Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs will be online Tuesday at noon EST to answer your swing questions and analyze your swing videos. If you have question or video link for Brady, leave it in the comments section below!

Welcome to the Tuesday Blog Ask Brady Live! Thanks to everyone for your questions and comments. I appreciate those of you who have taken the time and effort to send in videos of your swing and "expose" yourself to criticism. See you guys next week......

Stevie asks at 1:50:

I received Jack's book for X-mas and have dedicated myself to hitting fades and draws on virtually every shot while practicing. It makes perfect sense to eliminate a directional miss and work the ball in the direction of the target. I can hit fade with every club on demand with an accurate judgement of exactly how far the ball is going fade, however I am struggling with maintaining a consistent amount of draw when I hit these shots. Is there any advice, or swing thought, or motion to emphasize pre swing to help. I have heard some talk about foot position in regards to a slightly closed stance, doing this however turns the draw into a high hook.

You are undertaking a very challenging task. Working the ball both directions on demand is a wonderful goal and can be very rewarding but……… it’s really difficult. It sounds like your naturally able to shape the ball from left to right with a great deal of control but the opposite direction is more challenging. This is completely normal and the reason many great players over the decades have stuck to one shape for the majority of their shots (some for all of their shots). From a playing standpoint I would encourage you to hit shots you have hit consistently well in practice before you try to execute them on the golf course. It sounds obvious but you need to put in a great deal of time experimenting on the range with your alignment, path, face position at impact, and release to dial in the correct mixture that gives you the shape you are looking for.

Nate asks at 1:30:

Hello Brady. You've given me swing advice before and today I have a question on proper leg and footwork. I've noticed that nearly every good golfer ends up in a position in which there is no gap between their thighs as viewed from 'down the line'. In other words, the inside of their knees seem like they are almost touching in the finishing position. Here are a few random examples...

http://youtu.be/oOIAAG9sRJ0

http://youtu.be/v7cr4kTLT7k

http://youtu.be/ksLG2MB-z0M

What is it about their lower body action (or swing, in general) that makes this happen and what could amateurs learn from it? I ask because in my finish position is not nearly so graceful and my right leg looks like it flares out. I'm wondering if I'm not clearing my lower body properly in the downswing because I also feel like my arms do not have enough space to swing freely; like my legs and hips are blocking them somewhat. I've narrowed my stance a bit and put weight more toward the balls of my feet like you mentioned before, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference yet. Here is my latest swing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b2kpRI8ph8

Great question Nate! Take a look at the answer I gave earlier to Alexandre regarding this specific issue. You are absolutely looking in the right place. It isn’t a good idea to work on the legs if the club sucks. In other words the priority should be on getting the clubface in a fairly square position and matching it with a path and angle of attack that produces some measure of consistency in ball flight. Once the club is under control you can go after the legs. The proper use of your feet, knees, hips and tush during the swing can take your ball striking to a much higher level. I am going to film a short segment on using the legs this week and have it ready for the blog next week to get you the specifics you need.  

davedmail@hotmail asks at 1:00:

I sent in a question a little bit back and you asked for a video. Unfortunately I cant get one as yet. The issue related to having the right shoulder not staying deep enough as the arms start down (in the dnswing)causing my hands to obviously get a little "out" and the clubhead a bit under the shaft plane and behind my hands halfway down. I am a plus hndcp golfer so i deal with this ok but dont hit the ball as well as when this part of my swing was better (and the club not behind my hands). W/O video, any possible thoughts as to the sequence error that is allowing the shoulder to go a bit soon (and the practice fix)?

Thanks for the follow up Dave. Without seeing the swing I am doing a bit of guessing as to what is causing the problem. I could be that you are overly deep early in the backswing with the location of your arms and club and the outward movement of your right shoulder is a natural reaction to find some balance as you begin the downswing. It is possible that you are out of sequence starting the downswing. If the feet and legs wait too long to engage in the transition the shoulders will move earlier than desired and the shoulder will come out towards the target line. I would like for you to check the backswing and make sure the problem isn’t starting by getting too much depth too soon. If that ins’t the issue you need to do some slow swings and isolate the transition from backswing to downswing to work on your sequence. Make sure you are getting some lateral motion in the lower body to start the downswing before your knees and hips begin rotating around to the target. How much lateral is very difficult to describe in text by without some there is no way to prevent the shoulder from moving out to the target line. Get me some video Dave!

