Mark, you are the undisputed king of youtube golf. Your constant refusal to peddle OEM marketing lies and myths, but speak the truth, means you're the most trustworthy coach on here. THANK YOU
I’ve watched your videos for many years now and always enjoy them. You are portrayed (self?) as someone who doesn’t take golf too seriously and plays the fool a little bit, which I like and I can relate to. However, when you put your serious golf teacher face on, as here, there is no one better, not just on RUclips but anywhere at giving concise informative that will improve any golfer who cares to listen. Great video Mark.
I think you were very kind towards many golfers with your reasons for why they come up short. A major issue is that most think that they hit clubs further than they do, the classic being all mid - high handicappers like to think they hit a 7 iron 150 yards. With your fantastic tips, drills and the correct club selection most golfers should easily find the green.
I recognized myself in tip 2. I spent a couple hours spread over a week practicing that motion in my garage sim. In my round this weekend, I was swinging so much easier for the same distance and significantly reduced my fat iron hits. This could be a game changer for me. Thank you, Mark.
Totally awesome and perfect timing, I really need this. I now have 3 favorite drills: 1) credit card, 2) right knee pointing down and in front of the ball and 3) the step drill. By far my favorite channel, I’m always happy when I get a notification you’ve posted something. Thanks and keep on keeping on.
YOUR FAVOURITE GOLF DRILL. You the man Mark. Body's not what it use to be so will be trying the lift ankle drill to try and get some more hip turn. From memory Jack use to do that in his hay day.
Wanted to say thank you! I enjoy watching your videos & a simple tip from you unlocked my swing issue. Playing fantastic golf, lots of fun. You have restored my golf dignity.
Used to get some bad heavy strikes but Been doing this for a couple of week .came across it somewhere else on RUclips.I was usually pretty good with distance’s to green but now I keep going over the backs with a lot more consistent strikes.new gapping session required . Cheers
Great vid! I think part of hitting short is probably because of the way we look for distances thinking we're hitting machines instead of choosing enough club to get there. Part of it might even be the fact that you're trying to hit a somewhat accurate shot in your mind, but because of that you're focusing less on just hitting it. MY FAVOURITE GOLF DRILL IS...actually taking the clubhead on my backswing and pointing towards a corner in the hitting bay/sky in a way where I feel my hips, and shoulders turned, the clubhead wanting to drop, with my wrist angles already thrown into flexion with ulnar, and my weight stacked ready to turn and load. Originally I did this to get the feel of the wrist angles thrown but it's just helped me be more flexible and dynamic when I unleash the swing.
Fantastic video, Mark. These 3 tips are great. They are exactly what I worked on a few years back and it transformed my swing for the better, and I still work on them today. My handicap went from 11 to 4 using these tips. It took a couple of years, but these tips definitely works. Keep them coming.
Hi Mark. I decided to try this on the course today. I know its early days but I hit some great shots and just as important pushed my distance up. Haha nothing like you but 9i up to 135yds from 120yds (I am nearly 70). For me its working with all clubs.
Spot on. It’s the weakest part of my game preventing getting into Cat1. Stats say approaches 45% short. But stats for Par 3’s from same distances significantly better……so something going on with my approach to approaches! 🤷♂️😀
I like the step through one, i've tried it before ........... I'm definitely a swayer as you've described, not intentionally but your right i've kind of ingrained it into myself thinking I'm in a safe place there.
Another real gem of a video Mark. I absolutely love these kinds of lessons you have recently provided on iron play and driving the ball better. I am simply amazed at much better I am striking the ball, AMAZING... Great Work.
YOUR FAVOURITE GOLF DRILL 👏 Great video. Everything you say here applies 100% to my approach play which is (according to ShotScope data) on average 2.5-3 shots worse than strokes gained for tee shots, chipping and putting. Improved approach play is my 2022 goal!! 🤞
Great timing of your video Mark as my irons strikes, which I monitor every round, have been very average over the years e.g. thin shots, fat shots & really high shots. And I have been searching for something I can work on, that makes a lot of sense, and I can implement straight away. So I really love the idea of lifting the left heel and then driving it back into to ground to push off and create a more consistent strike. Playing this Friday so will put your tip on lifting the left heel and getting the hip tilted more into practice. Lots of great advice packed into this video. Awesome as always.
