golfrewind.com

I was video taping my swing the other day on the course. When I look at my practice swing, it doesn't look too different than what you'd see on the centerfold of Golf Digest. But when I hit the ball ( Actual swing ), I am jumping out of my shoes way ahead of the ball and OTT. I am trying to learn how to upload the video on Youtube to share but in the meawhile, does anyone care to comment on how to make real swing looks like a practice swing? It has been asked probably thousands of times but I haven't seen the comparison video of practive swing and the real one of the same person. Where do I start? In my mind, I am swinging the same way but the video tells me a totally different reality.

Cheers!

I did it. YouTube - Practice vs. Real swing - Golf

Well like most folks you have hit-idus; a magical disease that exist only in your mind.

One way to get over it is to line up 10 or so balls straight in a line either teed up or on the ground. Step back and take a few practice swings, back and forth without pausing, then walk into the hitting them with the same rhythm and tempo. In otherwords you are going to have to learn to trust your swing.

True, true, true. I think sometimes I successfully execute this and balls fly to the way right. I close the club face a lot and I have some balls come back. But if I have to play to score, I'm back to the old swing. I might have to quit playing golf for a while and just swing on the range, let's say for a month or two? Just for kicks, besides aesthetics, what's wrong with playing OTT anyway? Distance, Accuracy? What is the advantage of perfect swing?

I have hit balls with my eyes closed in the past. Its a lot easier than it sounds and you can't just go after the ball because you can't see it.

Hitting the back of the ball instead of the side of the ball. It means starting the ball in the direction you are aiming with a powerful squared up club face.

Edit, OK I looked at your video, can't tell much from the distance and head on view other than you freeze over the ball and tense up, and possible flying right elbow.

Try putting a towel under your arm pits and swing without dropping them, and try to relax. Or my favorite is a rope around your waist and right arm to keep your right elbow down and pinned to your right side.

Workability. An over the top swing means you can only hit a pull, pull fade, pull slice, pull draw, pull hook. That is still a lot of options and if you throw improper alignment in the mix you can even hit straight draws 'lined up right, pull draw becomes a straight draw and straight shots, 'line up right and hit a pull'.

You can't however hit a straight push, push draw or a push hook or even a completely straight shot for that matter without a slight lining up right coupled with a closed club face. You also lose yardage or proper loft its, a trade-off with the over the top move.'you get both by being on plane' So hitting a high lofted properly spinning shots is difficult because instead of a lot of backspin you get a lot of left to right spin or conversely right to left draw spin if you shut the face down to avoid losing it right.

If you get a chance post a down the line, its easier to see what is going on in those.

Scratch, you are focusing on the negative, and the more you do, the tighter you get. You have to be loose to play golf, and what else? Confident you are going to knock the whatever you call it in Portugal out of the ball. What you are doing isn't working, so you fear the results, and throw your swing away at the "top". How to fix? Change what you are doing. Here is my suggestion. Lighten your grip and swing to here for the top.

It is taken from your actual swing. In both swings, you make an exaterated move from there to your idea of the top, The positions here are quite good, and if you commit to keep your swing within that length, knowing you can relengthen it later IF you choose to, I can just about guarantee you, you will begin to strike the ball like you never imagined you could. I'm serious. You are in a power position there sir, but I would like to see you relaxed enough to allow the left knee to fold in a bit more. If you can discipline yourself to swing freely within that range, your whole mental outlook will improve immediatly.

Attached Images

CaptureScratchA1.JPG (11.3 KB, 117 views)

I just caught something else with the still frame crossgrain posted. Aside from freezing and tensing up tryingf to kill it; why are you playing the ball off your right heel?

I agree dbc; good call. Getting the ball lined up with the left shirt pocket will help his setup issues which stem from trying to get his head behind the ball, and help with the relaxation issue as well.

Messers D, W & C. I truly appreciate your comments and advice. There is no need for me to make any excuses but I want to give you a background. When I video taped myself around 20 years ago, I was in shock. I was literally jumping out of my shoes and 5 yards ahead of the ball by the time I finish my swing. Also my classic problem was that I could not release my hip at all so I swing across from top right to bottom left ( explains why I had to jump forward to give a ball a chance to advance ).
So with blood and sweat, I improved a bit. I think the biggest problem was that I only had so little time for golf between my job and family, so I focused on playing and trying not to lose money. Golf Digest suggests I have 23 handicap on long game and 0 handicap on short one.
Ball position : Truth is I play all my shot from the middle of my stance ( video might be angled a bit ) except driver. I always thought it was due to my inflexibility but it might be caused by OTT. As you guys pointed out, I perfected OTT so I aim at right most point and hit it straight or count on slight pull with occasional hook. I used to also have a terrible slice but they are long gone. So I can shoot +2 to +10 with OTT swing and be happy if I don't take any more videos But I have a bit of time now, I want to see if I can make the change. For me golf has always been about the bottom line score, but in reality it might have been the challenge it represents.

Sorry for the rambling but I truly appreciate your comments. Let me check the video to see if I have a down the line view. Can't wait till your next comments for that video.

Cheers!

OK I'm getting good at this now.. YouTube - Down the line - My Swing 2-2

Well camera angle might have a little to do with it, but even if it is in the middle, that is still too far back. The ball for all irons should be just about 2 inches inside your left heel.

It is a myth the ball should be progressively moved further back with the shorter irons. What changes is the width of the stance. So that when you get to the LW, the ball appears to be in the middle of the stance. But in reality it is still just a couple of inches inside the left heel.

Man that swing has to hurt?

Two quick tips:

1. Concentrate on keeping your right elbow down close to your body, especially on the back swing, and the start on the down swing. Use a towel under your arm pits, or tie a rope around your waist and right arm at the elbow.
   
2. Finnish high.

The real problem here is your swing plane, it ****. The plane is OK going back and up, except for the right elbow flying away from the body. But look what happens on your follow through, it is flat and going around behind you below your shoulder line. The angle at follow through should be identical to the back swing.

I've heard this many times before. Are you suggesting regardless of the person's built, height, body type, flexibility and age, one must play the ball 2 inches inside of left foot?

I don't know why but it doesn't hurt. Maybe I'm used to it. I think your advice is right on the point except what my brains understand, my body doesn't know how to execute ( especially when there is a ball to hit ). But I'll certainly give it a try. Do you think my ball position might be the cause of all these? I simply put down the ball where my club hits the ground. I guess it could be the chicken and Egg kind of thing. Also, if you put a rope around the elbow, doesn't that make your swing flat? How can I finish high with the rope? ( Or is this two different drills? )

I said about 2 inches, not exactly 2 inches. The actual distance depends on your height and width of shoulders. So in reality the distance can be 1 to 3 inches.

Now there are times that demand to move the ball forward or back to affect ball flight, but those are special occasions. You will also find other instructors who promote varying the ball position depending on club length, but not me I am a KISS kind of guy.