That's fantastic, @dean!! Let your quality of ball striking, shot shape, and level of enjoyment be your guides, and as such, yes - absolutely - you may call it great progress!! 😎
Quick update, I believe that I’m making progress. After shooting in the very high 80’s and mid 90’s, I shot a 81 with two birdies today, and even took my only double on the last hole because of poor club choice. I hit the ball very consistent, but I’m afraid to film as I still think I could be flipping. I’m going to call this great progress and we will see what happens later next week on the Robert Trent Jones Trail.
I might have to wait and reshoot some video on the range. Maybe we can hold off until I get to the range later this week? I didn't upload the best quality video.
@dean - Not a problem. As long as you haven't already submitted it, then whenever you are ready! (If you have already sent it through and paid, then please let me know ASAP.)
I've had a revelation lately in regard to "keeping the tailbone moving toward the target." I haven't been doing that and noticed that I was, actually, moving my tailbone away from the target and my head toward the target on the back swing, This was causing the opposite action on the downswing and I was moving my head away from the target and getting my weight back during the downswing and follow thru. I was also moving my hips toward the ball or, maybe standing up gradually throughout the swing. All this was inducing an early release (flipping as I'm coming to understand it) and a tendency to get steep.
Over the course of last week, I decided I was going to concur this fault in my swing. Using video, I was able to realize a feel for getting the tailbone moving toward the target in the backswing and keeping it moving toward the target throughout the downswing and thru impact. Although, I thought I was going to concur the hips moving toward the ball fault, it lead to getting the tailbone moving forward. I always noticed, in Toms swing, the model swings, even some other S&T swings, from a face on view, the lead hip stayed in place during the backswing. I didn't do this. I noticed it a while ago and thought I was overcoming it. Instead, I started overextending and moving my head toward the target while still moving my hips away in the backswing.
During my time trying to get this right I came to realize, you need to get your but toward the target. I need to feel as though I'm sticking my but out, toward the target. I came up with a thought, I'm "mooning" the target (if anyone remembers that act of defiance!) I do not have it ingrained as second nature yet but, I think this might the move that changes everything. I started really hitting thru the ball with good consistency, and getting the club moving in to out. I also began shallowing the club without having to think about it. This did not bring me to single digit performance BUT, I saw ball flight I could nor believe. During yesterday's round, I grabbed a 4 iron for 185 out and tagged the green, only to bounce right over the back for a total of over 200 yards. On another hole, 195 out I grabbed a 7 wood and imagined a draw starting out toward a trap and drawing back to the green. I never saw the ball in flight but, my partner described the ball starting right and "curving" back to the green. He said you hit the green and bounced off the back. I was like "yea!" thats exactly what I wanted the ball to do! Of course I didn't want it to bounce off the back but, I was very happy! I hit a 9 iron 150 yards and stuck the green a couple times with wedges! Oh man, to watch a ball fly way up and drop on the green and sit is just incredible! I hit another 7 wood thin up over a rising fairway. It looked like it barely cleared the crest. I figured 150 yards at best. I start walking toward it and asked my partner if he saw where it went. He said yea you shot right past the green on the right. I was like, "past it?! That makes no sense." sure enough, I was about 5 yards past the pin, to the right of the green for a 200 yard gain, with a mis hit! My predominant ball flight became right to left from the slice or push-fade I had been struggling with. I did slice my driver a couple of times but still got really good distance.
I believe getting the tailbone moving toward the target throughout the swing is super important. It keeps you ahead of the ball and you just can't flip from there. It feels really weird but, good weird. It brings momentum and your core into it, making it feel like I'm using less effort. Of course, it changes all my club distances but who's complaining about that?! I'm probably going to do another swing analysis soon to make sure things are really going the right way but, what I saw yesterday is REALLY promising. I don't want to get too ahead of myself and start ingraining faulty mechanics again.