Great video. I come up short about 50% of the time according to Shotscope. Using slope adjusted range finder helps, but main issue is inconsistent strikes. Will try these tips. I definitely feel like I do not use the ground properly.
Very good video Mark but the biggest reason imho why players come up so,short on approaches is simply overestimating how far they carry their irons. Your tips for improving stroke are excellent but must be coupled with a better understanding of realistic carry distance.
Using the ground has always been part of my swing to some extent but really concentrating with proper technique has really improved my strike. I love to feel aware of technique beyond feel. This will be a game changer for sure.
I really enjoy your coaching! I find myself working on the things as you are teaching. If I lived in your area, I would seek you out for personal lessons. Many of your ideas and comments are quite unique among the various pro golfers I watch on RUclips. I only started playing last year, with my best score at 90. So right now I am soaking up the information like a sponge. Thanks for your very cool videos.
I've not tried the lifting lead heal before as I thought it was just for the long drive guys and girls. I'll give it a go next time I'm at the range. Thanks Mark very informative as usual 👍
I've actually done this by accident and thought I'd reverse pivoted but the strike was good . I think transfer weight advice is SO misinterpreted, thankyou for explaining it in a way that is so understandable , great stuff 👍
The credit card tip didn't work for me but tip number 2 transformed my striking of the ball, so thank you. Instead of the credit card, I have purchased the DST Compressor 8 Iron which I believe has the same effect as the credit card on getting your hands forward and squaring the club face.
The best drill for me lately has been the step through one. Been doing it for a while, even with the driver in hand. It's taught me how to get out of my own way and taken a lot of pressure off my lower back so that I can go faster for longer with less strain.
Brilliant video Mark, I worked my way down to a 15 handicap last year hoping to creep towards 10 will definitely try all 3 tips at the sim next time 👍🏻
This second part is such high quality instruction. You’re dead on. It feels safer to sorta slide, and glide through, keeping that left leg bent. However, EVERYTHING is better when you extend up with that left leg. Strike, and distance improves. It may not help everyone, but I think “extend the left side, through impact”.
I bought those force pedal, squishy dome things, really help figure out how to use the ground. Picked up so much distance with what feels like less effort. Example gone from a 135 carry with my pw to carrying it 150. Same club, and with what feels like an easier swing, because lower body is doing the work.
Very informative as usual, I've not tried the lifting lead heal before, I thought it was just for the Long Drive boys and girls. I'll give it a go next time at the range.
Tip #2 is really interesting. I have been struggling a lot over the last year with inconsistent strike (vertical) whilst really trying to feel like I was pushing from the ground on my left side. My coach pointed out that I was also lifting my torso on the left when I pushed, likely due to issues with my hip flexors (I sit down at a desk far too much for work, and only gotten worst through lockdowns) He gave me two options. Calm my feet/legs down (and lose some speed) to accommodate the hip tightness, or try to get back my flexibility/fitness. I'm temporarily playing with the former at the moment, but working on the latter
This is totally my game. 45% short. Appreciate the video! I've practiced the handle lean thing before but feel like I can leave the face wide open doing that. The card will help!
Love the tips. I've been guilty of staying planted over the years myself. Still have to practice lifting the heel or I'll tend to forget it. And that's after 4 years I think of practicing to turn instead of sway. That exact movement you made showing one of our faults I recognize making often enough myself. Guess I'll be working a bit harder to make sure it becomes natural. Gonna need hands forward out there today. 20 mph winds gusting to 45. The less loft the better in those conditions. I'll even use a stronger grip out there in those winds to keep the ball lower.
Mark, I’ve managed to get down to 11hc over the last 3 years but the consistency of strike is still something I’m trying to work on. These tips are superb and your explanation of what the down side is perfectly describes what I’m doing - I’ll be trying these tips down the range later today. What’s your best contact for lessons ?
