Early release issues

[D H Barrans]

Hi Bobby
I have had many lessons and had my swing videoed on three separate occasions over a five year period. Early video showed very very early release/scoop.

Over time I have worked very hard on swing fundamentals and tried to minimise this problem and yet latest video shows early release with attendant distance loss ,HIGH SEMI CIRCLE TYPE BALL FLIGHT and obviously never a divot. I am told by the golf pro that my take away top of backswing and start of down swing is very acceptable. Do you have any swing keys /practice drills that will deal with this issue

I do feel personally that to make sure I have no lateral left hip movement I do not snap my left knee which appears to accentuate the early release problem. I notice that my 5 iron finishes at 45 degrees to the ground at swing completion .Professionals seem to have their club horizontal to the ground. When I practice in front of a MIRROR WITHOUT HITTING BALLS and focus on snapping the left knee, it appears to bring the club horizontal to the ground at finish. Am I on the right track? I would appreciate any comment that you can make to ease this frustrating impediment.



I have read your article re set up. It is an excellent prescriptive tool which I will use daily. I believe and conclude from this article that I need to pay more attention to keeping my butt end down and also the position of the ball more middle than forward which is my tendency. I play with Ping eye 3 clubs 2 up. You comment re not needing to sole the club on longer irons is very helpful.I spend 20-30 minutes per day swinging a golf club in front of a mirror in my yard trying to perfect my swing. Whilst this is good for take away and top of the back swing I wonder if doing this too frequently without hitting balls is accentuating my release problem because on the follow through I keep the club off the hard paved ground .

Would I be better off hitting into an impact bag?



Kind regards

dhb

David

[Patrick A]

Hi Barrans,

After I read the first few lines of your thread, the first thing that came to my mind was "this guy needs and impact bag"... then at the end of the thread there you were...asking about it...funny..

I used to have a driving mat in my backyard and spend hours doing practice swings at the wind. One day my wife comes out and asks me: how do you know where the ball is going? I answer: "I can feel it when the swing is right", then I would keep swinging...and swinging...and wondering if the ball landed on the green... I guess practice swings are good when you do them slowly and with rhythm; I just don't get carried away.

Impact bag is an excellent tool to acknowledge the moment of truth and your impact position. Just don't get carried away with it because you could get your follow thru in trouble. Is good to hit a few snaps then hit some balls...back n forth... The bags usually come with a instructional DVD on how to get the most of this tool.

Bests,

[Bobby_Eldridge]

I think you would improve in about one month time if you made 25 swings a day (with or without a golf ball) from a DOWNHILL lie.

I would guess that you do not like downhill lies on the golf course.

Start with a 7 iron and you can hit as many balls as you like.

The downhill lie will make you turn through and swing with a steeper downswing.

You only need a small slope, not steep.

Bobby