Learning to Hit

[Daryti]

I tried to learn to hit but still not able to hit too long and not sure is correct.

Appreciate very much if you can provide comments:

1. Set up: it seems to me that I am standing too far away, but if I bent the right arm more it will be at the elbow plane and unable to hit the ball.

2. How many shift? Am I on the shoulder plan? It quite confuse for me.

3. I tried to hold the bent right wrist, take it slowly up and push down on #1 pp.

4. Too much fanning? or less? If I fan more it will be spinning down.

5. How to take up the slack? At this moment, my fist move down is just pushing #1.

Thanks a million for your help.

Danny

[KevCarter]

Danny,

Lets start a little slower as I think a change at set up is going to make a huge difference in your other questions. This is the frustrating part of not being there, as a small change will change everything else.

In my opinion, your problem starts at set up. In trying to get your right forearm on plane, you have raised your left arm too much. Your left wrist needs to be level at set up, and I believe it to be un-cocked. Lower your left arm a little bit and check that alignment closely. That will also give you a little more bend at the waist, and put your head in a more natural position.

From there, to get your right arm flying wedge set on plane, you will need to lower your right shoulder a little bit... a little more tilt.

Make sense? I'm anxious to hear from other hitters as well to make certain I'm steering you in the proper direction. Getting these alignments set up properly, the way YODA teaches is HUGE!

Kevin

[hg]

Here's a side by side view to facilitate comments

[KevCarter]

Thanks HG. Very helpful!!! Do you see what I see?

Kevin

[gmbtempe]

Thats a little Mo Norman at setup!

I agree with Kevin, its a couple of minor adjustments. You look on plane at impact (though I suggest positioning the camera farther to the left, along the stance line). What are your misses, is it a pull, straight, push and then does the ball curve one direction or another?

[Daryti]

Thanks a million for all the comments.

I have tried different set up and read the thread, watch youtube etc. The reason I have the current setup is I thought (obvious not correct and misconcept!):

1. to have no shift, therefore more simple and consistence, try to locate at the shoulder turned plan at setup.
2. ball flight usually push right if not straight.
3. did try setting up with more right arm bent and tilt (by shifting the hip therefore keeping the shoulder square), but usually taking the club too inside and hitting behind, to the right and low ball flight (probably wrong with my fanning) and becasue thinking to achieve a shoulder turned plane for hitter and instead of elbow plane, and Norman set up on youtube therefore becoming current set up

Does setting up with more tilt make the backswing more around and inside? Clubface usually closed at the top is that ok? How can you determine the correct bent and setup?

Thanks again.

[gmbtempe]

More tilt is likely going to take the club inside, so would having your weight left at setup (not that you do that just saying).

Steve Elkington is working on a little bit of a Moe Norman setup and swing, found a video on Youtube breaking it down...its interesting given how much Elk has worked with Ben Doyle.

[Daryti]

I will try the new set up in the driving range. But how can you achieve a zero shift as recommended in the book using an elbow plane? And at impact fix as address for hitting, should the left arm and the club be in a straight line?

[KevCarter]

Hi Danny,

Left arm and shaft should not be in a straight line. Take another look at the picture of Brian Gay, which I believe to be YODA's ideal.

Think of zero shift as a "feel" not a mechanically perfect requirement. I hope you don't mind me continuing to use pictures of Brian, but I think they are the model. These are pretty good depictions of a very slight shift in planes that would "feel" to me as zero shifting.

Kevin

[siksta]

Where is that Hong Kong?