Top 100 Teachers

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs offers swing tips

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-11-17T10:25:33-05:00

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs will be online Tuesday at noon Eastern to review your swing videos, answer questions and offer tips. Be first in line by asking a question in the comments section below.

Thanks to everyone for your questions and especially your videos. This was a very good blog today. Let's keep it going next week with some more interesting videos, questions, and opinions about the golf swing. Have a great week and go Packers!

CJ asks at 1:00:

Tiger switched coaches from Butch Harmon to Hank Haney. And Ernie Els switched from Leadbetter to Harmon. So what are the different coaching styles of those 3 coaches that cause the players to chop and change?

You would think that they are all teaching the same fundamentals but they clearly can't be otherwise the players wouldn't change between them.

CJ, to answer this question properly I would need several hours. I would tell you that Haney and Leadbetter are more likely to impose their methodology on the student where Butch will take what the student has and work with their strengths and weaknesses. There is no way to break down their styles in a blog but in my opinion Butch is more versatile and likely to help a broader spectrum of players than the other two.

Players change coaches because they are always looking for something to help them get a little better. When they have heard a specific set of instructions from the same teacher over a period of time and aren't gettting the results they want they will move on. It is that simple. Tour instructors are like NBA coaches, you get hired to get fired. It usually goes coach, caddie, wife, in that order, when it comes to the chopping block.

CH3fan asks at 12:55:

I was a huge Charles Howell fan when he first came onto the Tour. I love his swing and the power he generates, it gives us smaller guys hope. But he never quite lived up to the hype.

I was watching him at the range at one Tour event and you could see what a great ballstriker he is compared to the other guys. It must be embarrassing for Leadbetter cos all along he was telling everyone how good CH3 is.

How come he has never translated his talent into more wins than he has? Thanks.

He has had a better year in 2009 than he did in 2008. When you try to figure out why he hasn't won much there is nothing that stands out. He did finish 2nd twice this year, but I agree that he hasn't lived up to the hype. His statistics are very average, with no specific strength or weakness shinning through which may give some reason to why he can't break through.

I always like to look at two stats, total driving and putting. He is 128th in total driving and 106th in putts per round. If the old line holds true, "you drive for show and putt for dough,", then this is why he hasn't produced like we all thought he would.

Stephen asks at 12:45:

Hi Brady

How much of an effect is the new groove rule going to have on the Tour in 2010? Will it effect some players more than others?

Always interested to hear your thoughts.

Thanks
Stephen

I think it will have a significant effect on the importance of hitting the fairway from the tee. The players that hit the ball straighter will benefit the most because their accuracy will now mean something. Hitting the fairway hasn't meant a whole lot over the last decade or so because of the lack of effect the rough has had on approach shots to the green. Probably about 70 percent of Tour players have never caught a flyer with a short iron from the rough. That used to be commonplace on Tour in every round played.

I agree with Tiger that this is a good thing for the Tour and the game in general. I am all for any adjustments that help identify the most skilled players. Both players and equipment companies have had time to get comfortable with the rule. I am looking forward to seeing the first 9-iron that was supposed to go 135 and went 150 instead. Should be entertaining.

Tim Fox asks at 12:40:

Hi, Brady. I golfed with my 92-year-old Dad the other day, and took some video of his swing. He was a scratch golfer in his day, and still enjoys playing. Since he had a stroke in his left eye, his game has become inconsistent. He still has good flexibility (for a 92 year old!), and good rhythm. I made the following video with a few examples of when things go well, and a few when they go bad. Please take a look, and help us with what's going wrong. Thanks!

Tim, I would love to help but I can't seem to get your video to work. Please resend the swing so I can get a look at it. Sorry.

BK asks at 12:25:

I am a weekend golfer with 12-handicap. My biggest problem with the game is the Tee Shots. My nice shots are draws but most of the time they are hooks and I see lots of out-of-bounds shots (left). Once in a while, I push them straight to the right. Slices very rarely happen to me and I am not worrying about it. Sometimes, I lose balance on my follow-through and need to take a step or two backwards to maintain the balance especially with the driver. I usually play in 80s but I've never broke 80. If I cure my hook (that is costing me about 5-6 shots per round), I think, I can break 80. I have included a couple of clips of my swing. Do you have any suggest for me to try? Also, am I changing my spine angle (standing up a bit) on the down swing? Can that be recipe for the hook? If so what can I do to fix it?

BK, you have actually picked out the one thing that you should work on with your golf swing: your spine angle. I prefer to call it your "Tush Line" because it gives you a better idea about how to see this issue. If you draw a line vertically at the back of your tush in the address position you will see that you move several inches closer to the ball by the time you get to impact. You stand up in an effort to compensate for this loss of the line and make some space for yourself at impact. If you look at the swings again you can see how jammed up your arms are as you make contact with the ball and beyond.

Here is the fix for your issue. Make sure in the address that your weight begins in the balls of your feet, not your heels. The strange thing about the golf swing is that the weight will go where it isn't in the beginning. In your case you start with the weight towards the heels and as a result it goes to your toes. This causes you to lose space, stand up, kills your extension, and leads to your balance problems. When the weight starts in the balls of the feet you can allow your turn to shift weight into the right heel going back and into the left heel in the finish. This will increase the distance you are from the ball at impact, improving your extension and helping your hook.

There are other issues causing your excessively right-to-left ball flight, but start with this simple address-position change and then send me some new video with the improvement. I would like to see a close up of your grip, a swing from face-on and another from the target-line view a little closer to you. Good luck and remember to try to feel like an athlete at address, weight on the balls of the feet and legs relaxed and bouncy.

Matt asks at 12:12:

Here is my swing. I am about a 10-handicap, and my swing is one plane with the target-line view. What can you tell me on how to fix my weight shift, especially that hip movement.

Thanks for sending in your swing, Matt. I am going to give you a quick analysis of your swing and then tell you where I want you to go with it. This may not be the specific advice you asked for but in my opinion it is how you should proceed.

You have no movement away from the target with your upper body, specifically your head. As a result, your spine is too upright at the top leading to an excessively long backswing, especially for an iron, and the tendency to attack the ball on a steep angle. To compensate for this, your head dives down and back as you approach impact in a last-ditch effort to get the club to the inside before impact. The loss of your level (head and chest at roughly the same height during the swing) makes contact inconsistent and can lead to neck and back problems in the future.

If I had you on my lesson tee I would immediately show you pictures of great players moving their head away from the target on the backswing like Davis Love III, Anthony Kim, Tiger, etc., to encourage you to move. This would allow your spine to tilt away from the target going back, limiting the length of your swing and flattening out your arm swing. This would put you in a more athletic feel at the top, allowing you to shift your weight back toward the target like you were stepping into a baseball throw. With the club coming from more behind you there would be no need to dive back behind the ball, helping you keep your level and release freely to the target.

Like I said, this may not be what you were looking for but in my opinion it is where you should start. Send me a new video from both angles when you feel like you have made some progress.

dday 39 asks at 12:00:

Brady,
So what's your beef with stack and tilt? Really, I guess my question is: What is more important in the golf swing; hitting the proper positions or having a repeatable swing with predictable results? On Tour there are so many different swings. I think the only thing they have in common is the impact position. With a conventional swing, I sliced the ball like crazy. With a S&T swing I hit a 4 yard draw consistently.

If you have read this blog over the last few months you know I am not a fan of ANY swing methodology. It is true that Stack and Tilt is among my least favorites, but you could throw in any of the "flavors of the month" and I would respond the same way. Obviously a good swing is repeatable and produces consistent results. I would also add that it is safe for the body and gives the player the opportunity to improve over time. I don't see this with Stack and Tilt.

You also mentioned that the impact position is something Tour players have in common when it comes to the swing, I would strongly disagree. The impact position varies greatly between players because of their individual compensations like grip strength, ball-flight preference, posture, girth of chest, athletic ability, etc.

If you are getting the results you are looking for with Stack and Tilt that is fantastic. I can tell you from a historical perspective it is an inferior style. I can also tell you no athlete playing any sport I have ever seen would produce power with the weight on the front foot during an athletic motion. There will come a time when you have played this game long enough and seen your share of great players that you might agree with me. If not, we can agree to disagree and have a beer. I prefer Pacifico if you are buying....

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs helps lower your score

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-11-03T14:01:47-05:00

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday to review your swing videos, answer questions and offer tips.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE GREAT QUESTIONS AND FANTASTIC VIDEOS. THIS IS THE KIND OF BLOG WE ARE LOOKING FOR EVERY WEEK. DON'T BE AFRAID TO SEND IN YOUR SWING WITH A LINK TO YOU TUBE, IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO SEE YOUR MOTION. HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND GO FOR EVERYTHING, NOBODY WILL REMEMBER THE PAR 5 YOU CHICKENED OUT ON AND MADE PAR.

Alex asks at 1:30:

Now that my golf season is almost over I was wondering what exercises I can do to be in shape for next season. I know I need a lot of core workout as well as legs for stability but I was wondering if you knew any specific workouts that would help me.

There is so much great information out there on the internet that can help. I would recommend finding someone in your area that works with high-level golfers. The more golf specific your workout can BECOME, not begin, the better off you are. If money is a huge issue, check out Paul Chek online and research his material. I have over a dozen of my players working with a certified Chek guy that have had great results.

Paul asks at 1:20:

Can you clarify: In order to control distance in greenside bunkershots, do I shorten my backswing or follow-through ?