Anyway, I hope this helps in some way. I guess my barrier was trying to use what was comfortable. Like Tom keeps saying, if the swing you have hasn't worked until now, it simply isn't going to. I think it really has to feel weird during the transition to the new swing. If it doesn't, you're using some of your old swing I think. OH! I almost forgot, Tom says "you have to give up control to get control." I think I'm experiencing that now too. in pushing my but toward the target, my shoulder turn feels a bit less forced and I feel a mental loss of connection to the ball at the top of the swing. But letting go of that mental feeling of connection seems to allow the body to keep it's connection and pivot around the spine's access. I think in my trying to maintain that mental connection, I'm impeding the turn in an effort to not let go. In letting go, things loosen up and tension recedes and I get this perspective that, at the top of the backswing I'm actually looking at the ball over the back of the lead shoulder, that where I feel like I've let go. I let the turn happen regardless of the ball. The ball isn't going anywhere so, you don't have to worry that it's going to move. I think this is where the driving a car analogy comes in. If you're making a right turn but, you have to look for oncoming traffic from the left, you let go of your connection to the curb, or anything on your right as you look for oncoming traffic to the left. But, you continue to make that turn even though you break the connection. I think... I'm freewheeling as I write here! LOL
Danny,Thank you for the very detailed reply. I really love the idea of “mooning” the target and its super nice to hear about the distances you have gained. I hope to have the same results once the flipping is eliminated. I'm postponing my virtual lesson with Tom until later this week when I get to the range, and get my clubs back with new grips:) I want to make sure I get some good videos uploaded for him to review. I'm going to work through what I learned in Tom’s Functional Flipping video and I will try moonig the target to ensure I have proper rotation. Thank you for the tips Danny!!
So after flipping all day on the course, I’ve got to get this corrected in the short term. Leaving for Robert Trent Jones trail on the 19th. I created a few videos for Tom to review, unable to login to the V1 website to pay for the review, the app works fine. I've got an email into support to fix login issue. I rewatched Tom’s Functional flipper video again, and went in the yard and made some solid short swings. I will head to the range in the next couple of days and continue to work on that until I get my review back. Thank you all for being a great support group in this very dark swing era.Thanks,Dean
@dean the Video analysis cost $50. I've had 2 so far. The last one was so helpful, I won't hesitate getting the next one. I thought I didn't need one because I was videoing it and analyzing the video myself. I saw something was off but I couldn't figure exactly what I was doing wrong or what to do to fix it. I really think we need that kind of feedback. I know it isn't cheap but, nothing about golf is cheap. Why skimp on this when it can make all the time we spend golfing so much more enjoyable? It would be like owning a muscle car and never tuning it up.
A note about sending in for a V1 analysis, do it sooner rather than later. I wasted so much time on a faulty swing that Tom diagnosed and addressed right away. It got me back on track so quickly! I wish I'd done it 6 weeks earlier...
Danny, the 90% Weight Forward drill is an awesome drill. I use it any chance I get. In my basement, I have a practice station set up and I think there isn't a day that goes by without a golf club in my hand. The only thing that sucks is I have to use FOAM practice balls (I would destroy things down in that basement with real balls I don't care for the plastic wiffle ones...they break but make a cool WIFF sound). With foam balls, I have to spray my clubhead with foot spray to see the contact otherwise shXnking them they go straight, too! I don't trust foam ball flight just have to highlight contact (OOOO, I said the S word...Going to SG jail). Sorry to carry on but that is one drill TS will bring up every time...We should MASTER that drill.
@johnpfistnerjr I hear you about being target focused! I think that will be quantum leap in our game when we get there. We have to get past playing "golf swing." That was my hope when I set up La Garange. I could groove a swing and make it past this hump of hitting a ball instead of making golf shots.
@danny I know the target focus works. When I'm working on specifics of the swing, well, I end up being more mechanically focus than target and results are devasting on a round. I practice all of the time in my basement. Taking the practice to course is a bit of a challenge. One day, I'm striping the ball and can count miss hits on one hand. The next round, my entire round is a miss hit. Part of it is confidence or lack with what is learned. At first, the swings seem to be weak instead of full throttle. Had you ever hit a solid drive. 260+ yards in the fairway and asked yourself, "How did I do that?", hoping for a repeat drive on next hole but hit it shorter, duck hooked, sky jacked, slice, etc? Even with iron play? To me, it boils down to the mental part of game. Too much time to think.
