Weight shift?

[launcher]

Try to be short. Hit the typical mid-late-season slump/funk sort of stuff. Was playing very well all season, (once/twice per week). Suddenly, sort of had a couple bad rounds, confidence tanked, and been trying to figure it out since. 

 

Seems to be a weight shift issue. Always has been with me. I subtly seem to slow down my weight shift, and the typical problems set in. Poor contact, pulls, wipes etc, and the worst thing is, I start to move my head off the ball. For me, when striking it solid, I need to see the club head coming into the ball, and past impact. 

 

Ironically, my practice swing is still perfect, just can't seem to duplicate it when hitting a ball. 

 

Any advice is welcome. I'm a big time feel player. If I get too technical I'm a disaster movie. Just need some swing/feel advice I guess. 

 

P.S: Never practice. I know that's going to be met with boos. Just hate the range with a passion, Maybe I do need a couple sessions though. 

[Valtiel]

1 hour ago, launcher said:

Ironically, my practice swing is still perfect, just can't seem to duplicate it when hitting a ball. 

 

I'm a big time feel player. If I get too technical I'm a disaster movie...

 

P.S: Never practice. 

The main takeaways from this three lines here are:

1) Your practice swing likely far from perfect. This is a bit of a trope so apologies for the bluntness, but i've never seen anyone anywhere close to a "perfect" practice swing that claims to have one, nor is that really of much value to begin with. At best they often have a nice looking swing that feels good to them, but the clubhead arrives at such a different place than where it started that it's useless as a barometer for good/bad and actually ends up being destructive in that it leads to the belief that your swing is totally fine, it's just when that pesky ball is there that it changes. The reality is usually that your practice swing contains the same or similar flaws as your normal swing and the compensations needed when the ball is actually there force you to address the flaws and subsequently change your swing. Video of both would be very helpful to add more to these points. 

2) Big time feel player + aversion to technical elements usually means you have good coordination but that it's being used to compensate for one or more foundational flaws in your swing that vary in severity based on the day and your ability to compensate for them. This is true for most of us to one degree or another, but the issue is....

3) Learning new movement patterns takes time and practice, and your ability to stick to any objective improvements to your swing will depend on how much time and effort you put into ingraining said changes. There might be some quick bandaids you can apply, but long term improvement without some form of structured practice is a pipe dream. 

[launcher]

3 minutes ago, Valtiel said:

The main takeaways from this three lines here are:

1) Your practice swing likely far from perfect. This is a bit of a trope so apologies for the bluntness, but i've never seen anyone anywhere close to a "perfect" practice swing that claims to have one, nor is that really of much value to begin with. At best they often have a nice looking swing that feels good to them, but the clubhead arrives at such a different place than where it started that it's useless as a barometer for good/bad and actually ends up being destructive in that it leads to the belief that your swing is totally fine, it's just when that pesky ball is there that it changes. The reality is usually that your practice swing contains the same or similar flaws as your normal swing and the compensations needed when the ball is actually there force you to address the flaws and subsequently change your swing. Video of both would be very helpful to add more to these points. 

2) Big time feel player + aversion to technical elements usually means you have good coordination but that it's being used to compensate for one or more foundational flaws in your swing that vary in severity based on the day and your ability to compensate for them. This is true for most of us to one degree or another, but the issue is....

3) Learning new movement patterns takes time and practice, and your ability to stick to any objective improvements to your swing will depend on how much time and effort you put into ingraining said changes. There might be some quick bandaids you can apply, but long term improvement without some form of structured practice is a pipe dream. 

Thanks for the detailed reply. It was critical, but nothing wrong with that. Can't figure things out without some honest criticism. Should have been more specific on my practice swing. Not perfect in the looks exactly like Rory sense. Just seems to be exactly like I normally swing with good results. I can't seem to duplicate it right now. 

 

As for some practice. Not trying to reinvent the wheel. Just want to get back to playing like I was. Think my problem is as much psychological as physical right now. 

[umamimami]

I’ve worked on my weight shift by bringing awareness into my neck and watching better players hit and watching their head movements. 
 

Your head/neck may well be in different places and so your visual perception of impact will change. I found I had to be aware and accepting of that before I changed my movement pattern. A anatomical guess is that changing you weight changes your spine axis and your head is attached to that there spine. 

[phizzy30]

I used to have the same problem where lack of weight shift during the down swing was a problem for me.  It took a lot of range time and repeating the desired motion/swing to get my muscle memory used to the movement.  My first thought now when I'm at the top of my back swing is that the lower body has to initiate the down swing.  If my arms start before my lower body/hips, it's game over.  I'm very much a feel player as well. 

[Asics10]

Weight shift should be happening (relatively early) in the backswing, if you're waiting until you start downswing you'll never get there, it will be too late. Check out the AMG Re-centering videos. 