Neither. I would have you change the speed of your swing to change the distance of the shot. Think of a second baseman throwing to first versus a third baseman. The throwing motion looks the same, it is the speed of the arm swing that changes the throw. To make golf more athletic think of just changing how much energy you put into the swing. On a shorter shot, swing easier; for a longer shot, swing harder. Remember that the sand under the ball moves the ball out of the bunker. If the sand comes out slower and shorter the ball won't go as far as it would if the sand comes out faster and farther.

One last thing about this method. You will see an obvious change in the length of the swing, especially the follow-through, when changing the speed. This happens because there is less momentum in the shorter bunker shot. Be an athlete and don't overthink this.

JJ at 1:18 posted swing video:

JJ, I have no idea what your request is because you didn't ask me a question but I will give you my opinion of what you are doing that looks off from where neutral is. You are excessively bent over in the address position forcing your hands to hang too low to the ground. As you take the club away from the ball, you lose the connection between your upper right arm and your chest forcing the arm to move well away from your body. As a result, your right wrist loses all of it's bend from address and the clubface becomes very closed. This has a lasting effect on your golf swing as it prohibits you from releasing the club properly through impact, shortening your shots and severely restricting your follow-through.

If I were to recommend some changes, it would start at your address. Get into a more neutral posture so your hands aren't so close to the ground. Take the club back with your upper right arm and chest maintaining their connection while you keep some bend in the right wrist. This will help the club into a more square position at the top allowing you to release fully through impact. The final thing I would recommend is to look at the pictures of Tiger, Annika, Adam Scott, etc., at the finish position and try to copy that as best you can. Chances are your flexibility will limit you from getting as around as the swings I mentioned, but it will go a long way to helping you get where you want to go.

Bob Featherstone asks at 1:05 p.m.

I video my swing and noticed that when I started on my down swing from the top my right heel started to come up should that happen?

It all depends on how your heel comes up. If your right heel is coming up immediately as the downswing begins then their isn't enough weight in your heel at the top of the swing. This will make it very difficult to attack on the ball on the proper path. In the best-case scenario, the right foot will come up later in the downswing as the club is approaching impact. The foot should be leaned toward the inside of the sole. In other words, you don't want the entire front of your shoe on the ground with the heel coming up. The "pinky" toe should come up, not the "big" toe. This may seem like an overanalysis of the weight in your feet but after your clubface position and your swing path, your weight is next in the order of importance.

AFTER LOOKING AT THE VIDEO:

My earlier suspicion about the weight not being in your right heel at the top of the swing was correct. Go to my website www.redgoat.smugmug.com and check out the section on Redgoat fundamentals, Tush Line. This will give you some great visuals about the issue. The fact is that if you draw a line vertically down touching the tush at address you will see by the time you reach the top of the swing the right cheek has lost contact with the line. At impact, your tush is nowhere near the line and your spine angle has changed dramatically.

To fix this you must change your address position. Start with your weight toward the balls of your feet. During the backswing make sure your weight moves into your right heel at the top of the swing and then into your left heel at impact. This will help you maintain your forward lean and significantly improve your ball-striking. You will also notice that your right heel will remain in contact with the ground much longer on the downswing.

Conrad asks at 10:00:

Brady, a lot of players on Tour swing with a shut face at the top, and hold on through impact, and they have a lot of success this way. Zach Johnson, Paul Azinger, Fred Funk, etc. have all had a lot of success this way. How come teachers don't teach this swing? The majority of teachers out there only teach the "textbook swing" yet this swing obviously seems to work for a lot of players.

That is a great point, Conrad, and I couldn't agree more. I have a saying that I have adopted over the last decade or so and that is "Greatness is unique." The fact is that if a player comes to you in control of the ball with some strange mechanics you have to be very careful how much you mess with their motion. If you are fixing things because you don't like the way they look instead of because they don't perform then you're making a grave mistake. On the other hand, I wouldn't start out a player with unusual alignments just to see if they will work. I figure if I can make a player as neutral as possible they will add their own unique wrinkles to the motion and make it their own.

Jim asks at 9:55:

Hi Brady, I hit my mid and short irons a decent way (7 iron 165) but have a real problem consistently hitting anything below a 6 iron. Should I just switch to hybrids for my long irons, or is this a drill I can work on to help?

Jim, I could give you a long, complicated answer as to why the longer irons are more challenging to hit than the hybrids, but why bother? They just are! Tour professionals don't do anything with their equipment that doesn't make it easier to score. Look into the bags on the Champions Tour and LPGA Tour and you will seen more headcovers than irons. This is also becoming more typical on the PGA Tour as well. Get a couple of hybrids to demo and see what you think.

Shayne asks at 9:50:

Hi Brady
When Eddie Merrins has answered swing questions on Ask the Top 100 he puts significant emphasis on using the forearms to square the club face through impact. I have been focusing on this for a number of weeks and have found that it works very well for a straight ball flight. However I have found that the ball trajectory is much lower than before. I guess the wrists are a little quiet when doing this would that be an explanation for the change in ball flight?

This is probably a question you should ask Mr. Merrins. We all have different styles of teaching and methods to help our students get the results they are looking for. Mr. Merrins has been a heck of a teacher for a long time and would be a better source of information about that style of teaching. I would say that if your hands and arms are more passive it makes sense that the ball flight would come down a bit.

Marc asks at 9:38:

Hi Brady

I posted my swing a couple of weeks ago and you said I needed to get the ball up in my stance and cover it more with my left shoulder at impact. Here are some swings from the weekend working on that.

I am also trying to shift my weight in the downswing correctly. In the down-the-line swing, I am holding a range bucket between my knees and starting the downswing by keeping my right knee in place while moving my left knee away and toward the target so the bucket falls straight down.

Let me know how it looks and if I am on the right track.

Marc, thanks for sending in the swing. I think your lines are quite good from down the line. The ball position looks better and overall the swing has great potential. Here is what I think you should do. Go to my website www.redgoat.smugmug.com and use the password bluegoat. Go to the Tour swings section and look at the swings of Anthony Kim and Tommy Armour III. The thing you should be watching is when they initiate the forward motion toward the target with their body during the swing. In your swing, you don't get moving with your body until your arms and club have reached the top of the backswing. This is not as athletic as it should be. Think of throwing a ball while stepping and throwing simultaneously, it would be very ineffective. This is how you are swinging the club. When you look at the swings of AK and TAIII you will notice their body begins to move towards the target well before the backswing finishes with the arms and club. The only way this move works is if their is a significant move off the ball to begin the swing. This is something you do already and fits perfectly into this swing style.

Give this a try and send me the new move as soon as you can. I think your swing can be phenomenal if you add this piece to your motion.

Gene Lund asks at 9:20:

Due to arthritis and muscle strains etc. my left arm can't extend all the way (about a 15 percent difference from my right). I think this causes me to top the ball a lot. Any suggestions?

Back in the 80s, Calvin Peete led the tour in driving accuracy multiple times and won several events. His left arm was unable to straighten as well but it didn't hurt his ability to score. If you are topping shots, try to maintain your forward bend throughout the shot. Chances are your body is becoming more upright at impact than it was at address making it impossible to make solid contact.

Sorry for the late start, let's get going!

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs is here to help your game

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-10-27T09:30:27-04:00

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday at noon Eastern to review swing videos, answer questions and offer tips.

Thanks to everyone for your great questions and comments. I hope you guys have a fantastic week on the links. Stay positive and aggressive on the golf course. Try shots you aren't sure you will pull off and go for it at every turn. Nobody, including you, is going to remember the time you laid up on the Par 5 in front of the water and made a routine par. Play for the glory and the story, good or bad!

Marc asks at 10:15:

Brady, where is Ben Fox nowadays and how is he doing golf-wise? He has one the best swings I have seen...

Thanks for asking Marc. Ben just turned 22 and is playing his first round of the first stage of Q-School today. He is playing the best golf I have ever seen from him. He shot 66 in the pre-qualifier for the PGA Tour event in Vegas and then didn't get in on the Monday. Then he shot another 66 in the pre-qualifier for Phoenix, followed that up with another 66 on Monday and lost in a playoff for the final spot.

The only thing he needs right now is a place to play next year and look out. BTW, I agree about his swing, one of the best I have ever seen.

Needs distance asks at 9;59:

I am 5'8, fairly athletic, have a good swing (hit it pretty straight), but can only carry my driver 240-245 yards on average. How can I get more distance?

Physical stature is not the determining factor for power, just look at Ian Woosnam, Jeff Sluman, or Hidemichi Tanaka for that matter. Once all the other factors have been checked that include the proper specs for your driver, physical well-being, practice, etc. you need to determine if you swing the club like a golfer or an athlete. A golfer is worried about the position his club is in during the swing, staying under control, a pause at the top, good tempo, looking pretty, etc. An athlete is trying to use every fiber of his being to move in the proper sequence to hit the snot out of the ball.

It is a totally different mindset to swing the club like an athlete playing golf rather than a golfer playing a game. There is no way for me to write down how to do this in a timely fashion, but what I can tell you is that you need to watch a great pitcher throw a fastball, a great hitter smash a home-run, a ski-jumper launch themselves from the 90 meter hill, a tennis player serve an ace, and a hockey player take a slap shot. Look at these motions and you will start to see the sequence of movements and the all out attack that it takes to be powerful. This doesn't mean you swing "harder" or "muscle up", quite the contrary. It means you loosen up, get bigger with your motion and stop worrying about where the angle of the dangle is and start kicking some tail.