Great vid thanks. I deffo still suffer from the slide and when I’ve focused more on the rotation, I have found more consistent strikes. Just need to groove it. Hopefully these tips will help 🤞
Remember a comment when watching Steve Davis at snooker event - amateurs always chalk their cue after they have the ball! In this video please endorse CLEAN your grooves in readiness to hit the ball😳 great vid Mrk👍
Great tips, will try them next time I'm in the sim!!! I've already been incorporating the lift heel but sometimes still hesitate to do it cause it's so new. Gotta keep it up :)
Loving the videos as per usual. Great content. I saw in another video you got yourself a new guitar......... we going to hear you jam on it like you did with hack white and lazaretto? If so do you do requests?...... can you do best of you foo fighters....
Great video mark. I’m typically short ~20% of the time due to poor consistency of strike. Working on removing my hands and arms from the downswing and shifting focus to the rest of my body to help improve strike and consistency. Also working on flattening/widening my arc to remove my 4-6 degree in to out that sometimes causes blocks and hooks.
Mark, I love your use of tech and delivering us the data combined with real world examples of how and why it impacts our games. This is such a tough time to be getting into the game of golf. For most amateur players wanting to improve their game the coaches and lessons that we have access to, for many reasons most common is probably financial, seem to be those older generations of player-now-teacher who's techniques are rooted in the past. I can only speak from my own experiences, but here in Brisbane the level of tuition available to the average player is, to be honest and frank, quite poor. There are good teachers and lessons out there, but they are typically linked to golf courses us mere mortals would have to donate organs to afford. I have had the benefit of an education in physics and a love of technology that means that the because-I-say-so style of coaching doesn't hold water. Show me in the measured data where you see the issue and lets keep measuring as we moved to fix it. I see so many professionals giving lessons without even the use of the most basic of launch monitor. In my opinion, professional golfers should not be allowed to teach anyone without doing some sort of course in the practical applications of current technology and must also include some level of tech in their classes. You wouldn't trust an engineer to measure and construct a bridge without an accurate measuring device.
I use shot scope and come up short 41% of the time but I would be interested to know how much for the data of coming up short stems from a poor tee shot. Ie, being out of play and having to pitch out and therefore not being able to get to the green - hence being short. That said, a friend and I agreed to take an extra club every shot a few weeks ago and it made golf a lot easier. My back definitely thanked me for it!
Mark, I'm working on this EXACT issue (tip 2) with my coach. It is soooo hard to change my habit of moving towards the target with my hips. I've been successful at eliminating sway in my backswing, but the 'stride" (with my hips) is probably coming from my baseball days as a kid. The idea of beginning the 'jump' (or straightening of the left leg) almost as soon as I've started the backswing DOES feel risky (like I'm going to skull the ball). The only thing you've left out is the way the big hitters "cover" the ball. Videos of Rory and Dustin show that their heads 1) lower from address to top of backswing, and 2) GO LOWER STILL into impact. (Rory probably goes 4 inches lower from backswing into impact). This lowering of the head happens even while the left leg is straightening. Combine this with the difference between the amount of hip rotation at impact over the shoulder rotation (less than the hips), and the modern athletic golf swing is seriously challenging. Thank you for bringing this to your viewing public's attention.
I really started concentrating on my foot work and hip rotation last year, and haven’t shot over 88 in more than a year. Still working to break 80 though. I’m 31% GIR, and short 41% of the time.
My buddy picked up the insoles that give you readinging on your foot pressure throughout the swing. 2 weeks in, he's changed everything, and is hitting the ball crisper and with more power. Which sucks for me since he was a club longer throughout the bag already.
I remember working on something similar to tip 2 after analyzing some slow motion footage. I realized I was sliding more, not actually pushing up. It did help but I found it really difficult to hit a 90% shot, as well as difficulty with different lies when trying that. It felt a lot like mistiming the shot, although I'm not sure if that's what it was. In both cases, especially on uphill lies, I really struggled to get my point of impact squared up, hitting enormous fats perhaps because I was pushing up to late and just slamming into the ground. I might try it again with this video at some point, maybe I can figure out what I was doing wrong.
