down swing - correction of previous mis-understanding

http://www.golflink.com/tipsvideos/video.aspx?v=26034

golf diary of 11/28/2008

Yesterday played badly at Summit Point. A little frustrated but with reason. I spent almost 1 week last week to adjust my swing, trying to put thing together. The changing swing confused my game yesterday.

Anyway, today my brain seemed to be clearer than yesterday. And here is what I found, tried something without hitting the ball, feel good:
1) Set up gesture: should feel the weight of butt. should feel pressure at the joint of foot and base of leg while the lower part of leg leaning forward 70 degree. The joint of hip and lower back should form one line (consciously smooth this line straight and move the chest a bit forward will have the effect of increase the pressure of the angle-lower leg joint, making your body more balanced. At that state, you will feel a bit like skiing gesture)

So 3 things I feel today:
- upper body (chest) stick forward
- butt stick back ward, should feel its weight
- stand a bit taller until you feel the pressure at the joint of angle and lower leg. The reason of doing this is because I have a tendency to over bending my knee, in such case I won't feel the pressure.

2) backswing: the distance between hand/arm and body should enlarge. When the hand passes the toe, they should be exact over or even outside of the toe. Because I have big chest mussel, this will give me more space to swing.

3) Down swing. Should aim my hand at the center of the body as the release point. Previously I aimed the release point far too early, thus caused the right shoulder dipping too much and right arm folding too much, which cause fat shot.

4) Re-emphasis, weight shift should from behind.

Improving of swing is a painful process. Normally everything dips, i meant performance. Then things gradually becomes better. Remember, If golf is too easy, it won't be that fun and won't isolate smart people and average. So be patient, and enjoy the pain and enjoyment.

I read something which is great!

"Whenever you find you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -- Mark Twain

The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything. To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind." --Zen Master

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved."

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it."
"Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many."
"Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books."
"Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders."
"Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations."
"But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." --Gauthama, the Buddha

"There is a principle which is proof against all information, which is proof against all arguments, which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance; that principle is contempt, prior to investigation." -HERBERT SPENCER

There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesome returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact." -- Mark Twain

6/19/08 driving range

Setup:

upper arms pressed the sides of the chest. It is NOT upper arms in front of the chest. This is very critical to leverage the body to help the swing. If your upper arms are in front of the chest, body won't contribute to swing.

Backswing:
slowly back and up. when it reaches the chest height, hands should be in front of the chest.

6/15 driving range

Set up:
1) loose up and sink shoulder, spine straight
2) butt is stick out, feel the heaviness
3) Let the arm fall freely

back swing:
1) take off within you
2) roll left foot, don't lift up the heel and stick on the toe (it is a bad habit need to fix ASAP)

Down swing:
1) Lateral shift is not enough and hesitant. Fix this problem probably can fix the flat shot problem.
2) Follow through is not enough