Golf Thread
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Here's a vid of my golf swing. Do your worst.
Looks a bit loose somehow. From behind it's uglier; very steep backswing and the back moves a bit too much.
Looks good although you look quite tense (stiff) and perhaps a bit mechanical? would be nice to see from a different angle. How long have you been playing?
Here's my effort hitting an 8 iron, blink and you'll miss it. My swing has changed a little since this video was taken, it's now less compact and I'm working on getting more turn on the take away.
Another classic round today! playing off 10 but hardly played all year due to work and a new, 5 week old baby.
+2 on the front nine (missed from 10ft birdie on 9th for only +1) - easy - hitting the ball well, simple chips and putts - never in danger at all.
+11 back nine - bogie, bogie, double, double, double, birdie, bogie, bogie, double!!
Jesus!! The wonders of golf!!
Off to the Kittocks @ Fairmont St Andrews on Thursday and then 5th August @ Kintyre at Turnberry.
+2 on the front nine (missed from 10ft birdie on 9th for only +1) - easy - hitting the ball well, simple chips and putts - never in danger at all.
+11 back nine - bogie, bogie, double, double, double, birdie, bogie, bogie, double!!
Jesus!! The wonders of golf!!
Off to the Kittocks @ Fairmont St Andrews on Thursday and then 5th August @ Kintyre at Turnberry.
Caporegime
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Thats actually not a bad swing you have there. How did that ball go?
Edit: Ok, the second wasnt as good as the first sadly.
50% of my swings send the ball flying down the fairway or light rough, and 50% are either scuffed, thinned, shanked, etc... Very frustrating! I think I forget to concentrate on hitting the ball sometimes, there's so much to think about when you're swinging.
I'll upload a down the line video tonight. How long have I been playing is a tricky one, since I first played when I was about 12 and have been playing very sporadically since.
Got absolutely drenched on the front nine at Ufford Park on Saturday, then the sun actually came out and dried us off over the back nine. Excellent fun but a poor round, golf's hard enough when the weather's good, but when there's rain driving into your face...!
This is a huge part of your (and my own if I'm honest
) problem. You are thinking too much. During your swing you should have as clear a mind as possible and just trust it.You should ideally stand behind the ball, pick your target, try to imagine the shot, then take your stance and just naturally swing through the ball.
As soon as you start thinking about it during the swing, you're almost guaranteed to make a hash of it. I know I do anyway
I always find it odd when people say they are thinking about their swing during the shot. I'd find that nigh on impossible.
My pre-shot routine has been the same for years: swing behind the ball perpendicular to the target, pick my target and imagine the shape of the shot, address the ball, keep my eye on the ball and then swing away. I try and do any thinking about my swing before I address the ball.
Occasionally during a drive I'll be thinking about keeping my lower half moving through the ball as my legs have tendency to get a bit static on my downswing.
My pre-shot routine has been the same for years: swing behind the ball perpendicular to the target, pick my target and imagine the shape of the shot, address the ball, keep my eye on the ball and then swing away. I try and do any thinking about my swing before I address the ball.
Occasionally during a drive I'll be thinking about keeping my lower half moving through the ball as my legs have tendency to get a bit static on my downswing.
Caporegime
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I think little things like that is what people are talking about. Me for example, I have to consciously make sure my left hand is behind my left thigh and that I slow down on the backswing.
If you practice enough, I guess you can relax about that kind of thing, and worry about hitting the shot correctly.
Soldato
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Surely Stableford you only get 3/4 of your allowance so 20 shots?
Caporegime
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Do you have a link please? The R&A rules just say that the committee is responsible for determining how handicaps are incorporated into the game, which in a casual match means - 'it's up to you guys'
.Most Stableford games seem to be played on the simple basis of one extra shot per round per handicap point.
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From a quick search it appears to be club competition dependent and 7/8's or full allowance is used nowadays with normally a maximum of 24 for men.
It's been a long time since I played competitions regularly, but Stableford was always 3/4 allowance.
It's been a long time since I played competitions regularly, but Stableford was always 3/4 allowance.
Caporegime
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Ah right 
.
Anyway here's my golf shot 'from behind':
Much more untidy than from the side imo...head moves around, arms are loose, swing plane too steep...etc.
