I still haven’t named my new swing but I am getting more familiar with it. After posting my swing video and getting feedback from my swing coach Jay in the comments and on the phone, I went ahead and started practicing with my driver rather than just my irons.
Here are some of the changes I’ve made that I worked on with my irons every day leading up to driver practice:
Posture/stance: stick out butt more, chin up, ball farther from feet
Swing: weight more on heels, weight shift before club passes, more descending blow, more rotation of wrists/arms, more extension at and after impact, flatter swing overall including finish.
Yes, I was pretty much doing everything wrong. And this was just with irons off the ground. Hadn’t even really discussed hybrids, woods, drivers and tees with coach yet.
Feeling It!
In my last progress update I mentioned feeling soreness in new and exciting places. Some aren’t as exciting as others. I have had arthritis since I was young, mostly in my wrists and shoulders but it’s been pretty manageable over the years. I knew the descending blow was going to be a blow in this area and I was not wrong. I mostly practice on mats, which hurts. I did take a few swings on the grass (against the rules – what a rebel) and found I was actually taking proper divots, which was exciting. It’s not so much painful while I’m doing it as it is later that night and especially the next morning, but I can handle it.
More fun and exciting are the places that I know will just get stronger and stop being sore once I work them out more. Like some of the muscles I’m using in the rotation that have been… shall we say – seldom used – until now. More on strengthening and fitness in upcoming blogs.
Another pain in the neither new nor exciting column is lower back. If you’ve read this blog for awhile, you’ll know I’ve had troubles in this area before. I haven’t had back pain in awhile and got complacent with my stretches. That’s going to change. I wasn’t playing much and when I did even when I’d score 100 or more, most of those strokes were short game or putts. When I practice, I hit at least 100 full swing, full effort shots with new technique. Every day. My back is feeling it.
Torque Hurts
After Jay saw my video and I started practicing driver, I really started to feel it. Why? Torque. He told me to keep my right leg bent, among other reasons, to better control my position at top of back swing. When I do that, I obviously twist more with my shoulder turn. My hips are more in charge of starting my swing and unwinding my body and there’s just a whole lot more activity in my lower back. Perhaps this is where I lost distance and control in the first place – maybe I tried to correct my swing to ease my back woes. Whatever. Sorry, back. We’re going to have to work this out with a better fitness routine for you because I’ll throw you out before my new swing if I have to.
I’m really trying to shorten my swing and keep my left arm straight. As you can see in my version of the Konica Minolta Biz Hub, which I’ll call GolfChick Hub or just ChickHub, I don’t do a good job of that yet. I am keeping my knee bent more now though. Perhaps that explains why I’m nearly hobbling around today, babying my tender back that keeps having mini spasms. More torque with the same Daly-esque turn cannot be good for it. And yes, a bit more rotation with a lower ball flight and flatter finish is evident. Of course I will keep working on it and keep you posted.
Setup through pre-impact
Impact, release & ball flight
Follow through
Finish and hold pose
By the way, I welcome your suggestions for names for my new swing. My last swing was called Stella.
June 27, 2011 at 3:14 am
Swing name suggestion: “Diana” That was Wonder Woman’s real name.
June 27, 2011 at 5:33 am
Nice swing sequence. Very ferocious; you should name it “Xena”.
June 27, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Great work with the right knee at the top of the swing! We work on the swing in the order that it happens. First, setup is on te balls of the feet. Weight move to the right heel at the top of the swing into the left heel on the downswing. Not completely leaving the balls but majority on heels on the downswing. Takeaway is shoulders only in the beginning. We shouldn’t see your left hand on the takeaway from the side view until much later in the swing. Take a look at your sequence here and compare it to the swing sequence in my book. Your backswing is too long but the explanation and solution is too long to write here. Call me when you get a chance. Left arm is bent and way too high – left arm should be closer to your shoulder line. Your impact position can improve. See how your hips and shoulders are square? This means that you are not using your lower body on the downswing. There was torque but it’s all gone. I prefer to call it resistance. If you move your upper body independently of your lower body, it’s like throwing a ball with just your arms. This characteristic of the swing belongs in the sequence portion. The lower body IS the engine of the downswing. Your hips should the same orientation in relation to your shoulders as they were at the top of the swing at impact. This will show that your lower body is pushing the upper body and not vice versa. Good work on the finish position and diligent practice.
June 27, 2011 at 2:17 pm
I watched xmen this weekend and there was this character called Frost. She was could make her body as hard as a diamond with the same qualities of a diamond. I see your swing as a diamond in the rough and when it’s done, it will be as solid as a rock! Wait, solid as a diamond! You should name your swing FROST! 😉
June 27, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Not bad!
Keep in mind when Jay says ball is further from your feet, that does not mean to reach further out with your arms. This will promote you standing too erect with your tush tucked in (see your address.
Instead, Keep your hands hanging below your shoulders (see how they are currently out past your visor?). Then position your feet so that the weight is on the balls of your feet and at least one closed fist can pass between your left hand and your thighs. (check the video of Jay on his website.
I am pretty sure this is in line with what Jay is teaching you, right Jay?
June 27, 2011 at 3:11 pm
I don’t remember telling Kristen to move away from the ball, but, the ball position does need to be “appropriate”. The important thing about the distance between ball and feet is the relationship of the arms, hands and club to the body and the spine at address. There is a specific procedure to set up that will put you in the correct position everytime regardless of the club. It’s on page 20 (i think) in my book.
June 27, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Jay, You didn’t tell me that specifically but we did go over your procedure the first day and when I do it, it puts me farther from the ball than I used to be.
Thanks for your awesome and thoughtful comments.
Some great ideas for a swing name – not settled on one yet so keep ’em coming! It could have multiple names. And why not? I do! (c:
June 27, 2011 at 3:35 pm
When (notice I said “when”, not “if”) you are able to consistently wallop the ball straight and true, then your swing’s sobriquet should become “Babe”. Not just because you yourself are a babe, but in honor of the most superb female golfer/athlete ever, Babe Didricksen Zaharias. After all, she too was a GunChick as well!
June 27, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Kristen, you are absolutely correct! But, can you see how other people can misinterpret the info? This is why the average score in golf among the general public has not improved in the last 100 years. One little bit of information without the correct biomechanical explanation and significance can hinder a swing. “Tips” without a foundation is like putting Mercedes parts in a Honda
We need to follow a “system” 😉 You are on the right track; more than I thought! Great!
June 27, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Wow Dave – that’s a great one. Love the use of “when.” Plus – you said “sobriquet.” The word nerd in me got a little tingle out of that.
Jay – don’t worry – you’re the only voice in my head. Well, when it comes to swing advice. 😀
June 28, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Your new swing will be associated with quality, style, performance and dependability… Therefore the name of your new swing should be ‘Mercedes’…
June 28, 2011 at 11:26 pm
“Sheena”
July 2, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I would suggest just a couple adjustments. First, as you start back you dip a little and stick out your butt more than at address. Try to set up that way and keep your foundation going back. Second, you rise up just a little at impact. Other than that, a very nice swing. PS. Don’t worry about the bent left arm or the height of your backswing. You are two plane swinger and those are traits of such.
Author of “Triangulate Your Golf Swing.”