The "A" Swing Help Thread

[Babydaddy]

Of course, anything to do with Leadbetter is probably going to be somewhat polarizing- so that's expected.

 

He happens to be very articulate and a little salty in the personality department- I have found that the idea of the deadzone is a very real entity- some of his thoughts on bunker play have been helpful to me over the years-

 

Basically, overarching in his years of teaching is for players not to lose the club behind them- especially the club head behind the hands- this is a very valid thought-

 

I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard.

 

I do find it helpful however to back out to 30,000 feet sometimes and ask, what are the plusses and minuses of this way of swinging or approaching the game itself.

 

One problem with lots of swing instruction is that there is a lot of focus on just the full swing, which because we are human almost always leads to a shift in how we approach the game- we go into playing golf swing- the golf course simply becomes a different lab.

 

I'm a pretty decent player in good shape, and for me with my way of thinking, that approach has never worked- I might hit some new great shots, but my scores never really seem to change for the better with any consistency. It's when I don't worry as much about my swing and get into the playing mentality, that my scores come down- and I have more fun too.

 

So in my estimation, any approach to the swing and the game itself should lend itself to being able to get the golfer into the playing mentality as quickly as possible- THAT should be the goal- as long as your misses get better, you can shift into the playing and planning mode- caring about your score, not just your swing.

 

So I first ask is there something about this "A" swing that helps me get into the playing mentality?

It's important to realize that you don't have to match the model in the book exactly to see improvement.

If my ball park narrows and my shots become more predictable, I'm going to shift into that playing mentality-

 

The 30,000 foot view of what Leadbetter is teaching here is actually quite sound and not without precedent in professional golf-

Most beginners and high handicappers struggle with what to do with the club in the back swing- that is a fact- as a rule, if my goal is to come down to the ball from the inside, if I have the club deep and behind my hands in the back swing, it's going to be just about impossible to get the club down to the ball with any reasonable angle of approach and face angle.

 

When I can simply keep the club head outside my hands in the back swing, the down swing happens almost magically and I finish in balance, usually with a good shot-

So for me, I tend to get the club behind me, and or over turn, and I'm good enough to rescue it a lot, but when I don't it's disaster. It's very tiring and defeating

 

If someone came along and said "hey, swing this way and you won't lose the shaft or the club head and now I just want you to allow the club to come from the inside, like a tennis forehand, I would say hell yeah!

 

That's basically what this is- outside to inside- versus inside to outside

 

So, if the A swing did nothing but help players keep the club and club head readily available, it would help them

 

The way Leadbetter used to teach that was with early wrist set- - focusing on early wrist set is a great way to screw up a lot of players as Penick said.

 

The goal is to keep the club available to the player without over-turning- which is another wide-spread fault. It's hard to know what to do with your body sometimes- it's too tempting to move too much, and get out from underneath yourself

 

We respond to the club in space

 

So the A swing postulates that if we move the club more efficiently, without losing the shaft or club face, our body will likely get more efficient too- That seems pretty reasonable

 

All famous teachers are somewhat misunderstood-

But just judging the basic ideas this, I actually think it's pretty sound

 

People are turned off by the marketing and packaging, which I get- but we are talking about it- just because Leadbetter is a salesman doesn't necessarily mean what he is talking about isn't true for some-

 

When I make my version of this swing I kind of envision Fred Couples- what I mean is I'm out, I'm vertical on the back swing and then I try to gracefully let the club come from the inside on the downswing.

 

It's very much like how I hit a tennis forehand- loop out, come inside with a nice, balanced finish-

 

I've actually had success at times just turning and lifting my arms out (Hardy 2 plane like)

I finally realized that it worked because it just kept the club available to me, from there my body naturally wanted come from the inside-

 

This is like that, except without all of the ballet dancing and long swinging motion-

 

Even though Leadbetter is calling it something cheesy, I don't look at it as anything other than a reminder that for some of us keeping that shaft more vertical in the back swing with the club head not getting behind our hands in the back swing, is going to make it easier to make a reasonable downswing

 

This is having the effect of becoming a feeling rather than a thought for me very quickly- that's what has me excited- It's becoming intuitive very quickly

 

More to come- there are no silver bullets in golf, but this is certainly helping me so far.

