Question:
Take a look at your left thumb. I get better feel for the leading edge of the club when my left thumb is short and pressed flat onto the grip.
Why does your left thumb need to be short and what relation does that have with the leading edge of the club? David Laville, G.S.E.M. The Golfing Machine Authorized Instructor
Response:
I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw.
I guarantee your hips aren’t leading to the finish. It’s difficult to not shift your weight if the hips are leading. David Laville, G.S.E.M. The Golfing Machine Authorized Instructor
Response:
That said, I question exactly how much weight should be on the front foot *at* impact anyway. If the head stays behind the ball at impact, there’s got to be weight on the back foot at impact. Thats why I disagree with the GH fans who want all the weight on the front foot as the downswing begins. Just doesn’t make sense to me. I’d think you want the weight in the process of moving toward the front foot at impact, but not all there yet. I’m not sure you have to be a GH fan. All it takes is to believe "Swing Like A Pro" where it says 90% of the weight on the front foot at impact.
Thats good research Bighorn. What page? Not sure I agree, but I’d like to read that. Usually when I disagree on something I’m wrong, so whats new!
Response:
I have been striking the ball pretty well lately. the irons especially. I moved away from the body-turning-the-limp-arms swing and got into what the old pros used: their hands. Has really made crisper hits, and straighter, too. You should give it a try, it feels good!. Keep wrists loose but hit with a definite hands hit. hit down, and from the inside. Feel the lag. Puttster
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sometimes time off is the best cure. Chris S. this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Wow, I’m surprised at all the good advice I’ve gotten – I just posted that on a whim. I don’t want to single any of it out but thanks. I made some good progress on my swing last year, primarily with one teacher, but some significant tips from another too. I know the conventional wisdom is to stick with one teacher, but I seem to do best when I hear the same thing 2 different ways. Or try to blend 2 pieces of advice, assuming they’re not contradictory. Here’s a list of the top teachers in my state according to Golf Digest http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/americasbest/index.ssf?/instruc… ericasbest/state/nc.html Without naming names directly, I don’t think I have any need for 1. I’ve been primarily seeing 10, who is pretty good, and 5 a couple times on the side. (When I added their advice together, it really clicked.) I’ve talked to 13 and didn’t really like his style. I’ve also heard good things about 8 and was thinking of seeing him – after taking a week or 2 off. Any thoughts, in general or about specific teachers?
Response:
Jeff, you’ve given me lots of good advice in the past. And at the moment, I’m swinging it like a whore myself, so no advice sorry, just empathy.
My wife tells me sometimes that is all that’s really necessary 
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Then I went through the five swing faults I personally tend to "revert" to when I lose focus. (3) not getting my weight through onto the front foot I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw. I’d think that the cause is from a poor pivot where you make a reverse weight shift. Thats where you get your weight forward on your backswing, and the weight moving backwards on the downswing. The problem here is the backswing pivot. Instead of getting behind the ball on the backswing, you reverse weight shift onto the front and you are probably a bit ahead of the ball as the downswing begins. Then the weinght goes backwards. That said, I question exactly how much weight should be on the front foot *at* impact anyway. If the head stays behind the ball at impact, there’s got to be weight on the back foot at impact. Thats why I disagree with the GH fans who want all the weight on the front foot as the downswing begins. Just doesn’t make sense to me. I’d think you want the weight in the process of moving toward the front foot at impact, but not all there yet. I’m not sure you have to be a GH fan. All it takes is to believe "Swing Like A Pro" where it says 90% of the weight on the front foot at impact.
There’s also Nicklaus who says the first thing he does in the downswing is drop his left heel back to the ground. — RSG Masters 2004 pre-preliminary format http://home.att.net/~frostback2002 RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/?rc=frostback "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are" Joseph Campbell
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
A couple things that have worked for me in similar situations (with varying degrees of success). 1) Take 7-10 days off 2) Find the shortest club that you can hit and ‘work up’ from there, one club at a time 3) Start with half swing shots and work on those until those are hit reasonable well. Then move progressively to full swing shots. dave
Response:
I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw.