Post a link to your swing in the blog next week from You Tube and I will tell you how to get started.

Nick Faldo fan asks at 9:53:

I love Nick Faldo's swing but alot of people say that he lost distance after he rebuilt his swing with Leadbetter. Is that true? If so, what in his new swing contributed to him losing distance?

Whatever distance he lost he more than made up for with accuracy. Faldo played competitive golf in an era where control was more important than power. He played golf station to station, and was the best in the world because of it. In Faldo's era power wasn't the critical factor it is in today's game. Just look at Augusta National in 1996 when Faldo won his last major shooting 67 to Norman's 76 in the final round vs. Tiger the following year. When Tiger dismantled The Masters field by 12 shots it changed the game in every respect. Before Tiger, it was Faldo's world because of his Hoganesque control over his game.

The only thing I will tell you about Leadbetter's change of Faldo's swing is whenever you set the club earlier going back you are going to lose some of the speed created from a more dynamic change of direction. It is an option in your technique that must make sense to your ball-striking needs.

Jeff asks at 9:45:

Hi Brady,
enjoy your work. My queston is how can I get more lag into my swing? I seem to push at the ball.

You need to tap into the other sports you played growing up. Make sure your body is always moving before your club just as it would move ahead of your arm if you were throwing. The weight should move back before your club on the backswing and then move ahead of your club coming down. This will create a more "whip-like" motion that always increases clubhead speed. Keeping your arms softer and your body more relaxed is a must to increase the lag and help you feel like you are cracking the club through impact.

Stephen J asks at 9:33:

Brady, what do you think of that Rickie Fowler kid's swing? He seems to take it back shut, then lift the club vertically and immediately flatten it out again similar to Sergio. Seems like a high maintenance swing to me that could run into problems...

Stephen, you ask a very good question. If there is one thing I have come to believe over the last 20 years it is that greatness is unique. His swing may look more complicated than some, but he owns it, trusts it, and believes in it. This is far more important than anything he could do technically. With that said I can tell you that I really like his swing. It is very similar to other swings from the past that have been very successful including Nick Price, Nick Faldo, Lanny Wadkins, Hubert Green, and to a far less degree Jim Furyk.

The other thing I can tell you about Fowler is that he is winner mentally. Having played his junior golf in Southern California I have many students that have played with him in both competitive and non-competitive settings. One of my extremely good players told me that Fowler's play was no surprise to him because he is one of the smartest players he has ever seen.

Kyle asks at 9:20:

I've heard golf commentators mention a "trap draw" before. How does that differ from a normal draw shot? How do you play it. Thks

The trap draw is played with the ball farther back in the stance. The shot is lower than a normal draw and is different in technique in several ways. A normal draw has a full release of the club thourgh impact with the club moving out away from the body after contact, resulting in a full finish. The trap draw is created by attacking from the inside and "covering" the ball with the right shoulder through impact. The hands and arms are less active and stay more "connected" to the body, limiting the length of the follow-through. This is a very effective shot when playing in windy conditions or from tight fairway lies.

Marc asks at 9:13:

Hi Brady

A while ago Stack and Tilt seemed to be all the rage on tour, but now it seems to be dying down. The poster boy for it, Aaron Baddeley, has also dumped it and gone back to a more conventional approach.

The one thing about it that always used to trouble me is that the S&T coaches say you should lean over to your left at the top of the swing (and show pictures of themselves posing in that position), but none of the S&T pros every really used to do in their actual swings.

In your opinion, is the Stack and Tilt swing something that could ever last, or has it had its 15 minutes?

14:59 and counting.....

The fact is that players who are transitioning from a swing that is excessively inside as they attack the ball with their weight hanging back will always benefit from a more centered pivot and less inside path. The problem occurs when the player starts to play better from the change to a more neutral position of the body and goes on to drink the entire jug of Kool-Aid. The pictures of where they want their players are ridiculous. Any study of the golf swing over the last 60 years will give proof that what they are advocating hasn't worked.

One final thought on the question. Teaching a method of swinging the club has the same effect as a broken clock. Every once in a while you will find a student who will need what you are selling, but everyone else is out of luck. A great teacher should adjust to every student they teach and make each lesson a unique experience.

As usual you can tell I have no opinion on the matter....

Paul asks at 9:06:

Hello, I have a tendency to start the downswing with my upper body first and slide instead of rotating left hip. As a result, my head is ahead of the ball at impact. Can you give me a drill on how to initiate the downswing properly ?

The first step is to create a bit more tilt away from the target with your upper body at address. This will help your upper body stay more behind the ball at impact without having to change your swing. If you are still moving too far laterally on the downswing after creating the tilt, try to get the left side of your torso stretched out vertically before impact. Combined with your change at address this should do the trick.

Aaron Mann asks at 9:00:

Brady,
I'm having a very hard time squaring the clubface through impact. This is happening with everything from PW to my driver and I'm losing them all right. I want to get the clubface square without feeling "wristy" or "handsy". Any help would be great. Thanks so much!

The first place to check is the grip. If the grip is too weak it can be very difficult to square the clubface even with a "handsy" move through impact. The grip should be in a neutral position at least, with the left hand more on top of the handle and the right hand more on the side. There are many illustrations of the proper grip on line including my website www.redgoat.smugmug.com (password:bluegoat).

The next place to check if the grip is good is the balance of the body's rotation and the use of the arms and hands through impact. If the body is spinning away from the ball too quickly during impact the rotation of the clubface will slow down. To get the timing back, the club should "feel" as if it is passing by the body though impact. Allowing the arms, hands, and club to pass the body will speed up the face rotation and straighten out the ball.

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs helps lower your score

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-10-19T10:13:00-04:00

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday at noon Eastern to review swing videos, answer questions and offer tips..

Thanks to everyone for your great questions this week. I am sorry to those who I didn't get back to. Please resubmit your quesitons earlier next week so I can be sure to answer them. Remember, if you post a link to your swing from You Tube I will put your question to the top of list. Have a great week!

Shane Roach asks at 1:24:

Hi - whats the best drill to eliminate the reverse pivot that causes loss of distance and thin shots.

Shane, there are two things you need to do to create the proper pivot. First, allow your head to move laterally on the backswing. This may be contrary to everything you have heard but it is a MUST. Next, DON'T move your hips laterally during the backswing. If your hips turn immediately and your head moves laterally away from the target your reverse pivot will be gone.

King asks at 1:15:

Please explain the arch of approach and how to ingrain it into your swing.

Are you asking me this question based upon a Golfing Machine background or just in general? The arc of approach is basically the angled delivery of the swinging motion, rather than the straight line of the hitting motion. I am not sure how this will help anyone in this blog or anywhere for that matter. Maybe you can ask me the question again next week with some more specific information about what you are trying to understand.

Robert asks at 1:10:

i recently started golfing and when i swing down towards the ball my hips open instantly before my arms barley start forward and it forces me to come over the top any tips? thx

Robert, try to approach golf like you would any other sport. You would never throw a ball by starting your arm before you stepped to the target. The same should be true with golf. The sequence of motion should be identical. The weight should move in the direction of the target before your hips begin to open. You can use a simple step when hitting balls off the tee on the range with a short iron to get the feel of this. Take your normal address positon, then move your front foot next to your back foot. Just before you reach the top of the swing step with your front foot to the target to get the feel of moving weight. You may be surprised how well you strike the ball with this step. Once you get the hang of it, go back to your normal address position and try to get the sense you are stepping without actually doing so.

Remember to try to play golf like an athlete, not like a golfer.

Mikey asks at 1:00:

I finally figured out why I was putting a hole in the palm of my golf gloves...Researched it online and discovered that I was gripping the club in my palm more than fingers...Question is...is there a full-proof set up routine to prevent me from doing this? By the way, I am left handed.

The only fool-proof set-up routine is one that you do every time. If you look at tour players set-up you will see many different techniques from player to player, but absolute consistency from each player. That should be your goal as a player. To create a consistent routine that is easy for you to duplicate and remember. In college, we were "forced" to record our routine on an audio tape, (yes, I am that old), with detailed step by step descriptions and play it back to ourselves in the car on the way to the course. It seemed like a waste of time at the time, but I have used that routine now for 20 years.

Kenny asks at 12:55:

I have a tendency to snap hook my 3 wood and driver. I'm fine with my irons however. It's getting really frustrating. Any advice is appreciated.

This isn't that unusual to have the irons straighter for a couple of reasons. First, the woods have less loft, create less backspin and produce more sidespin and as a result, more hook. Second, the contact with the ground created by the irons can keep the face more square than the woods that don't hit the ground at all. The bottom line is that the clubface is closed as it attacks the ball. This is either the result of the grip or the left wrist position during the swing. I can't give you a definative answer until I see the swing. Please send post a link on the blog next week to your swing from You Tube and I will get you going.

Barry asks at 12:48:

I can't seem to break thru to the next scoring level. When I play well, 75 seems to be the best I can do; there's always one or two hole that sabotage my round from being really good. Any suggestions on how to break thru?

Start keeping detailed statistics of what you are doing during the round. GIR, Fairways hit, Putts, Putts per GIR, Sand Saves, side missed when not hitting greens and fairways, scoring avg. on par 3's, 4's, and 5's, and scoring avg. on dogleg left and right. This will give you an idea of where you need to improve and how to adjust your practice schedule.

Bill W. asks at 12:43:

Brady, what a great option to ask you this live (well hopefully on Tuesday). I'm a 4.0 index, so feel pretty comfortable with the mechanics of my swing. My mechanics go off line, when my tempo pulls them off line. What are some of your best tips for consistent tempo.

