New found power?

[DaveE]

I've been working with a drill to improve my release and it's helped my iron distance a little. It's a drill that has you start your swing halfway through the back swing and then go only shoulder high and then only shoulder high on the follow through.

It works well but I noticed because of the starting position I had stopped flexing my left knee toward the ball on my backswings the way I should. Yesterday in our 9 hole tourney I made a point of doing this and my iron distances were longer than they've ever been.

I've read that straigtening the knee at impact affects distance as was wondering the the over emphasis on knee flex could have been the cause of the increase in distance.

We're not talking about little bits here. On a 175yd par three that I always hit five iron on I flew the green by 15 yds. On another, I hit my gap wedge 20 yds over a green. It was like this the whole round.

Sorry this is so long but I couldn't figure out how to post any shorter. Any thoughts from you swing gurus would be aprreciated.

 

[Bama Duffer]

I'm no swing guru, but didn't I read in a golf magazine where Tiger used a knee flex to add extra distance, only to discover that this also caused damage to his knee? Is this the same technique you're using?

 

[Rockford35]

I'm interested.

How was the accuracy tho? Any worse than it usually is? (I say that as politely as I can).

I'ma give that a go at the range if I get some time this weekend.

R35

 

[Bravo]

Let me know how your continued research comes out...I'd like to give it a go once my tourney is behind me...

 

[obagain]

By concentrating on you arms you were probably not using your lower body at all. When you started turning correctly you corrected that and are now reaping the rewards of good mechanics.

You have probably noticed you are not swinging as hard at the ball yet hitting it farther. Keep it up and you will see a dramatic drop in scores when you get your new distances down.
Congrats

 

[DaveE]

Bama - I've read that too but I'm not doing it to that extent.

Rock - No worse than normal, anus. In fact, the shots had really nice trajectory with a slight draw. Of course it was killing my score to keep flying greens.

OB - You make a good point. In fact, I had to swing pretty easy all day because of a jammed ring finger on my left hand. I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to play until I got there and took a few swings.

But I do think the knee flex has to be having some effect because I was hitting the ball 15 yds further than any time in my life and I'm 51. If it continues, and I hope it does, the most difficult part will be gaining the confidence to use the right club. It's going to be very difficult mentally for me to take out a six iron on a 175yd par 3 when I've been using a 5 for so long.

Hopefully I'll get to play this weekend so I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[Rockford35]

Good show.

I'm interested, so post results as they are available...

R35

 

[Gridiron]

When I had problem hitting the ball because I wasn't doing my swing properly. The excersise I did to fix that was getting an old 3 iron and practicing in the pool. You get in the pool just under shoulder height and practice your stance and your swing all the way. The water slows you down and let's you see what your doing wrong. It really helps. I saw my balance, my hips and my backswing. By doing that they all came into sync. Now my problem is my short game, and with the people here I think I might have that fixed now too. The place is great!!!
The excercise helps your power too, because your whole body now is like a tight spring being let go.
Try it! It Works!!

 

[Playdead]

....practicing in the pool.

Now that is a really different approach! I like the exercise part of it.

"Going for a swim honey?"
"Nah, gonna practice my swing."
SPLASH!

 

[DaveE]

Good show.

I'm interested, so post results as they are available...

R35

Well not quite a good show today. I had a slow afternoon so I went to the range. I'm still hitting the ball as far as I was the other day. There's a 135yd flag at the range that I usually hit a 7 iron to and today an easy 8 was all I needed and that was into a little wind.

I was trying to concertrate on the knee flex as well as swinging easy with a good release.

The problem is that I'm hitting too much draw again and an occasional wicked hook. I know everyone says it's easier to fix a hook than a slice but I'm not so sure.

 

[Loop]

I do think it's hard to fix a hook, especially with irons.

 

[VtDivot]

I do think it's hard to fix a hook, especially with irons.

1. Weaken grip
2. Get club back high and on the inside (you may want to start it going back on the outside and get it inside by the top of your turn)
3. Try and hit a big draw or hook
4. Finish high
5. You'll hit it dead straight or a slight push instead of the usual hook.

I fight a hook early in the season, and this is my routine to get out of it

 

[obagain]

When hitting a hook, first try to move your weight back on your heels a little bit.

When you swing down the momentum will move you forward a little, if you are already leaning that way you will have to really use your hands to get the club back to the ball and you will normally cause you to cast the club a little and close the face creating a hook.
It is not the only cause but it is the easiest to try.

 

[Rockford35]

Aim more right.

You'll straighten out eventually.

You're hitting shots that 99% of guys out there would dream of hitting. Don't go and change it all because you're hitting the draw a bit more than you should be. Work it into your game, it will work itself out.

R35

 

[DaveE]

Thanks for the comments guys, they'll all be good things to try my next time out.

My favorite though is "aim right". Leave it to Rock to keep things simple.

The pro was too busy to come out to the range with me but he thougt I might be bringing my right shoulder around instead of under. I have a feeling he's right but I haven't been able to come up with a swing thought to make that work yet.

All the usual things, like visualizing a under throw, don't work because I'm left handed and a right handed underhand throw just make me feel like a girl.

Practice, practice, practice. At least the new distance hasn't left me yet.