Love all of these and recognise myself in the drill #2. However I notice you said you get sore in groin and hip. I got down to 9 at age 65 but at 66 I got the pain in groin/hip. It just got worse and X-ray showed bone on bone. Totally worn out. Luckily last year I got a total left hip replacement. So don’t ignore it and go and get yourself checked out.
My Favourite golf drill, bending the elbow in the bar after the round. Joking, but not really. Using a towel just behind the ball to focus on striking down on the ball instead of hitting 2 inches behind it. Funny how having stats do improve your view of the game. For example approach shots missed: using Shotscope data collection 2020 - 37% Left, 25.5% Right - 6 months - 26 rounds - End yr Handicap 17.1 2021 - 36.8% Left, 22.8% Right - 12 months - 78 rounds - End yr Handicap 17.7 2022 - 34.8% Left, 21% Right - Year to date - 17 rounds - March 2022 14.1
Also Mark I have gone from a really good spree with my irons to striking them and also wedge shots shorts and long really badly off of the toe of the club, is there a significant thing I may be doing for this to happen
I don't tend to come up short very often (unless that's the "intended miss" and I hope to then "kick on the green and roll"). I do however struggle with left/right dispersion (mostly on the left, to be frank) and my contacts are not as consistent as they should be, but the miss-hitting is mostly, again, "left and right", that is in the toe (most often) and in the heel (I do suffer from regular bouts of the shanks). And what's more infuriating is that I heel-toe more my regular irons than my wedges which are a bit smaller and supposedly even "less forgiving" than my irons (pure blades vs. "tour cavity"). It works for me as I approach most par 4 and 5 greens with my 52° wedge at my short-ish home course but I'd definitely prefer having a centred strike (feels much better, to start with, and helps with distance and trajectory control). I do have quite active legs/pressure transfer in the swing but the heel/toe (of the feet, this time) do vary too much, between good/bad swings!
Been a slider for years and unable to get the hips out of the way as they seized up doing it the wrong way for twenty years. I used your wrist angels drills before with success and I have a go at the firing off the left foot tomorrow. Would all that movement come to nothing if you're body and arms were out of sync?
Mark, you are the undisputed king of youtube golf. Your constant refusal to peddle OEM marketing lies and myths, but speak the truth, means you're the most trustworthy coach on here. THANK YOU
I’ve watched your videos for many years now and always enjoy them. You are portrayed (self?) as someone who doesn’t take golf too seriously and plays the fool a little bit, which I like and I can relate to. However, when you put your serious golf teacher face on, as here, there is no one better, not just on RUclips but anywhere at giving concise informative that will improve any golfer who cares to listen. Great video Mark.
I think you were very kind towards many golfers with your reasons for why they come up short. A major issue is that most think that they hit clubs further than they do, the classic being all mid - high handicappers like to think they hit a 7 iron 150 yards. With your fantastic tips, drills and the correct club selection most golfers should easily find the green.
Heel off the ground has improved my strike unbelievably and added a club of distance overnight!
Started a stack n tilt type swing two years ago. Best striking of my life. Game changed.
I recognized myself in tip 2. I spent a couple hours spread over a week practicing that motion in my garage sim. In my round this weekend, I was swinging so much easier for the same distance and significantly reduced my fat iron hits. This could be a game changer for me. Thank you, Mark.
Totally awesome and perfect timing, I really need this. I now have 3 favorite drills: 1) credit card, 2) right knee pointing down and in front of the ball and 3) the step drill. By far my favorite channel, I’m always happy when I get a notification you’ve posted something. Thanks and keep on keeping on.
This is one of your best tutorials 👍🏻
YOUR FAVOURITE GOLF DRILL. You the man Mark. Body's not what it use to be so will be trying the lift ankle drill to try and get some more hip turn. From memory Jack use to do that in his hay day.
This is a brilliant video - I play off 10 and am frozen there for years. I know my striking lets me down and is the key to me unlocking sub80 rounds.
Wanted to say thank you! I enjoy watching your videos & a simple tip from you unlocked my swing issue. Playing fantastic golf, lots of fun. You have restored my golf dignity.
