FLAT Alert

[DrBrown]

I am VERY technical with my swing and know where its supposed to be. Right now its just a hair off and I cant fix it on my own. I wish I had a video of my swing but I dont, at least nothing on a computer. Im having a problem resulting from being flat in the backswing and have flipped the wrists in the backswing for years. Ive recently come to realize I needed to change it so I could move forward with my swing. I know Im on plane at least until my left arm is parallel to the ground and the club is pointing up. But somewhere between here and the top I make a move from the inside and hit a pull hook most likely from flipping my wrists again at impact. I know its from coming from the inside because the divot is deeper on the heel of the club. I dont really have a drill to ingrain the feeling of coming down on plane. I have a big window that I swing in front of and make sure its pointing at the larget line and isnt inside or flat. But when I take that thought to the course I either hit it flush or pull hook it out of bounds.

I've been taught how to swing next to a wall to make sure it cant go flat. But I just keep losing that feeling when I go hit balls at the range. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

~Dan

[Silver]

Okay, I'm a 19.5 handi, so take this for what it's worth...

Would focusing on a going to a nice high backswing...almost with a bit of a delayed release...help? I know that when I start to hook it from flipping my wrists over at impact, that's what fixes it...I just don't fully release through impact and carry the clubface along the target line longer after impact and carry it up rather than around my body. This seems to promote a nice high fade (or a perfectly straight shot when I'm hooking).

Like I said though, I suck, so it's worth what you pay.

[bdcrowe]

Think about keeping your R (for R-handed golfer) hand on "top" of the club during the first half of your backswing. If you roll your hands inside, the L hand is now on top. By not rolling your hands inside, it will promote a bit more upright swing. This will also promote a bit more of a fade tendency than hook tendency.

You could also practice swinging the club on a side-hill (ball below feet) lie. This should ingrain a more upright swing.

Good luck.

[DrBrown]

bdcrowe, I just tried what you were saying and it seems to work for the backswing. According to the mirror it appears its on plane. I might even go to the next extreme and try to keep my hands equal on the downswing and maybe keep the right hand on top just a bit. That might keep the pulls away too. I guess we'll see tomorrow morning. Im supposed to play at 9:30. Thanks for the replies.

[dave.]

Where does the V on your right hand point? If you have a strong right hand grip,it can cause what you describe (or weak left hand) and its very hard to correct.You will for ages and take several hundred balls to feel anything like normal.

My bet is a grip problem.

[DrBrown]

The "V" as you call it points right down the middle of the shaft w/ my grip. Ive never had grip problems other than having an overly strong left hand. I use overlap BTW. Luckily when I was young I was taught a very good grip and its stuck with me all along. Besides swinging too strong with the right hand leads to a slice, this is hardly my problem. Fred Couples is a perfect example of a strong left hand grip, very similar to mine. At address you can see at least 2 of his left hand knuckles. He has his left hand setup stronger because he tends to be smooth and doesnt go after it hard with the hands, just the arms. So he needed a stronger grip so its square again at impact rather than hitting a weak fade.

[dave.]

Sorry,but you are wrong.A strong right hand won't neccessarily lead to a slice,it will lead to push or pulls from a flat backswing.Although a slice is normally the result of correcting it.It will almost certainly lead to a flattening of the backswing and the club laid off as the left hand bows over the right,flattening the swing.But thats just one explanation for a flat backswing,clearly you don't believe thats your problem,so at least you are analysing your own problems,which is half the solution.

re Fred Couples.I have belief about pros with swing idiosyncracies,they do amateurs no favours at all,we look at there swings and believe anything anything is possible.It is,if you have the incredible amount of natural talent Couples has.When you have that amount of talent,you can basically groove anything in,but not us.We have to work harder on the basics to get the ball where we want.Plus we don't have 50 hrs a week to practice.Any grip issue will be exemplified by bad timing,and Couples NEVER mistimes a shot,ever,due to his talent.

But hey,its your swing.If its not grip,and your grips is good,then i would book a lesson and look at the wrist set,the swing flattens from that point if you have this problem,which should be roughly when the arms are horizontal to the ground.

[DrBrown]

Dave you usually have great comments to add but I can prove more right hand power equals a slice or push. Hit some balls with your right arm only, then do it with the left. I gaurentee unleess your purposely trying to close the face and hook it the ball will slice/fade. If I were to squeeze harder with my left hand its going to make the ball hook every time. This is what should happen with a balanced grip.

I understand Couples has more talent then myself or ametuers do, I was merely stating that my left hand grip looks like his somewhat in a stronger position. I probably should be getting another lesson. I had one about a month ago and it really got me close back to being on plane. But its a transistion phase since I used to be overly flat at the top of the backswing and now Im ~3" inside where I used to set the club. Im coming down decent just not quite right with the wrists. Ive gotten away from flat for the most part but I think my wrists are still flipping since my brain has been subconciously correcting this for years. Im not sure that a $60 lesson is worth it since winter is almost here, my bad habits will be back by spring time most likely. Thanks for the replies.

[dave.]

Yes it can lead to a slice,I am not disagreeing,but it can equally lead to a pull if your timing is out.If teh strong right hand flattens the club ie sets it closed at the top,which is quite usual for a strong right hand.Basically your timing has to be spot on to avoid a push or a pull.

You will certainly slice it when you try and correct it though

ps you have a good understanding of basic swing mechanics and at least you are trying to analyse it yourself,thats half the battle i think

pps what do you mean 'usually'!!