Hi
Swing is starting to reach it's completion and just wanted to post a few videos of me hitting my long drive shots.
Made just a few adjustments to my setup because i want to hit the ball more up.
The most amazing thing about this swing is that it just feels so effortless and powerful. I could bomb those drives all day without even breaking a sweat :)
So thanks a lot Tom for your teachings :)
The weight forward thing can be a bit challenging at first for the driver, but it is critical. The wider stance for this club necessitates that the hips travel a longer distance in their forward lateral slide from the beginning of the downswing all the way into impact, so we best give them a bit of a head start by presetting a little more weight forward in the setup.
As for hitting up on it, think of proper impact position - hands leading the clubface, bowed front wrist, "flying wedge" intact. It'd be difficult to retain those angles if we were actually hitting up on it. So, perhaps with the exception of folks with slower swing speeds – or those Long Drive participants using extra high tees and hitting maybe 1-2 balls out of 10 onto a 60-yard wide "fairway" - the path is still ever so slightly down. In fact, believe it or not the PGA Tour average with the driver is actually minus (e.g.: downward) 1.3 degrees - nearly level but slightly down nonetheless! Thus, I do not advocate hitting up on the ball, and trying to do so due to erroneous advice has caused many an amateur significant issues with their driver.
With the proper lower body action the hips will be thrusting forward and upward through impact as the butt tucks and the spine extends. This should be all you need in order to send that ball into oblivion without having to help it get there by swinging up at it (although with a 6-degree driver I can certainly understand the inclination to try to do so!).
Nice dialogue!
Tom
Hi Jari,
I hope I'm not overstepping here. I'm far from being a master at this swing. I do enjoy chatting about it though. I how some others will come in and correct any mistakes in my observations.
I think you should follow Tom's analysis tutorial and review your swing. I think I see some things that you should look at.
The first thing I noticed was your finish. Your weight seems a little too far back on the trail leg, the club is wrapped around your back and you don't seem fully extended. Tom shared a photo yesterday of what the finish should look like. The lead leg is still bent and your weight does not appear to be 95% on the lead leg at the finish.
The second is that there is a lot of movement with your head. You can see that movement in both views. So you're moving your head out of the position from set up. Both up and down and front to back.
In your face on view of the setup, your head and, even your lead shoulder, appear to be completely behind the ball.
I may have all this completely wrong so, feel free to ignore my whole post!
Best regards,
Danny