Need help with my $800 golf lesson -- & a Manzella video suggestion. (swing video)

[nickw511]

Greetings...I need your help...I am in the middle of an $800 series of lessons where all we seem to work on is style over dynamics and the promise of "getting worse (yup) before better". (Yes, I am a sucker). I have six more lessons and want to salvage something. I just got COFF and have worked on that on my own this week as that seems like a logical place to start.

I have posted a link to the video of my swing for your amusement, i mean analysis

Background: I can shoot in the low 80's (90's right now), can occasionally crush drives but generally not as long as i feel i should be. Misses usually hooks that start straight and sometimes pulls. Inconsistent contact with fat shots predominating. Divots are early but generally straight. Besides the contact, the driver is another current problem (low, short, straight ball that hooks, almost a duck hook). Good short game.
Self diagnosis: Too flat/stiff takeaway (but top position is ok?). Often I "quit" on my shot. I try to steer it down the line. OTT sometimes. A lot of tension and "hit" in my hands. I don't like the way my upper body moves on my downswing, but can't put my finger on why. (Maybe I should quit golf!?).

I've been trying to keep my backswing on plane and set my wrists early, but hate how manipulative all that feels.

Looking at my swing, what manzella video would you recommend next? I'll continue to work on Flipper. NSA seems popular, but I think my club face is already shut too much. NHA seems to be based on a swing that is too inside out which I don't think I have either...oh, and my initial question, what should I TRY and get my current pop coach to help me with?

Thanks in advance!!

golf swing

Close

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

[savydan]

If you are in the middle of your lesson series and have 6 more left, what have you been working on for the first 6 lessons??

You've got a hammer left hand grip and have a dead shut clubface. Everything else basically comes from there.

I would neutralize your grip and start over.

In other words, once you got a decent grip, who knows how you're going to swing.

[Frizit]

Yep, club is way closed at the top. Smother hooking it. I bet you hit the ball low too. I would weaken the grip and then you are going to have to get the club going more left instead of as down the line as this video appears.

[nickw511]

I would certainly have to agree my clubface is pretty darn shut in this particular video. But as far as grip, when i hold the club straight out in front of me with my left wrist flat to the sky, ala Manzella, my club face is pretty square/flat also....I'll definitely keep monitoring that though.
The lessons have focused on shortening the swing, and a lot of straight back take away trying to keep the club above the line.

[fronesis]

I agree with previous comments: it looks to me like you are scooping at the ball at the bottom, precisely so as to keep from shutting the clubface and hitting an ugly hook.

I understand that your current grip doesn't FEEL too strong to you, but I really think it is. I posted earlier about working with a friend on the neutral grip, and he would always find a way to do the manzella face to sky test without realizing he had the thing 30 degrees closed in his hand. You might be doing something similar.

[dsmith2296]

Man, it doesn't look like you are going after the ball at all. Looks like you are statically posing a shot for the camera. I'd like to see a more dynamic hard swing at the ball wherein you load up some energy in that shaft.

I presented this in a separate thread that did not get much attention, but if you use your pivot at transition to load the right arm with energy, that'd be great. Watch Sergio's right elbow here at transition to downswing- you can see the energy storage:

Sergio Garcia Swing Dynamics in The Cube!

Close

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

and not to hijack your thread, but I offer the following clip to demonstrate how I believe you specifically can benefit by learning how to load energy and delay the hit. Look at his arm at the 32 sec mark.

baseball pitch - slow motion

Close

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

[savydan]

I know there is a common tendency to grip it stronger when you actually hit a shot (or go to the golf course) then when you just monitor it like the Manzella check point. Pressure/stress can make you grip it stronger.

Your left hand looks Paul Azinger/Judy Rankin strong - hammer like - where you hit the ball with the side of your hand, not the back of your hand. As in I can read your glove logo from the face-on view rather than from the target side.

Your grip can and should affect how you swing. That's why I think it's tough to make any suggestions if you are going to make a relatively significant grip adjustment.

[dominicscaife]

Judging from your current footage I would have to say it is very simple:

1. Investigate all possible means to get your money back and not waste any more time with this guy. Talk to the management, say your moving to New Orleans if necessary... maybe even try and trade your lesson $$ for some shiny equipment and resell on ebay if you don't need.

2. Move mountains and put any $$$ you salvage towards a lesson with Brian.

[Tball88]

Ok, I agree his clubface is less open at the top, but why would you recommend only changing the grip.

I just posted a clip of Duval and he's in the same position at the top. The way I see it he can either change his grip to more neutral and have a more active arm and hands release or he can keep the strong grip and release the club more with his body which would create a more fade like ballflight.

[savydan]

Sergio or Duval? Good luck nick.