Alexandre Laflamme asks at 12:20:

Big fan of the blog. I'm working on maintaining my tush line and I have the feeling that maintaining my spine angle through the the finish.
What's your thought about it?
Thanks!
DTL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFJz_2O-OE&context=C338fd9dADOEgsToPDskLSr6eL_7H0OQwBRiJxGwwu
Face on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTW_0PWiJKo&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Thanks for sending in the videos Alexandre. I think you are doing exactly what you are trying to do. I would like to see you use your legs and work against the ground more through impact. If you look at the picture I have attached you can see your upper right leg is away from your left and the foot has detached from the ground too early. It is important to create some “squeeze” in your tush and push away from the ground in your legs through impact. This will greatly increase your clubhead speed and dramatically improve your impact alignments. It may sound strange but both legs should be “posting up” at impact. Here are a few more pictures of what it should look like. This is a difficult concept to grasp so take your time and look at as many videos and pictures as possible to get the idea.

Mikey asks at 12:00:

I currently have a shoulder plane that is too flat on the backswing, causing me to come in too shallow and hit it off the heel. Why are some drills that can help me steepen my shoulder plane? Thank you

Thanks for the question Mikey. An overly flat shoulder turn on the backswing can cause the downswing to be too shallow and make the contact towards the heel. However, as with so many issues in the golf swing an early mistake in one direction causes the exact opposite mistake later in the swing. A shoulder turn that is too flat on the backswing more often than not leads to the downswing becoming too steep. I mention this so that you're sure that you are dealing with the correct issue.

If the flat shoulder turn is truly the issue, there are couple things you can do to make it better. The first is to check your posture and make sure that you're not to bent over the address position. When the upper body has too much forward lean the normal reaction during the take away is to stand up. When you lose the bend and become more upright the shoulders will immediately turn flatter than desired. With the correct posture in place try to get the feel that the left shoulder is turning down while the right shoulder is working up and back. When done properly you will feel some scrunching in the love handle above your left hip. As a result, your body will remain more centered over the ball and the shoulders will no longer be turning flat.

A word of caution Mikey, if this is overdone your weight will be pinned in your front foot and your head will move towards the target during the backswing. I promise you will not enjoy hitting the driver from that position. If you get the opportunity to send in some video of your swing do it ASAP. Look forward to seeing it.

I received my education in match play when I was 18. I was an American Junior Golf Association All-American, and I was playing against Alton Duhon in a 36-hole match-play final. Duhon, who won the U.S. Senior Amateur in 1982, was 52 at the time and I was out-driving him on every hole by 30 yards, easy.  But he was tough, and he wore me out. He was so consistent, hitting every fairway. He gave me nothing and he made me pay for everything I got. I didn't play badly. I made more birdies than he did, but I made more bogeys, too. Duhon was 1 up after 18 and beat me, 3 and 2. Here's what I learned:

1. Never Give a Hole Away
No matter how bad you're behind, never surrender a hole. Even when it looks like you have no chance to win the hole, hang in there as long as you can. Make your opponent beat you. Make him putt that three-footer. It's harder to win a hole than people think, and if you make your opponent fight for everything he gets, you'll have the advantage in the long run. Plus, you never know what can happen. You can win holes you never thought you could win as surely as you can lose ones that looked like certain wins.

2. Play the Course, Not the Person
Don't let your opponent take you off your game. You can't change the way you play and still play well. Instead, focus on executing your regular game. The best match-play players are consistent, guys like Colin Montgomerie and Geoff Ogilvy who are in every fairway and on every green in regulation. When you're driving it in the fairway and hitting greens, you put a tremendous amount of pressure on your opponent.

3. Expect Your Opponent to Make Every Shot
This is another rule to help you stay focused on your own game. Whenever you're opponent is getting ready to shoot, just assume he is going to hole that bunker shot, or sink that 30-foot putt. When he does make that long putt on a crucial hole, you'll be prepared for it, and it won't take you off your game.

4. Don't Take Unnecessary Risks
You don't have to be super-conservative, but if you have a borderline play, err on the side of caution. You want to avoid risky shots because you don't want to hand over a hole. You're trying to make winning a hole as costly as you can for your opponent, and if you misfire going for a par 5 in two, you're giving away a freebie, something you can't afford.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs on Tuesday at noon EST to answer your swing questions and analyze your swing videos. If you missed Brady this time, check back next week for an all-new edition!

Thanks for following Ask Brady Live! If I didn't get to your question please resubmit it next week and get it in early so I can get to it. Hope everyone has a great week of practice and playing.