[exgolfpro]

Over the past 2-3 weeks, I have watched most of the online stuff about Leadbetter's A Swing. I found it interesting because his recommended backswing is just an exaggerated version of the backswing I already have.

I am 48 yrs old, play to a 1 hdcp and my normal swing comes a bit too far in on the backswing, then goes up and across the line slightly. The downswing is a little steep, but slightly from the inside. My normal ball flight is straight or just a slight push.

Now, I am no expert in the A swing, and just know about if from his videos. But after warming up, I thought I would hit a few 8 irons trying to mimick this A swing. The very first swing of the day was a little thin and had a fairly big fade on it. The next 3 balls in a row were on the button and didn't seem to have any curvature. The next 2 were hit solidly, but had a little more fade than I care for. I jumped to a 6iron and proceeded to hit 4 in a row, dead solid and straight. Despite the fact that i am a single digit handicap and a former club professional, I don't remember having hit the ball so solidly. It felt as if I had chopped down very steeply on the ball, but I was taking only a very tiny divot.

You mention that in swinging this way, your swing FEELS like Fred Couples swing LOOKS. That thought didn't cross my mind, but I had a distinct Ryan Moore feel to my swing.

I will not say that this swing was fool proof, I did hit some very, very solid shots with every club in the bag. I did hit an occasional big slice with this swing...bigger than I hit with my normal swing. But, I was excited enough to go home and ordered the book from Amazon. I will tinker with it some more, as I don't have any tournaments scheduled until almost September. I will keep following this thread and posting to let people know what to look forward to.

[spider]

fwiw There is a 12 page post on this A swing all ready in case it was missed.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1171947-leadbetters-a-swing/page__pid__11684348__st__330#entry11684348

Maybe this OP is meant to be different but seemed along same lines.

[Babydaddy]

[quote name='spider' timestamp='1433448777' post='11690794']
fwiw There is a 12 page post on this A swing all ready in case it was missed.

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1171947-leadbetters-a-swing/page__pid__11684348__st__330#entry11684348"]http://www.golfwrx.c...0#entry11684348[/url]

Maybe this OP is meant to be different but seemed along same lines.
[/quote]
Yes I meant it to be more of a help thread than an argument about the science thread- to those that are dabbling and want to chat about it
I think all of us that care a lot about golf are probably guilty sometimes of guarding the hen house too hard and too quickly- And even though I have found Leadbetter helpful in some respects, I totally get why some are turned off by the marketing hype stuff-

As I said- on the 30,000 foot view, it's like someone came along and said- hey- alter your right hand grip a little, let the shaft feel more vertical and keep the club head outside the hands and see if that doesn't help you worry less about your swing-
And it seems to really be working-

I'm not going to go balls deep into every fiber of it- it's just for me at this particular time, it seems to be an antidote to something I have been struggling to remedy

[psd]

2 great posts. As far as attributing a "feel" for the swing to an individual player, in addition to Moore and Couples, I have visualized Kenny Perry's motion as well. Anyone sense something similar?

[Babydaddy]

[quote name='psd' timestamp='1433450258' post='11690964']
2 great posts. As far as attributing a "feel" for the swing to an individual player, in addition to Moore and Couples, I have visualized Kenny Perry's motion as well. Anyone sense something similar?
[/quote]
YES! that's a good one- probably a little bit of Jay Haas too!
Nice!

[Babydaddy]

[quote name='exgolfpro' timestamp='1433447343' post='11690644']
Over the past 2-3 weeks, I have watched most of the online stuff about Leadbetter's A Swing. I found it interesting because his recommended backswing is just an exaggerated version of the backswing I already have.

