Shot my lowest 9 ever with 1 thought... but I don't understand it

[CrisPy3]

So when I've video taped my swing in the past, there's always been the usual suspects - flip at impact, high hands at impact, etc. With the help of iTeach i've gotten into a much better position at address and that's kind of where we still are. Which isn't to say that's a bad thing but I only have so much money to spend on lessons so in the meantime, like many of us here, I follow instructors and thier videos on Youtube to try and learn as much as I can about the swing. A few nights ago I watched this video from

Sam Goulden...

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In the video, which Sam titles "The Most Important Angle in Golf" (which I admit, sounds very much like an infomercial...) he talks about maintaining the angle between the lead arm and shaft angle that is created at address. I thought well maybe since 1 of my swing faults is high hands this will help me get the shaft back on plane. I went out yesterday, mind you never having practiced this before, and having 1 thought in my mind shot the lowest 9 ever - a 39. And that was with an 8 on the card (par 5, blow up hole, I'd rather not talk about it...). What I THINK I looked like in my backswing was probably Ryan Moore or Rickie Fowler in that they seem to get the clubhead way outside in the backswing.

Now, I'm NOT someone who thinks there's a magic pill in golf. You get out what you put in. But can someone please explain to me how/why/what the importance is of this move? I will say, my wedges were on fire with this thought and as I progressed up the bag it seemed to get a bit harder with maintaining that angle. But I don't know why that is either...

Can someone enlighten me? I know it has to do with getting the shaft back on plane, but it can't be THAT easy... can it?

[sblack5]

it could very well have made your takeaway and backswing more upright which will keep the club outside of your hands and keep you from bending the right elbow too soon and rolling your wrists to the inside ......a more outside takeaway will generally put the club head on the target line for a longer period of time as well. your wedges were easier to hit because you stand closest to the target line with wedges and the lie angle on them is more upright anyway. if the club head travels on the target line for a longer duration you will have a much easier time zeroing out your path and making center face contact

[CrisPy3]

Thanks SB5,
So the few things I took away were club head staying on the target line longer which in turn makes it easier to zero out the path. I understand the first part but you lost me on the latter. Should I do a search on zero path or is it something you can explain in laymans terms?
Thanks again

[inmens]

A lot of talking (a common fault in many teaching videos) but a pretty sound advice.

[HitEmTrue]

Consider the possibility that you may simply have been playing better golf, and that it had nothing to do with the thought. Or that having just one thought may have uncluttered your mind...and that maybe on a future round a different "one thought" may work for you.

[Ewmcdade]

Inb4 Monte goes off about "maintaining the angle"!

Maintaining that angle is an effect of the backswing and pivot. To solve a problem in life or in golf, you must deal with the root cause of the problem, and I don't believe this is it.

[sblack5]

cris.......your wedges sit the most vertical of any club in your bag when soled on the ground....which means they are designed to be swung the most upright of any club in your bag. keeping your hands outside in takeaway (assuming that's what this video and thinking is causing you to do) is causing you to swing on a more upright swing plane ....in other words....swinging your wedges more of the way they were designed to be swung....that's why they are so awesome right now.....make sense?

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='Ewmcdade' timestamp='1376585819' post='7682084']
Inb4 Monte goes off about "maintaining the angle"!

Maintaining that angle is an effect of the backswing and pivot. To solve a problem in life or in golf, you must deal with the root cause of the problem, and I don't believe this is it.
[/quote]

Uh, okay. Thanks

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='sblack5' timestamp='1376585908' post='7682094']
cris.......your wedges sit the most vertical of any club in your bag when soled on the ground....which means they are designed to be swung the most upright of any club in your bag. keeping your hands outside in takeaway (assuming that's what this video and thinking is causing you to do) is causing you to swing on a more upright swing plane ....in other words....swinging your wedges more of the way they were designed to be swung....that's why they are so awesome right now.....make sense?
[/quote]

Yes, that makes perfect sense. So this is a great thought for wedges and possibly higher lofted clubs, but as soon as you get down to the 7-8 iron I'll be too steep? Can you also help me with 'zeroing out the plane'? Does that have to do with path and club face (new ball flight laws)?
Thanks again

[crapula]

You were staying in your posture. I think this is a good video and it is something I work on a lot, short swings trying to keep the club head in front of my left arm (impact) and never under my left arm (impact). Under would be shaft and arm in line during impact which is a horrible way to hit, unless you want to early extend and flip. Around the left arm would maintain the angle from address.

