Thanks for standing bye as I took a 3-day vacation from the blog with my birthday this past Friday. To get back into the swing of things, we need to take a look at the latest Brian Manzella video, the Essential D-Plane video. I believe this video is a mandatory to watch if you're serious about improving your golf swing.
This video has been discussed over at my forum (http://richie3jack.proboards.com) quite a bit and one of the posters still didn't understand why Trackman was such a great tool and why not just examine the biomechanical aspects of the swing.
I would make the analogy that Trackman is much like a forensics lab. Let's say I'm a detective and I come across some skeletal remains and from my experience I make an educated guess that they are the remains of a male teenager. I could then start searching for missing male teenagers in the area. But instead a detective will take it to the forensics lab, and they may accurately determine that the remains are from a female. Along with determining the approximate age, ethnicity, size, how they were killed, etc. I could then use that *accurate* knowlledge and know where to look and then get back into doing the good, old fashioned detective work to solve the crime.
SliceFixer (aka Geoff Jones) mentioned this in an interview with Ralph Perez at the Gotham Golf Blog. He said he had an issue with hitting a low, diving hook and thought he had a problem with his club path. But when he measured his swing on Trackman, he found that his path was fine, but his clubface was too closed at impact. Had he not used Trackman, he may have been doing 'good ole fashion detective work' on curing his path woes which were not there instead of finding a way to cure his closed clubface.
3JACK
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Swing Update 8.26.10
Here's some of my latest swings from this week.
7-iron thru LW I'm hitting very well. I'm pretty good with the driver and hitting the 3-wood extremely well. The 3-iron thru 6-iron is probably my biggest struggles right now and I'm more inconsistent with them and have some issues with hitting them a bit too low.
I'll be playing Orange County National on Friday. Yes, THAT Orange County National (www.ocngolf) where they are holding the Q-School finals this year.
I'll be playing the Q-School tees. The goal for me down the road is to get into the 60's and under par from the Q-School tees on a consistent basis because that's the level of play needed to get to match play of the US Am (IMO).
I'm thinking right now, probably looking at a mid 70's score at OCN, but we'll find out tomorrow.
3JACK
7-iron thru LW I'm hitting very well. I'm pretty good with the driver and hitting the 3-wood extremely well. The 3-iron thru 6-iron is probably my biggest struggles right now and I'm more inconsistent with them and have some issues with hitting them a bit too low.
I'll be playing Orange County National on Friday. Yes, THAT Orange County National (www.ocngolf) where they are holding the Q-School finals this year.
I'll be playing the Q-School tees. The goal for me down the road is to get into the 60's and under par from the Q-School tees on a consistent basis because that's the level of play needed to get to match play of the US Am (IMO).
I'm thinking right now, probably looking at a mid 70's score at OCN, but we'll find out tomorrow.
3JACK
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Arm Travel in the Backswing
3Jack Top 50 Instructor Gregg McHatton on arm travel in the backswing.
3JACK
3JACK
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Top View of Golf Swing
Here's a nice video from 3Jack Top 50 Instructor, Shawn Clement (www.shawnclementgolf.com) on the golf swing and viewing it from the top view. There's some differences in Shawn's swing philosophies from mine, but he has an effective and interesting take.
3JACK
3JACK
Monday, August 23, 2010
The 9-to-12, 160 yard 9-iron
I've been asked about the 'shorter swing = more distance' topic that has been recently discussed. As I've discussed in a few of the previous posts, one thing I'm working on is shortening the backswing and I've found that I'm actually gaining distance with a shorter swing.
Why?
Well, one of the issues is that the longer swing throws off my alignments more. Take a look at this pic:
Here's a Face On view to show the differences in backswing length.
For me, the longer swing gets me laid off at the top and then it throws the downswing off and I don't get as much angular momentum into the ball.
Here's a video shot by blog follower gmbtempe of U. of Arizona Golfer, David McDaniel.
David hit this 9-iron, 160 yards, with that swing that only went back to about '9 o'clock'. Why? Because his impact conditions are superb.