I am 48 yrs old, play to a 1 hdcp and my normal swing comes a bit too far in on the backswing, then goes up and across the line slightly. The downswing is a little steep, but slightly from the inside. My normal ball flight is straight or just a slight push.

Now, I am no expert in the A swing, and just know about if from his videos. But after warming up, I thought I would hit a few 8 irons trying to mimick this A swing. The very first swing of the day was a little thin and had a fairly big fade on it. The next 3 balls in a row were on the button and didn't seem to have any curvature. The next 2 were hit solidly, but had a little more fade than I care for. I jumped to a 6iron and proceeded to hit 4 in a row, dead solid and straight. Despite the fact that i am a single digit handicap and a former club professional, I don't remember having hit the ball so solidly. It felt as if I had chopped down very steeply on the ball, but I was taking only a very tiny divot.

You mention that in swinging this way, your swing FEELS like Fred Couples swing LOOKS. That thought didn't cross my mind, but I had a distinct Ryan Moore feel to my swing.

I will not say that this swing was fool proof, I did hit some very, very solid shots with every club in the bag. I did hit an occasional big slice with this swing...bigger than I hit with my normal swing. But, I was excited enough to go home and ordered the book from Amazon. I will tinker with it some more, as I don't have any tournaments scheduled until almost September. I will keep following this thread and posting to let people know what to look forward to.
[/quote]

As you well know- nothing is fool proof- I've been practicing and playing more and have tried lots of things- If I could some up my saga it would be "I just want to have a reasonable, full swing-

Somehow, something got into my wiring that has made my swing feel like work, even though I've been exercising and stretching and have lost 10 pounds in the last 7 weeks

I think it's because when you do make changes your body is kind of looking to recalibrate- the more "different" the club behaves, the more body kind of says "what"

I can hit some marvelous shots- and it happens when I am just trying to brush the grass- But I'm not sure why it works-
The more I try the worse my shots get

BUT- my bad shots can really suck badly- and it puts pressure on my short game

I think what this shaft and clubhead situation is doing for me is kind of quieting my mind and body, much like I'm playing tennis- It's kind of like "hey the club is right here- go ahead and finish the swing"

That is having the effect of me aiming and imagining shots- and if the shot misses it's usually pretty straight-

My death move is getting stuck at the worst possible time

I have some bailout moves- like locking my right wrist and lifting and turning, but they require some dancing with the body to work

If I can just get reasonable- where I never really lose the club in the back swing, I know my athletic instincts will take over- that's pretty cool

[Ghost of Snead]

This is starting to feel like the ads for DirecTV where you if you sign up your friends, you get $5 off your monthly bill.

[jgonz69]

[quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433452156' post='11691136']
This is starting to feel like the ads for DirecTV where you if you sign up your friends, you get $5 off your monthly bill.
[/quote]


[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1171947-leadbetters-a-swing/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...etters-a-swing/[/url]

Here's the thread for you to troll in.

[notsohard]

[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$

[Ghost of Snead]

[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.

[Denny71]

[quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote]
Sounds like all Online forum golf. They aren't here to be a father figure, they are all here to make $$$$$$$

[notsohard]

[quote name='Module Mahoney' timestamp='1433463155' post='11691882']
[quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote]
Sounds like all Online forum golf. They aren't here to be a father figure, they are all here to make $$$$$$$
[/quote]

I haven't seen a coach here say gimme your money, or for that matter say, come to me i'm the best coach, but i have seen Monte and Dan give plenty of free advice when one posts a video.