I just look at the finishing position of good golfers (Karrie Webb is a good example). That’s the finish position I try to get. I just try to "post up" on my left leg. — Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=wilsonc Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
Response:
That said, I question exactly how much weight should be on the front foot *at* impact anyway. If the head stays behind the ball at impact, there’s got to be weight on the back foot at impact. Thats why I disagree with the GH fans who want all the weight on the front foot as the downswing begins. Just doesn’t make sense to me. I’d think you want the weight in the process of moving toward the front foot at impact, but not all there yet.
I’d agree with that. When I said getting my weight through, I didn’t mean before, or even at impact. 
Weight transfer is just signified by a good balanced finishing position. — Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=wilsonc Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging. A couple things that have worked for me in similar situations (with varying degrees of success). 1) Take 7-10 days off 2) Find the shortest club that you can hit and ‘work up’ from there, one club at a time 3) Start with half swing shots and work on those until those are hit reasonable well. Then move progressively to full swing shots. dave
That’s the best advice I have seen yet. When I struggle with my swing I take 3-5 days off from full swings. I use it as chipping/putting practice days. When I hit the range again I start with a 9 iron and hit balls with a half swing, never letting my left arm get past parallel with the ground. It seems to help with tempo as well when I get back to full swings. When your swing gets out of controll the best thing to do is shorten it, even if you lose some distance. Once you feel like you are striking the ball better then air it out a little at a time. Just my 2 cents…. GoLow…
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Then I went through the five swing faults I personally tend to "revert" to when I lose focus. (3) not getting my weight through onto the front foot I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw. I’d think that the cause is from a poor pivot where you make a reverse weight shift. Thats where you get your weight forward on your backswing, and the weight moving backwards on the downswing. The problem here is the backswing pivot. Instead of getting behind the ball on the backswing, you reverse weight shift onto the front and you are probably a bit ahead of the ball as the downswing begins. Then the weinght goes backwards. That said, I question exactly how much weight should be on the front foot *at* impact anyway. If the head stays behind the ball at impact, there’s got to be weight on the back foot at impact. Thats why I disagree with the GH fans who want all the weight on the front foot as the downswing begins. Just doesn’t make sense to me. I’d think you want the weight in the process of moving toward the front foot at impact, but not all there yet.
I’m not sure you have to be a GH fan. All it takes is to believe "Swing Like A Pro" where it says 90% of the weight on the front foot at impact.
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Take a look at your left thumb. I get better feel for the leading edge of the club when my left thumb is short and pressed flat onto the grip. –Blair "HTH. HAND."
Response:
Sometimes time off is the best cure. Chris S.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Response:
Then I went through the five swing faults I personally tend to "revert" to when I lose focus. (3) not getting my weight through onto the front foot
I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw.
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Get Scott Newell to visit! As soon as he leaves your vicinity, your swing will return to normal. Also, he’ll have a good time because he’ll kill the ball… (Disclaimer: he may have to leave the country. I’ll talk to his wife, but I don’t think that part’s gonna work out. Oh, and you can cook, right? 
Prof. Rev. Todd "Runyan" McGillivray, Esq. http://cplhicks.tripod.com/ Emailing me? tmcg at sasktel dot net. "Even the Mona Lisa’s fallin’ apart." – Fight Club
Response:
Then I went through the five swing faults I personally tend to "revert" to when I lose focus. (3) not getting my weight through onto the front foot I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw.
I’d think that the cause is from a poor pivot where you make a reverse weight shift. Thats where you get your weight forward on your backswing, and the weight moving backwards on the downswing. The problem here is the backswing pivot. Instead of getting behind the ball on the backswing, you reverse weight shift onto the front and you are probably a bit ahead of the ball as the downswing begins. Then the weinght goes backwards. That said, I question exactly how much weight should be on the front foot *at* impact anyway. If the head stays behind the ball at impact, there’s got to be weight on the back foot at impact. Thats why I disagree with the GH fans who want all the weight on the front foot as the downswing begins. Just doesn’t make sense to me. I’d think you want the weight in the process of moving toward the front foot at impact, but not all there yet.