Jeff asks at 1:30:

What are your thoughts on the right elbow/arm in the downswing....Furyk traps his behind his body (Jim Hardy) and others get it in front of their right hip. It seems if I trap it behind my body more like Furyk it forces more turn and keeps the shaft steeper. If the right elbow leads the shaft tends to get too flat with a lot of upper body hang back and the face stays open. Just curious as to what you think.

Furyk is the extreme example of getting the right elbows stuck behind the right hip on the downswing. There are many other players that get the right elbow out in front of the right hip including Tiger Woods. My personal preference is to have the right elbow down in front of you in what is referred to as a “pitch” position. I disagree that the right elbow in front of the hip tends to get the shaft too flat or forces the upper body to hang back with the face open. When the right elbow collides or is trapped by the right hip the left wrist tends to break down too quickly and forces the club to flip through impact. When the right elbow is down in front of the hip the hands lead the club shaft into impact creating the proper wrist conditions of a flat left wrist and a bent right wrist. I've included a few pictures to show you the differences between those elbow positions you referenced. It is obvious that you can play Major Championship golf from either position, this is a preference of both player and coach.

Casey asks at 1:00:

Could you please talk about the process of bringing a new swing to the course? I've changed my swing quiet a bit and my practice sessions have been a lot better but the course were sometimes be more hit and miss but now I think I'm on to something.

I've been trying really hard to practice like I play and play like I practice. By this, I mean I try to use fewer and more concise swing thoughts while practicing and I do the same on the course. I also try to not pay too much attention to ball flight. Instead, I try to focus on getting my setup and alignments right, then focusing on executing my feelings/thoughts with good tempo (both on the course and while practicing).

Would you say this is heading in the right direction? I ask mainly because I often hear people saying just to focus on target on the golf course, but I feel like I'm not ready to do that yet as. Thank you very much for the insight. Here is an update video too - I've practiced for 21 days and it's feeling great! I challenged myself to not miss a day in the next 3 years (because I'm afraid my myelin will deteriorate)!

Best,
Casey

Watching that video almost makes me feel bad that it was 80* last week in Los Angeles.

I think you are on the right track Casey. I have played golf for over 30 years and have never played well thinking about more than one thing in my swing or focusing exclusively on the target. When I have been at my best as a player the focus was on both the shape and trajectory of the shot I was trying to play. Trying to incorporate multiple changes to the swing and play is very difficult. This doesn’t mean you don’t need to go through some difficult times when making a change, it’s very normal.  It takes a great many reps to build the trust and the pathways necessary to have the change become thoughtless. It appears to me that you are getting closer to less thought about fewer keys in the swing, congrats.

Keep your expectations low and stick with the adjustments you have made and you will get there.

Still hate the belt BTW…

T asks at 12:45:

My question is about pitching and chipping. I see the PGA players mixing up there shots between shots that stick, that bounce once or twice and stop, and shots that release and roll 25 feet. How are they changing setup and swing to accomplish the different shot reaction? It all looks the same on TV but the results are drastic.

They have spent thousands of hours hitting all types of shots from various lies for decades. In a way it is that simple. Changing the face position, bounce, ball position, hinge, angle of attack, roll through impact, speed of swing, length of swing, acceleration, etc. will all affect the type of shot you are hitting. The best advice I can give you is to work on one shot at a time and build an arsenal of weapons that will give you options in every situation. Start with the most basic of shots like a chip and run. Use all the various clubs to figure out how much roll out you are getting with a LW vs a PW and so on.

Sam asks at 12:30:

Thanks as always for your time to help golf.com readers.

I've been experimenting lately with setting up open and hitting the outside of the ball with the driver to play a fade (almost an intentional slice). The past few weeks I've been finding the fairway alot as that ball fight is predictable, playable and doesn't hook with that setup. Others in my group, have said that playing the drive that way will adversely effect my iron game and swing. What is your expert opinion?

It sounds like you have made an adjustment that has produced a more effective and reliable ball flight. You wouldn’t be the first player that has tried to exaggerate the shape of their shots only to find the ball flying straighter than anticipated. There is absolutely no reason the adjustment shouldn’t work for the irons as well. In fact, most professionals you will see will be more open with the stance hitting an iron than the driver and attack on a slightly steeper angle. Here is a quick picture of Davis Love III hitting a driver vs. an iron for comparison.

