I'm 55...hitting it longer now than I used to. Still using irons from 2003. Getting fitter, stretching and training for speed is the key, even at 55. My 7 iron goes 170 on avg.
If its anything like me, I can get into a little trouble with bad strike and face control when I get anxious on the course. I can start thinking about trying catch up lost distance, for example, in which I then try belt the ball but as a result I tend to shift or move off the ball during the swing. I think in many respects it starts as a negative mental thought problem which then leads to a physical swing problem.
I had a similar feeling to this, felt like i was all over the place during a swing, I slowed my backswing down slightly and have been so much more consistent since. And I actually gained clubhead speed, which I couldn't believe when I saw the numbers.
for me ive struggled for the past 2 years because from the top im too fast and tense. maybe this is what he was reffering too. when i speed up i tend to pull from the top and come over the top or get the club stuck in behind me and also have 0 conistency and fats. it wasnt until today i realised i need to slow down from the top and stay relaxed opposed to trying to swing fast and hard
Most people associate effort with speed when they are not the same at all. We all have that one flush shot when we went all relaxed. That's when we unlocked all of our joints, perfect body/arm sync and perfect impact position. We can only go as fast as our skill allows. By going above our skill threshold, we could sacrifice low point control, do reverse pivot (over backswing), poor timing, shank/slice/hook (poor club face control).
similar to me, AFAIK the best way is to approach this is to accelerate when you are 3-4 feet away from the ball on your down swing. I used to 'give it all' as soon as i reached the top of my swing, and that would make me start casting, fat shots, heel shots, etc etc. I find slowing down does help and accelerating when you feel that you are 3-4 feet from the ball helps, with that distance will be hard to get it wrong because it is all happening in under a second anyway so your chances of getting it wrong when you are swinging your 7iron at 86 mph from 4 feet away from the ball.
What about sequencing? Ie swing top half fast, low slow or visa versa....often happens to me when I try and hit my driver at more than 70% I just can't sequence stuff
I had a lesson today where my smash factor with driver on Trackman was between 1.3 and 1.4. My coach was not at all impressed with my control of strikepoint on the clubface, so he asked me to just focus on strike and gave me som drills for that. After a few shots my smash factor was up between 1.45 and 1.47 but my clubhead speed was 10-15 % lower than before. The ball went as far and so much straighter. So for me going slower worked but I hope to get back to full speed while keeping the smash factor around 1.45, but at the moment I can't control strike when I'm at full speed.
Is it speed or sequence and strike? I’m definitely wanting more speed and I’m not that old yet…just not that young. LOL. If it’s a balance, sequence, or strike issue I get it. I could use more of all three. Thanks Mark!
Been generally trying to start backswing faster after watching your journey, Sasho Mackenzie, etc. where too fast comes is in transition. Can you speak to that?
I agree, swing as fast as you can as long as you can control the club face. I swing slower at the beginning of the season until I gain back my tempo and mid season swing at my max speed.
Unrelated question but does hitting up on that mat effect things at all when it comes time to hit off flat ground on the course? I reckon I’d chunk it lol
I’ve been working on hitting down on my irons over the last 6 months and it’s been going really well. However, all that work seems to be bleeding into my driver swing where I am struggling to launch the ball. I hit 4/5 degrees up, normally from the inside but launch under 10 degrees and get low knuckle balls. I have been trying to feel like I release the driver early in the downswing with my right hand but have been struggling with that feeling. Do you have any tips to try and work on?
Sometimes I need to check myself not to rush the downswing. Usually this translates into making sure I complete the backswing. Besides that, I swing as fast as I possibly can.
I think the key as you said is going as fast as you can’t whilst in control. I get faster I get wilder. No good swinging out your boots to hit it 20 yards further into the cr@p!
Hmmm 🤔 - if I make a bad shot, frustration kicks in and i can feel myself “speeding up” - slowing down probably means better tempo rather than actually slowing down ?
@@AskGolfGuru no, I think I rush the downswing and then the tendency is to throw my hands out Causing the fade / slice. Slowing down just means bringing my shoulder hands elbow on a better path - I hope that makes sense 😂
Swing badly at 110 or swing badly at 102???? Let’s be honest you’re never going to eliminate bad shots by reducing speed There’s things you can do in the gym and even at home with mobility exercises to maintain speed as you age.. I’m sure mark will agree that Mike Carroll from fit for golf is a brilliant source of information
I'm 55...hitting it longer now than I used to. Still using irons from 2003. Getting fitter, stretching and training for speed is the key, even at 55. My 7 iron goes 170 on avg.
If its anything like me, I can get into a little trouble with bad strike and face control when I get anxious on the course. I can start thinking about trying catch up lost distance, for example, in which I then try belt the ball but as a result I tend to shift or move off the ball during the swing.