Now, I hear a lot of people saying that they need to shorten their swing to hit the ball more accurately and more consistently. I don't agree with the notion that a shorter swing will guarantee more accuracy. Here's a video of Sam Snead, one of the all-time great ballstrikers, in his prime.
And if you want to hit it super long, you won't see any Re-MAX long distance driving competitors with a '9 o'clock' backswing.
But, there's more to playing 'real golf' than hitting it long. And one can hit it long and more accurately and more consistently, with a shorter backswing. That's certainly a possibility, you just need to find out what works best for you.
3JACK
Why?
Well, one of the issues is that the longer swing throws off my alignments more. Take a look at this pic:
Here's a Face On view to show the differences in backswing length.
For me, the longer swing gets me laid off at the top and then it throws the downswing off and I don't get as much angular momentum into the ball.
Here's a video shot by blog follower gmbtempe of U. of Arizona Golfer, David McDaniel.
David hit this 9-iron, 160 yards, with that swing that only went back to about '9 o'clock'. Why? Because his impact conditions are superb.
Now, I hear a lot of people saying that they need to shorten their swing to hit the ball more accurately and more consistently. I don't agree with the notion that a shorter swing will guarantee more accuracy. Here's a video of Sam Snead, one of the all-time great ballstrikers, in his prime.
And if you want to hit it super long, you won't see any Re-MAX long distance driving competitors with a '9 o'clock' backswing.
But, there's more to playing 'real golf' than hitting it long. And one can hit it long and more accurately and more consistently, with a shorter backswing. That's certainly a possibility, you just need to find out what works best for you.
3JACK
Sunday, August 22, 2010
3Jack & Tilt
After my latest swing update, people started asking me more about the changes that were made as this came after my 1-day school with 3Jack Top 50 Instructor, Dan Carraher (aka iteachgolf).
Here again is the swing.
Of course, with iteach's affiliation with the Stack and Tilt golf swing, I got some e-mails wondering if I was going to the S&T, why and what I thought of it.
My feeling is that my swing is about as S&T as it's ever been since the 1-day school. I know many are critical of the S&T, even myself in the past.
One thing I feel that needs to be cleared up is that my swing is still far from being the S&T. But I also feel that the thoughts the S&T pattern is not very dynamic is hogwash.
Let's take a look at Charlie Wi.
I don't think anybody can accurately say that Wi's swing is not dynamic. In fact, I joked with some friends the other day that the stigma behind S&T is a bit ridiculous because one can do the same exact parts of the S&T, but instead call it the PB&J swing and everybody would love it. Perhaps Plummer and Bennett can find somebody whose last name starts with the letter J so they can re-name their brand the PB&J swing
In fact, I believe that is something that Sean Foley has done with Sean O'Hair. Awhile back there was a golf magazine article that had O'Hair go over the changes he made with his swing with Foley and they were pretty much exactly what the S&T teaches. If that wasn't enough, it's common knowledge that Foley has talked to Plummer & Bennett on quite a few occasions to get their thoughts on the swing. But, O'Hair has pretty much denounced S&T and every critic buys into that, but the reality is far different.
Anyway, one thing I'm a bit skeptical about is leaning left in the backswing. I think some can do it, but some can't. Then again, the S&T people will tell you that the swing is about being 'centralized' in the backswing and leaning left in the backswing is optional.
Fair enough.
One thing I've learned is that this type of swing or swings that is similar to it (or whatever you want to call it) is incredibly easy and simple. However, therein lies part of the problem. We are taught to make a big full turn in the backswing and raise the arms. But here that may not be the best option for the golfer. In fact, on of the problems I have with my swing in those videos is that the swing is a bit too long, even though I tried to feel like I was only swinging halfway on the backswing. But we know that the 'feel isn't real' most of the time, so that's why my swing goes well beyond 1/2 way back.
But when I 'do it right' the swing feels almost ridiculously simple and easy. And a big part of me fights against that in the downswing.
So what would I say about the S&T?