Michael asks at 12:00:

Hi Brady,

Thank you in advance for look at my swing, it is greatly appreciated. I just have a couple of questions regarding my address position and early extension. I used to stand very far from the ball, and when I had a lesson they moved me to my current address position. My only question regarding this is why do my hands sit so close to me at address when compared to PGA pros? I feel like I stand the correct distance to the ball, and I don’t lose the tush line going back (except when I don’t transfer my weight completely back to my right heel, yet I don’t have any lateral movement). I was also told that I have fast hips, more likely a slow upper body, most likely causing my early extension, making my bad shot a hook. What are some drills that I can do to feel like I’m covering the ball at impact or so that my downswing is in sync? I also tend to hit the ball high on the face, is this due to a steep angle of attack, caused from early extension? One more question, I’ve only been playing golf for 2 years, but is there anything else major that I have to focus/work on beside this early extension?

Here’s a video of my swing (Sorry my head is cut off in the first few- the last two swings you can see my whole body):

Thanks for sending in the video Michael. I think your set-up position is still a bit off. If you look at where your tush begins at address and where it is at impact you will notice it has moved towards the ball several inches. I would like to see you move your toes back away from the ball and allow your weight to sit in the balls of your feet. This should put the end of the handle in line with the front of your shoes at address and make it much easier for you to maintain the Tush line during the swing. I have attached a picture of the proper look so you can get a visual.

The second issue I would work on is the flatness in the shaft as the club works from the takeaway to the top of the swing. When the club points well outside the target line on the way up to the top it well inevitably bounce across the line when you are finishing the backswing. As a result, there are several frames at the top of the swing where the only thing moving is the club across the line. There is no increase in potential power, no dynamic change of direction and no reason whatsoever to have so much excessive motion in the shaft. This will obviously lead to inconsistency but also create the steeper transition and angle of attack you were mentioning in your question. Get the shaft pointed more vertically immediately after takeaway and you will get rid of the excessive motion in the shaft at the top and make it much easier to get the club tracking properly as you begin the downswing. Here are a couple more pictures to help you.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs will be online today at 1 p.m. EST to answer your swing questions and analyze your swing videos. If you have a question or video link for Brady, leave it in the comments section below!

Thanks for joining me for the Tuesday Ask Brady Live! Send in your videos and question early next week! See you then......

Steve asks at 1:20:

I am a left handed person who was learned to play golf right handed. Back when I began playing play in my teens, many years ago (I am in my mid 50’s), left handed clubs were hard to come by, so I just started playing right handed. I am currently about a 10 handicap. My left side upper body wants to take over my swing which will result in a straight pull shot, maybe 30 yards left with a driver or fairway wood. I have fought this tendency by holding off my release just a bit which keeps the ball on a much straighter line. Even though that works most of the time, it seems more like a band aid than a solution. But when I want to bust a drive or try to hit that par 5 in two, that dreaded straight pull rears its ugly head. I believe I need to find a way to keep my upper body more in sync with my lower body. Any suggestions/drills would be greatly appreciated.

This is a very interesting question Steve because it seems backwards. Most people blame their dominant right side as a right handed player for coming over the top and hitting shots left of the target. The conventional thinking would be that your natural left handedness would prevent this from happening and help you keep the pull at bay without much difficulty. The fact that you mentioned your upper body as the problem area and not your arm or hand gives your argument more credibility. If the left side “spins” to begin the downswing in an attempt to create power the arms and club will move out and off the proper track forcing the club to attack the ball from more outside than desirable. It is also important to keep in mind that the cause of your pull can be more attributed to a closed clubface position than a poor path but let’s trust your instincts and deal with the spin of the upper body. The fix for this is to incorporate more lateral motion towards the target to begin your downswing rather than the rotation you are currently fighting. Move your left hip and upper body in the direction of the target and your arms will stay back away from the target line longer during the transition. This will keep the club behind you deeper into the downswing making it much easier for you to start the ball more right than you currently are seeing. I am sure you have seen the step drill as a way of practicing the proper sequence during the downswing. This is a good way for you to learn and ingrain the proper shift towards the target with your body to begin the downswing. Let me know how it goes and send in some video if you get a chance. Here are a couple of pictures of Tommy Armour III moving properly to start the downswing.

Jack Belknap asks at 1:55:

I play with a strong grip that may be as strong as Ed Fiori's which I know you've probably seen. My question is - should I try to achieve flatness to the back of my lead wrist at the top of the swing or should there be some bend to it? It seems like the flatness will close the face at the top while the bowing will put the face in a more open position. I see very little bowing from tour players but perhaps that is just because their grip is more neutral than strong. What do you think I should be trying to achieve relative to that lead wrist at the top of the swing? Thanks.