I think in many respects it starts as a negative mental thought problem which then leads to a physical swing problem.
I had a similar feeling to this, felt like i was all over the place during a swing, I slowed my backswing down slightly and have been so much more consistent since. And I actually gained clubhead speed, which I couldn't believe when I saw the numbers.
Thanks, Mark. That does ease my mind quite a bit.
for me ive struggled for the past 2 years because from the top im too fast and tense. maybe this is what he was reffering too. when i speed up i tend to pull from the top and come over the top or get the club stuck in behind me and also have 0 conistency and fats. it wasnt until today i realised i need to slow down from the top and stay relaxed opposed to trying to swing fast and hard
Most people associate effort with speed when they are not the same at all. We all have that one flush shot when we went all relaxed. That's when we unlocked all of our joints, perfect body/arm sync and perfect impact position. We can only go as fast as our skill allows. By going above our skill threshold, we could sacrifice low point control, do reverse pivot (over backswing), poor timing, shank/slice/hook (poor club face control).
similar to me, AFAIK the best way is to approach this is to accelerate when you are 3-4 feet away from the ball on your down swing. I used to 'give it all' as soon as i reached the top of my swing, and that would make me start casting, fat shots, heel shots, etc etc. I find slowing down does help and accelerating when you feel that you are 3-4 feet from the ball helps, with that distance will be hard to get it wrong because it is all happening in under a second anyway so your chances of getting it wrong when you are swinging your 7iron at 86 mph from 4 feet away from the ball.
What about sequencing? Ie swing top half fast, low slow or visa versa....often happens to me when I try and hit my driver at more than 70% I just can't sequence stuff
I had a lesson today where my smash factor with driver on Trackman was between 1.3 and 1.4. My coach was not at all impressed with my control of strikepoint on the clubface, so he asked me to just focus on strike and gave me som drills for that. After a few shots my smash factor was up between 1.45 and 1.47 but my clubhead speed was 10-15 % lower than before. The ball went as far and so much straighter. So for me going slower worked but I hope to get back to full speed while keeping the smash factor around 1.45, but at the moment I can't control strike when I'm at full speed.
Any chance you'd like to share the drills he had you do for strike?
Is it speed or sequence and strike? I’m definitely wanting more speed and I’m not that old yet…just not that young. LOL. If it’s a balance, sequence, or strike issue I get it. I could use more of all three. Thanks Mark!
Been generally trying to start backswing faster after watching your journey, Sasho Mackenzie, etc. where too fast comes is in transition. Can you speak to that?
I agree, swing as fast as you can as long as you can control the club face. I swing slower at the beginning of the season until I gain back my tempo and mid season swing at my max speed.
Unrelated question but does hitting up on that mat effect things at all when it comes time to hit off flat ground on the course? I reckon I’d chunk it lol
I like that answer...good video 👌
I’ve been working on hitting down on my irons over the last 6 months and it’s been going really well. However, all that work seems to be bleeding into my driver swing where I am struggling to launch the ball. I hit 4/5 degrees up, normally from the inside but launch under 10 degrees and get low knuckle balls. I have been trying to feel like I release the driver early in the downswing with my right hand but have been struggling with that feeling. Do you have any tips to try and work on?
What I struggle with the most is where I strike the ball on the face. Almost always toey with irons and all over the place with driver.
Sometimes I need to check myself not to rush the downswing. Usually this translates into making sure I complete the backswing. Besides that, I swing as fast as I possibly can.
I think the key as you said is going as fast as you can’t whilst in control. I get faster I get wilder. No good swinging out your boots to hit it 20 yards further into the cr@p!
I find when i swing faster i get less curve on the ball. Strike can vary though
Hmmm 🤔 - if I make a bad shot, frustration kicks in and i can feel myself “speeding up” - slowing down probably means better tempo rather than actually slowing down ?
Do you mean you pick up club head speed when you hit bad shots?
@@AskGolfGuru no, I think I rush the downswing and then the tendency is to throw my hands out Causing the fade / slice. Slowing down just means bringing my shoulder hands elbow on a better path - I hope that makes sense 😂
Not hitting it out of the center of the club face with control is far more damaging for me.
Swing badly at 110 or swing badly at 102???? Let’s be honest you’re never going to eliminate bad shots by reducing speed
There’s things you can do in the gym and even at home with mobility exercises to maintain speed as you age.. I’m sure mark will agree that Mike Carroll from fit for golf is a brilliant source of information
Don't slow down what's fast, speed up what's slow!
Not a help unfortunately. Need to do a video on “ Tempo “. So many of us do swing to fast and in particular the downswing . 🤝
You probably swing the clubhead too fast...the handle too slow.....its called a flip