It's a dynamic golf swing when executed correctly.
It's also very easy and simplistic to do.
Thus, it's a very easy and simplistic way to create a dynamic swing.
HOWEVER...
Is it the most dynamic swing out there? Certainly not. You won't see any S&T patterns in the dynamic swings on the Re-MAX long distance driving tours.
Are there other ways to have dynamic swings? Certainly.
Is the S&T for everybody? Of course not.
So, the S&T may not be the most dynamic or the only way to have a dynamic swing, but it's an incredibly simple and easy way to develop and dynamic swing.
3JACK
Here again is the swing.
Of course, with iteach's affiliation with the Stack and Tilt golf swing, I got some e-mails wondering if I was going to the S&T, why and what I thought of it.
My feeling is that my swing is about as S&T as it's ever been since the 1-day school. I know many are critical of the S&T, even myself in the past.
One thing I feel that needs to be cleared up is that my swing is still far from being the S&T. But I also feel that the thoughts the S&T pattern is not very dynamic is hogwash.
Let's take a look at Charlie Wi.
I don't think anybody can accurately say that Wi's swing is not dynamic. In fact, I joked with some friends the other day that the stigma behind S&T is a bit ridiculous because one can do the same exact parts of the S&T, but instead call it the PB&J swing and everybody would love it. Perhaps Plummer and Bennett can find somebody whose last name starts with the letter J so they can re-name their brand the PB&J swing
In fact, I believe that is something that Sean Foley has done with Sean O'Hair. Awhile back there was a golf magazine article that had O'Hair go over the changes he made with his swing with Foley and they were pretty much exactly what the S&T teaches. If that wasn't enough, it's common knowledge that Foley has talked to Plummer & Bennett on quite a few occasions to get their thoughts on the swing. But, O'Hair has pretty much denounced S&T and every critic buys into that, but the reality is far different.
Anyway, one thing I'm a bit skeptical about is leaning left in the backswing. I think some can do it, but some can't. Then again, the S&T people will tell you that the swing is about being 'centralized' in the backswing and leaning left in the backswing is optional.
Fair enough.
One thing I've learned is that this type of swing or swings that is similar to it (or whatever you want to call it) is incredibly easy and simple. However, therein lies part of the problem. We are taught to make a big full turn in the backswing and raise the arms. But here that may not be the best option for the golfer. In fact, on of the problems I have with my swing in those videos is that the swing is a bit too long, even though I tried to feel like I was only swinging halfway on the backswing. But we know that the 'feel isn't real' most of the time, so that's why my swing goes well beyond 1/2 way back.
But when I 'do it right' the swing feels almost ridiculously simple and easy. And a big part of me fights against that in the downswing.
So what would I say about the S&T?
It's a dynamic golf swing when executed correctly.
It's also very easy and simplistic to do.
Thus, it's a very easy and simplistic way to create a dynamic swing.
HOWEVER...
Is it the most dynamic swing out there? Certainly not. You won't see any S&T patterns in the dynamic swings on the Re-MAX long distance driving tours.
Are there other ways to have dynamic swings? Certainly.
Is the S&T for everybody? Of course not.
So, the S&T may not be the most dynamic or the only way to have a dynamic swing, but it's an incredibly simple and easy way to develop and dynamic swing.
3JACK
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Swing Update 8.19.10
Here's the latest swing update with changes that were made after the 1-day iteachgolf (aka Dan Carraher) Orlando golf school.
like the second DTL swing better. Believe it or not, I'm trying to not have such a long backswing and it really feels like I'm only taking it halfway back, but obviously it's going further back than that.
Another big key for me is to keep the right shoulder going downward and forward on the downswing instead of going down a little, then across and forward.
3JACK
like the second DTL swing better. Believe it or not, I'm trying to not have such a long backswing and it really feels like I'm only taking it halfway back, but obviously it's going further back than that.
Another big key for me is to keep the right shoulder going downward and forward on the downswing instead of going down a little, then across and forward.
3JACK
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