[jgonz69]

[quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote][quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote]Is there no end to the troll you will bring? Can you add something POSITIVE to this thread?
If not, I say again, go to this thread.
http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1171947-leadbetters-a-swing/

[Denny71]

[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433478111' post='11693222']
[quote name='Module Mahoney' timestamp='1433463155' post='11691882']
[quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote]
Sounds like all Online forum golf. They aren't here to be a father figure, they are all here to make $$$$$$$
[/quote]

I haven't seen a coach here say gimme your money, or for that matter say, come to me i'm the best coach, but i have seen Monte and Dan give plenty of free advice when one posts a video.
[/quote]

You must be a real push over at a car lot. They are just foaming at the mouth when you pull up. (Face palm)

[Ghost of Snead]

[quote name='jgonz69' timestamp='1433490335' post='11693568']
[quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote][quote name='lefty57' timestamp='1433461131' post='11691734']
[quote name='notsohard' timestamp='1433460427' post='11691696']
[b]"I've been around the game for 30 something years and have gotten lost in all sorts of swing theory- my natural reaction to a new "it swing" is one of skepticism- I'm pretty old school in that regard."[/b]

What you wrote above is exactly the type of golfer that Leadbetter wants and markets to....smart man. $$$$$$$$$
[/quote]

Leadbetter would probably agree that a great golf instructor teaches to the individual, but to make money teaches to the masses.
[/quote]Is there no end to the troll you will bring? Can you add something POSITIVE to this thread?
If not, I say again, go to this thread.
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1171947-leadbetters-a-swing/"]http://www.golfwrx.c...etters-a-swing/[/url]
[/quote]

If you don't like the posts, use the report option or put me on ignore. Or become a mod ...

[Babydaddy]

So back to what I said originally- It can be helpful for some golfers to feel like they are exaggerating keeping the hands inside and the club head outside without rolling the face open-
Sometimes exaggerating a feel can open a new door- even for someone who has been at it a while

If you want to write about Leadbetter the salesman, or how gullible people are, there are other threads for that- this is for people who found something useful in it and want to chat about it with others-

By the way- you have no knowledge of me personally or who or what I know in the game of golf-
It's amazing how people "call each other out" on an online forum with no actual knowledge about the people they are calling out

I can tell you one thing- if you came to my home course and walked 9 holes with me, I bet you would be disappointed

[SheriffBooth]

Thread cleaned and off topic posts removed. This thread is to discuss the swing and assist those working on it - not to crap on David Leadbetter. Please limit your posts in this thread to the topic of discussion.

[sprcoop]

I didn't know anything about the A Swing other than it was a Leadbetter thing. This explained it pretty well for me. Fourteen minutes not entirely wasted. Not sure I'm ready to try it.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6akWVwovRQ[/media]

[barryw710]

Had a bit of an epiphany today. Realized that with gripping club in the fingers i have to keep club flatter at address (hands lower) so grip runs through fingers. If i hold club at my old higher hand position the clubs tendency is to run through the palm. Once i made change on the range i was making way better consistent contact.

[Babydaddy]

[quote name='barryw710' timestamp='1433557919' post='11698648']
Had a bit of an epiphany today. Realized that with gripping club in the fingers i have to keep club flatter at address (hands lower) so grip runs through fingers. If i hold club at my old higher hand position the clubs tendency is to run through the palm. Once i made change on the range i was making way better consistent contact.
[/quote]
Awesome
I figured out that putting my right hand more on top of the top was a BIG deal for me- Since making that change, my swing has tightened up nicely- I also think that having the club head stay outside my hands is very beneficial to have on my general radar

I'm not really anywhere close to the book in my swing, but those two little reminders did seem to help get me on track

[barryw710]

In the book it says to swing the left arm deep across the chest. Could someone please explain what
this means ?

[Doppelganger]

[quote name='sprcoop' timestamp='1433540724' post='11697380']
I didn't know anything about the A Swing other than it was a Leadbetter thing. This explained it pretty well for me. Fourteen minutes not entirely wasted. Not sure I'm ready to try it.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6akWVwovRQ[/media]
[/quote]

That shallowing move in transition looks like Furyk's swing. Probably, I'm not the first to notice that but that's what it reminds me of. If it gets you into the right spot at impact sounds cool to me.

edit: and of course they reference Furyk right after I gave up watching the video.

