Whenever I'm asked to provide reasons or cures for a bad swing fault, I try to give more than one because I'm answering questions that are submitted on paper. This means I'm unable to actually see you swing the club, so instead, I have to try and figure it out based on what you've written. Basically, there's a good chance that your swing fault is related to a particular part of your swing, but by providing as many reasons as I can, you're able to understand and target the problem more easily.
Nick Ames was looking for some trouble shooting because he's getting into the habit of coming over the top with his right shoulder. There are different reasons why this could be happening, so I'd like to highlight a few of the most common causes.
I have all your videos. I go to the T-finish, I hit the ball solid but it mostly leaks right. It feels like my right shoulder is coming around too soon which will cause the big fade. Also, when I come up to the finish my left arm is off the body and there is not the toe over the heel which can create greater distance. I will go back to your [videos] tonight.
Wishing you well,
Nick from San Francisco
It's obvious Nick is a right hander and if his right shoulder is coming around too soon, it must mean that he's swinging over the top. This is an outside to inside swing path. What causes this?
Like anything that we ever talk about, we have to always go back to setup because it's what determines the motion. It's also probable that alignment is playing a part here. What we all want to do is hit the ball relatively straight. To do this, we have to be aimed parallel left of our aiming line. But, if you're aimed to the right with any part of your body, you'll never find consistency.
Assuming Nick is aiming correctly, another issue could be that he's turning too much. The whole premise of the PPGS is that it's a limited turn, vertical swing. People typically turn too much because a common misconception is that you have to turn more to get more power. But, you're better served to hold your legs, swing vertically, and swing your arms faster towards the target in order to gain more power and consistency.
One last reason could be that you are starting your downswing with your shoulders. In the PPGS setup, we're pre-loaded heavy right, and the lower body begins the transition by bumping towards the target, not the upper body. The knees must stay level through the swing. A good drill to help you quiet your knees is to act like you are skipping rocks.
I go into more detail in the video, but just remember that compensation does not lead to fixing. We must identify our problems, correct them, and go from there. If you play for a slice, you have to hit a slice. If you play for a hook, then you've got to hit a hook. Take all of that out of the equation and just try and hit it straight and you'll most likely start hitting it straight at your target. Good luck!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
I call it pizza golf
Surge
I used to play what I call pizza golf. A slice here, and a slice there.
Thanks to PPGS, I call ahead when I want a pie, and enjoy the slices. Not a lot of slice on the course.
Keeping it vertical, and hopefully straight, in Oklahoma,
Dick
Pizza Golf?
Hey Dick, pizza golf?? I resemble that remark! Maybe if I tried a yummy tofu burger and some bean sprouts....Nahh, that won't work.
Surge only hit on about 3 mistakes I make, so time to finish my shredded wheat and practice hitting a few snowballs in the backyard and see if I can get it right.
Time to make some snow cream
Lynn
I suggest hitting some snow balls into a bucket and then take them inside and make a big helping of snow cream.
You how Surge is always talking about rule # 1. Here is Dick's rule # 1 of making snow cream.
Do not use the yellow snow,
Dick
350-400cc Driver Heads
Hi Don.
been using your swing for about 2 years with great results. love the swing love your vidios which are a great help.
In England (UK) cannot find a Fitter who can fit a
350-400cc Driver Head. They seem to think I am mad to want to do such a thing. I know your views on this subject and would like to experiment.
Could you therefore supply me with a manufacturer/supplyer name and or a contact email address so that I could purchase a head. also what design quality are they. ie are they an 8 year old design because all the latest design is going into the 460cc heads.
Best regards
Tom. ( 72 years old - 78/80 mph speed )
contact Griffin
Contact Lynn Griffin through his web site. He does a long distance fitting and can answer all your questions and even build the driver for you.
Look at the heading of certified professionals above to find him.
UK Fitting
Hang on just a little bit longer! I am planning a trip to the UK in May. More info will be sent out as the time gets closer.
"Throwing" the right shoulder
This is something that has bothered me for many years, whilst still playing to single figures. I know that it is not intentional but failed to find a solution until I re-read Surge's article about "skipping stones". I now try to feel that the club drops from the top of the back swing and then I try to feel like I am leading with the top knuckles of the right hand. It stops me turning the right hand over in an attempt to hit it harder, keeps the club on line & means a high upwards finish & not pulling across the body. Hope this makes sense but it works for me.
Length of driver
I would like to shorten my driver. I already hold it way down the shaft. However the professional at my club says that all driver shafts are supplied at a standard length, so that it is not possible to buy a shorter shaft from any of the manufacturers and that cutting them down is not a good idea because it alters the balance of the club and stiffens up the shaft. If that is the case how do you get a driver with a shorter shaft that is satisfactory? I asked about using a 3 wood shaft and was reminded that the fitting is not the same size, so that is not an option.
John
Club pros are not fitters
Your club pro is correct that cutting the shaft changes the relative stiffness and so on, but that doesn't mean it CAN'T be done, just that it should be done by somebody who actually knows what they're doing. Click the link for "Certified Professionals" at the top of the page and see if there's a certified fitter in your area. If not, go to Doc Griffin's web site, docgriffingolf.com, and check out his fitting services, which include long-distance driver fittings. That's how I got my driver from him, and I love it. You'll hear a few more testimonials on the blog from others who've availed themselves of Doc's skills.
Perfecting a drawl.
I've heard that a drawl shot will go farther that a fade. When I hit my driver the shot tends to fade or produce a mini-slice which I think means my club face is opened at impact. So should I try to hit a drawl shot by having a more closed stance while aiming at the target? This feels awkward to me. But I need more distance.
I am 82 years old and have had both knees replaced but hope I can shot my age eventually. Enjoy your golf tips. ( I wish you would remove that folding chair (?) that is in the background over your left shoulder: it bugs me
( (o: )
Jim Edwards, Iowa Park, TX
Draw
Hi Jim,
I'd think here in Texas, a drawl would be standard issue. Sorry, couldn't not make a friendly joke about that. ;-)
Hitting a mini-slice, as you describe it, indicates that your club face is pointed to the right of the direction the club head is traveling at the moment of impact. That either means that you haven't managed to close the club face (likely the ball starts to the right and goes further right) or your swing path is out-to-in (you've cast the club outside the target line on the downswing and the ball's flight path is on or left of the target line to start, fading off to the right).
The first and simplest adjustment you could make is to check to make sure that you're actually holding the driver with a square club face and a properly neutral grip. Try just rotating the club a couple degrees counter-clockwise in your hand and see if the ball flight straightens out. Because of the shape of driver heads, finding square can be exceptionally difficult.
The second possibility is that your driver is poorly fit for you. If it is too long, you will have no choice but to cast it out across the line and drag it back out-to-in to avoid slamming it into the ground before impact. If the head is too large, it's entirely likely that you can't physically get the club head back to square by impact (a problem for a LOT of amateurs with modern jumbo-headed drivers).
Finally, you could be trying to swing at the ball from the top, rather than letting the club fall naturally and accelerating through from the slot.
Drawl?
I'm a damn Yankee (moved from MA to AL 36 years ago) and I can't perfect a drawl ;-D
The way I do a draw is aim slightly right of the target, close my club face to point at the target, and make my normal swing. Produces a nice 5-10 yard draw every time. I still have a problem with controlling hooks and slices, but fades and slices are pretty easy.
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