A Question

[DougW]

Bobby--

I'm realizing as I navigate around the site and read posts, that this all could get a little silly trying to translate people's descriptions, not to mention whether one's mind's eye at all matches what is actually going on with the swing. So--- I have a question. If I send a video of my swing and we arrange a fee, do you individualize instruction from that point forward. I'm not at all sure if this type of a learning situation will work for me, but I would like to give it a try. I also can't tell, Bobby, at what point this whole venture becomes overwhelming for you. If the time lag between video and correction is too long, I'm not sure this will work for me. I am clear given my experience with lessons that it's a real crap shoot finding an instructor who will really help.

Please feel free to e-mail directly.

Thanks a lot.

-Doug

[Bobby_Eldridge]

First things first. What are you struggling with? I might not have to see your video. Give me some insight into your handicap, how long have you played, what are you struggling with, the best and worst part of your game.

I think I can help, let's try and if this doesn't help you then we can come up with some other options.

Golfingly yours,

Bobby

[DougW]

Bobby- I've played maybe 15 times. I'm 62 years old, pretty athletic, few aches or pains. I usually play 9 holes at a time and fairly quickly began to shoot between 45 and 50. From early on my putting and short game were pretty good. I practice on a large athletic field and have spent a lot of time on these fields always aiming at targets. I've taken approximately 15 lessons. My driver, 3 wood and irons are inconsistent with poor distance. I have or had a long list of problems that I have either corrected or I am the process of correcting. These included my alignment to the target, keeping the right shoulder back instead of coming around too quickly, and most importantly trying to stop both excessive head (vertical and lateral)movement and lateral body movement (swaying right and left). I'm understanding better now the importance of maintaining hip position in the downswing by creating more torque by not allowing my right hip to turn back on the backswing. I mentioned some of this in another post.

S0-- at this point I can quickly correct slicing the ball, but in the process my distance is as poor as ever, if not worse. By this I mean that my drives (which do go straight) can be anywhere from 160 to 210 yards and my irons are probably 20 yards shorter than I'd like.

I feel what is missing now is that I don't have a good feel of what generating club head speed 'feels' like. I have the sense that if I could 'feel this sensation' just once, I could better repeat it. I believe that I'm doing the one piece take away, the 9 o'clock postion and left arm long, all correctly. But it is initiating the swing (and maybe straigthening the right arm sooner)and how to gather the momentum which eludes me. All of this is feeling very mechanical. As soon as I try to swing more fluidly, I rapidly return to the right shoulder opening up too quickly.

Even though I'm feeling discouraged now a days, your DVD's have been very helpful, and I'm understanding the golf swing movements much better. Once this understanding can move from my head to my body, things will improve I think. Of course, it's also possible that I think I am following your instructions, but I'm really not. That's why I wonder about sending a tape.

Thanks Bobby.

-Doug