Thanks,
Bill

Thanks for the compliment. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that tempo isn't as important as people think. However, I will tell you that the timing of your swing should always come from your feet. In other words, the weight should always move before your club. If this happens going back and coming down you will rarely feel off tempo wise. Like every other sport the best have the best footwork, golf is no different.

Dick Smith asks at 12:21:

I have always been a poor chipper. I can't seem to keep my hands quiet and so I often flip the wrists to help the ball in the air which is the wrong thing to do but I can't seem to keep the hinge in my wrists. My friends say I should just hit the chips with no wrist action like a putt. Should I try to preset the wrist hinge or if you have any suggestions on how to keep the hinge in my wrists and the chipping stroke smooth I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much.

If there is one thing kids do today better than in my era it is chip and pitch. I think the strategy of straight back and through while keeping the face square reallly screwed a ton of people up. As a result any hand or wrist action became a negative, which is completely unrealistic. I think a better idea is to allow the clubface to rotate back and through like it would during the swing. This allows a natural amount of hand and wrist action that is comfortable and effective. I know it sounds a little scary to use your hands, but having them do something is much easier than trying to do nothing.

Marc asks at 12:06:

Here are 2 swings of mine. I hit both of these 5 irons straight and solid. Please critique my swing. My head dips forward at the top of my backswing which I don't like. How much of a problem is it?

My swing:

Thanks
Marc

Thanks for the video Marc. The head dipping is no big deal. Most professionals will have their head drop down during the backswing as they torque into the ground so don't worry about it. I think the big stuff in your swing is quite good. I like the clubface position and the path the club is swinging on. These are the most important things to monitor and you are doing an excellent job with them.

I would like to see the ball a bit more forward in your stance. The reason for this is that you don't get into your front foot good enough coming down. Here is a good way to check this. On your video put a piece of paper on the outside of the front shoulder so the paper runs perpendicular to the ground. When you get to impact, your front shoulder should be closer to the target than it was at address. If you look at your current swing, this isn't happening. I think this would significantly help your ballstriking, especially with the irons. This isn't as critical with the driver, but it is a must for the irons.

Christian asks at 12:00:

I took some video of my swing recently and someone pointed out to me that I wasn’t maintaining my “tush line”. I watched your video about this and it looks to me that I am coming off the tush line at the top of the backswing vs. on the downswing, but don’t seem to be swaying much (my head stays steady which makes me think that it isn’t caused by me starting with too much weight on my heels). Do you have any suggestions as to why I am coming off the line and how to fix it? Do you see anything else in the video that I should be working on? In the video I am practicing a ¾ swing with a lob wedge and plastic practice ball. Thank you.

Side:

Down the line:

Thanks for the video Christian. Your issue is in the set-up. The reason you lose the tush line is because your weight is excessively in your heels when you address the ball. The strange thing about the swing is your weight will go where it isn't during the backswing. Therefore, if you start in your heels the weight will go to your toes, making your tush come off the line. This will give you less room coming through impact, hurting your ability to make solid contact while significantly reducing your clubhead speed.

I would like to see you get your knees more bowlegged in the address. This is a more athletic start and promotes a more fluid motion than the knocked knees alignment you currently have. From there, you need to get your weight out over the balls of the feet so you can allow your turn to take the weight into the right heel at the top. This keep your tush on the line going back and fixes the problem.

Read past installments of Ask the Top 100 Live

Ask the Top 100 Live: Eddie Merrins here to help your game

Top 100 Teacher Eddie Merrins — 2009-10-12T10:23:06-04:00

Eddie Merrins, aka the Little Pro, will be online from noon to 1 p.m. EST on Tuesday to answer your golf instruction and swing questions live. Learn from a legend who played against Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer, and has taught pros like Bob May and Duffy Waldorf and celebs like Jack Nicholson and Tom Brady. Leave your question in the comments section below and the Little Pro will give you the answer.

Read past installments of Ask the Top 100 Live

1:51 p.m.

Thank you for all of your questions and I apologize if I was not able to get back to you this time around. Come back next Tuesday at noon for another Ask the Top 100 Live. I am off to the lesson tee! --The Little Pro

1:48 p.m.

Bob writes: I have a bad habit of swaying to the right on my backswing, and have been told that I should narrow my stance to avoid this.Is this really the answer?

No, the narrow stance would not be your cure.

What you need in your swing is a little more depth as opposed to height and width. Going back and up in your backswing has created the sway tendency.

If, as well, you swing around to the right more, learning to turn against your braced right leg, you will overcome the “sway.” Specifically, you should use your forearms to swing the handle of your club over your right hip in the backswing, then over your left hip in the forward swing.
Eddie Merrins

1:42 p.m.

Paul Edder writes: I am having a terrible time trying to determine the best way for me to initiate my downswing. If I "fire" my right side I usually end up pulling the ball to the left of my intended target. If I initiate the downswing with my hands I usually I hit the ball everywhere. If I initiate the downswing with my left shoulder moving upward I lose a lot of distance. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Consolidating your thinking regarding the swing will be the key to your improvement. Learn to swing your club from one side to the other with your forearms, you really can’t do it any other way.

You can swing your club handle from the right side to the left side (through the ball) as soon as you like. The role of the hands is to hold the club, not swing it. The shoulders will react properly if you use your forearms to swing the handle. If in doing so you keep your elbows level, then the left shoulder will not be bobbing up and down.

Moving the club from the right side to the left as soon as you like with the forearms creates the proper “firing.”
Eddie Merrins

1:31 p.m.

Another question from Sal: I have a huge fear of my sand wedge when chipping. Consequently I use my pitching wedge and get more roll than I'd like. Any hints?

My suggestion is that you learn to grip and stroke your pitching and chipping clubs as you do a putter. Then, make your putting stroke apply to these clubs.

This will tend to remove the excess hand and wrist action which in turn will change your fear into confidence.Eddie Merrins

1:25 p.m.

Sal asks: I'm 79 and play to a 20 hdcp. Yet I can't take a divot with my irons. I scoop the ball 99% of the time. Can you help me?

You can take a proper divot! It must be taken past or beyond the ball rather than before.

To help you learn to take the proper divot, find a small hillside and place your golf balls on the hillside. Then, with your heavy sand iron, start with your club held in the air just above the ground and to the right of the ball. As you make your swing, concentrate on swinging through the ball but into the hillside to the left of the ball.

This drill conveys to you how you contact the ball and how you enter the ground beyond the ball. It also teaches you how to impart the correct backspin that causes the ball to rise in the air.
Eddie Merrins

1:13 p.m.

Sudesh Sharma asks: I am a player who hits between 95-100 any given day ....my problem is driver ..should I just use woods?

The purpose of your drive is to put the ball in a place that makes your next shot easy. Certainly you must know your own limitations.

With this in mind, take whichever club you choose in order to safely secure the position of your drive.

Learning a golf swing that fits all clubs is going to be the key to your success.
Eddie Merrins

1:05 p.m.

Matt asks: I live in the northern states, how do you keep your swing fresh during the snowy season. Are there any exercise techniques to do this?

Here are two suggestions to help you profit during the snowy season:

First, a heavy club, like the Momentus, is the best training instrument I know to improve your swing as well as stretch, strengthen and loosen your body.

Second, take any club, other than a putter, and hold it in the middle of the shaft with the handle end of the club extended beyond your left side (assuming you are a right handed player). Notice that the club is free and clear of the body and the body is clearly behind the club. This is the relationship between club and body that should be maintained throughout the swing.

The second drill will help you understand, much more clearly, your fundamentals, dealing with grip, setup, swing and wrist action. If the handle end of the club is hitting your body during the forward swing, you are not “Swinging the Handle”, but rather, the clubhead. A no-no in my book!
Eddie Merrins

12:50 p.m.

Bill Melnychuk asks: I've noticed that on sidehill, downhill, right-to-left-breaking putts, that often my putter seems to twist on the backstroke and I end up pulling the putt badly. I figure that gravity must pull the putter and try to concentrate on not allowing the putter to "sag."I noticed during the President's Cup that Tiger missed about a 5 footer ( I think it was late in the third round) and I thought I saw his putter do the same thing that I struggle to avoid. Is my analysis of this correct and is there a god thought to prevent this from happening?

You are right to understand that the gravity pull on the ball accents the curve right or left.

To simplify your stroke and keep the putter face square to the target line, make sure you are holding the handle of the putter more in the palm of your hands. Beneath the heel of your thumbs, more in the “Life Line”, secured by your fingertips.
Eddie Merrins

12:40 p.m.

Dru from Annapolis writes: Here is a video of my swing. Been meaning to put it on here for viewing over the past couple weeks. My ball flight tends to be a fade and from what i have been told i am swinging with my arms too much. I shoot low 80's usually. Looking to break that next barrier.

You have a great swing and good rhythm. A perfect combination. Your arm swing is precisely what you want, so don’t change that!

To affect a draw versus a fade just time the movement of the club through the ball so that the club face touches the outside portion of the ball to create a draw, or the inside portion to cause a fade. It’s like touching a pool ball on one side or the other to impart a curve spin.
Eddie Merrins

12:34 p.m.

JJ asks: On the downswing I get the club extremely flat/laid-off and come excessively from the inside, any good drills/methods to overcome that?

Take both a golf club and a tennis racket in hand simultaneously and make a practice stroke from one side to the other. The club and racket face should both be facing forward, as in a normal golf swing. You will notice that in this swing your hands never leave the side of the shaft as your forearms move the two instruments.

