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Post by cloran on Apr 9, 2011 14:42:58 GMT -5
Please feel free to tear me apart... I need to get better around the greens and this is the "technique" I've been implementing.
I still continue to hit the ball on the toe side of the sweet spot with longer pitch/chip shots. I took a few videos in my back yard this morning... I was making 15-20 yard chip shots in these videos. I wasn't trying to do anything special. Just a standard little chip/pitch with a low trajectory. I get a lot of these shots from around the green when I play. I'm pretty good at hitting them high, but I want to be able to really skip one onto the green and get it to hop-check-roll-stop. I think this type of shot will ultimately make me a more consistent player. I've been working a ton on little chips and those are coming along well. I can hit the sweet spot each time and I'm getting very good at picking a spot to land the ball and actually hitting it. Judging roll-out is impossible though. That's something I'll need to work on at my driving range practice green. It's these longer little chip/pitch shots I continue to hit the toe side of the club.
I've actually become very good at hitting the toe side EVERY time however so when I'm in my back yard I'm very good at hitting to targets of varying lengths. But I know it's not optimal.
Close up, 1000 fps... I deleted the middle portion of the video to save on time. Notice the wear spot on the face of the wedge after impact.
Front View, 420 fps... this one is brilliant, lol! I CHUNKED the first attempt, but kept it on the video because I have no pride... the second attempt went better
Overhead angle... not perfect, but I tried to get a different view
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Post by rohlio on Apr 9, 2011 15:09:39 GMT -5
I used to struggle mightily with the same thing you are experiencing. Chunks, inconsistent trajectory, etc.
This is my opinion and I am sure plenty will disagree.
When I watch you pitch I think you have taken the idea of handle forward way to the extreme. You have eliminated the function of the bounce in your wedges and are giving yourself very little margin for error. I became a much better pitcher and chipper when I learned to use the bounce and to allow the club head to swing.
I of course advise beginners to learn to keep the handle ahead of the head because the vast majority of them cast the club too early, but you certainly don't have this problem.
Here is an excellent video from Ben Crane discussing this.
I think you need to learn to have a more rhythmic motion without manipulating the handle so far forward during the motion. Allowing the bounce to be more exposed to the ground.
Here is a video of Dana Dahlquist hitting short pitches. Look at the finish position of the head of the club. He certainly hasn't flipped it but it certainly has swung more freely to the finish than yours. In order to do this smoothly he must have not held it back the way you appear to be.
Hope this helps you some or at least gets you some ideas.
I would also love to see a freer lower body with a more rhythmic and athletic participation.
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Post by bentshaft on Apr 9, 2011 15:43:29 GMT -5
cloran
one word---TENNIS ;D
bent
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Post by bentshaft on Apr 9, 2011 16:25:43 GMT -5
more seriously---that DD vid posted above looks like all you need...a more relaxed body, and a slight pivot thru the ball...
same stuff I am working on as we speak...
bent
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Post by cloran on Apr 9, 2011 17:08:34 GMT -5
Thanks guys... much appreciated.
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Post by Richie3Jack on Apr 9, 2011 19:27:41 GMT -5
I think your attack angle is too steep combined with your shaft lean. So you have to be really precise or you'll stick it into the turf. And your shots that are struck well probably go too low..
I'd try moving the ball position about 1-2 inches forward and reduce the wrist cockin the backswing. That way you don't reduce the bounce of the club.
3JACK
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Post by cloran on Apr 9, 2011 21:08:11 GMT -5
A couple better views:
I guess I should feel more "around" when I swing?
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Post by bentshaft on Apr 9, 2011 22:09:36 GMT -5
hells bells man---really looks pretty good
I re looked at the original clips...
I would say---just shallow it out a little and you have it going on...
I look forward to what the better golfers have to say here...
this is fun, since I am working on the same...I am getting better, but distance control is a bitch...
bent
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Post by rohlio on Apr 9, 2011 23:14:56 GMT -5
A couple better views: I guess I should feel more "around" when I swing? watching those two I see quite a bit of manipulation right at impact. Look at the path the club head is approaching on. Right after impact it leaves that path and shoots out to the right and it looks forced and rigid like you are trying too hard to keep the face from rolling. It kind of looks like you are trying to push the ball to the target instead of just letting the clubhead swing. This to me is a source of a lot of error in golf swings as steering takes your instincts and feel and throws them in the crapper. Your idea of feeling more "around" when you swing is a good one. It seems Richie and I are somewhat in agreement regarding the amount of shaft lean and AoA. If you were my student I would ask you to try really relaxing your wrists for a while and letting the clubhead roll and even pass your hands in the follow through. Just to get the feeling of the pendulum action instead of the completely forced version. I hope this doesn't sound harsh I want you to succeed. |
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Post by cloran on Apr 10, 2011 15:11:09 GMT -5
I want harsh... no need to pussy foot around!  I appreciate all the feedback. I started making some of the changes late last night in the back yard. Unfortunaltely I'm in Seattle right now on business and won't be picking up a club again until Thursday or Friday... |
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Post by rohlio on Apr 10, 2011 15:29:58 GMT -5
I want harsh... no need to pussy foot around! I appreciate all the feedback. I started making some of the changes late last night in the back yard. Unfortunaltely I'm in Seattle right now on business and won't be picking up a club again until Thursday or Friday... Driver down to Portland on Monday or Tuesday I will play 18 with you |
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Post by Richie3Jack on Apr 15, 2011 7:47:27 GMT -5
Here's a Ben Crane video on using the bounce properly. And Crane is currently ranked #1 in my Adjusted Short Game Rankings.
3JACK
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Post by rohlio on Apr 15, 2011 10:18:34 GMT -5
Here's a Ben Crane video on using the bounce properly. And Crane is currently ranked #1 in my Adjusted Short Game Rankings. 3JACK pssstt....look in post number 2 |
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Post by Richie3Jack on Apr 15, 2011 11:41:05 GMT -5
D'OH  3JACK |
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Post by cloran on May 7, 2011 14:45:23 GMT -5
A few updated videos from this morning. More "around" with a shallower attack angle. Less shaft lean at address/impact. Overall my chipping/pitching has improved a lot since starting this thread.
Thanks guys.
Updated videos:
It's a good thing I only have warning track power. This neighbor isn't so good at throwing the balls back over the fence.
I was aiming at the post that the ball hit, which was cool... but I was trying to land it in on the grass not 1/2 way up the fence, which was not cool.
For this one I was trying to hit the little yellow/red stool in front of the trampoline. Good distance, just a little left.
Looking better from the front
I need to get my backyard wedge setup equal to the rest of my clubs. I've spent a lot of time recently trying to increase the #2pa through transition and some of that progress has worked its way into my pitches/chips. It's hard to see in these videos because this particular club is pretty light on both the swing-weight and gross weight scales. Once I have made a little more progress with my full swing I'll post some videos and go into detail about the gear alterations I've made recently.
So, do you guys see improvements? I appreciate the help.
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