.Anyway here's my golf shot 'from behind':
Much more untidy than from the side imo...head moves around, arms are loose, swing plane too steep...etc.
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I'm no expert, but I see a few things...
1 - you are standing like a duck with your butt sticking out (ala Tiger Woods), surely this isn't comfortable? I would suggest standing straight and just letting the club drop naturally in front of you as you lean forward, then bend your knees slightly. This should be your natural stance. What you have looks forced at the moment.
2 - You are way too steep on the takeaway, looks like you are lifting the club straight up off the ground, when you should be sweeping it away. Try placing another ball around 10-12" behind the one you intend to hit, and make sure you move it back during takeaway. Either that, or put a tee in the ground at the same distance. If you hit it, you've swept the club back, if not you've gone too steep.
3 - I could be wrong, but it looks to me like you are over-swinging. Try not to go so far back on your backswing as it makes it very tough to keep on plane coming back down.
4 - Left foot is moving a lot. Try to keep it planted, it should not turn during your swing.
Oh, and take a look at Shawn Clement's YouTube Channel for tips, I find his instruction really easy to follow, and it has helped me a lot... http://www.youtube.com/user/clemshaw
EDIT - my comments aside, seems as though you are striking the ball well
1 - you are standing like a duck with your butt sticking out (ala Tiger Woods), surely this isn't comfortable? I would suggest standing straight and just letting the club drop naturally in front of you as you lean forward, then bend your knees slightly. This should be your natural stance. What you have looks forced at the moment.
2 - You are way too steep on the takeaway, looks like you are lifting the club straight up off the ground, when you should be sweeping it away. Try placing another ball around 10-12" behind the one you intend to hit, and make sure you move it back during takeaway. Either that, or put a tee in the ground at the same distance. If you hit it, you've swept the club back, if not you've gone too steep.
3 - I could be wrong, but it looks to me like you are over-swinging. Try not to go so far back on your backswing as it makes it very tough to keep on plane coming back down.
4 - Left foot is moving a lot. Try to keep it planted, it should not turn during your swing.
Oh, and take a look at Shawn Clement's YouTube Channel for tips, I find his instruction really easy to follow, and it has helped me a lot... http://www.youtube.com/user/clemshaw
EDIT - my comments aside, seems as though you are striking the ball well
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Again I'm no expert but Diggsys comments seem spot on. I've also noted a couple of issues that I've tried to highlight in the pic below.
The clubhead should be pointing down the target line at the top of your backswing, not over to the right where it is at the moment, possibly just a grip issue.
You also seem to have a bit of a flying right elbow, try and keep it tucked into your body a bit more.
A good tip is to practice with a headcover tucked under your right arm and make sure it doesn't drop out.
The clubhead should be pointing down the target line at the top of your backswing, not over to the right where it is at the moment, possibly just a grip issue.
You also seem to have a bit of a flying right elbow, try and keep it tucked into your body a bit more.
A good tip is to practice with a headcover tucked under your right arm and make sure it doesn't drop out.
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Thanks guys, some useful observations there . I also agree with what Diggsy said, I've been told about the overswinging before in lessons, but feel like I'm underswinging all the time. I'll have a go at the weekend.
. I also agree with what Diggsy said, I've been told about the overswinging before in lessons, but feel like I'm underswinging all the time. I'll have a go at the weekend.
Hi Robbie, try keeping your weight a little more in the middle of your feet, weight transfer should feel like you are moving to your right side, then back to your left side about 60/40 each time. Feel like you raise your right hip up and turn into the shot, not sliding, but turning into the shot. A good drill would be to keep a glove under your left armpit and work on punching some a 7 iron with ¾ swings. This will help you refrain from getting wild with your arms, finish your swing correctly and mostly help with ball striking (i.e. fat shots).
The punch shot will help you gain balance as you rotate, which looks a little weak above (by restricting how high your swing starts and finishes). Standing more in the middle of your feet, whilst not technically 100% correct will allow you to balance yourself more and stabilise your swing (Tiger always said think of your legs as tree trunks with roots). You don't want to be leaning forward as on the swing as the balance will be off and thus you'll hit some fat, some thin as you battle to maintain a repeatable swing plain. Stable legs will form a stable swing, punching shots will give better ball striking with practice and thus bring more confidence to hitting fuller shots. McIlroy has one of the widest swings on tour, but is also one of the best ball strikers ever to play the game, this comes from ultra-balance and being super stable through the entire swing. Core strength is key to balance, but also not over swinging beyond your control is a major factor. 3/4 punches will allow you to feel how to hit a true the shot more and more, then when you widen the swing you will know exactly what happened if you duff one.