This is the answer to your dilemma. Treat your golf swing accordingly.

Eddie Merrins

12:26 p.m.

Aaron Mann asks: I recently overcame my horrible out to in path on the downswing. However, even after fixing this fault, I am still slicing/pushing shots almost every shot. I just can't get my clubface square through impact. I've tried a couple different things, but all it seems to amount to is a sore left wrist and no success. Would too tight of grip cause me to have problems squaring the clubface? Are there any drills you can recommend that would help me?

I doubt your grip pressure is too tight. You should be holding the club with equal pressure in the fingers of each hand. Holding the club off the ground tells you how much grip pressure is required.

To solve your swing-timing problem, take a 6- or 7-iron in hand. Address the ball by nudging the face of the club to the ball, then, accenting your forearms and club handle, move the ball forward as far as you feel without taking a back swing. This drill is more successful if your elbows are free (not tense and locked).

You have just become acquainted with the right movement through the ball. Adding the back stroke should be quite simple. Understanding the forward stroke is the key.
Eddie Merrins

12:20 p.m.

Eitian asks: As a young father I get very little time to play golf or even hit the driving range. When I do play my swing seems to start breaking down around the mid-point of my round. I assume it's because I'm getting tired because I'm not in golfing shape. Sad, I know. Are there any exercises you can recommend to keep in shape during the weeks/months between the time I get to play or hit the range?

Any kind of running, jogging, walking, treadmill or elliptical machine exercises will keep you in shape and prepare you for walking the course. For core and overall strengthening, I recommend Pilates. I dare say your stamina will improve! For swing training to keep you in shape, I suggest you obtain a weighted training club and swing it as religiously as possible. Good luck!
Eddie Merrins

12:11 p.m.

Ted Lloyd asks: I've played with lower back pain for years but recently it has coming up out of the shot. Any drill or advice on how to handle staying down and thru the shot?

Concentrate on holding your club above the ground when you address the ball. As you stroke the handle through the ball, touch the ground beyond the ball.
All the Best,
Eddie Merrins

12:05 p.m.

Dick Smith asks: I have always been a poor chipper. I can't seem to keep my hands quiet and so I often flip the wrists to help the ball in the air which is the wrong thing to do but I can't seem to keep the hinge in my wrists. My friends say I should just hit the chips with no wrist action like a putt. Should I try to preset the wrist hinge or if you have any suggestions on how to keep the hinge in my wrists and the chipping stroke smooth I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Your solution should be to switch to your putting grip and stroke, whereby the wrist action is at a minimum. Stroking the handle end of the club using the putting grip will be most effective for you.
All the Best,
Eddie Merrins

Observations after looping for Bo Van Pelt at Turning Stone

Top 100 Teacher Mark Wood — 2009-10-05T13:54:32-04:00

Every year, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Mark Wood, the director of Golf at the Cornerstone Club in Montrose, Colo., caddies in a Tour event for Bo Van Pelt, his longtime student. Last week, Wood looped for Van Pelt at the Turning Stone Resort Championship. Here are his observations from his time on the bag.

- You have no clue what a caddie does, all the nitty-gritty toil, until you do it. The public never sees caddies showing up on Tuesday in a Biblical downpour, but there I was with Bo last Tuesday in the rain. Nobody else was on the course, and they were smart. We walked the front nine in rainsuits hoping to devise a gameplan for the holes. On seven, a 433-yard, dogleg-right par 4, we decided that Bo would hit 3-wood every day no matter what. Guess what? He hit driver every day. So much for gameplans.

- I had the best of both worlds. My teacher's badge got me into the locker room and the players' dining room so I could feast on good food, and my caddie badge ... well, actually, that didn't get me anyplace I couldn't go as a teacher, but it was cool to have both.

- I caddie for Bo to find out what's happening in his mind. There's no laboratory that mimics real competition. I learned that Bo can be too much of a perfectionist, which is so common on Tour. On Friday, he birdied seven of eight holes. On every putt, the hole looked like a bucket. That's the mindset that Tom Watson had his whole career. Ditto for Tiger. I suggested to Bo that he needs to always putt like that, thinking he'll make the first putt and not worrying about what type of second putt he might have. Well, on Saturday Bo wasn't so sharp. He bogeyed three holes in a row, including one par 3 where he dunked a tee shot. Bo was really hard on himself. "You can't be a perfectionist; everybody makes bogeys," I told him. He needs to really absorb that idea. Dick Coop, his mental coach who was at Turning Stone Thursday through Saturday, agreed.

- Bo was like a doting father on the course. He was so protective and concerned, and he wanted to be sure I didn't goof up and bother his playing partners. On tees, he was always telling me where to stand.

- It was incredible to see how Tour caddies take care of each other on the course. On the seventh hole on Friday, Bo drove into a fairway bunker and hit his approach over the green. Rory Sabbatini and Jonathan Byrd had hit onto the green. Byrd's caddie came to rake my bunker to free me up for Bo's pitch back to the green.

- On Sunday, we played with Jeev Milka Singh. He's as good with the short game as anybody I've ever seen. He holed one wedge, maybe 120 yards, and seemed to stiff everything else in close range. He chipped in another shot. And every putt seemed like it was going in -- he's just a wonderful putter. That was in contrast to Bo. The one thing I learned most last week is that Bo needs to practice from within 120 yards. That's true with most players.

- Caddies are as afraid about losing their jobs for next year as the players on the top 125 bubble. Everybody's walking on eggshells.

- It poured the first three days, and man, it was hard working. An octopus wouldn't have had enough arms to keep everything dry -- the player, the clubs, the ball on the green, and myself too.

- Biggest oops moment: Before the first round, I thought Bo was starting on the 10th hole. In the rain, I ran back to the locker to get some gear just before going to the tee. I ran out to the 10th tee, but Bo wasn't there. Hmmm. I ran to the first tee. Bo was standing calmly. "I thought you'd quit already, before we even started," Bo said with a huge smirk.

- Second biggest oops moment: For the first round, I wore regular sneakers. On the fifth hole, in the downpour, Rory Sabbatini burst out laughing after looking at my feet. "You need help," he said. "You're feet must be drenched." Bo said, "No worries. We've already fixed that problem." That morning, aware of my shoe problem, Bo called Nike -- his sponsor -- and ordered a pair of Gore-tex tennis shoes. They arrived on Thursday night. Unaware of the present, I spent Thursday night in the hotel room blow-drying my shoes. On Friday morning, when Bo gave me my new shoes, I was thrilled. That was the greatest gift I've gotten in a long time.

- Saturday night, we went to a sports bar/restaurant near Turning Stone. It seemed like every player was there in his college colors, and every TV in the bar was showing college football. The hostess told Bo and me that we'd have a 20-40 minute wait for a table. I offered a waitress $20 for a table. Cash is still king.

- A bunch of players were talking about how they love the fall finish, especially the first three events, because they're all gambling hotspots. Turning Stone has a casino. This week the Tour's in Vegas, and the following week they go to Scottsdale.

- There were hardly any wives at Turning Stone. It's in the middle of nowhere and the weather is typically bad. Last year it snowed. So I asked one player whose wife did make the trip, "What the heck is your wife doing here?" He laughed. "This is her BellSouth warmup for the Masters." I didn't understand and had a blank look. The player continued, "She's at the casino all week getting ready for Las Vegas next week."

- Bo hasn't paid me yet, and I didn't ask him for any money. He did pay my travel expenses, and he always takes care of me for my work as his teacher. A few years ago, Bo promised that if he ever won, he'd take his family and my family to Hawaii for the Mercedes Championship. Well, right after Bo won in Milwaukee this summer, he told me to start packing for the islands. My wife and girls (ages 10, 11 and 13) are through-the-moon excited. But Hawaii won't be like last week. I'll be on the beach relaxing, not carrying his bag.

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs offers junior golf advice for kids and parents

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-10-01T09:00:26-04:00

If you're a junior golfer, or the parent of a junior golfer, tune in Tuesday at noon Eastern for live advice from Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs. He can help fix your swing (put a video on YouTube for in-depth analysis) and will offer advice to parents and players for how to get the most out of the game. Post your question in the comment space below and come back on Tuesday for the live forum.

Thanks to everyone for your questions and input. This is a very important subject that I never get tired of discussing. Please keep in mind that if your heart is set on a college golf scholarship for your child their chances are much better academically. There are only a couple spots that open up each year on each team and the competition is fierce. I am not saying it doesn't happen, but it will be an enormous challenge to say the least.

Robert asks at 12:59:

my son is 14. Like most golfers he struggles with consistancy especially off the tee. When he is hitting it well he hits it straight or with a slight draw. But when he is hitting it bad, he tends to slice it or push it. What can he do to get more consistant and eliminate the slice ball?

This is a common problem for golfers of all ages, not just juniors. Keep in mind that the slice almost always occurs because the clubface is open and the path is outside-in. Work with your son on hitting big hooks when he begins to slice it. This should obviously be done on the range where he can exaggerate the correction. This is a great way to help juniors begin to fix themselves when the ball is going poorly. As he hits the ball excessively from right to left he will be shaking up the mechanics of his slice and get him back on track.

If it continues to be an issue, post his swing to You Tube and send me a link in the blog. I will give you some direction....