@johnpfistnerjr I have had that experience too many times. I've also had days where my driver just works. However, it seems to work better in the beginning and I slowly screw it up, even on those days that it is more consistent, and start push fading it. Currently, the push fade is my most common ball flight.
Hi Dean, fear not, go further back and work your way back up to the 2.8 drill. Also, Tom has been prescribing the 90% weight forward drill. That should get you to stop the flip! It's in the slice fix section but, he says it will help with many other issues. If you have the weight 90% forward, you simply can't flip. https://saguto.golf/courses/1175315/lectures/31131342
@dean Start the drills at a slower pace. I used to flip a lot, too. It's a hard swing demon to destroy. What helped me is going back to the fundamentals starting back at setup then watch the vids on takeaway and so forth. Anytime I run into issues in my swing, I don't make changes until I find the problem but I will go over the basic fundamentals over and over again. I even go further to the GRIP of the lessons. Hopefully, you may catch the problem. I personally hadn't done it yet, but I will eventually, send a video of your swing to Tom for a swing analysis. Go over the basic fundamentals over and over again. I'm sick of watching grip and set up lessons but I do it all of the time. Good luck, Dean!
Here’s a training aid that might help. It’s supposed to keep the right wrist in the “flying wedge” and you can hit balls with it
That's fantastic, @dean!! Let your quality of ball striking, shot shape, and level of enjoyment be your guides, and as such, yes - absolutely - you may call it great progress!! 😎
Well done - keep up the fabulous work!!
Quick update, I believe that I’m making progress. After shooting in the very high 80’s and mid 90’s, I shot a 81 with two birdies today, and even took my only double on the last hole because of poor club choice. I hit the ball very consistent, but I’m afraid to film as I still think I could be flipping. I’m going to call this great progress and we will see what happens later next week on the Robert Trent Jones Trail.
I might have to wait and reshoot some video on the range. Maybe we can hold off until I get to the range later this week? I didn't upload the best quality video.
Hi Dean,
I've had a revelation lately in regard to "keeping the tailbone moving toward the target." I haven't been doing that and noticed that I was, actually, moving my tailbone away from the target and my head toward the target on the back swing, This was causing the opposite action on the downswing and I was moving my head away from the target and getting my weight back during the downswing and follow thru. I was also moving my hips toward the ball or, maybe standing up gradually throughout the swing. All this was inducing an early release (flipping as I'm coming to understand it) and a tendency to get steep.
Over the course of last week, I decided I was going to concur this fault in my swing. Using video, I was able to realize a feel for getting the tailbone moving toward the target in the backswing and keeping it moving toward the target throughout the downswing and thru impact. Although, I thought I was going to concur the hips moving toward the ball fault, it lead to getting the tailbone moving forward. I always noticed, in Toms swing, the model swings, even some other S&T swings, from a face on view, the lead hip stayed in place during the backswing. I didn't do this. I noticed it a while ago and thought I was overcoming it. Instead, I started overextending and moving my head toward the target while still moving my hips away in the backswing.
During my time trying to get this right I came to realize, you need to get your but toward the target. I need to feel as though I'm sticking my but out, toward the target. I came up with a thought, I'm "mooning" the target (if anyone remembers that act of defiance!) I do not have it ingrained as second nature yet but, I think this might the move that changes everything. I started really hitting thru the ball with good consistency, and getting the club moving in to out. I also began shallowing the club without having to think about it. This did not bring me to single digit performance BUT, I saw ball flight I could nor believe. During yesterday's round, I grabbed a 4 iron for 185 out and tagged the green, only to bounce right over the back for a total of over 200 yards. On another hole, 195 out I grabbed a 7 wood and imagined a draw starting out toward a trap and drawing back to the green. I never saw the ball in flight but, my partner described the ball starting right and "curving" back to the green. He said you hit the green and bounced off the back. I was like "yea!" thats exactly what I wanted the ball to do! Of course I didn't want it to bounce off the back but, I was very happy! I hit a 9 iron 150 yards and stuck the green a couple times with wedges! Oh man, to watch a ball fly way up and drop on the green and sit is just incredible! I hit another 7 wood thin up over a rising fairway. It looked like it barely cleared the crest. I figured 150 yards at best. I start walking toward it and asked my partner if he saw where it went. He said yea you shot right past the green on the right. I was like, "past it?! That makes no sense." sure enough, I was about 5 yards past the pin, to the right of the green for a 200 yard gain, with a mis hit! My predominant ball flight became right to left from the slice or push-fade I had been struggling with. I did slice my driver a couple of times but still got really good distance.
