Swing Help Please

[KevCarter]

Please excuse the enclosed picture stolen from another golf swing school of thought. It depicts my problem perfectly. When I look at the swing sequence of YODA, or any great player past or present, I see extension of the spine as in the picture on the left. When I look at video of my swing, I see the picture on the right. I am still looking for a "puke" smilie.

For someone using pretty much the basic hitting pattern from the 6th edition, what are some "feels" that could help me get back to the proper mechanics of the picture on the left?

I'm ashamed to admit the fat guy in the striped shirt is me.

Thank you in advance for any help and ideas.

Kevin

[O.B.Left]

What are you talking about man, thats a beautiful Hitters Pivot! Poetry in motion bud.

[EdZ]

Try swinging two clubs held together standing completely on your left leg, with your right foot up on the toe and to the rear a bit.

As you swing, keep your eyes closed, imagine you are going to throw the clubs down the fairway, and step through with your right foot, as if you were going to walk after them. (which is a good way to start, go ahead and walk forward)

Let the weight of the two clubs pull you through, you'll feel you are really facing the target.

[JerryG]

Kev, guys like you and I have some difficulty finding enough kinetic energy to get us completely through the swing.
I think the difference is that it might be a little easier for those guys that cast long shadows than it is for those of us that cast wide shadows.
Let's work on that tomorrow at the dome.

[O.B.Left]

Try swinging two clubs held together standing completely on your left leg, with your right foot up on the toe and to the rear a bit.

As you swing, keep your eyes closed, imagine you are going to throw the clubs down the fairway, and step through with your right foot, as if you were going to walk after them. (which is a good way to start, go ahead and walk forward)

Let the weight of the two clubs pull you through, you'll feel you are really facing the target.

I was thinking about that drill with the weight on the left side and the right foot on its toe and way back behind the line too .......although Ive never heard of the two clubs thing before, nice.

KEv when you do this drill ask your left knee (or back) if there is a reason it doesnt want to take the load? Is there a twisting left knee problem or a physical element to this or is it just a habit, plane and simple? If the left knee doesnt want you to load it and pivot over it , you wont, or cant even. Its a self preservation mechanism.

You cant turn very freely without the weight centered over one leg or the other. Pivoting around the middle with the weight centered and both feet planted/ loaded is really awkward (like a spinning Top with two points to turn around) and so the brain will command the body to back out of the shot as if it is selecting the less injurious leg around which to pivot regardless of any consequences to golf score or low point management or whatever.

Homer designated Finish as one of the Three Stations (Address, Top, Finish). Golf is a motion that makes its way through the Stations with no consideration for Impact. Let the Motion make the shot etc. But to do so, Finish has be a balanced and comfortable destination or the body wont want to go there. Pose at Finish and see what it feels like. Move things around to make it more comfortable if you have to. Like the Knudson/Hogan left foot flare and the right foot drag. I love the drag thing, it gives us old inflexible farts a little more range of motion through the shot. And If you are dragging that right foot, the weight must be left! With it left, turning will be as easy as it is for spinning top. The center of gravity and the axis of rotation in line (and over the left side). VJ Trolio style.

Hopefully its just a habit and not an physical thing.

[bond007]

Please excuse the enclosed picture stolen from another golf swing school of thought. It depicts my problem perfectly. When I look at the swing sequence of YODA, or any great player past or present, I see extension of the spine as in the picture on the left. When I look at video of my swing, I see the picture on the right. I am still looking for a "puke" smilie.

For someone using pretty much the basic hitting pattern from the 6th edition, what are some "feels" that could help me get back to the proper mechanics of the picture on the left?

I'm ashamed to admit the fat guy in the striped shirt is me.

Thank you in advance for any help and ideas.

Kevin

I can relate to your picture as I have a similar body type. I have to flair my front foot because of a severe footballknee. The flairing does restrict my rotation back somewhat but the tradeoff would be hanging back. I am able to stand on my front leg without pain but have to avoid any twisting of the knee.

[KevCarter]

Holy Smokes,

I have been offline for awhile, and I can't believe the wealth of help you guys have given me. Thank you to EVERYBODY!

Mr. Bond, Nice swing! I think you have nailed it. GMBTEMPE also shot me an email saying the same thing. I have both back and knee problems, and I think you guys have nailed it with the thought of flaring that left foot. I notice at set up, I am not flaring it much at all. I can't wait to try it tomorrow with JerryG.

Ed and O.B. I can't wait to try the drill along with O.B.s ideas as well.

You guys are the best!

Kevin

[KevCarter]

... of all my friends at LBG.

You were ALL correct, and your combined help has put me back on track.

I started with the drill given me by THE KING OF DRILLS, EdZ. One swing, acquired motion, shooting pain in my left knee, just as O.B. suggested, physical problem.

I flared my left foot as GMBTEMPE and Bond, James Bond 007 suggested and tried the drill again. WOW, no pain and I could pivot around my left leg. It's going to take a little time, and a little work, but now I have a plan.

Thanks very much everybody!

I owe you all an adult beverage, shaken, not stirred!

Kevin

[bond007]

... of all my friends at LBG.

You were ALL correct, and your combined help has put me back on track.

I started with the drill given me by THE KING OF DRILLS, EdZ. One swing, acquired motion, shooting pain in my left knee, just as O.B. suggested, physical problem.

I flared my left foot as GMBTEMPE and Bond, James Bond 007 suggested and tried the drill again. WOW, no pain and I could pivot around my left leg. It's going to take a little time, and a little work, but now I have a plan.

Thanks very much everybody!

I owe you all an adult beverage, shaken, not stirred!

Kevin

Kevin,
I have discovered over the years that I have to vary the amount of flair (sometimes more) depending on the degree of tightness in the front knee. This has worked well for me and as the saying goes, "Sometimes you just have to do whatever you have to do".

[dodger]

Kevin, with the left foot flared open, try to feel your right leg stays straight on the downswing. Feel there is a clubhead attached to the outside of your right toe. Bury the clubhead in the ground leading edge first with a straight right leg. I got that tip twenty years ago and it still helps me.