Funny you mention Ed Fiori. I played with him when I was 16 in the 1984 Insurance Youth Golf Classic in Jackson, Miss. It was the week after the PGA and the professionals joined our groups during the third round of the tournament. After seven holes I was -1 and working him over pretty easily making me wonder how the heck the guy was playing on the PGA Tour. A couple of hours later he had drummed me by 5 and I learned my lesson. Professional golf is all about turning 75 into 70 instead of the other way around (which is what I did). But I digress…

We need to get straight the whole bowed vs flat vs cupped thing at the top. I think when you mentioned bowed in your question you were referring to a cupped position instead. A bowed wrist is on the other side of flat where the knuckles of the hand are moved away from the top of the forearm while a cupped wrist has the knuckles moving towards the top of the forearm. If you combine a strong left hand grip with a flat left wrist at the top you will have what is described as a closed clubface position where the leading edge of the club is parallel to the horizon (or in that neighborhood). If the wrist actually becomes bowed, the clubface will be more closed and unplayable. When you said the face would be more open with a bowed position I believe you meant a cupped position which would make perfect sense. The slight bend in the left wrist associated with the cupped position will keep the leading edge closer to parallel to the outside of the left arm and not the horizon. This is considered to be square.

The playability of any of the combinations of wrist positions is variable. There are numerous PGA Tour players with strong grips that play with the left wrist flat at the top. There are many players that have a slight cup in the wrist with a strong grip and some have it with a more neutral grip. You rarely see the combination of a weak grip on tour with a cupped wrist at the top or a strong grip with the wrist bowed at the top. The reason these combinations are less likely is they put the clubface in a very difficult position to compensate for making consistency impossible.

In most cases, if the left hand grip is strong I would recommend the player maintain some cup in the left wrist at the top as it keeps the clubface from becoming too closed during the downswing. The closed face on the downswing makes it difficult to let go and release freely through impact. While there are obviously many exceptions to the rule, this is my preference.

Faldo and O'Hair slightly cupped and square.

Kris asks at 1:35:

Winter here (though mild this year and hopefully the snow will be gone early-last year played late May, but the year before was playing April 1), so I'm curious of any exercises I could be doing to help out my game (especially using free weights, which I have, whereas I do not have gym access). I'm pretty flexible already(hockey goalie), but any good trunk stretches couldn't go awry I'm sure. Thanks for all the great tips on here each week!

Kris

P.S. Best drill for putting distance control? Aim is fine, but average over 34 putts/rd and inconsistently blow it past the hole high or leave it low and short.

Thanks for your question Kris. It may surprise you living in So. California but I still play hockey every Tuesday night. Love the game.

There are countless programs available to help you maintain your flexibility and strength for golf. I have been using the P90X program for the last 2 years and find it to be amazing for maintaining my overall fitness. The fact that all the workouts can be done at home with no machines (free weights and a pull up bar is all you need) makes it very easy to deal with. I send all of my competitive players to Michael Pauldine of Fit2peak Golf. You can find plenty of information about him online and see his workouts on Youtube.

The best drill for working on your distance control with your putting (and chipping as well) is what I call the Leapfrog drill. Set up two tees about 3 feet apart 10 feet away from you. Take five balls and try to hit each put past the tees progressively farther away than the previous ball. When you are able to hit each putt past the tees a little farther than the putt before and keep all the balls within 3 feet of each other increase the distance to 15 feet and so on. The pressure will build with each putt as you get closer to achieving the goal. This is critical to making practice more beneficial to your actual performance rather than just whacking putts around the green with no consequence. I would also recommend that you gamble (small wagers are fine) as much as possible for the same reasons. Practice with consequences and you will be much better for it.

Go Kings!

Don asks at 1:15:

For the last month I am struggling with pulling the ball. I am hitting it very solid with great ball flight, just left of my target. With wedges it is like 10-15 yds left and progressively further left as clubs get longer. I have been grinding on my alignment, but still missing left. Is there something else I should be looking at?