As someone on the cusp of breaking 80 this will undoubtedly come in handy to achieve the goal for the year. Just need that 1 pesky shot! Cheers Mark.
Thanks Mark. Tip 2 is something I have been working on recently to get better strikes and stop fatting shots. Approach shots let me down constantly.
10.43 is excellent perfect you got me crunching my irons
Great ideas once again. I need to practice the dynamic shift out of my left side.
Used to get some bad heavy strikes but Been doing this for a couple of week .came across it somewhere else on RUclips.I was usually pretty good with distance’s to green but now I keep going over the backs with a lot more consistent strikes.new gapping session required . Cheers
Thanks for the detailed tips! I’ll try them out.
Great vid! I think part of hitting short is probably because of the way we look for distances thinking we're hitting machines instead of choosing enough club to get there. Part of it might even be the fact that you're trying to hit a somewhat accurate shot in your mind, but because of that you're focusing less on just hitting it.
MY FAVOURITE GOLF DRILL IS...actually taking the clubhead on my backswing and pointing towards a corner in the hitting bay/sky in a way where I feel my hips, and shoulders turned, the clubhead wanting to drop, with my wrist angles already thrown into flexion with ulnar, and my weight stacked ready to turn and load. Originally I did this to get the feel of the wrist angles thrown but it's just helped me be more flexible and dynamic when I unleash the swing.
Liked the concrete part of the GRF, complicated topic so liked the concrete example.
You have been proper for years - consistently in a world gone mad
Great tips Mark, love this video, it could have been made for me!! Thank you 🏌🏻
excellent video Mark, really relate this to my game, will be building these in to my next practice.
Great coaching video Mark. Thank you very much, keep up the good work
"Plenty more free tips here" Cheers Mark!!! If you are ever in the Rocky Mountain State I'll happily host you.
Fantastic video, Mark. These 3 tips are great. They are exactly what I worked on a few years back and it transformed my swing for the better, and I still work on them today. My handicap went from 11 to 4 using these tips. It took a couple of years, but these tips definitely works. Keep them coming.
Great video them drills give me such a better feeling of rotation and better control of the club face
Hi Mark. I decided to try this on the course today. I know its early days but I hit some great shots and just as important pushed my distance up. Haha nothing like you but 9i up to 135yds from 120yds (I am nearly 70). For me its working with all clubs.
Tip 2 sounds like one for me, will try.
Brilliant. Great info Mark..
Spot on. It’s the weakest part of my game preventing getting into Cat1. Stats say approaches 45% short. But stats for Par 3’s from same distances significantly better……so something going on with my approach to approaches! 🤷♂️😀
Amazing to see these drills. Literally been working on drill 1 and 2 all winter. Strike much more consistent since starting
A brilliant video so informative.
Great video Mark
I like the step through one, i've tried it before ........... I'm definitely a swayer as you've described, not intentionally but your right i've kind of ingrained it into myself thinking I'm in a safe place there.
Another real gem of a video Mark. I absolutely love these kinds of lessons you have recently provided on iron play and driving the ball better. I am simply amazed at much better I am striking the ball, AMAZING... Great Work.
YOUR FAVOURITE GOLF DRILL 👏
Great video. Everything you say here applies 100% to my approach play which is (according to ShotScope data) on average 2.5-3 shots worse than strokes gained for tee shots, chipping and putting. Improved approach play is my 2022 goal!! 🤞
Excellent video.
Hi Mark! I’ve been kicking out for a while now and always thought it was an issue. Glad to hear it’s something that can be leveraged to help 👍🏻
very good mr PARfield...
Excellent video and very useful for me as my swing definitely needs to become more dynamic and strike quality a lot better.
Excellent. Great explanation and illustration of the ground forces. Thank you
Love your coaching methods and tips 👍👍
Your favourite golf drill? Great video Mark. Thanks. Off to Scotland next week will be working on this.
Great content that makes sense.
Great timing of your video Mark as my irons strikes, which I monitor every round, have been very average over the years e.g. thin shots, fat shots & really high shots. And I have been searching for something I can work on, that makes a lot of sense, and I can implement straight away. So I really love the idea of lifting the left heel and then driving it back into to ground to push off and create a more consistent strike. Playing this Friday so will put your tip on lifting the left heel and getting the hip tilted more into practice.