[Martee]

[quote name='barryw710' timestamp='1433948355' post='11725510']
In the book it says to swing the left arm deep across the chest. Could someone please explain what
this means ?
[/quote]

Where in the book did you come across that? I was watching the vids, don't recall him using that term. He does
make a point that the left arm is on (very close to) the chest as it move away from the ball.

[steka]

I've purchased the book yesterday and read it almost entirely by this evening and did some practicing in the backyard with great success.
It is great to have a help thread here and i support it is kept separately from the discussions about the man himself.

Also for me A swing is like what my coach already encourages me to do. So i felt like i had a headstart into this.

I did try this swing based on the youtube videos but really, my number one tip for this is : [b]buy the book[/b]. Those youtube videos tell nothing about the true depth of detail or the intention of the individual move made.
Yes it feels like throwing money at a person at least i personally dislike but still he is a great communicator and the book just opens up a library of what is still top notch golf instruction.

However there are some "Aha" moments in this book, the two most important for me:

[b]Number one : [/b]
[quote][There can be turn without coil, but there cannot be coil without turn[/quote]

Describes pretty much what i had in my backswing before. I was just rotating the hips, not coiling anything.
Might be true for some other guys as well.
The feeling to really actively drag the right hip and right shoulder upwards was completely new to me. Sure enough for the first time i really feel my lower back muscles from what was just an hour or so practicing in the backyard

[b]Number two [/b]
Finish the outer circle (shoulders and arms) in sync with the inner circle (hips).
For me it was like i rotated my hips before (no coiling) and when that was done i still had my hands travelling forcefully.
A swing felt really limited in terms of shoulder turn, but the club head travels a great distance.
The blow from that supposedly weaker position was tremendous to see

[b]What I'm struggling to understand however : [/b]
How exactly is the transition into the downswing, more specifically the shallowing of the club done?
With my soon to be ex swing i was basically letting the hands and arms fall from the top of my backswing and made a turn.

Leadbetter describes the only transition move is a sliding of the hips towards forward and right of the target line. Indeed when doing the 7 minute practice stuff this is when the club assumes a completely different and shallower angle but i feel like i've been missing something.
Really no active dropping the hands or whatsoever ?

It feels like the good thing about this is that at the top of the backswing the club feels so much across the line that you feel you're never gonna hit a good shot without shallowing the club. However it seems to be key to understand that this is solely done by a lateral movement of the hip.

[b]Secondly, i'm struggling with the hands at impact position. [/b]
Leadbetter describes the right hand should still be under the left hand, but the left hand should be straight. Again, this is also what my coach has taught me, but i'm forever struggling to implement that. He told me to straighten the left hand at the top of the backswing, to integrate it into the transition move... but I'm really struggling.

[broth518]

i tried and shanked about 50 balls in a row not a swing for me

[steka]

[quote name='barryw710' timestamp='1433948355' post='11725510']
In the book it says to swing the left arm deep across the chest. Could someone please explain what
this means ?
[/quote]

In my mind and in what i do in reality what this means is that you keep your right arm and hand on top of the left hand during the backswing.
As you coil your body in the backswing the left arm is dragged across the chest. Keeping the right arm on top of the left arm is creating this "across the line" picture of the club.

[barryw710]

[quote name='Martee' timestamp='1433967708' post='11727502']
[quote name='barryw710' timestamp='1433948355' post='11725510']
In the book it says to swing the left arm deep across the chest. Could someone please explain what
this means ?
[/quote]

Where in the book did you come across that? I was watching the vids, don't recall him using that term. He does
make a point that the left arm is on (very close to) the chest as it move away from the ball.
[/quote]

He mentions it twice. He has a table for "Backswing Nuggets". It is over there.