Randy asks at 12:50:

I have a 13-year-old son who is now an 8 handicap. He is playing a slate of local junior tournaments in Utah and has been doing well since moving into the 13-14 group (he was 12 most of the summer). I know people who put their kid with an instructor and have a "plan" for the future. Problem is, I work for a university and don't make scads o' cash, plus I'm a scratch player and me being his only teacher has worked out pretty well thus far. What do you think? Obviously, if he went on to play college golf, that would be great...

I think you have done a good job with him so far. My dad taught me until I was about 14. When he didn't know what to say to help me anymore we sought the advice of a professional. It turns out his advice to me was better than any of the pros I worked with. In many cases the instruction you get can be worse than no instruction at all. Always proceed with caution when looking into a new instructor.

This whole "plan" thing is overrated in my opinion. If your kid is enjoying the game, getting better, practicing and playing through his own motivation and loving every minute of it, you are doing it right. Make sure he plays tournaments he can have success in that aren't way over his head talent wise. It can be very depressing to get slaughtered by better players every week. You will know the time to move him up in competition. It sounds to me you guys are doing a great job on your own.

Keep this in mind for the future. If he gets to a point where you feel he isn't getting better, struggling, and you need a new direction, send me an email. I know a good teacher in Utah that can help.

Mikey asks at 12:43:

I am a junior golfer and am struggling with my consistency in my game. I am confused as to where my arms and club should be at the top of my backswing. I have been told short people should swing flat and tall people must swing steeper. But everybody was going on about how flat Matt Kuchar's backswing is for such a tall and but he hits the ball great.

How do you know what the perfect backswing is for someone?

Mikey, there is no perfect spot for people to be in at the top. The fact is good players can hit the ball from different positions at the top because they know how to get the club attacking the ball properly on the downswing. The current fad of an ultra flat backswing is just that, a fad. It will go away. You mention Matt Kuchar as a great ball striker but his results have been inconsistent at best since turning professional. What about the swings of Watson, Nicklaus, Norman, Hale Irwin, Tom Weiskopf, and many more who swing upright and have won multiple Major Championships.

The fact is you need to find the swing that works best for you. In most cases the backswing should be fairly neutral in it's lines. That means the left arm should run up through your right shoulder at the top of the backswing with the leading edge of the clubface parallel to the outside of your left arm while the shaft points parallel to the target line. If you try to achieve neutral, your compensations coming down will be minimized and your ballstriking will be more consistent.

Do yourself a favor and video your swing, post it on You Tube and send me a link in next week's blog. I will be happy to give you some direction on how to proceed.

Hwang-jae asks at 12:30:

I am currently a junior golfer and I was wondering what kind of chance a rising senior has with very good academics in making it to the big college schools such as stanford?

I also have a swing question, one of the few I already asked you, is it critical to maintain the flat wrist into the follow through even after you have achieved good impact with hands leading the club? Some of the good players such as Hunter Mahan has clubs exiting way below the shoulders indication he recocked his wrist early. I also saw Tiger Woods (who is suppose to be best at keeping that wrist flat throughout the follow through until he has to recock the wrist to wrap the shaft around his body into the finish) and the shaft exits just below the shoulders indicating late recocking of the wrist. When is it okay to recock your wrist into your follow through?

Let me answer your first question about making it to Stanford. The fact is that each year there are between 0-3 spots that become available on most college golf teams. Combined together those spots have roughly 1/2 to 1 full scholarship available to be broken up however the coach sees fit. When you are talking about Stanford or any other big time program they have their pick of the best players in the country AND the best players in the WORLD. That's right, they recruit players from all four corners of the globe. So, if you haven't been approached, contacted, recruited, or begged by a college golf coach to play at their school don't hold your breath.

With that said, there are plenty of options. You can get playing time at smaller Div II and Div. III schools with great academics. You can play at a Junior College for a couple years and try to build up your resume and credentials. I would never say you couldn't eventually make it to where you want to go, but please be realistic and understand the facts about college golf.

Your swing question is easier. The left wrist must be flat at impact, that's it. When it loses it's flatness depends upon the strength of your grip in the address, the ball flight you are trying to create, and the trajectory of the shot you are hitting. There is absolutely no need to keep the left wrist bent as long as possible. I can show you hundreds of swings of great players that lose the flat left wrist just after impact. Don't get lost on this technical issue, it will destroy your ability to hit the driver consistently and can actually lead to wrist injuries.

Overobsessed asks at 12:25:

My wife is three months pregnant, what advice can you give us to help nurture our developing fetus into a world class golfer? From the ultrasound images so far it looks like he/she has a solid grip, nice posture and excellent mental toughness. Any advice is appreciated.

You would be surprised to know that this question has been asked of me before. It can be very scary what goes through the minds of some people. You were kidding, right?

Gil asks at 12:13:

How much should a 7th grade girl be required to practice in order to play well enough to receive a college scholarship? How often should she get lessons from a professional instructor?

I wish I had a simple answer for you but there are way too many variables involved to tell you how much any player should practice to get a scholarship. The most important thing to do is seek out the advice of a good instructor in your area known for working with good young players that can figure out where her game is right now. Lessons can obviously help, but you need to find someone who has proven success with juniors or you can make things worse.

I can tell you this. I have never known a good player who didn't love to practice. This is especially true for juniors. If the player has to be asked, begged, enticed, bribed, etc. to practice then you should back off. If they don't love it, they will never be great at it and more importantly they will eventually HATE it if they are pushed.

Kevin asks at 12:06:

I've heard that the best approach with young kids (8 and under) is to teach them two things only: a proper grip and have them swing to full follow through (weight on forward foot, hips facing target...) I've stuck to this approach with my six-year-old and he hits the ball pretty well, but he still has some fundamental flaws. Do you recommend sticking with the simple approach or getting a little more technical.

That's a very good question Kevin. I am going to give you an answer that probably doesn't help by telling you every kid is different. If your son is able to focus and digest some more specific information then give it a try. Just make sure you make the process fun.

When it comes to the best approach to teach young kids I can assure you there is no ONE way. With my own kids, I showed them video of Annika swinging from a couple different camera angles several times and told them to try to copy her. The results were quite remarkable. It proved to me that my input should be limited to positive feedback with very little emphasis on the technical. As they get older and more interested in the game, I will adjust. It sounds to me things are going well so far for you, trust your instincts and make sure he feels the joy when he succeeds.

Posted by RWH at 12:00:

A freshman in highschool starting the golf team and has played 50-60 tournaments and always at top 10% of players in JRSCPGA what to you recommend for tips and direction. Studies are excellent yet timely for any practice time.

With that many tournament rounds under your belt with good results you should be progressing to the next level of competition. SCPGA is great, but you should be working your way into the Toyota Tour Cup events. On a national level, the FCWT and IJGT are good options to start testing yourself on an even tougher stage. Keep in mind that while High School golf is fun, it is fairly irrelevant to college coaches when compared to national junior events and your performance in the AJGA.

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs here to help your game

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-09-29T12:08:53-04:00

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs will be online Tuesday at noon Eastern to review your swing videos, answer questions and offer up tips to lower your score. Be first in line by leaving a question in the comments area below.

Thanks to all for your great questions today. Perhaps the most interesting session so far! I look forward to hearing from all of you in the weeks to come. Remember, if you post a link to your swing on You Tube I will put you to the top of the rotation. Have a great week and Go Packers!

Stephen asks at 1:00:

I am trying to get my ballstriking form back by practicing with lots of half swings. Is the L to L drill the best way to practice half swings? In other words, swing arms to parallel going back with wrists fully hinged and then do the same through the ball. Once I can strike the ball solidly consistently I will add the full shoulder turn. Will my plan work?

Stephen, I have to tell you I can't stand the L to L drill. The early set of the wrists on the backswing is one of my least favorite styles as it removes the athleticism and movement I think makes great ballstrikers. Work on your swing in this order and you will improve. Clubface first with a good grip and the proper wrist positions throughout, swingpath next with the club approaching the inside/back quadrant of the ball while the face is rotating, pivot last with the body always leading the arms and hands going back and coming down.

I like the idea that you are working on your swing without it being full. I would recommend you take out the speed of your practice rather than the length of your swing. This will allow you to feel the proper sequence of motion, body first, without the blur of full speed.

If you stick to the three critical elements of face, path, and pivot you will get to where you want to be before you know it.

Marc asks at 12:58:

Brady, in your opinion (or to your knowledge), why have so many of Leadbetter's pupils left him?

At one stage he coached most of the top 20 (Els, Charles Howell, Baddeley, Rose, Tryon) but all of those guys have left him for other coaches. The only big names he has left are Immelman (has done nothing since his Masters win) and Wie (has won nothing big at all).

Faldo ended up leaving him as well (probably was nothing left for Faldo to learn though).

Is he too technical now-a-days for a tour where every young player has a textbook swing but doesn't know how to translate that into wins.

That's a very good question Marc. Here is my take. I think Leadbetter had some of the finest swingers of the club back in the day. I still love Faldo and Price and use their swings as an example of what to do in my teaching.

I think several things happened that have changed people's view of Leadbetter effectiveness over the past decade. First, there was Tiger. The shock wave he produced when he entered the scene caused people to focus more on Butch and eventually Haney and took the spotlight away from Lead. Second, the emphasis on technical prowess and control left the game when Tiger's power shocked the golf world. The need for more athleticism and power wasn't necessarily associated with Lead's teaching, fair or unfair.