[GungHoGolf]

6 minutes ago, Asics10 said:

Weight shift should be happening (relatively early) in the backswing, if you're waiting until you start downswing you'll never get there, it will be too late. Check out the AMG Re-centering videos. 

This. Think “backswing is over by P2” (club parallel to the ground) and start preparing to land back on your lead foot in transition with your back to the target. 

[MonteScheinblum]

This has NEVER proven to be wrong.  Even among elite golfers.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvsGosHrots/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[virtuoso]

Let’s assume you are right, you spin your hips and don’t shift your pelvis left. This pitches your head forward.

 

If so, you’re not going to practice so here is your feel fix. There is a bug hiding under your left foot. Start you downswing by squishing the bug. 

[launcher]

Played last night trying to focus on weight shift. I'm sure everyone knows the feeling of trying to work it out on the course. Actually got worse. Pretty frustrated at this point, but when I did get my weight forward, even my bad shots showed pretty solid contact. Just seems like everything is disjointed and un-natural now. 

 

I'm in the cycle now. Totally depressed, hopeful, feeling positive, looking forward to playing again. 

[umamimami]

Launcher - I think you're at the point I was alluding to. Any change has the chance to feel disjointed and un-natural. Stick with it!

Adapt your swing to the change - If you do it the opposite way you end up back with your old swing...

[TheOverratedPhotog]

I've always found the best way to work on weight shift is with a half swing, swinging as hard as you can. Although the swing is shorter, it becomes easier to focus on your weight transfer and harder to start the swing with your club. I'm not talking 3/4 swings, I mean legitimately below shoulder height half swings. Do that for 2-3 range sessions until you are hitting it sweatly and then progessively extend the swing.

[Zitlow]

You have to shift to support your body weight and the weight of your arms and the club, otherwise you'll be off balance. 

 

It's like throwing a baseball. The pivot is a shift and turn and shift and turn. 

 

 

 

[virtuoso]

46 minutes ago, Zitlow said:

You have to shift to support your body weight and the weight of your arms and the club, otherwise you'll be off balance. 

 

It's like throwing a baseball. The pivot is a shift and turn and shift and turn. 

 

 

 

If you were swinging on a bed of ice, your legs and pelvis would vertically support your weight…..but would that really work?

Edited August 22, 2023 by virtuoso

[me05501]

Forget the phrase "weight shift" and instead use "pressure shift." 

 

Thinking about shifting your weight can induce sway in either direction (or both) and get you out of balance. 

Thinking about shifting pressure can cause you to turn better and help you stay inside your feet and retain your balance. 

[me05501]

5 hours ago, TheOverratedPhotog said:

I've always found the best way to work on weight shift is with a half swing, swinging as hard as you can. Although the swing is shorter, it becomes easier to focus on your weight transfer and harder to start the swing with your club. I'm not talking 3/4 swings, I mean legitimately below shoulder height half swings. Do that for 2-3 range sessions until you are hitting it sweatly and then progessively extend the swing.

 

Rahm recommends this as well. 

[virtuoso]

1 hour ago, me05501 said:

Forget the phrase "weight shift" and instead use "pressure shift." 

 

Thinking about shifting your weight can induce sway in either direction (or both) and get you out of balance. 

Thinking about shifting pressure can cause you to turn better and help you stay inside your feet and retain your balance. 

I'd argue that the intent should be the get the pressure to the outside of the left foot on the downswing. Almost like you're trying to fall off balance toward the target before the pelvis opens up to the target.

Edited August 22, 2023 by virtuoso

[MichaelGFox]

On 8/20/2023 at 10:46 PM, Asics10 said:

Weight shift should be happening (relatively early) in the backswing, if you're waiting until you start downswing you'll never get there, it will be too late. Check out the AMG Re-centering videos. 

if you want to learn anything about how to swing watch the AMG youtube

[Justmuckit]

I consider(ed) myself a pretty decent athlete, but for the life of me - starting to get to the left side before even ending the backswing has my brain in a pretzel. It's like all my coordination is out the window.

[wagolfer7]

11 minutes ago, Justmuckit said:

I consider(ed) myself a pretty decent athlete, but for the life of me - starting to get to the left side before even ending the backswing has my brain in a pretzel. It's like all my coordination is out the window.

 

It's a hard thing to figure out, but once you start getting it, feels very natural and athletic.

 

I had to work on simpler pitches and low flighted shots, to really understand the feel I wanted prior to hitting the ball. 

 

It helps to get the backswing working correctly.  Getting the trail hip higher and avoiding tilting or lateral moving away (too much), will get you in a position, where you start feeling like your falling onto your lead side prior to reaching the top.  Then once near the top, you'll want to start getting in the position that you want to hit the ball at.  That's why pitches and low flight shots where I kept my pressure on the lead side the whole time, really start to help me grasp a feel I wanted in transition. 

 

3 hours ago, me05501 said:

Forget the phrase "weight shift" and instead use "pressure shift." 