Work on the plain your takeaway is on (as mentioned above - keep the club head pointing at the target at the end of the back swing).
Try squatting down a couple of inches more (bending your knees), and stand a couple of inches further away, practice rotating your hands through impact (take a look at the slow motion videos of tour pros such as Luke Donald where you can really see how he rotates his hands through impact and finish of the swing).
The punch shot will help you gain balance as you rotate, which looks a little weak above (by restricting how high your swing starts and finishes). Standing more in the middle of your feet, whilst not technically 100% correct will allow you to balance yourself more and stabilise your swing (Tiger always said think of your legs as tree trunks with roots). You don't want to be leaning forward as on the swing as the balance will be off and thus you'll hit some fat, some thin as you battle to maintain a repeatable swing plain. Stable legs will form a stable swing, punching shots will give better ball striking with practice and thus bring more confidence to hitting fuller shots. McIlroy has one of the widest swings on tour, but is also one of the best ball strikers ever to play the game, this comes from ultra-balance and being super stable through the entire swing. Core strength is key to balance, but also not over swinging beyond your control is a major factor. 3/4 punches will allow you to feel how to hit a true the shot more and more, then when you widen the swing you will know exactly what happened if you duff one.
Work on the plain your takeaway is on (as mentioned above - keep the club head pointing at the target at the end of the back swing).
Try squatting down a couple of inches more (bending your knees), and stand a couple of inches further away, practice rotating your hands through impact (take a look at the slow motion videos of tour pros such as Luke Donald where you can really see how he rotates his hands through impact and finish of the swing).
Caporegime
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Thanks Dale, I'll add those to the list of things to concentrate on at the range this weekend. The flappy arms thing particularly resonates with me.
Should be interesting comparing two videos before and after...or not!
Should be interesting comparing two videos before and after...or not!
Off to St Andrews today to play the Fairmont Kittocks course - lets hope for a dry day!
http://www.bestapproachflyovers.com/SABT_standrewstorrance/
http://www.bestapproachflyovers.com/SABT_standrewstorrance/
Caporegime
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Impressive!Enjoy, it's a stunning location. We stayed at the Fairmont St. Andrews two years ago and it's just a lovely place with epic scenery.
Well that was an interesting evening, played my 2nd round singles match against a VERY tough (notorious bandit, but lovely bloke) 16 handicapper, +1 and 3 down at the turn, back nine was a joke!! It reads:
Bogie, birdie, birdie, birdie, par, birdie, par birdie, par and end up wining 3&1 shooting 67 (par 70). Love it, can't seem to miss at the moment.
I am possibly the furthest thing ever from a cocky golfer (if I ever try to appear over confident I would guarantee a shank or something equally laughable), however after hitting my standard "bail-out" drive (a slight fade / slice to the right) the boys on the tee in front of me (all good mates) insisted on shouting out "don't fat this one mate!", I responded with "watch this, inside 10 feet" and stiffed it to about 8 inches.
Love this game sometimes!!! Although I have no doubt I'll be a lot quieter when the inevitable bad run of scores eek the way back in
http://golfshot.com/Rounds/Detail/201-6020598-6020812
Bogie, birdie, birdie, birdie, par, birdie, par birdie, par and end up wining 3&1 shooting 67 (par 70). Love it, can't seem to miss at the moment.
I am possibly the furthest thing ever from a cocky golfer (if I ever try to appear over confident I would guarantee a shank or something equally laughable), however after hitting my standard "bail-out" drive (a slight fade / slice to the right) the boys on the tee in front of me (all good mates) insisted on shouting out "don't fat this one mate!", I responded with "watch this, inside 10 feet" and stiffed it to about 8 inches.
Love this game sometimes!!! Although I have no doubt I'll be a lot quieter when the inevitable bad run of scores eek the way back in
http://golfshot.com/Rounds/Detail/201-6020598-6020812