I believe getting the tailbone moving toward the target throughout the swing is super important. It keeps you ahead of the ball and you just can't flip from there. It feels really weird but, good weird. It brings momentum and your core into it, making it feel like I'm using less effort. Of course, it changes all my club distances but who's complaining about that?! I'm probably going to do another swing analysis soon to make sure things are really going the right way but, what I saw yesterday is REALLY promising. I don't want to get too ahead of myself and start ingraining faulty mechanics again.
Anyway, I hope this helps in some way. I guess my barrier was trying to use what was comfortable. Like Tom keeps saying, if the swing you have hasn't worked until now, it simply isn't going to. I think it really has to feel weird during the transition to the new swing. If it doesn't, you're using some of your old swing I think. OH! I almost forgot, Tom says "you have to give up control to get control." I think I'm experiencing that now too. in pushing my but toward the target, my shoulder turn feels a bit less forced and I feel a mental loss of connection to the ball at the top of the swing. But letting go of that mental feeling of connection seems to allow the body to keep it's connection and pivot around the spine's access. I think in my trying to maintain that mental connection, I'm impeding the turn in an effort to not let go. In letting go, things loosen up and tension recedes and I get this perspective that, at the top of the backswing I'm actually looking at the ball over the back of the lead shoulder, that where I feel like I've let go. I let the turn happen regardless of the ball. The ball isn't going anywhere so, you don't have to worry that it's going to move. I think this is where the driving a car analogy comes in. If you're making a right turn but, you have to look for oncoming traffic from the left, you let go of your connection to the curb, or anything on your right as you look for oncoming traffic to the left. But, you continue to make that turn even though you break the connection. I think... I'm freewheeling as I write here! LOL
I gotta stop!
Anyway,
Danny
So after flipping all day on the course, I’ve got to get this corrected in the short term. Leaving for Robert Trent Jones trail on the 19th. I created a few videos for Tom to review, unable to login to the V1 website to pay for the review, the app works fine. I've got an email into support to fix login issue. I rewatched Tom’s Functional flipper video again, and went in the yard and made some solid short swings. I will head to the range in the next couple of days and continue to work on that until I get my review back. Thank you all for being a great support group in this very dark swing era. Thanks, Dean
@dean the Video analysis cost $50. I've had 2 so far. The last one was so helpful, I won't hesitate getting the next one. I thought I didn't need one because I was videoing it and analyzing the video myself. I saw something was off but I couldn't figure exactly what I was doing wrong or what to do to fix it. I really think we need that kind of feedback. I know it isn't cheap but, nothing about golf is cheap. Why skimp on this when it can make all the time we spend golfing so much more enjoyable? It would be like owning a muscle car and never tuning it up.
A note about sending in for a V1 analysis, do it sooner rather than later. I wasted so much time on a faulty swing that Tom diagnosed and addressed right away. It got me back on track so quickly! I wish I'd done it 6 weeks earlier...
Danny, the 90% Weight Forward drill is an awesome drill. I use it any chance I get. In my basement, I have a practice station set up and I think there isn't a day that goes by without a golf club in my hand. The only thing that sucks is I have to use FOAM practice balls (I would destroy things down in that basement with real balls I don't care for the plastic wiffle ones...they break but make a cool WIFF sound). With foam balls, I have to spray my clubhead with foot spray to see the contact otherwise shXnking them they go straight, too! I don't trust foam ball flight just have to highlight contact (OOOO, I said the S word...Going to SG jail). Sorry to carry on but that is one drill TS will bring up every time...We should MASTER that drill.
Hi Dean, fear not, go further back and work your way back up to the 2.8 drill. Also, Tom has been prescribing the 90% weight forward drill. That should get you to stop the flip! It's in the slice fix section but, he says it will help with many other issues. If you have the weight 90% forward, you simply can't flip. https://saguto.golf/courses/1175315/lectures/31131342