[Hammerboy]

[quote name='steka' timestamp='1433969163' post='11727620']
I've purchased the book yesterday and read it almost entirely by this evening and did some practicing in the backyard with great success.
It is great to have a help thread here and i support it is kept separately from the discussions about the man himself.

Also for me A swing is like what my coach already encourages me to do. So i felt like i had a headstart into this.

I did try this swing based on the youtube videos but really, my number one tip for this is : [b]buy the book[/b]. Those youtube videos tell nothing about the true depth of detail or the intention of the individual move made.
Yes it feels like throwing money at a person at least i personally dislike but still he is a great communicator and the book just opens up a library of what is still top notch golf instruction.

However there are some "Aha" moments in this book, the two most important for me:

[b]Number one : [/b]
[quote][There can be turn without coil, but there cannot be coil without turn[/quote]

Describes pretty much what i had in my backswing before. I was just rotating the hips, not coiling anything.
Might be true for some other guys as well.
The feeling to really actively drag the right hip and right shoulder upwards was completely new to me. Sure enough for the first time i really feel my lower back muscles from what was just an hour or so practicing in the backyard

[b]Number two [/b]
Finish the outer circle (shoulders and arms) in sync with the inner circle (hips).
For me it was like i rotated my hips before (no coiling) and when that was done i still had my hands travelling forcefully.
A swing felt really limited in terms of shoulder turn, but the club head travels a great distance.
The blow from that supposedly weaker position was tremendous to see

[b]What I'm struggling to understand however : [/b]
How exactly is the transition into the downswing, more specifically the shallowing of the club done?
With my soon to be ex swing i was basically letting the hands and arms fall from the top of my backswing and made a turn.

Leadbetter describes the only transition move is a sliding of the hips towards forward and right of the target line. Indeed when doing the 7 minute practice stuff this is when the club assumes a completely different and shallower angle but i feel like i've been missing something.
Really no active dropping the hands or whatsoever ?

It feels like the good thing about this is that at the top of the backswing the club feels so much across the line that you feel you're never gonna hit a good shot without shallowing the club. However it seems to be key to understand that this is solely done by a lateral movement of the hip.

[b]Secondly, i'm struggling with the hands at impact position. [/b]
Leadbetter describes the right hand should still be under the left hand, but the left hand should be straight. Again, this is also what my coach has taught me, but i'm forever struggling to implement that. He told me to straighten the left hand at the top of the backswing, to integrate it into the transition move... but I'm really struggling.
[/quote]


Really glad you are giving the ASwing a try. Best of luck.

There is one thing you mention here and it is GOLD. Absolute GOLD,

When you refer to dragging the right hip and shoulder upwards, that is exactly right. That is how you get true coil, I figured this out on my own through trial and error. . A flat or level turn is does not give you anywhere near the coil and power as it you direct the coil upwards to the right, or for a lefty to the left. And yes, when you discover this, it will feel very new, and involve some new muscle groups, and you will be looking for some Advil because of lower back pain, which will dissipate once you start using those new muscle groups more.

Really hope folks heed your wisdom here, GOLD, absolute GOLD!

[steka]

Guys, I hit my driver today 284 yards with a nice baby draw on the fairway. No lucky bounce, no downhill slope, no wind, level terrain!

The sad thing is I can't get the a swing to work as of today with the woods.
Today's achievement was made by implementing two things in my swing, which is a mild version of the a swing (no prayer grip, no split stance).

Number one : coil with the hip (just like above)

Number two : wider stance with the driver. I had my feed about shoulder width apart. As per the book we should have the inside of the feed just outside our shoulders. These extra 5 inches make a big difference in sweeping the ball off the ground.

Now I'm working on creating that nice downswing extra lag which we all want to hit our irons really perfect. See Sergio Garcia for what I mean. Lag is increased through the downswing. Currently I'm still releasing early.

So as of today, reading this book provided me with some nuggets for what I already have. Assuming the exaggerated across the line backswing didn't work straight away for me. However now I'm very happy with my normal swing do I might not go the full distance