Lots of great advice packed into this video. Awesome as always.
Martin Borgmeier preaches this down and out movement for hitting further - love it 😍
Exactly what I am needing - last year came up 43% short on approach and losing too many shots with irons - will be trying these tomorrow
From now on I’m happy when missing greens short .. my Crossy Wedge arrived today 😎 But absolutely great coaching Mark!!!
Great video. I come up short about 50% of the time according to Shotscope. Using slope adjusted range finder helps, but main issue is inconsistent strikes. Will try these tips. I definitely feel like I do not use the ground properly.
Nice clean grooves Mark😳😳
Very good video Mark but the biggest reason imho why players come up so,short on approaches is simply overestimating how far they carry their irons. Your tips for improving stroke are excellent but must be coupled with a better understanding of realistic carry distance.
Superb video Mark. Thank you
Using the ground has always been part of my swing to some extent but really concentrating with proper technique has really improved my strike. I love to feel aware of technique beyond feel. This will be a game changer for sure.
I really enjoy your coaching! I find myself working on the things as you are teaching. If I lived in your area, I would seek you out for personal lessons. Many of your ideas and comments are quite unique among the various pro golfers I watch on RUclips. I only started playing last year, with my best score at 90. So right now I am soaking up the information like a sponge. Thanks for your very cool videos.
I've not tried the lifting lead heal before as I thought it was just for the long drive guys and girls. I'll give it a go next time I'm at the range. Thanks Mark very informative as usual 👍
This is a great drill than you mark perfect for my son at the mibute great grip,nice swing n plane but strike n power all he needs cheers mark
I am of an age and just recently being doing something similar to tip 2. Have found my right hip hurting.... Definitely get a better ball strike.
I've actually done this by accident and thought I'd reverse pivoted but the strike was good . I think transfer weight advice is SO misinterpreted, thankyou for explaining it in a way that is so understandable , great stuff 👍
The credit card tip didn't work for me but tip number 2 transformed my striking of the ball, so thank you. Instead of the credit card, I have purchased the DST Compressor 8 Iron which I believe has the same effect as the credit card on getting your hands forward and squaring the club face.
The best drill for me lately has been the step through one. Been doing it for a while, even with the driver in hand. It's taught me how to get out of my own way and taken a lot of pressure off my lower back so that I can go faster for longer with less strain.
Great video
Brilliant video Mark, I worked my way down to a 15 handicap last year hoping to creep towards 10 will definitely try all 3 tips at the sim next time 👍🏻
Playing Bay Hill next Sunday. So ready.
This second part is such high quality instruction. You’re dead on. It feels safer to sorta slide, and glide through, keeping that left leg bent. However, EVERYTHING is better when you extend up with that left leg. Strike, and distance improves. It may not help everyone, but I think “extend the left side, through impact”.
I bought those force pedal, squishy dome things, really help figure out how to use the ground. Picked up so much distance with what feels like less effort. Example gone from a 135 carry with my pw to carrying it 150. Same club, and with what feels like an easier swing, because lower body is doing the work.
Very informative as usual, I've not tried the lifting lead heal before, I thought it was just for the Long Drive boys and girls. I'll give it a go next time at the range.
Tip #2 is really interesting. I have been struggling a lot over the last year with inconsistent strike (vertical) whilst really trying to feel like I was pushing from the ground on my left side. My coach pointed out that I was also lifting my torso on the left when I pushed, likely due to issues with my hip flexors (I sit down at a desk far too much for work, and only gotten worst through lockdowns)
He gave me two options. Calm my feet/legs down (and lose some speed) to accommodate the hip tightness, or try to get back my flexibility/fitness. I'm temporarily playing with the former at the moment, but working on the latter
How can you relate this movements, to woods, and finally to driver movements? Excellent material
This is totally my game. 45% short. Appreciate the video! I've practiced the handle lean thing before but feel like I can leave the face wide open doing that. The card will help!
