How Long Can I Do This?

[APowell1990]

I would like to say hello from south Kentucky. Finally a place to talk with fellow golfers. I have had a very early wrist cock for a while now and it is to where if I miss one day, I am totally off. This was going on back in the middle of Fall. My clubs were going way too long. I was hitting my 7 Iron like 180 yards. (tee)I was also hitting my wedges so long as well. I figured out that the face was totally closed. I come out a few weeks ago and play with a friend(hay on greens) and I get the ball on a decent trajectory with my first drive in 2 months. I am now starting my baseball season, but I am doing what I can to play on weekends and off days. I have started to hit my clubs straighter, instead of that dreaded hook. I was wondering if I was out of the woods? I just can't believe what happened when I stopped breaking my wrists really early. Also, should I expect to lose a lot distance? Once again it is great to be here. I am also a 15 year old sophomore. I really want to get a scholarship somewhere in golf. I am around a 7-8 handicap from last year when I was really playing. I had a tough year last year with a new coach. I averaged like a 47 on 9 holes. I had a 61 after Katrina with a case of Scarlet Fever. I went to regionals as a frosh. and I didn't go last season. I NEED A BIG YEAR! Sorry for making this post so long.

[Loop]

Certainly not out of the woods.
Cocking your wrist early on or not will change the plane of your swing.
For shorter irons, you might want to cock early.

[APowell1990]

I just need to work on hitting the ball straighter and I will be fine. I play on a 62,000 yard course, so basically it is just a driver, sand wedge every hole. On the par 5's I usually go Driver, 5 Iron or 5 Wood on the long one. I have drove it down the hill to the 150 on the short one before. Mostly I go driver/ 5 iron though. The only problem with cocking my wrists is that I break them as soon as I get the club moving backwards. It results in a lot of trouble if I dont play a day or something. I usually play daily during the summer though. I think I am going to try and keep my wrists from breaking early and just make it reasonable.

[dave.]

I am not American,but if you play baseball,I would have thought you are quite fit and have muscles in all the right places,so your lenght is to be expected,particularly if you are over 6 ft.

An early wrist set is not unusual for 2 plane swingers,ala Els.What this does though is put pressure on timing,the wrist set is not the problem,but somehting else will be.

I don'tswing like that and wouldn't want to offer any duff advice,losing distance has nothing to do with your early wirst set,ist most likely coming from swinging from the shoulders and not timing the power from the bottom half.

if you wanna knwo what a decent one plane swing looks like as a comparison,take a look here...............

http://www.megspace.com/sports/moeto...ide_clip2.html

look how he just lets the top half,ie shoulders get pulled down by a powerful hip slide,then turn,that starts the downswing,the only key for you is he swings on a one plane,chances are with an early wrist set you have a 2 plane swing and require impeccable timing to drive down inside and thus square.

[GolfDrillGuru]

I'm sure you meant 6,200 yard course Apowell.

I'm a Candian Golf Professional - So the information I'm giving you should help your swing out a fair bit.

First off, DO NOT break your wrists early in the backswing, like you had said, you will hook the crap out of the ball. I don't really know where you got the idea to do this, but it was far from correct. Try to move towards a more one piece takeway with your arms and shoulders, your wrists should cock naturally on the way up to the top of your swing.

Secondly, most baseball players have trouble hooking the ball in golf due to a stronger grip and a flat swing, which is caused by the baseball swing motion. Some other possibilities is an over-active lower body (stems from your stepping into the baseball as you swing). Try standing closer to the ball, if your swing seems to flat (flat swings promote hooks btw). Also consider turning your on the club to the left a bit, if your grip is too strong (assuming you are right handed).

Third, if you really want to improve your game, work on your short game religiously. Chipping, putting, pitching, sand shots, all the time. MAke it fun, with competitions with your buddies, but make sure you have sound fundamentals first before practicing incorrect technique.

If you need drills to help with your hook , you can check my page out in my signature. Lots of fixes for swing faults.

Good luck!

[dave.]

I think we need to establish what early means.Els to me is early,Tiger late.

[APowell1990]

I loved the way I was playing and I wasn't hooking the ball when my timing was on. However the miss one day thing is what really got me. Thanks for your evidence. I have to be right on with my timing to be able to do this though. I think I am going to try and keep my wrists from breaking as soon as I take the club back. Yes I am about 5'11 or 6'0.