Without seeing the swing we are obviously guessing as to the cause of the pulls. There are a couple ‘usual suspects” when it comes to the ball flying left of the target. Alignment is a great place to start but it sounds like you have that covered. The on-course correction I would make would be to move the ball back slightly in the stance. This will help the ball start more right of the target and is always a better choice during a round than trying to change the swing. If neither of these adjustments (alignment and ball position) are having a benefit and fixing the issue then you need to begin looking at the clubface position and path of the club. Obviously a closed clubface position will make the ball go left of where you would like as would a path that is attacking more from the outside than desirable. Without getting into all of the possible combinations of face and path conditions that will produce balls flying left of the target being mindful of keeping a square face and a neutral path is always prudent. Try the ball position first and move on to the face and path if necessary.

Stephen asks at 1:00:

I currently play of a 3 handicap (UK) but was as low as 0.7. I have always tilted my head towards the target during my backswing (my left ear almost touches my left shoulder) which causes me to dip my left shoulder and have my head ahead of the ball - do you have any drills to try and stop me doing this. I feel it starts by not transferring my weight on my right side intially rather I more dip my left shoulder and my head follows. I have tried to start more with my head dipped away from the target but my head just tilts further towards the target during the backswing.

Eye dominance can play a significant role in head tilt during the golf swing. Left eye dominant players often have the tendency to tilt the left ear towards the ground during the takeaway as it allows them to “see” the ball more easily. While this can be a difficult issue to fix it is doable. Try to keep the length in the left side of your torso during the takeaway. In other words, keep the stretch of your left side from your hip to your shoulder and you will prevent the head from moving in the direction of the target as the turn will become flatter. While this may be contrary to many of the fads we see in today’s instruction, some lateral motion during the takeaway in the head has worked for generations of players.

For Golf Magazine's new ClubTest Driver Issue, we asked Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers what they thought about driver loft, the most important club in an amateur's bag, and what club they'd use in a one-club tournament. Here are the results:

Comments:

"The less clubhead speed you have the more loft that is needed." --Glenn Deck, Pelican Hill Resort, Newport Coast, Calif.

"Loft is your friend. It helps you hit it straighter." --Jim Murphy, Sugar Creek Country Club, Sugar Land, Texas

Comments:

"They use the putter 33-40 times, the driver only 12-14. What do you think?" --Steve Bosdosh, Four Streams Golf Academy in Beallsville, Md.

Comments:

"Loft helps you get the ball higher and softer, so if you have the correct bounce the lob wedges is the best out of sand." --Jim Murphy, Sugar Creek Country Club, Sugar Land, Texas

Comments:

"The right putter will save them two shots, the right driver one shot, and correct irons and wedges another shot or two." --Glenn Deck, Pelican Hill Resort, Newport Coast, Calif.

Comments:

"With the advancement of technology, most amateurs should replace their long irons with hybrids because they are easier to hit both in the rough and in the fairway." --Glenn Deck, Pelican Hill Resort, Newport Coast, Calif. 

"Hybrids are so much easier to hit than long irons so use them as much as you can." --Jim Murphy, Sugar Creek Country Club, Sugar Land, Texas   

"After the 6-iron, the rest are useless for the average golfer. Use the hybrids!" --Steve Bosdosh, Four Streams Golf Academy in Beallsville, Md.

Comments:

"I played 9 holes with a 5-iron and shot 39. 6 or 7 would work too." --Mike LaBauve, Kierland Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.

"6-iron, I can hook it for distance as well as it high with a fade. I can hit chips around greens and am good with sand shots, it is very versatile and I've used it in one-club events." --Brian Mogg, Brian Mogg Performance Center, Orlando, Fla.

"A 6-iron, because I know how to make it go high or low, curve left or right." --John Elliott, St. Andrews Golf & Country Club, West Chicago, Ill.

"8-iron. I can hood/close it and hit it 200 yards and open it and lay it back and hit it 80. Then I putt by hitting on the leading edge." --T.J. Tomasi, PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

"5-hybrid: You can deloft it for a driver. You can putt with it, chip, hit out of a bunker and bump-an- run pitch shots, so you have the entire bag in one club." --Nancy Quarcelino, Nancy Quarcelino School of Golf, Spring Hill, Tenn.

--

This story originally appeared in the Golf Magazine Front9 App. To download the weekly app, visit the Apple iTunes store.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs stopped by on Tuesday at noon EST to answer your swing questions and analyze your swing videos. If you have a question or video link for Brady, be sure to check back next week for an all-new edition! Welcome to the Tuesday edition of Ask Brady Live! Thanks to all for your questions and especially the videos. Sorry I couldn't get to everyone, please send your unanswered questions in again next week so I can help you improve. Have a great week.

Mark asks at 1:20:

Hello Brady again - Just following up from last week as I couldn't get my comments in on time.