I like the first 2 tips have to take it easy though left handed golfer with right hip replacement ouch!
Love the tips. I've been guilty of staying planted over the years myself. Still have to practice lifting the heel or I'll tend to forget it. And that's after 4 years I think of practicing to turn instead of sway. That exact movement you made showing one of our faults I recognize making often enough myself. Guess I'll be working a bit harder to make sure it becomes natural.
Gonna need hands forward out there today. 20 mph winds gusting to 45. The less loft the better in those conditions. I'll even use a stronger grip out there in those winds to keep the ball lower.
Mark, I’ve managed to get down to 11hc over the last 3 years but the consistency of strike is still something I’m trying to work on. These tips are superb and your explanation of what the down side is perfectly describes what I’m doing - I’ll be trying these tips down the range later today. What’s your best contact for lessons ?
Great vid thanks. I deffo still suffer from the slide and when I’ve focused more on the rotation, I have found more consistent strikes. Just need to groove it. Hopefully these tips will help 🤞
Remember a comment when watching Steve Davis at snooker event - amateurs always chalk their cue after they have the ball! In this video please endorse CLEAN your grooves in readiness to hit the ball😳 great vid Mrk👍
Great tips, will try them next time I'm in the sim!!! I've already been incorporating the lift heel but sometimes still hesitate to do it cause it's so new. Gotta keep it up :)
You're stacked🙂
Great video, I’m partial to a fat thin so exaggerating this movement would make me sceptical. Look forward to trying it on the next range session!
Loving the videos as per usual. Great content. I saw in another video you got yourself a new guitar......... we going to hear you jam on it like you did with hack white and lazaretto? If so do you do requests?...... can you do best of you foo fighters....
I’m not focussed on strike during round tbh. Gonna try those drills before practice round tomorrow 👍
Great video mark. I’m typically short ~20% of the time due to poor consistency of strike. Working on removing my hands and arms from the downswing and shifting focus to the rest of my body to help improve strike and consistency. Also working on flattening/widening my arc to remove my 4-6 degree in to out that sometimes causes blocks and hooks.
Mark, I love your use of tech and delivering us the data combined with real world examples of how and why it impacts our games. This is such a tough time to be getting into the game of golf. For most amateur players wanting to improve their game the coaches and lessons that we have access to, for many reasons most common is probably financial, seem to be those older generations of player-now-teacher who's techniques are rooted in the past. I can only speak from my own experiences, but here in Brisbane the level of tuition available to the average player is, to be honest and frank, quite poor. There are good teachers and lessons out there, but they are typically linked to golf courses us mere mortals would have to donate organs to afford. I have had the benefit of an education in physics and a love of technology that means that the because-I-say-so style of coaching doesn't hold water. Show me in the measured data where you see the issue and lets keep measuring as we moved to fix it. I see so many professionals giving lessons without even the use of the most basic of launch monitor. In my opinion, professional golfers should not be allowed to teach anyone without doing some sort of course in the practical applications of current technology and must also include some level of tech in their classes. You wouldn't trust an engineer to measure and construct a bridge without an accurate measuring device.
I use shot scope and come up short 41% of the time but I would be interested to know how much for the data of coming up short stems from a poor tee shot. Ie, being out of play and having to pitch out and therefore not being able to get to the green - hence being short.
That said, a friend and I agreed to take an extra club every shot a few weeks ago and it made golf a lot easier. My back definitely thanked me for it!
Lifting the lead heel in the backswing might benefit senior golfers with rotation.
Mark, I'm working on this EXACT issue (tip 2) with my coach. It is soooo hard to change my habit of moving towards the target with my hips. I've been successful at eliminating sway in my backswing, but the 'stride" (with my hips) is probably coming from my baseball days as a kid. The idea of beginning the 'jump' (or straightening of the left leg) almost as soon as I've started the backswing DOES feel risky (like I'm going to skull the ball). The only thing you've left out is the way the big hitters "cover" the ball. Videos of Rory and Dustin show that their heads 1) lower from address to top of backswing, and 2) GO LOWER STILL into impact. (Rory probably goes 4 inches lower from backswing into impact). This lowering of the head happens even while the left leg is straightening. Combine this with the difference between the amount of hip rotation at impact over the shoulder rotation (less than the hips), and the modern athletic golf swing is seriously challenging. Thank you for bringing this to your viewing public's attention.