When it comes to philosophy I am not a big fan of the early set of the wrists during the backswing. I strongly believe that a great golf swing should be an ATHLETIC motion using the body, arms and hands. When the swing begins with a set of the wrists while the body remains passive, the swing becomes contrived and less powerful. You don't see an early set of the wrists in the swings of Hogan, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson, Norman, Tiger, or AK for that matter. If power is a critical component of today's game, which it unquestionably is if you look at how unimportant driving accuracy is to winning golf tournaments, then an early set is terribly ineffecitve. This has been an emphasis of Lead's teaching over the last decade and, in my opinion, a negative.

Let me also say that no teacher agrees completely with any other teacher. We all have different approaches and Leadbetter has certainly earned his respect and place in the history of the game by working with the worlds best players. But, I have the philosophy of giving my honest opinion when asked so there it is.

Thanks for the interesting question, keep them coming.

Chicago Mike asks at 12:45:

I am a long hitter that plays mostly Muni courses. My problem is I leave myself half wedges & in betweeen shots as my approaches. I want to learn to hit the low runner that most pro's have. The shot that comes in low skips a lil & then stops. I have tried it & I can't do it..Any Tips how to hit it?

As we say on the range when asked how to hit the one bounce checking shot, I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you. It is a trade secret! One of the most important aspects of hitting this shot properly is to have a good lie. If your muni is anything like the ones I grew up on that can be a challenge in itself. Here are some changes that will help. The trick here is to create enough acceleration through impact to impart backspin on the ball, while the swing remains short and crisp. The clubface should be slightly open in the address position as it allows you to hit the shot harder without hitting the ball further. Next, the feet are fairly close together with the weight leaning towards the left foot. The motion is crisp, with the sensation that the clubhead would be able to strike a match on the ground at impact. This creates the speed needed for backspin. Finally, the finish should be low and released. This means that the clubhead should pass your hands after impact, but the arm swing should be abbreviated. This keeps the ball flight lower than normal.

This shot obviously takes some practice and must be done from a good lie. A great player once told me he tries to hit a low shot with the face open at address to produce this result. That is a good visual to use.

Tim asks at 12:30:

Over the past year i have increased the distances on most of my clubs. I now hit my pitching wedge consistently 145 yards. I have a gap wedge (52) that i can hardly get past 100 yards. The harder i swing with my gap wedge the higher the ball flight and still 100 yards. How can i add 10-15 yards to my gap and sand wedges?

Wow, that pitching wedge is going way too far. I wouldn't want to see your pitching wedge go past 125-130 at most. Have the loft checked on that club as it might be way too strong. As far as adding distance to the gap and sand wedges is concerned, you need to add a knockdown shot to your bag. As you have noticed, the shorter clubs will go higher and not necessarily further if you hit them harder. To add distance to the wedges, you must hit them lower. Since you have a solid distance hitting them normally, keep that technique for 100 yards and change it slightly for the times you need a couple more yards. Put the ball back about 3 balls worth in the stance, swing the club on a bit flatter approach and add a punched feel to impact that will shorten the follow through. This combination of set-up and swing changes will produce a lower shot that will fly between 5 and 10 yards further. Keep the approach flatter, or you will stick the club into the ground and not get the results you are looking for.

Mike Bradley asks at 12:20:

Question; Often when I swing my left foot (Iam right handed)turns toward the target line as my weight moves forward. In my finish I am facing past the target line when I do this. Is this a problem and if so how do I fix it? (I have an 8.4 index)

I am not sure I completely understand your question but here is my best guess. It sounds like your left foot is pivoting on the downswing so that it changes its position from the address. This happens because your body has begun the downswing by spinning open to the target instead of shifting or "bumping" laterally. This can hurt your ballstriking in two ways. First, when your weight doesn't shift properly, the bottom of the swing occurs behind the ball causing fat and thin contact. Second, the swing path becomes outside in due to the spin of the upper body. As a result, the ball can be hit off the hosel, pulled, and sliced. To fix the problem, the left foot should stay planted on the ground during the backswing. When the foot is pulled off, it is easy to replace it in the wrong location. The left foot should maintain its location and alignment to the finish, except for a slight roll to the outside.

Ryan asks at 12:00:

I read your comments last week on a video review, regarding getting the left shoulder lower than the right (for RH'rs), which has been my issue for the last 2 years (flat shoulder plane). It's a habit I can't seem to kick. Do you have any surefire drills/tips/thoughts to help steepen the shoulder plane?

The flat shoulder turn is a problem many players face and aren't aware of it. Even if you know it is an issue, it can be difficult to fix. When attacking this problem make sure you proceed with a bit of caution. If you steepen the turn and don't get your weight working into the back foot, you are creating a "stack and tilt" backswing, something I strongly discourage.

I am sure you have tried many thoughts to help you, but lets try the right shoulder. Thinking about the left shoulder going down can work, but the right shoulder is often more effective. Try to get the right shoulder working UP and BACK on the backswing. This is a great way to steepen the excessively flat turn and get the shoulders working properly. When looking at this on video, you shouldn't see your chin get popped up by your left shoulder. If your head stays on the same angle it started on, your sholders are working properly.

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs here to help your game

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-09-21T14:38:09-04:00

Thanks to everyone for your questions. We always love to see your swing from You Tube so get out those cameras and start filming, it will put you to the top of the list. I will also answer your questions on strategy, short game, swing theory, competing and equipment so don't be bashful. See you next time...

Andy asks at 12:57:

Hi Brady, I seem to pull my wedge shots from 120 yrds in often . I was wondering if you had any idea what the problem could be.Thanks

This is a very typical problem for many players hitting wedges, especially when they aren't full swings. When hitting a wedge shot many people slow down the body through impact in an attempt to gain control over the contact and/or the distance of the shot. This will always speed up the release of the hands and arms causing the clubface to close early and the shot to travel left of the target. Nick Faldo had some great advice about hitting these shots, he said the key to wedge shots, especially the in-between ones, was to keep the body rotating through impact to the target. This has been a very useful key for my own game over the years. Give it a try, I am sure it will get the ball more on line.

Brad asks at 12:50:

The only club in my bag that I hit badly is my driver: high and right (slice). Every other club from 3 wood to hybrids to wedges are dead straight or pulled if I hit it wrong. The driver is right, every time, all the time. Do I have a swing issue or a shaft issue?

It could be a shaft issue. If the shaft is too stiff it can make the ball go right. It is something to investigate before trying to rebuild your golf swing considering you are hitting the other clubs well. Take it to a facility with a launch monitor so you can get the actual numbers in front of you. Trusting a salesman at an off-course location wouldn't be a high percentage play at this point.

Matt asks at 12:35:

How can you build a consistent putting stroke. I believe i am keeping the putter online, but the tempo of the putting stroke is inconsistent. Also, how can you determine what type of putter should I be play. Is there a certain type for body build or swing style?

Thanks for asking a putting question Matt, always good to work on the short stuff.

There is no perfect style of putter for a certain body type. There are differences in the balance of the face, design of the head, and materials for the insert but the fact is most of the bells and whistles are unimportant. The fact is the most important elements of the putter are the length and weight. Fortunately, there has been an emphasis over the past two years on putter fitting that as addressed these issues. Make sure your putter is the correct length and weight, it can make all the difference.

Letting the putter swing on a natural arc is the best way to be consistent. Attempting to keep the putter square and straight back and through is a tough task. Let the putter swing back slightly to the inside and open and close slightly through is a good approach.

Doug asks at 12:25:

In my last round, I was having two significant problems. First, I was hitting well behind the ball on most of my iron shots, resulting in lots of fat hits and torn up chunks of ground. Second, though my distance was OK, my drives were all going straight right. I have this problem a lot, and I'm pretty sure it's because I'm not getting my hips turned through the ball enough. What can I do to fix these issues? Thanks!

The two issues combined together are often caused by an excessively steep angle of attack. When it comes to the irons, a steep attack will produce a deep divot that generally begins at or before contacting the ball. With the driver, the steep attack will make it impossible to release the club properly creating a shot that begins well right of the target and never comes back. This is a classic block.

>Unfortunately, turning your hips more through impact will only make the problem worse. What you need to do is get the club to come down more from behind your body and less from in front of you. This begins with a more obvious and profound turn of your hips during the BACKSWING. As a result, your club will be further away from the ball at the top and easier to bring down on a shallower plane. With the club approaching impact from a better angle, the ball can be struck before the ground and the divot should be much skinnier. With the driver, the club will be coming from a more inside path, allowing time for the clubface to roate properly through impact. This will help the ball start more on line and quite possibly have a slight draw.

Daniel Dalet asks at 12:10:

Hello there, was wondering if you could take a look at my swing. Here is the video. I have controlled the right knee kicking up by minimizing my weight shift to my back foot... this has helped a lot. Is there anything else that you suggest? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNPN1pXUlaQ

Thanks for taking the video Daniel. There are a couple of areas of interest that you can mess with. First is the clubface. The angle of the video makes it a bit difficult to see some of the pieces of the swing but the clubface appears to be quite closed throughout the motion. This can have negative effects on the ballflight for both a hook and a slice. Let me explain. If you are hooking it with a closed clubface the problem is obvious. The shut face is producing a hook and needs to be adjusted to fix the curve. However, a slice can also be caused by an excessively closed face if the player is holding on during impact. In this case, fixing the clubface will require the player to release the club properly and improve the ballstriking while eliminating the slice.

