I wonder if anyone can give me some tips on how to "manage" a swing problem.
(It's one my pro will work on end of the season)

..The problem is that I sometimes "dip" heavily into the ball. Am happy on the stance/back swing etc...but from the top
down is where it suddenly goes wrong.
I have an involuntery dip...where some partners have said my head drops sometimes up to about 8 inches
..the problem is that I can't tell it's happening.

Sometimes it's not so bad ...then other times my round is completely destroyed.

I try keping chin up..but that dosn't seem to work. I need a thought that keeps head at same height!!!!!!!!!

I got a pal to watch me today on the practice gropund and he says I rise on the back swing -dip-then rise again
....but I can't "feel" that happening

Basically (like a lot of golfers of course) I don't seem to have a problem when taking a practice swing.

I do think I sometimes start down too quickly with the right side and if I remember to fully extend on the backswing the dipping is not quite as bad as other times.

I am going to trust my pro in sorting
...but has anyone suffered/seen the same problem and overcome????If so how pse???
?

Thanks

Geoff

I think somewhere in the archives Martin Park gave a tip about driving the left shoulder up in the downswing, rather than around the body.

That may effect a cure.

Concentrate on taking the legs out of play. Keep them passive, as if playing a long iron out of a bunker. That should do the trick.

But dosn't that stop weight transfer Bob?
(i.e I have also been advised little leg action in the past!)

I'm also having a similar problem. My club pro says I am O K on my back swing but tends to hit at the ball rather than swing through. This createsa tension in the shoulders. He's instructed me to just swing the club through without the ball, as a drill.Also to practice with feet together
I've improved a great deal in 3 weeks.

Perhaps you should also create some such relaxation drills

I am also finding the practice with feet together really usefull.
My pro has been getting me to do that whilst waiting for other players to play etc.
He also was talking about releasing the tension
(he had me sweeping 8 irons off a tee peg with feet together further than I could
hit a normal 8 iron)

Not only timing but also helps me by keeping
my shoulder "closed" i.e. pointing left whilst I release. (Before I was likewise hitting from top-shoulders open too early
and weak slice)
Have taken the focus away from the dipping -I appear to do much less now. I have been concentrating on shoulder position and keeping head passive-(not still)
When I play bad shots I seem to have a better idea what the problem is -either too fast from the top and shoulders open or excessive head
movement-too anxious to follow ball flight
and see the outcome, (i.e. back to old habits)
Pro is concentrating me on The "process" rathetr tha the result over Winter.
Strangely it is more comforting to know why I played a bad shot rather than before when I hadn't got a clue. Something about turning negative into a positive.

Geoff looks like yu & yer pro got it solved dont need my 2 pennoth, but mite bet swing & like Arny hi/short not much follow thru

See a lot as think, giv this a ride & start hit befo clubhead @ ball ooof a lil lateral hip shift shoulder push head up lower swing plane impression of dipping ipso facto B%$# big fat or chilli dip

I think very evident some women in bunkers

My swing works best lil weight on back foot
left hand leads clubhead lagging a bit this feeling as if I smash it away & folow thru.

Yer pro 8 iron excercise(objective ?)should generate feel your hands leading clubhead!
some pros tilt spine to get behind hit ball away from irons still more down than woods but no scoop

As Bob postulated do not do a Niclaus keep b&^%$ lower body quiet & perhaps ask pro re how much weight behind ball to control hip shift allow rotation to clear body & a half decent follow thru of course agin all'a pre 1998 pro training etc but it works!!!

(sorry Geoff 15 pennoth A/c in mail LOL)

donk

Thanks and Happy New Year Don.
Unfortunately I cannot understand the advice
and would be grateful if you would clarify as the dipping has re-emerged.
Thanks again.
Geoff

A good wun to yu too Geoff

Now wonder wot got into me despite 35 years @ various levels (& tagged sammy de ammy by tour pros) do not consider meself qualified to teach & religously avoid advising others wot to do, but, will if asked say wot I see

So many variables & I was wrong to mentally paint a picture of my own swing the problem being may have no bearing on your physique

In my own case recall fequently bailed up in clubhouse demos of wrist cock & drop in slot by well meaning single fig player who sed not generating enuf C/hd spped slapping the ball

Wot I finally worked out my swing is slow (will stay off shaft loading)I reely needed to work hands closer together on grip allow more club head (flail) lag !!!

With that still think Bobs lower body thing right & pro exercise should help yer hands club head timing

As yu cannot watch yerself & impossible to visualise a physical action of the ""DIP"" perhaps ask yer Pro to add a video aid see wot is happening & help yu define a "key" & feeling of a "dip" V a "no dip" swing

A last thought tho did not Gary Player head @ one time dip a bit as he drove thru ball? but no doubt after the ball gone

Wonder if anyone else comment on dipy Pro's

donk

As I thort found pic of Player; titled Big Dipper 1969 Beaverbrook newspapers the 2nd book of 'Gary Players golf class'compendiam of 100 of Player tips formerly published as newspaper strip The Sunday Mail Queensland

Each photo show his head "ducks" below left shoulder as he drives shoulder thru strikes ball away & before completing full balanced follow thru

Sometimes a bad hook resulted if he did not dip & drive R shoulder thru & rotated slid around with a flat follow thru & across jaw

See you are in a class of your own

donk

Try bending your knees a bit more, sounds like you are to upright.

Bob mite like to expand bit further on his Keep Lower Body Quiet.I think I know wot he means used like philosophy with older guys since I began to understand wot a Tour Pro meant by saying would get better trajectory if yu stop driving yer knees !!!


Problem with jargon to some time to sink in

However my lower body was to active legs & knees to far ahead of hands in a downswing drop swing arc hands cannot catch up & the club head way back & squirting chunking or worst case short irons chillie dipping or even shank

Just a thort !! over to yu B/W !!

Regards donk !!

Oh & yer head also """Dipps""" donk

Don -Had a lesson on Sunday where pro continued on the theme of releasing tension, but more importantly got me working hips and just dropping the club on downswing. I think I have been all arms and shoulders. Anyway
I played on the ice straight after the lesson and the difference was amazing. confidence flowed back and I was much happier with the way I was striking the ball. Beat my partner 6 & 5 so I suppose that helped as well.
Pro reckons I'll always have some sort of dip, but it's about degrees.
G

sound like yer got it made or on the way to the right feel of it ! good wun keep it up !

donk !!