 

Thinking about shifting your weight can induce sway in either direction (or both) and get you out of balance. 

Thinking about shifting pressure can cause you to turn better and help you stay inside your feet and retain your balance. 

 

This can go either way.  I fell in some bad habits here by going from one extreme to the other.  Just feeling pressure shift, can also make you too stagnant and just rotate in place.  The slight lateral shift in PGA players and the COM path moving straight back and then towards the target is an important piece in my opinion.         

[Zitlow]

This might help some people who are getting their weight pressure crossed up.

 

 

 

 

[launcher]

Thank-you all for the tips. I think I need some range time at this point. Seems like it's just timing issue. I'm shifting my weight late. With weight still on my right side I sort of over the top it, and hit pulls. My more natural swing with good timing results in dropping into the slot, and therefore good contact. Hope to get it back soon. 

[Nickc]

Try Harvey Penick's "the slow motion drill" page 81 of The Little Red golf book.

Does require you to have a backswing that involves lifting the left (lead) heel slightly ....so you can replant it!

Edited August 23, 2023 by Nickc

[Arthur_Vandelay]

IMO it's pointless to focus on weight shift without first making sure the face isn't open at the top of the backswing or downswing.

 

It seems like so many people's golf swings are just years of built up compensations for an open face that I've started to wonder how many people might benefit from playing with a closed face for a while.  If an open face causes you to hang back, stall rotation, and roll the arms to avoid missing way right, then a closed face should cause you to shift pressure, rotate, and get the hands in front of the club to avoid missing way left.

[virtuoso]

3 hours ago, Arthur_Vandelay said:

IMO it's pointless to focus on weight shift without first making sure the face isn't open at the top of the backswing or downswing.

 

It seems like so many people's golf swings are just years of built up compensations for an open face that I've started to wonder how many people might benefit from playing with a closed face for a while.  If an open face causes you to hang back, stall rotation, and roll the arms to avoid missing way right, then a closed face should cause you to shift pressure, rotate, and get the hands in front of the club to avoid missing way left.

Yeah, it should, but alas...

[KD1]

3 hours ago, Arthur_Vandelay said:

IMO it's pointless to focus on weight shift without first making sure the face isn't open at the top of the backswing or downswing.

 

It seems like so many people's golf swings are just years of built up compensations for an open face that I've started to wonder how many people might benefit from playing with a closed face for a while.  If an open face causes you to hang back, stall rotation, and roll the arms to avoid missing way right, then a closed face should cause you to shift pressure, rotate, and get the hands in front of the club to avoid missing way left.

 

Maybe you're right, IDK. But I feel like I can chunk it just as easily with a closed face as I can with an open face.

[IAmTheMusicMan]

On 8/22/2023 at 9:21 PM, Zitlow said:

This might help some people who are getting their weight pressure crossed up.

 

 

 

 

Hi zitlow,

 

Is this from the original 'Secrets of the Games Longest Hitter' or the new Bonus Edition please? The version I have doesn't have either of these sections.

Thanks 

[Zitlow]

48 minutes ago, IAmTheMusicMan said:

Hi zitlow,

 

Is this from the original 'Secrets of the Games Longest Hitter' or the new Bonus Edition please? The version I have doesn't have either of these sections.

Thanks 

 

From their Secrets video, bonus section. 

[Valtiel]

On 8/22/2023 at 2:15 AM, TheOverratedPhotog said:

I've always found the best way to work on weight shift is with a half swing, swinging as hard as you can. Although the swing is shorter, it becomes easier to focus on your weight transfer and harder to start the swing with your club. 

 

On 8/22/2023 at 7:38 AM, me05501 said:

 

Rahm recommends this as well. 

 

4 hours ago, Arthur_Vandelay said:

IMO it's pointless to focus on weight shift without first making sure the face isn't open at the top of the backswing or downswing.

 

It seems like so many people's golf swings are just years of built up compensations for an open face that I've started to wonder how many people might benefit from playing with a closed face for a while.  If an open face causes you to hang back, stall rotation, and roll the arms to avoid missing way right, then a closed face should cause you to shift pressure, rotate, and get the hands in front of the club to avoid missing way left.

I'm a big fan of smaller swings to learn weight shift/proper lead leg action as well, and for the reasons that @Arthur_Vandelay mentioned above. So much of the difficulty IMO around making these changes is based on our ingrained patterns around compensating for the club being out of position later in the backswing in one of the many ways it usually is. Too open, too shut, across the line, too deep, too flat, arm overrun etc etc...every one of those (and especially in combination) can make a proper pivot/weight shift feel nearly impossible because we've become accustomed to the time and movements needed to compensate. Remove that time and those movements and it feels like we basically can't hit the ball anymore. 

[GolfTurkey]

On 8/23/2023 at 12:38 AM, me05501 said:

 

Rahm recommends this as well. 

Rahm making a half swing must be the golfing equivalent of the one inch punch.