Building my swing (Includes Video).

[BigSoy]

So had my second lesson this morning, after a 3-week lay-off waiting to find out whether I'd be heading abroad for 3 months with work...

Lesson went well, had grasped about 2 out of 3 targets from the first one, grip and stance were quite well grooved in, except for a bit straight-leggedness.

So now I know I'm gonna be here for the next three months, I've booked in for a series of lessons, and I thought it might be useful to try track the process as well as the results. I called in at another driving range on the way home, which lends itself to propping up a camera ok, and tried out the video capabilities of my IXUS - the results are as follows:

7-iron swing:
http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s...=Golf_vid1.flv

5-iron swing:
http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s...=Golf_vid2.flv

7-iron swing side-on.
http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s...=Golf_vid1.flv

My plan is to have a couple of weeks practice between lessons, and we'll see how I progress, so I might try and update this after each lesson.

For the videos - feel free to criticize, I'm new to this game and don't expect to have that Ernie swing down yet. Seems mostly when people post a swing video online, no-one really wants to crit it - but please, dig in

Targets to work on after this lesson are:

-Knees flexed - but weight forward - 60% on balls of feet.
-Completing a full turn-on the follow-through by raising the back foot and getting the up body square to the target. (Hadn't been raising the foot or getting that kind of rotation at all until I started lessons).
-Keeping Right Shoulder down as I swing through, bringing it up and open is promoting a push slice.

[straightshooter]

A fine swing for a beginner. Given that you are on a lesson plan I almost hesitate to interfere, but you asked for it so here goes:

The view facing you (the link pointed to the wrong video, but is was accessible from the photobucket page nonetheless) shows some serious problems with balance and weight distribution. I think they can be addressed as follows: Take a slightly wider stance. Set up with your spine tilted away from the target: You seem to have your shoulders level. Instead your right shoulder should be lower than your left shoulder during setup (the picture on the left will give you the correct idea). From that setup, try to swing in such a way that you maintain good balance throughout the swing.

[titaniummd]

Maintain the angle of your spine throughout the swing.

Good followthrough.

[BigSoy]

When people talk about spine-angle, is that to do with rotation parallel to the target line, or perpendicular, i.e. leaning left or right, or leaning forward or back?

[straightshooter]

Originally Posted by BigSoy

When people talk about spine-angle, is that to do with rotation parallel to the target line, or perpendicular, i.e. leaning left or right, or leaning forward or back?

Typical use:

spine-angle = leaning forward or back
spine-tilt = leaning left or right

Of course, like backspin and sidespin on a golf-ball, they can be considered the same thing!

Using the 'Typical-use' definitions: Both spine-angle and spine-tilt are ideally maintained throughout most of the swing. Spine-tilt tends straighten out on the follow-through (after impact). Spine-angle can be maintained start through finish.

[tachus]

looks a bit steep. your left arm should be on the same plane as the club was at address. some time in front of a mirror will cure this.