I really started concentrating on my foot work and hip rotation last year, and haven’t shot over 88 in more than a year. Still working to break 80 though. I’m 31% GIR, and short 41% of the time.
Best thing about Arccos is that it shows you how often you come up short. It’s eye opening
My buddy picked up the insoles that give you readinging on your foot pressure throughout the swing. 2 weeks in, he's changed everything, and is hitting the ball crisper and with more power. Which sucks for me since he was a club longer throughout the bag already.
Did check my stats, last year 54 % short… and my handycap is 5,7… room for improvment!
@markcrossfield are your club lengths standard length? They look longer than standard.
I remember working on something similar to tip 2 after analyzing some slow motion footage. I realized I was sliding more, not actually pushing up. It did help but I found it really difficult to hit a 90% shot, as well as difficulty with different lies when trying that. It felt a lot like mistiming the shot, although I'm not sure if that's what it was. In both cases, especially on uphill lies, I really struggled to get my point of impact squared up, hitting enormous fats perhaps because I was pushing up to late and just slamming into the ground.
I might try it again with this video at some point, maybe I can figure out what I was doing wrong.
Love all of these and recognise myself in the drill #2. However I notice you said you get sore in groin and hip. I got down to 9 at age 65 but at 66 I got the pain in groin/hip. It just got worse and X-ray showed bone on bone. Totally worn out. Luckily last year I got a total left hip replacement. So don’t ignore it and go and get yourself checked out.
I got ShotScope V3 last year. I was around 53% short on approaches. After a few months i was at 47%. I’d say that’s progress of a kind. Lol.
My Favourite golf drill, bending the elbow in the bar after the round. Joking, but not really. Using a towel just behind the ball to focus on striking down on the ball instead of hitting 2 inches behind it.
Funny how having stats do improve your view of the game. For example approach shots missed: using Shotscope data collection
2020 - 37% Left, 25.5% Right - 6 months - 26 rounds - End yr Handicap 17.1
2021 - 36.8% Left, 22.8% Right - 12 months - 78 rounds - End yr Handicap 17.7
2022 - 34.8% Left, 21% Right - Year to date - 17 rounds - March 2022 14.1
Also Mark I have gone from a really good spree with my irons to striking them and also wedge shots shorts and long really badly off of the toe of the club, is there a significant thing I may be doing for this to happen
I’ve started using dry shampoo to find out more about impact position and give me a better idea on what’s going wrong.
I'm not horrible at length with GPS I spray my irons left and right. I'm only new tho.
I don't tend to come up short very often (unless that's the "intended miss" and I hope to then "kick on the green and roll"). I do however struggle with left/right dispersion (mostly on the left, to be frank) and my contacts are not as consistent as they should be, but the miss-hitting is mostly, again, "left and right", that is in the toe (most often) and in the heel (I do suffer from regular bouts of the shanks). And what's more infuriating is that I heel-toe more my regular irons than my wedges which are a bit smaller and supposedly even "less forgiving" than my irons (pure blades vs. "tour cavity"). It works for me as I approach most par 4 and 5 greens with my 52° wedge at my short-ish home course but I'd definitely prefer having a centred strike (feels much better, to start with, and helps with distance and trajectory control).
I do have quite active legs/pressure transfer in the swing but the heel/toe (of the feet, this time) do vary too much, between good/bad swings!
Been a slider for years and unable to get the hips out of the way as they seized up doing it the wrong way for twenty years.
I used your wrist angels drills before with success and I have a go at the firing off the left foot tomorrow.
Would all that movement come to nothing if you're body and arms were out of sync?
@mark, do you do public lessons? If so can you send me a link/ some info.
The step-and-jump reminds me of when I played baseball.....
I'm a 20 handicap and I come up short 53% on my approach shots. I'm not sure how to monitor strike when on course, any tips Mark?