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
I’m playing the best golf of my life. Not all of the time, but most of the time. I’d just like to hold it all together for a complete round. What works well for me is to rehearse half swings through impact, making sure my weight is on my left foot, head back and down, and just trying to feel the correct path of the swing so that the clubhead releases naturally and freely. For me, this requires the swing to be a little inside-out.
Response:
I would be interested in hearing what drill or other technique you use to overcome this fault. Not transferring my weight is my biggest swing flaw. I’d think that the cause is from a poor pivot where you make a reverse weight shift. Thats where you get your weight forward on your backswing, and the weight moving backwards on the downswing. The problem here is the backswing pivot. Instead of getting behind the ball on the backswing, you reverse weight shift onto the front and you are probably a bit ahead of the ball as the downswing begins. Then the weinght goes backwards.
I believe the pivot is more related to the swing plane and wrist cock. If you get the swing (shaft/hands/clubface) in more textbook positions during the first 1/3 & 2/3rds of the backswing, you will find that the pivot/weight shift will happen as a reaction to the momentum and balance of this path. A reverse pivot can happen because of either a (1) to upright or (2) too flat swing plane the body then tries to counter balance by reverse pivoting, etc. YMMV. — Washington State University "That shot is impossible!…Jack Nicholson himself couldn’t make it!"– Homer Simpson
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Jeff, you’ve given me lots of good advice in the past. And at the moment, I’m swinging it like a whore myself, so no advice sorry, just empathy.
Response:
: this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have : absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or : something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? : I don’t know. Pretty discouraging. Get either video or a teacher. If you’re not getting proper feedback from feel, get it from somebody who can watch — either you or your teacher, depending on which option you select. cb
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
Join the club. Terrific shots interspersed with bizarre misses. Can’t count on my putter. I’m getting too much right hand into the stroke, missed two 4-footers today that should have been gimmes en route to a pathetic 82. Maybe I need a week off. Jeff, maybe you do, too. Mike — Mike Dalecki GCA Accredited Clubmaker http://clubdoctor.com RSG-Wisconsin 2003 Information: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2003 RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/members/?rollcall=daleckim I do not patronize spammers. Help keep RSG clean!
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
I’ve noticed that my game tanks when I hit a lot of balls on the range. I get a hit impulse and lose my feel completely. When I play more on the course, my game ball striking improves. — RSG Masters 2004 pre-preliminary format http://home.att.net/~frostback2002 RSG Roll Call: http://rec-sport-golf.com/?rc=frostback "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are" Joseph Campbell
Response:
this is ridiculous. I’ve been hitting balls for the last 3 weeks and I have absolutely no feel for my swing. It feels like I’m swinging left handed or something. Where is the clubhead? I don’t know. Where is the ball going? I don’t know. Pretty discouraging.
It’s got to be something basic. You’ve got three options I can see … either see somebody who can help, work your way through it, or give it up. Bet you don’t want to do the last. On Friday before my matchplay final, I went out for some practice and at one point found myself shanking *eight balls in row* straight right with a horrible clunk. I felt like I may as well not bother showing up. When this happens everything seems wrong … timing, impact, tempo. Then I went through the five swing faults I personally tend to "revert" to when I lose focus. They are (1) taking the club way back inside and then coming over the top … a reverse loop, (2) turning the hips out too early, (3) not getting my weight through onto the front foot, (4) not watching the spot where the ball is through impact, and (5) my stance gets a bit closed and my swing becomes a slight pull. Faults (2), (3) and (4) are probably related. (You will no doubt have your own list … I think it’s good to write them down in a diary for a reference.) On analysis, I knew it was (1), and wondered how on earth I ever could "miss it". However, I think a bad golf stroke is like a gremlin that just shows up on your shoulder when you don’t expect it. It teases you until you kill it with logic and basics. As soon as I paid attention to my takeaway … getting my hands more in front of my body … the problem went away. The loop went the other way. The timing, feel, tempo and good impact came back almost immediately. I also didn’t shank one all day Saturday. When I played at Yarrawonga yesterday, I was going along great guns, until I sprayed a couple of drives right. This was fault No. 2 and as soon as I corrected they started going straight again. What drives me nuts is why I forget in the first place, but I think it’s a sort of reversion to a previous naturally bad swing. Colin Wilson