This video is not about holding lag, it is about how the clubhead travels around your left arm.

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='crapula' timestamp='1376586404' post='7682156']
You were staying in your posture. I think this is a good video and it is something I work on a lot, short swings trying to keep the club head in front of my left arm (impact) and never under my left arm (impact). Under would be shaft and arm in line during impact which is a horrible way to hit, unless you want to early extend and flip. Around the left arm would maintain the angle from address.

This video is not about holding lag, it is about how the clubhead travels around your left arm.
[/quote]

Agreed. It does seem to help with quite a few things (flip, early extension, etc.). I guess for longer clubs one just needs to get flatter but my brain can't figure out how to get flatter and hold that angle at the same time...

[crapula]

[quote name='CrisPy3' timestamp='1376587180' post='7682222']
[quote name='crapula' timestamp='1376586404' post='7682156']
You were staying in your posture. I think this is a good video and it is something I work on a lot, short swings trying to keep the club head in front of my left arm (impact) and never under my left arm (impact). Under would be shaft and arm in line during impact which is a horrible way to hit, unless you want to early extend and flip. Around the left arm would maintain the angle from address.

This video is not about holding lag, it is about how the clubhead travels around your left arm.
[/quote]

Agreed. It does seem to help with quite a few things (flip, early extension, etc.). I guess for longer clubs one just needs to get flatter but my brain can't figure out how to get flatter and hold that angle at the same time...
[/quote]

I don't think there is any holding of that angle. Just swing around your left arm with that angle. Don't let the clubhead go under the left arm.

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='crapula' timestamp='1376587272' post='7682232']
[quote name='CrisPy3' timestamp='1376587180' post='7682222']
[quote name='crapula' timestamp='1376586404' post='7682156']
You were staying in your posture. I think this is a good video and it is something I work on a lot, short swings trying to keep the club head in front of my left arm (impact) and never under my left arm (impact). Under would be shaft and arm in line during impact which is a horrible way to hit, unless you want to early extend and flip. Around the left arm would maintain the angle from address.

This video is not about holding lag, it is about how the clubhead travels around your left arm.
[/quote]

Agreed. It does seem to help with quite a few things (flip, early extension, etc.). I guess for longer clubs one just needs to get flatter but my brain can't figure out how to get flatter and hold that angle at the same time...
[/quote]

I don't think there is any holding of that angle. Just swing around your left arm with that angle. Don't let the clubhead go under the left arm.
[/quote]

AAAHHHHH... gotcha.

[sblack5]

cris...I do it with all my clubs. as for the Zero path bit.....lay a club down on the ground as your target line. take another club and stand over the club on the ground and trace the target line with the club in your hands. being on that target line exactly.is having a neutral path into the ball. coming from outside in or inside out and intersecting where the ball is then explains what those mean too. the longer you can get your clubhead to travel on the target line in your downswing the straighter you will hit the ball ....that is a zeroed path

[sblack5]

by taking the club back outside of your hands the club head stays on the target lone longer... hence zeroing out your path a bit....or in other words....not deviating from the target line as severly

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='sblack5' timestamp='1376588147' post='7682330']
by taking the club back outside of your hands the club head stays on the target lone longer... hence zeroing out your path a bit....or in other words....not deviating from the target line as severly
[/quote]

Cool. Thank you sir. The lightbulb is dim but getting brighter... I'm going to head to the range tomorrow and see how it feels zeroing out my path with longer clubs as I know I tend to suck the club inside. The travel continues...

[fjk]

How do you keep from being too flat and left arm staying below shoulder plane?

[parmark]

Why ask why?

[sblack5]

[quote name='fjk' timestamp='1376610742' post='7684368']
How do you keep from being too flat and left arm staying below shoulder plane?
[/quote]

turn your shoulders on a steeper angle going back by keeping your right arm straight as long as you can in the backswing (it will fold on its own by chest high) AND keeping your right arm above your left going back and not behind it

[parmark]

SB - any drills you have on the right arm straight going back. Been working on this, but my right elbow is KILLING me these past few days in trying to implement this more in my swing. Thanks for any suggestions you or anyone can share on this part of the swing.

[sblack5]

lookup an article and thread titled "get your arm swing and pivot in sync". its all in there

[Titleist 3]

There is a swing aide for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df4AHJWKVNE

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='Titleist 3' timestamp='1376657999' post='7686940']
There is a swing aide for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df4AHJWKVNE
[/quote]

I think my thread just became an advertisement for the [size=4]Tour Angle 144... Sorry![/size]