The Swing Analysis (2013 Edition)

"I figured it out!"

I've said that probably two dozen times over the years with reference to my golf swing.  My brother has said it at least that many to me.  Our dad has easily doubled that.

We're always (eventually) wrong.  But that doesn't mean it's not worth working on.

This year's "I figured it out" moment came courtesy of a Sean O'Hair tip in Golf Digest.  You can see the video version below.  What he says isn't revolutionary, but it's the imagery of the hands and clubhead being on train-tracks on the take away that really clicked for me:

My problem historically has been what O'Hair refers to as "sucking in;" that move gets the club too far inside, and I have to make a big adjustment to get on plane at the top of the swing.  Sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn't; just depends on my timing.

So for the past month or so at the range I've been rehearsing the "train tracks" take away over and over.  Below you'll see some video of my swing with this mental image at the forefront of my mind:

7 iron

Driver

A couple of things I learned from this: (1) this is definitely better, less of a wrap-around take away than I've had previously, and leads to a controlled but powerful weight transfer (especially with the driver); and (2) no matter what I think I'm feeling, the video tells a different story -- I'm still too far inside.

7-iron swing sequence - click to make larger

Ultimately I think I'm doing a better job with the first 25% of the backswing, but then I go right back to rotating the club as I continue backward as opposed to lifting it.  The past 2 range sessions (after these images/videos) I've been focusing on the full backswing, and I feel it becoming ingrained.  The question now is how long I can keep it that way before the old habits creep back in.

The Swing Analysis (2011 Edition)

I know, I know... it's been awhile.  Truth is, I haven't been playing much golf.  And when I have played, it hasn't been very good.  [My last round was at The Links at Union Vale in LaGrangeville, NY.  I actually played fine, but a disastrous 9 on the par-4 11th hole derailed an otherwise decent round.]

The same problem I commented on in my last post has continued -- all my misses are left, and most of them are pull-hooks.  While I was in New York my brother shot some video of my swing.  I think there are still a lot of good features, but let's take a look at some of the problems.

Here I am at the top of the swing with the driver:

On the plus side, I've made a good, full turn, and my weight is where I want it on my back heel.  But my shaft angle and club head is way over-the-line (inside the target line), and the club is completely shut.  In order to get the club back on plane for contact I'll have to come at an outside-in angle (which will lead to a pull), and the closed club face will cause the hook.

Compare that shot to Adam Scott* below:

Rotationally, we're in a fairly similar position, though he tends to stand up at the top of the swing and I tend to squat a bit.  But you can see his shaft angle is exactly in line with the target, and the club head is much more neutral (though still slightly shut).

When I was a scrawny 17-year-old, I figured out how to hit a 300 yard drive -- take the club way inside to generate a ton of rotational torque, swing your weight way back on the take away and hard forward on the downswing, and rip it as hard as you can.  Needless to say, I was not a very consistent golfer.  I have learned over the years how to rotate with a more consistent, compact swing... but I still struggle with my take-away.  Look how far inside I am (again compared to Adam Scott):

You can see without any other images that the natural arc of each of our swings will lead to the positions you see at the top.

Needless to say, there will probably be some bumps in the road if I try to make a big change and get my takeaway more upright, so that may be a project for the offseason.  But at a minimum I have to limit my early rotation so that I can get into a better position at the top... starting now.  I know that I can do that -- just check out my video from 2 years ago; even though I take the club inside at the start, my position is much more on plane at the top.

I know what my problem is, and I know how to correct it.  The only question is if I can do it.

[Here's the full video from last week:]

* CREDIT: Adam Scott images taken from golfdigest.com.

The Swing Sequence

Yesterday I spent another very cold day on the range (yes, it was 20 degrees; yes, I realize that's crazy). Why am I telling you this? Well I brought my camera with me, and discovered that after taking video with it, I could then split the individual frames up to stills for a nice swing sequence:

I wasn't originally going to post any of this, but my brother encouraged me to. Here's his email analyzing it:

You do an amazing job of keeping your spine angle throughout, and your address angle is perfect. Even though it doesn't necessarily look like it, you have a swing that is closer to one-plane than two. Your take away is on plane the entire time (around your body), where as with a two plane swing the club immediately is above the address line (almost above your shoulders). You also have the wrist rotation in a clockwise fashion, like a one plane swinger. The only difference is (and is probably what to work on) is getting the downswing to match up. You are somewhere in between the two on the downswing. At contact, your club should have gotten back to the same address angle (45 rather than 55). It seems as though you are late getting into the appropriate slot on the way down.

He sounds like a pro, doesn't he? (He's not.)

Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts about how to get into the "appropriate slot" -- or any other thoughts on what I should be doing with my swing -- please feel free to leave suggestions in the comments section.

Until next time....