

Friday, March 28, 2014

Up and Down and Around, Part 3



Let's look at the originals and then how they've evolved.
















V-shaped path of hands in connected classic swing







  1. Hi Mike, discovered your site today, it certainly makes really enjoyable reading.
    There is so much to read i've only scratched the surface.
    The backhand control seems to describe me, in fact i've always thought I was at fault when struggling with trying to swing two handed.
    What would you suggest would be the most suitable sequence of atricles to read for a backhander.

  2. Glad to have you aboard, Stephen!

    Let's make sure you understand that having one hand control the swing doesn't mean you're swinging one-handed. Both hands provide power during your swing -- that's always true, no matter what style of swing you have. But to get the most distance, you need to grip the club with as little tension as you can without losing control of the club.

    So the control hand grips the club just a little tighter than the other hand so things don't get too loose. If you tried to control the club with both hands, your wrists would stiffen up too much and you'd lose both distance and accuracy.

    Backhand control is the most natural for most of us because we grow up throwing Frisbees and hitting tennis balls and baseballs. The back of the hand at the end of the shaft (or racket or bat) is usually pointing at the target, just like the face of the club, so it's easier to aim that way. You're just doing what comes naturally.

    Since you didn't say exactly what kind of problems you're having with your swing, it's a little hard to say what posts would be the best to start with. But since (in my experience) most people have problems with their takeaway, I'd start with a post about one-piece takeaways. There's a button at the top labeled "Some Useful Post Series." Check out Part 3 of the series "Dexter's Coming Over-the-Top." That one will teach you how to start your swing with a good takeaway.

    Then try the series called "The Deadhanded Approach Shot." That will help you create a good swing motion similar to how Steve Stricker swings.

    Those two will probably be enough to keep you busy for a while since they cover a lot of fundamentals. And while you're learning those fundamentals, you can just explore the rest of the site and see what catches your eye.

  3. Thanks Mike, I have been guilty of an over the top move myself on more than one occasion, in fact my misses are pulls so I think that would indicate an outside to inside swing path, would it not?
    I purchased your E books from Amazon, i'm not ready to read them all yet(I still have 1800 posts in front of me) but it seemed like the right thing to do.
    I'm a middle of the road golfer who plays off 12 handicap, my game is reasonably accurate but it seems at the expense of distance. Drives go about 220 - 230 yds
    What i'd really like to fix would be my flip, I can't seem to time my release consistently.
    If you are looking for inspiration for a future post, here's something that puzzles me, in my last round I hit a pitch with my gap wedge, landed on the green pretty much where I wanted, but only rolled about about 2-3 feet, leaving me about 10- 12 feet short, later in the same round had a similar shot, same club, same swing, same trajectory, rolled about 10 feet past the flag, missed both putts and couldn't take the opportunity to convert 3 shots to 2 shots. I know green conditions play a part, but it happens too often to just be the rub of the green
    There is a variable in there somewhere that i'm not getting

  4. First off, thanks for buying my ebooks. I appreciate it!

    Yes, when your misses are pulls, that generally means you swing out-to-in. It could also be an over-the-top move, which is slightly different. (You can play good golf with an out-to-in move, but not with an over-the-top move. The difference in angle of attack on the ball is the reason.)

    Before you start on all the posts (insert BIG smile!) spend some time with the Stop Coming Over-the-Top ebook. That should help with the pull even if you don't have an over-the-top swing, and it may also help increase your distance. (The move that creates the pull may be costing you.) Although I directed the book at over-the-toppers because there are so many of them, the book simply teaches a fundamentally solid swing. If you have any questions when you're reading, just drop me an email.

    As for the flip... yeah, I might be able to help you. Maybe I can do a post later this week.