I obviously can't see the ball fly in these videos so it makes it difficult to give you specific advise. However, the lack of rotation of your body through impact and to the finish looks like you are fighting the hook. I would have you work on two things. First, make your grip as neutral as possible to help the clubface remain more square during the swing. Next, go on You Tube and do a search of Annika Sorenstam's swing and check out her finish position. This is a great visual of how "around" the finish should be. If you check out the finishes of Tiger or Anthony Kim they will work as well. If your flexibility is an issue like yours truley, look at the finish of Darren Clarke. His finish would work just as well.

The big key here is to eliminate the issues in your swing that require large compensations and create inconsistency. If you get the clubface more square and finish your swing properly the ballstriking will get MUCH better.

Eric asks at 12:00:

Can you take a look at my swing and give me your feedback. I'm a +0.5 index but don't work with anyone regularly and wanted to get some feedback and your teaching style seems to mesh with my understanding and thought on how to swing the club.
Here is a link to the swing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWMJhgr6IJg

Thanks,
Eric

Thanks for the video Eric! It always helps to see the real thing. You obviously have a very good motion that is effective if you are a +0.5. I think you can make some improvements in your swing if you adjust the angle of your shoulders during the backswing. In the swing you sent, the shoulders rotate back on a flatter plane than is desirable. As a result, the club swings back too flat and must steepen during the downswing. Try to rotate your shoulders on a steeper plane, left shoulder down and right shoulder up. This will bring the club up on a more vertical plane, allowing the shaft to shallow in the transition and attack on a better angle. Send in the new swing when you have made the changes and we will give it another look.

Read past installments of Ask the Top 100 Live

Ask the Top 100 Live: Brady Riggs here to help your game

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs — 2009-09-14T12:28:24-04:00

Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday at noon Eastern to review your swing videos, answer questions and offer up tips to lower your score.

Thanks for all the great questions and videos. I think we are all getting the hang of this. I am sorry for not getting back to everyone, we ran out of time. Get those questions in early next week! Remember that if you post your video to You Tube I will move you to the top of the order.

Noah asks at 12:55:

Hi Brady -
I really enjoy reading your swing help columns.
I am a right handed golfer who gets narrow and across the line at the top. I come down a little over the top, but my ball flight starts out high and to the right and then hooks left, especially with the short irons. I also tend to hit shots fat and my hips move in towards the ball way too much coming down. I feel cramped and feel my left side is in the way coming into impact. Any drills/swing thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Thanks for the kind words about the column.

This really sounds like a set-up issue to me Noah. We need to get your body in a position that will help you maintain your freedom during the swing. Your stance needs to be more athletic. Get the weight over the balls of your feet and out of your heels. If you start in your heels you will move to your toes during the swing, making you feel jammed at imapct. This can cause the fat shots you describe, in addition to miss-hits including shanks.

The high hooks you describe are the result of the poor club position at the top of the swing. To get the club out of the across the line position, you need to understand the proper left arm rotation at the top. Stick with me for a second and I will explain. If you extend your left arm in front of you with your thumb pointing up in the air, you are at the starting spot. Rotate your ENTIRE left arm so the thumb is pointing to the right. You have now rotated the arm the proper amount for the top of the swing. If your left arm hasn't rotated correctly, the club will go across at the top and you will feel very cramped and jammed. Practice the proper motion without a club for a while. Put various objects in your left hand during the day and work on the rotation. Cell phones, sunblock, remote controls, etc. will all work. Once you get the hang of it, this must be practiced and looked at in a mirror with a club in your hands to get the feel. This is the cure for your across the line position at the top and the feeling of a lack of width.

Aaron Mann asks at 12:45:

Brady-
I have been battling an out to in downswing path over the last few months. I think that I am starting the downswing with my upper body first, however I'm not quite sure how to do it with my lower body first. Do you have any drills that would help me start the downswing with my lower body first/swing from the inside? I am also struggling getting a full shoulder turn. Do you have any exercises that would help me achieve a better turn?
Thanks!

Aaron, the good news is you aren't alone. If you have read this blog at all over the last couple of months you have seen this question asks repeatedly. The good news is I don't get tired of answering it. Your brain must be changed first. You need to BELIEVE that the club must attack the ball from an angle, not from directly behind, and the clubface MUST be "closing" to the ball, not staying square as it approaches. If you can drink this Kool-Aid you have a chance.

Start with a better turn by allowing your hips to rotate more going back. This will get your hands and club further behind you at the top making it easier to get "inside" coming down. The best way to feel this is to try to "MOON" the target going back. As you come down, try to attack the INSIDE/BACK quadrant of the ball with the clubface closing. This will make you feel like the ball is going fifty yards to the right, it won't . Through impact get the toe of the club pointing at the target as soon as possible. The combination of the proper hip turn, better swing path and correct face rotation will eliminate the over the top. Don't worry about what starts first, the angle of the dangle or anything else. Stay orgainized with your thinking and you will be on your way.

Matt asks at 12:35:

I am having the issue on my downswing. I get set up great at the top with my backswing, but during the downswing my head dips down anywere from 3-6 inches and towards my back foot about an inch. This can cause me to either push my shots right, snap through for a hook, or if i time it right hit a good shot. I don't hit many fats shots because my hands keep at a pretty level plane and I am good at hitting the ball first. I need a few tips to get over to my front foot during the downswing and stop hanging back..

By your description your head is going back away from the target on the downswing. This is a classic "hang back" and will certainly produce the ball flight problems you describe. This key here is to understand the tilt of your upper body as you turn back and come down. When your head is going back, your left side is getting too high, too soon on the downswing. This forces your right side to tilt too early and too much, forcing your head to fall back over your right foot. This problem can begin in the backswing if the shoulders are turning on too flat an angle. You need to feel like your left shoulder is staying lower than your right shoulder as you make your backswing, and maintain this feel into the start of the downswing. This will delay the tilting of your right side later in the donwswing, keeping your lines more level at impact.

Keep this in mind: Your shoulder must still turn despite the steeper angle they are on. If this doesn't happen, you will be attacking on a steeper angle than you would like. Check out the swings of Sergio and Sean O'Hair as a blueprint.

Scott asks at 12:20:

Brady here is my swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPIue85NHAQ

My issue is that I have just started playing tournament golf and when I get nervous I tend to get quick over the top and hit a snap hook. I also have a hard time trusting myself to keep the face open at impact to hit the ball straight under pressure. I hit a 10-12 yard draw naturally off the tee but my misses are usually way left. How can I avoid this? Also do you have any tips as to how I can use this swing but incorporate a high true fade for when the pressure is on? Thanks Brady, love the column.

Thanks for the feedback about the column. That is some serious clubhead speed in your swing Scott. I love the way you slash at the ball, a man after my own madness. I am a big believer in playing big, loose, and borderline reckless. Your move works right into that philosophy.

As a right to left player myself, I can tell you that it is difficult to hit the fade on command the perfect amount every time. It isn't my natural shot and I don't like hitting it unless I have to. Kenny Perry plays just like us as well, and he is a great striker of the ball, as long as it can draw. Billy Casper is another player from the past who played exclusively from right to left, and he won over 50 tournaments. He was quite possibly the most under-rated player in history. But I digress...

The deal with your swing is that your grip is REALLY STRONG! This produces a clubface position that is closed and will produce a draw/hook with ease. The problem is the hook gets wild and there is very little chance of hitting a straight shot let alone a fade. We need to mellow out the grip a bit. Your left hand should move more to the side of the handle and less on top, your right hand more on top and less under. The key to making this change work and not destroying your game is to do it slowly. Make just enough of an adjustment that you know it is different and work with it for a few dozen shots. Then move it a lillte more. If you take your time and do it right, you will gain more control over the clubface and thus more control over the ball.

Remember, don't lose your natural draw as it will serve you very well over time.

Ian asks as 12:03

Brady-
I am working on trying to get my club more laid off and starting the downswing with my lower body to shallow my transition to hit a fade - my miss is a pull hook. Can you take a look at this swing and let me know if I am doing things right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVwxG_Zef8M
Thanks!

That is a swing with a ton of potential Ian. I am going to give you my take on the swing from a fresh perspective, rather than commenting on what you are working on. Here is my take: Your clubface looks closed at the top. This isn't necessarily an issue unless you struggle getting your body through the shot. If your body gets stuck at the bottom, your hands will get overactive rolling the clubface excessively. When you combine the stuck body with the shut face you get a pull hook. In my opinion, you need to fix both.

The clubface issue appears to be related to the excessively flat position of the left wrist at the top and not the grip. I would have you retain a slight amount of bend in the left wrist at the top to help the clubface stay square. This is the adjustment I would make first. Next, I would have you work on moving through impact like Annika, Duval, Darren Clarke, Robert Allenby, Carl Petterson, Joe Durant, Charles Warren, and others who let their eyes and head release early to the target. Your head remains down well past impact, making it difficult for your body to keep pace with your hands and arms. This allows the hands to get overactive, and contributes to your hook. Try to get your eyes to find the ball about ten yards in front of where you are swinging. This will get them out earlier and help you stay in sync through impact. While this feels very strange at first, it can become extremely effective almost immediately. I have had players work on this as a drill and never go back becasue they hit it so much better.

Send in a new video and we will keep working on it.

Robert Marshall asks at 12:00:

In the latest issue of Golf(Senior Player) Learn the 30-yd lob, I confused. It say one place to play the ball forward and another the play it back. Which should it be?

The ball must be forward. Putting the ball back steepens the angle of attack making the face more vertical to the ground producing a lower shot. Play it up, lay the face back so the grooves are pointing to the sky, widen your stance and lower your hands a bit so the shaft is flatter. This will help you get the ball up high and soft.