Hey everyone, I'm new to the program and really enjoying the videos and all the support within the Saguto Golf community! I had my first range session attempting this new swing style and had hit some really good shots. Some of the crispest feeling shots I've ever felt. Unfortunately, I didn't take any video of my swing that time. Went to the range a couple more times after and can't seem to recreate those good swings. Almost every single one of my shots are s-words or chunks. I've uploaded a video here (this one was an s-word as you can see). There's probably tons of things wrong. I know my backswing doesn't match what it's supposed to look like (club is facing too vertical), but it looks like I kept my hands in? I know the backswing is the key, but I'm leaning towards my downswing being the bigger issue. But, I honestly am just guessing and hoping someone has better insight. Appreciate any help!
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@Sagar Patel I'll join Tom in welcoming you to the forum. I understand the desire to get out and play quickly, but I would suggest (and probably most other members) to slow down and work through the program. Drill 2.8 must be mastered before moving on to a full swing as it trains all the necessary movement. Unfortunately, they need to be committed to muscle memory, which takes a little patience.
As for your S****, it appears that you have some good things going with your upper body. I don't see a separation of the arms from the body. The issue is your lower body movement, which I will say is the hardest part for me to get also. I spend a lot of time trying to train the lower body. Your hips work toward the ball on the downswing. In other words, you're moving closer to the ball. You can see your head move up on the downswing to try and compensate.
For now, focus on drill 2.8 (but don't neglect the material up to that either). I can promise you that you can play golf with that drill. With the improved striking, you could be hitting it 70-80% of your full swing distance. That is plenty to go play a round of golf.
@Sagar Patel - While I personally refrain from offering swing video analyses here as it conflicts with my V1 service, I'm confident you'll find that many of the "regulars" here have a solid knowledge of the swing and can offer very valuable insight from their respective experiences. If you do not receive any responses, I encourage you to look at some of the other posts in the Video Analysis Room section of the Forum, see who some of the regular analysts are, and tag them here in your post (use the "@" sign and then start typing their name and the system will then give you the ability to choose that member - just like I did in tagging you at the top of this message).
Also, if possible post your swing videos from two angles: 1) down-the-line as you did here (be sure that the camera is pointing down your foot line and not the target line), and 2) face-on. This will help your fellow members greatly in analyzing your swing.
Now, beyond that, since you are new to the school please allow me to offer some preliminary advice to help you get off to a good start on your journey to the Land of Ball Striking Bliss:
1) Regardless of a member's skill level, this swing necessitates a complete reboot for someone transitioning from a shift & lift swing (which is typically the case), and therefore it is imperative that one take sufficient time to ensure that the fundamental components are mastered. From the ground up there is nothing superfluous in the Stack & Tilt swing - in other words, everything with a purpose, and a purpose for everything. (For example, contrary to shift & lift where you may be taught to keep your trail foot perpendicular to the target line as a means of "creating resistance" in your trail side, in S&T we flare both feet out 10-20 degrees in order to facilitate a free flowing, inclined hip and shoulder turn.) I cannot emphasize this enough, as frustrations predominantly occur when students jump ahead in the curriculum without properly dedicating themselves to the foundational base upon which our consistently repeatable, powerful, low maintenance swing must be built. Chapter 1 of the Golf Swing Simplified program (GSS) and Part I of Get Out & Go Play (GOGP) both address this.
2a) GSS: One of the many great things about this swing is that you can achieve solid ball striking even at the most basic levels. This is why I oftentimes will suggest that students park themselves on Chapter 2 of the GSS course for an extended period of time after locking down Chapter 1's foundational elements. Chapter 2 reinforces the body motions and the weight-forward component, and it culminates with what I call "The Best Golf Swing Practice Drill of All Time". Work yourself sequentially and gradually through the chapter, and then commit yourself to that drill in Lesson 2.8. Learn it. Practice it. Master it. You can even use this partially abbreviated swing on the course and play quite well with it as it will provide plenty of distance. (It actually is the full swing minus just a couple of power accumulators.) Once you've got that down, you will be well prepared to move forward in the curriculum and well on your way towards taking ownership of YOUR swing!
2b) GOGP: This quick-start program is exactly as it sounds - it is designed to fast-track you out onto the course so you can have fun - and success - playing as you learn! Should you choose this path, everything in #1 above still applies, and as implied above in 2a you will still want to work through it sequentially and gradually, mastering each lesson before moving ahead to the next one. In this program, Drill #5 - The Flying Wedge is the one you'll want to park yourself on and nail down.
3) Also, as you progress always keep in mind the V1 Swing Video Analysis service, an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. You'll find more information about the V1 Analysis halfway down this page on the Saguto.Golf site.
4) Finally, please migrate over to the SagutoGolf Community Forum - which is included in your online school membership – and begin engaging with your fellow members. It only takes a minute or two to enroll - just go to your “My Courses” screen and you’ll see a link to get started. Once signed in you’ll be able to access and participate in the great dialogue that we are having on a variety of topics. You can start discussions, contribute to existing threads, post specific swing questions, make some new friends, and just share in the common bond of golfers from around the world seeking to improve their games and help others to do the same. I monitor the forum regularly and participate in the discussions, including assisting with swing-related inquiries. I really think you’ll enjoy it!
I look forward to hearing from you regularly in the Forum and to assisting you in building a consistent, low maintenance, powerful, body-friendly swing that will bring your enjoyment of this great game to a new level!
Tom