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Ross Jun 01, 2015
If you’re not sure about the white dot lie angle, you can put tape on the bottom of the leading edge and hit on a hitting board and look at the mark. You want it right in the middle. If the mark is more toe or heel, they need to be adjusted for your swing. If the lie angle is way off, you may have a problem (if I remember right), in that Ping can only be adjusted a certain amount.Ross May 31, 2015
That is all good!Finding the right “shaft alignment” at setup, takes a little practice and everyone is a little different (strength, posture, grip etc.).
I think what you discovered, (that most golfers don’t know), is how the golf shaft reacts “dynamically” through impact. The inertia of the club head, pulls down when it’s traveling at 80-100+ mph during the swing (through impact). This will force the back of the front thumb and wrist to “raise up”. This usually removes any preset inward, angles* the wrists made at setup. This also can make the “toe” of the club dig deeper than the “heel” if you look at your divots. This can also be the wrong shaft for your swing. There are many trade offs.
One of the best ways to find how that shaft should be is to … hold the club with the front hand only … squeeze a bit with your hand, and then move the club around using your arm, finding the strongest position (no floppy wrist). Try to control the club and it will settle into the strongest position. This is the best position for you when you setup and swing. This takes practice.
FYI… that shaft MUST be inline with the front arm at impact … period! The butt of the club will NOT be pointing at your belly or forward of your front arm … must be inline at impact!
* The angles that would have the back of the thumb/wrist bent inward (not flat or bowed up).
Ross Apr 15, 2017
Most often any pop up will have a “flip” at impact. Flipping is generally caused by the back hand throwing the club head into impact, so loft has been added and it is weak. What goes hand in hand with the flip is the “stop rotating” by the body (to support the flip).If you focus on keeping the setup shape* through impact and make sure your body KEEPS TURNING all the way to the finish, you’ll end up (with practice) with a boring trajectory and more distance. You can start with very soft, short, controlled drives that have a complete turn while maintaining the shape through impact. Then as you get it down, speed up your rotation through impact.
* This is the shaft in line with the front arm … flat front wrist … elbows pointing at the hips.
Ross Aug 12, 2014
What changes is the length of the club. If you start with your arms out in front of you, elbows close together, and let that hang, it will usually drop on top of your pecs (everyone is built different). Now as you get into an Athletic position (Chest moves a little forward as your back side sticks out (this is a counter balance that keeps you centered) like a quarter back. Then you sit down. Again, this will have your hands a bit different due to different lengths of clubs.The weight is square, across the feet just like you stand, (with 60% on forward foot… (weight on balls of feet, or toes, or heels, are all not good and create big balance issues that cause many problems during the swing[nono]) If you start balanced, you can swing in balance… if you start out of balance, your body will move around during the swing to find BALANCE.
Ross
It may be because your front foot is squared off (90° to the target) restricting your rotation. Try to flare the front foot open a bit at setup to help create more freedom for rotating. It is critical for your front foot to roll to the outside of the golf shoe (DUPLESSISGOLF Members can watch: Roll your Feet in the Swing Section ). You can not rotate with the front foot flat. If you just throw a ball and see what your front foot does, it can give you an indication of how your front foot needs to be setup for your golf swing.
Ross Mar 08
I have a drill called the “Front Foot Drill”, where the front hip and much of the weight is right on top of the front (left as you say) foot. This drill helps teach the feeling of rotating around the front hip to the finish. BUT, most of the time the reason someone get stuck through impact is: They started with too much weight on the back foot… or they let their weight slide to the back foot and can’t get back. Make sure you really brace your back knee to the inside of the back foot and hold it. This will help keep more weight forward. If the back knee moves on top of the back foot or worse to the outside of your back foot, your in trouble.Ross Nov 28, 2016
Yes, loosing a little distance at first can happen, but there are different reasons. We’ve discussed this in other posts (just search) and you’ll find answers. Also, when you do send some videos for analysis, mention again in the email about your distance concerns and I’ll be sure to mention during the analysis where you can improve (it’s usually a combination of things).Ross Dec 13, 2015
The hands can end in many different positions, depending on the kind of shot you’re taking.Many of my videos are drills to teach you to let the body’s rotation bring the hands/arms/club around. Most golfers let the hands/arms take over through impact and they end up in many different places… but, when the body moves the arms/club around, it looks much more controlled. It really has to do with the amount of acceleration and commitment a golfer makes on the downswing. If I’m turning through with driver on some shots my hands/arms will end very high (but they never took over on their own). The body turned completely and the arms/club continued due to momentum/inertia. On other controlled driver shots like a “cut”, I feel like I’m holding the club face off to help shape the shot and the hands might end lower.
Guess what I’m saying is, don’t go by the hands… look more at the body turn… knees and back foot, for a complete turn. We always want a complete turn… even with short shots. Complete turn will make you much more consistent. If you’re hitting too far… shorten the backswing, but complete the finish.
Hint: If you’ve used your body correctly to the finish, everything ends together. The body does not get done first, then the arms/club finish late… or, the arms/club pull the body around to the finish. The body brings the arms/club around and everything finishes together.
Ross Feb 04, 2016
All the Drills that rotate… The Finish Drill, The Stop – Rotate Drill, The Large Muscles Drill.You want to feel “acceleration” all the way to the finish.
Ross Feb 04, 2016
What it going on with the Gary Player “take a step” is you are not rotating left and bringing the shaft to the left (right hander)… you are turning some, then using your arms/hands to throw the club at the target. That type of move works like throwing a boat anchor and hanging on. You want to let the body rotate around.Hint: The club never points straight out in front of you at the target. Feel more like you’re dragging the shaft left using your turn.
Ross Apr 23, 2015
One other thing the drills do is “maintain” your swing. Some golfers think you “figure” some move out and then you “have it”. Or, they practice something for a while and think they’ve “got it now”. They may for a bit, but if you will need to reenforce and maintain it (this goes on into the future) or you can loose it. Don’t beat yourself up. The body is not a machine. Just start again with the basic drills and you’ll get it back pretty quick. BTW, even machines need maintenance to keep working.Ross Apr 21, 2015
YES !! you got it. One thing… the lead wrist does not lead on its own (or help), it is being pulled by the body rotation. Great find Peter.Ross Apr 21, 2015
Yes, muscles do get tired (especially when you play towards the end of the round). Also, you’re new to keeping the face square. You can’t just tell yourself to do it and expect many years of a habit to go away… Time & Effort. You will get better and better each time you remember to keep it square… one day, it will be muscle memory.Ross Jun 11, 2019
Hi Ed
Topping is usually throwing the club head at the ball. In your case, probably because you feel the need for the club head to catch up or you’ll miss the shot… so you throw it. This can be because, since you did not hold the lower body (left hip), everything turned back on the takeaway together (did not get a windup)… and the hips don’t turn very far and they’re done, but the shoulders turn much farther and needed a head start they didn’t get… now the hips start the downswing, but the shoulders/arms have not finished the backswing… so they’re now playing catch up. This scenario can lead to throwing the club head. Another reason might be, you are using hands and arms on the backswing to help vs. using the Large Muscles (shoulders), and then all kinds of things can happen then. Using the Big Muscles helps keep the hands/arms in check (more passive).