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One thing to check is that you may be unconsciously opening the club face on the backswing then hanging on to the open club face through impact as you rotate. This is very common. You should feel like the back of your front wrist is pointing down at the target line 1/2 way back on your backswing… keeping the club face square like setup. The club face should be at a 45° angle 1/2 way back… not toe up. This may help your slice.
Ross
Hi Jeff
Usually, a skulled shot is caused by the leading edge vs. the club face making contact with the ball. This is usually when the club head has passed the handle before impact… also known as a flip. If you can focus on keeping the front wrist flat or even bowed out a bit, with the back wrist bent in a bit holding this shape, through impact, it will help keep the leading edge in check. This can also be caused by the back hand trying to help by throwing the club head. You also may be playing the ball too far forward, but generally that is not the case. Make sure your body rotation is accelerating through impact, to the finish and not stopping for you to hit at the ball. This helps keep the hands in check.Hi Femi
In general, maintaining the shape of the right (back hand) at least through impact, will make for solid reliable contact. If you choose to use it to (as you say) hit the ball generously, that may mean you’re not holding the shape through impact. Once the club head is changing before impact, it may cause miss hits in direction or solidness. BUT, if you are having success, use it. I don’t teach to hit with the right hand.Hello David
No, because visualizing the speed, you want the ball to leave (and travel at), is a more reliable technique. In the “More” section, under Putting Routine is the Lesson Video: https://duplessisgolf.com/area/puttingroutine.html I recommend watching all the putting lesson videos there. Another good way to feel speed of a putt… is to toss a golf ball, underhand while standing on the green and feel the imaginary speed you think will get the job done. Pushing down, then pulling up with your front shoulder, at different speeds, will create different results. Let you shoulders rock at the speed you need to create. We want the backswing and downswing to be natural as if you were tossing something… thinking ratios or lengths of backswing/follow through are restrictive and are missing feel and touch. One other important thing about good putting is… it is a “stroke” it does not have a “hit” at the ball. The ball is just in the way of a smooth continuous flowing movement.Thank you so much. Lots of tips out there to adjust the shoulders for uphill, but never worked for me. Pre-setting the weight is the key for power and balance.
Good question David. No, you do not have to adjust your shoulders for the slope, but you must pre-set your weight up the hill (and keep it there during the swing), and play the ball pretty much off of your front foot, so you’ll be able to rotate completely. On this kind of shot, you get what you get as far as distance. Fight the feeling to let your weight shift to the downhill foot on the backswing or you’ll be in real trouble.
Hi Dan
Great to hear from you Dan. Makes me very happy to hear you’re still golfing and enjoying the instruction.
Ross
Ross,
just went back and found this article about the shorter backswing. This really helps. I love your last comment,
“the downswing and commitment to turning through faster, is what produces accuracy and distance… not the backswing.”
Your method is real genius. It has made golf one of the real lasting pleasures of my life. I almost feel guilty that I have a shot for about every situation.
Thanks again for your method and teaching skills.
DanNo, not playing with fire. The backswing usually feels short when the golfer does not “add” a little lift with the arms. Learning to let the backswing end when the shoulders have turned as far as they can go… and have turned the hips a little, takes practice, but the results are really good. A couple of gofers come to mind Jon Rahm and Steve Stricker (who is winning like crazy lately) who have ideal backswings in my opinion. The backswing just sets up the downswing. That’s where the golf swing is! Good to hear from you Alan
Ross
Ross I was watching a couple of your drill videos and went to the range. I kept the back swing relatively short and then rotated through the ball. I think my club was straight up and down at the top of the backswing and my hands got no higher than shoulder height. It seemed like I was compressing the ball and the ball was going fairly straight. I then went and played nine holes and shot two over with two three putts. Is there a danger in using the short drill swing as my real swing? It seemed like the ball flight was lower but my approach shots stopped on the green. I’ve been in my typical mid season slump and this almost seemed like an “Eureka” moment but thought I would ask the expert if I’m playing with fire here.
Great! Exactly. That angle of the back wrist (or in other words, right wrist for a right hander) helps keep the shaft in line with the front arm. This shaft in line with the front arm will have the grip end of the club leading the club face… and that is critical for a solid shot/putt. If there is hinging of the wrists on the backswing, it will more than likely make you “flip” or “throw the club head” through impact. It is almost impossible to hinge the wrists on the backswing and then create a shaft in line front arm through impact …. the club head wants to flip… Thanks Femgolf_10 for the great insight.
Those are great suggestions Ross. Thanks.
I can go through a lot of thoughts in my head before a shot.
Now, I’m going to have a “thought routine”, make it a habit and that will minimize the time I spend on unproductive or negative thoughts.
Most times, middle of the the green is the best bet.Hi Dan. Good question.
If you’re not 12 handicap or better… my opinion is you should aim for the middle of every green. You’ll be more successful and have more fun.
BUT, if you’ve decided to go for the flag, here are some things to consider:
This first part is kind of straight forward and a bit “negative”… some of these thoughts are looking for what you want to “Avoid”, then we will let go of those thoughts and only focus on what we “Want to Do”
Most of these can fly thru you head pretty quickly, but will help keep you from making costly mistakes if you take a moment to think:
~ Is the hole up hill or down hill?
~ Is the lie of my ball level? or up hill or down hill, or above or below my stance
~ Where on the green is the hole? Front, Middle, Back? Left, Right.
~ What danger is lurking near the hole … Water? Bunker? False front or Tier?
~ What are the weather conditions … Wind? Rain or Drizzle? or Temp (hot or cold) that may affect the ball flight.
~ What if my miss is short (what will happen), What if my miss is long (what will happen), What if I miss left,, What if I miss is right? In other words … where is the best place to miss the shot.
~ How much Risk do I need to take?Now, no more avoid thoughts… only “WHAT I WANT TO DO” “See in your mind the exact shot you will make”… the mental picture
Once you’ve decided on the shot, “Recall” a time you took this shot and distance and were successful. Maybe a few holes back or at the practice range. Then take a practice swing or two while telling yourself… “this is what my 100 yd. swing with this club felt like” … “let’s do it again” Then, follow you routine to line up your shot and take it! No more thinking… just trust it!