Help with Plane and closed clubface in backswing
 

Help!!
My ball striking has completely gone south over the past few weeks. Right now I really don't know where the ball is going and I don't feel at all comfortable over the ball.
I put my swing on video last night and even though there is a whole host of things that need to be sorted, the main problem that I am having at the moment is my swing plane and clubface angle.
In the backswing, I noticed that I used Angled Hinging (I am a swinger) and that the clubface is not on the turned shoulder plane. Any ideas on how or drills on how to learn and include HH in my backswing?
Also my swing plane is off. On the way back, I am too steep and then on the downswing, I reroute the club and then it becomes too flat and I come in underplane. I am trying to acheive a no shift swing, so apart from using flash lights, what else can I do to achieve the ideal zero shift swing?
Thanks for all the help,
Alex

Moved
 

Moving you to the Emergency Room Alex. Sounds like you need some first aid.

Bagger

Thanks Bagger, I do need some first aid.
Didn't realise that I had posted in the wrong forum.
Alex

A Diagnositic
 

Alex,

IF...I were a TGM instructor, the first thing to look at would be your zone 1 components. How is your pivot? Do you feel like you are balanced throughout the swing? Have you thought about your hip action during the swing? How about your knees? Weight shift? Believe it or not, you may be fine in zone 2 and 3 but off here.

The second thing to look at is zone 2. The power package; Right shoulder and arms, specifically your flying wedges. Many things to look, look, look here.

Number 3 is your hands which includes the horizontal hinge action you are attempting to get comfortable with. In your situation it is a left wrist turn on the backswing and letting mother nature take care of the rolling business on the downswing.

I'll let the instructors step in, but you need to provide a little more detail IMHO.

Bagger

Hi Bagger,

Thanks for your reply. I have vids of my swing if that makes life easier to see what I am doing wrong.
Anyone got any space where I can put it?
Alex

Whenever you find yourself getting 'off', go back to the begining and build from there.

Chip, pitch, punch, full.

That said, Bagger is spot on with his post. Start with your alignments, grip, balance.

With chip shots do you maintain your left/right wedge?
do you maintain a flat left wrist and a bent right?

One of the best ways to work on this for a chip shot is to use a broom, held about halfway down such that it runs 'under' your lead arm, while keeping your right forearm 'on plane' with the broom.

The broom handle being larger than a normal golf grip can also show you the 10-2-B grip rather well. IMO it is best to stick to an overlap when using this grip (alternately I would suggest an interlock if using a 10-2-D).

Practice with a broom and 'bend the bristles' as you exaggerate a 'down plane' impact to both arms straight.

Do this for a chip, pitch, punch move (you can't use the broom for more than a punch)

If it hits you in the side, you have throw away - you have lost your left wedge.

When you get the feel for it, begin by starting at 'impact' and get the feel for moving from impact to both arms straight - a push -

as you get that feeling, alternate thinking of a 'push' feel of the right palm to a 'pull' feel, a dragging feeling of the back of the left hand down towards the ground.

Practice using the broom to hit 'chip' shots with a basketball against a wall (the basketball is a nice heavier ball than say, a soccer ball).

Transfer those feels and alignments to chip shots and hit several hundred range balls. The key is to NOT move to a larger motion until you've reallly 'got it'.

You can also work on your 'right wedge' by using the broom with your right hand only, but by placing your left fist between the broom handle and your right forearm. This really lets you feel what it means to keep your right wedge in place.

So are you hooking it err what?

You should post your swing man.

I have videos of my swing but I don't know where I can host them for free.
At the moment, I am hitting a combination of pushes / blocks with the occassional pull hook thrown in.
I like the EdZ idea of the broomstick and starting from the basics again.
Alex