Here are the relevant video links:

Chair and headcover drill:
Face-on Driver:
Free Swing DTL Driver:

I'm thinking I'm close to maintaining the tush line (the chair drill reinforces the move best with me), however I'm looking for confirmation from you and would appreciate any other comments on anything else you notice.

I think the tush line issue is improving. To get it completely resolved the right hip needs to get farther from the ball at impact by rotating more sharply. Their isn’t a great deal of lateral slide in the lower body during the downswing but there could still be more rotation.  The improvement in the rotation of your hips will help your tush maintain the line and your upper body will move through the ball much easier. When the upper body and head hang back behind the ball the left arm will extend too early during impact.  Fixing the issue with hips will help your be behind its original position, just not as far behind, and your left arm will maintain some bend during impact. I have included a couple of pictures to help you get the idea. Sorry they are righthanded but you get the idea.

Cam asks at 12:45:

I just wanted to see if you had any thoughts on my motion, or ideas about what I should be working on.

What I think I'm doing wrong:
I'm coming too far inside and consequently crossing the line at the top of my swing. I think that my legs are collapsing and my right foot is coming off the ground sooner than it should. In addition, I feel like I'm holding it off and not fully releasing at impact. 
I included several angles with both irons and driver. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPmxfwWRb8k

The takeaway is a bit inside, club across at the top. The posture is a bit too upright at address forcing you to drop down with your upper body towards the ball during the takeaway. I agree that your lower body is running out in front of you during the downswing making the swing out of sync and inconsistent. I would love to see the posture improve at address and the backswing get on track but the lack of correct sequencing during impact is the big issue. I have included a picture of your delivery position compared to where I would like to see you. Hit short, slow shots working on getting your arms down in front of you during delivery to get the swing synced up properly. Don’t pick up the pace of the swing until you have gotten a very good feel on the shorter slower shots. Check out the pictures and send in some new video when you get a chance.

Kermit Murphy asks at 12:20:

Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to help ordinary golfers like myself. I always look forward to reading your comments on Tuesdays. I have included a video below and would love to know your thoughts on how to improve. In the first two swings the ball goes hard left which is normally my miss. I also have a few lingering questions. How should I improve my pivot? Am I on the right track with my takeaway rehearsals? Why does the ball go left? Why does my follow thru look so weird? Sorry to overload you with questions. Thanks again. Kermit

Thanks for the kind words Kermit. Looking at the videos it is obvious you are no ordinary golfer but one that can swing the club quite well. The lefts that you are complaining about are caused by the body hanging too far back behind the ball at impact making the hands overwork. I like the takeaway rehearsal as it appears you are trying to keep the hands inside the clubhead longer to prevent the club from working too far inside too quickly. The follow through and finish look weird because your upper body and head have to “chase” down the target line awkwardly to catch up to the arms and club that have gone through without you. This is what I would like to see you try. While I think your takeaway rehearsal is helpful I would like to see your hips be less active in the beginning of your backswing. The hips are overactive dragging the club too far inside during the takeaway. The real issue with the hips is the effect it has on your upper body, specifically your head. With the hips quieter in the beginning your club will work more up instead of in and your head will move away from the target, just not as much as before. This will put your lower body in a better position at the top of the swing and make it much easier for you to rotate from head to hips properly through impact. When the upper body isn’t hanging back as much during and after contact your hands will be less involved preventing the left miss you are currently struggling with. At impact, your head can be slightly behind its original location at address with the driver. It was well behind in the video you sent in making the chase of your upper body after impact inevitable. Send in the new videos when you make some changes. Here are a couple of pictures to get you on track.

Easak asks at 12:00:

I was hoping to get your thoughts on how I can improve my swing. My most common misses are pushes, hooks, and thin shots. I noticed when I pause my swing right before impact that I have completely cast the club so I was wondering if you could address that as well as any other faults you see. Thanks so much for your help.

Here's a link to my swing:

Thank you for sending in your video. The single most important aspect of the golf swing is the set-up. This is true regardless of the level of player and very relevant for your swing. The pushes, hooks and thin shots will continue to be an issue unless you move in closer to the ball at address and improve your posture. You are currently standing too far from the ball with the weight too far in your heels. As a result the arms are hanging too far away from your body when you begin making it probable that the swing will be too flat, which it is. On the downswing you will move your body back into a position of more leverage, forcing the tush well off the line it began against. Your head moves several inches back away from the target line as your upper body becomes vertical at impact. The combination of the poor address position and posture start the dominoes falling. Here is a picture of a better address position for you to try to emulate.

