitely on to something. But the answer is complex.

Beeing very focused on the knee's not straightening made the impact much more consistent. Without a question of a doubt.

BUt. it did not cure my pull. But it change from a severe pull to a slight pull-hook. Sometimes I managed to hit it extremely straight but as I saw it that was related to two factors atleast.
Completing the shoulder turn while maintaining the angles in the knees.

Just the fact that I though about only one thing (keep your knee angle) made my backswing ALOT slower. So I guess that's a good thing