Former pencil-necked geek Rory McIlroy showed up looking buff at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and talked about fitness routines with new buddy and fellow gym rat Tiger Woods. Should you think about hitting the gym to lower your scores? We asked Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers to find out.

Comments:

"The golf swing is predicated on the entire body working in a coordinated way. Therefore it can’t be just one part. In most cases golfers total flexibility is a highly desired quality to be improved." --Paul Marchand, Shadow Hawk Golf Club, Richland, Texas

"The most important part of the body for golfers to improve is their core to protect their backs and lengthen career spans." --Kellie Stenzel, Sebonak Golf Club, Southampton, N.Y.

Comments:

"The ability to lift a couple of hundred of pounds will not necessarily transfer to the golf course." --Ted Sheftic, Ted Sheftic Learning Center, New Oxford, Pa.

"Not necessarily, it could interfere with a good shoulder turn." --Peter Krause, Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head, S.C.

Comments:

"When you work the upper body as much as he did, the small carriage legs could not withstand the load." --Nancy Quarcelino, Nancy Quarcelino School of Golf, Spring Hill, Tenn.

"Yes, and look what it got him: more injuries." --Steve Bosdosh, The Members Club at Four Streams, Beallsville, Md. 

Comments:

"I've been told that Lee Westwood can bench press more than anyone."  --Ed Ibarguen, Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C.

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This story originally appeared in the Golf Magazine Front9 App. To download the weekly app, visit the Apple iTunes store.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday to answer your swing questions and analyze your swing videos. If you have a question or video link for Brady, come back next week for another editor of Ask Brady Live!

Thanks to everyone for your questions and comments. We will be back at it next week so get those videos in early so I can be sure to get to them. Should be another great week here is Southern California. Thanks again to Mark and JC Video for all their help and support.

David asks at 2:30:

I am a plus handicap but am getting the club behind my hands halfway into the downswing, thus coming too inside out. It also seems that my right shoulder moves toward the ball just a bit early in the downswing compared to most tour players. Without a video to send, any thoughts/feedback?
Thanks so much!

The scenario you are describing is a bit strange. Usually when the right shoulder moves out toward the ball too early in the downswing, the hands are thrown out in the same direction and the club ends up too far outside the proper path. I would love to see a video of your swing so I don’t lead you down the wrong path. Let me know if you can make that happen…

Jerry asks at 2:05:

Hello Brady. Someone told me to stick my butt out for a better turn. Can you get into it better and any drills to make it work? Thank you for the time you take to help the weekend warriors.

Thank you for following the blog, Jerry. I have absolutely no idea why someone told you that. Were they trying to help your hips turn? Shoulders? Core? Not sure. Most “weekend warriors” would be well served to allow their hips to turn freely during the backswing. Trying to restrict your lower body’s rotation and crank your upper body against it should be left for those very flexible and/or playing on television. If your weight is fairly balanced in both feet at address and your knees feel flexed and relatively bouncy, you are most likely in a decent starting position. Sticking your butt out will only help the amusement level of your playing partners in addition to their wallets. Once the set-up is better, the most simple advice I can give you is to try to “moon” the target with your tush during the backswing. This will help your hip turn freely and encourage the club to attack the ball on a more inside track. When you do this properly, your weight will move back into your right heel at the top of the swing. There are many swing methodologies out there that would have you start with the weight more on your front foot and leave it there during the backswing while you allow your head to remain centered or move slightly to the target. Don’t do that. Turn your tush, stay bent over which will allow your head to move slightly off the ball (I will be tarred and feathered, for sure) and you will hit it better. Here are a couple of pictures of great players committing the two “fatal flaws” of turning their hips and moving their head. Let me know how it goes….

Matt asks at 1:45:

Here's my swing, please let me know what you think. I know of two problems personally, my clubhead is too behind my hands in the backswing, and my head drops down and a bit back in the downswing. Sorry for the video seeming patchy, I had to edit it because it's from a video lesson I do with my local pro, and he comments on the videos. So I had to cut and paste the swing together at some points, I do not have those hitches in my swing. Of course the swings are in slower speed than normal. I am just looking for guidance on my stance, posture, grip, ball position, swing path, things like that. Thanks.

Thanks for sending in the videos, Matt. It looks like the professional doing the lesson gave you some indication of where you could begin. While there are things to improve upon in your golf swing, it does appear the club is attacking the ball from a fairly good place in the video you submitted. The ball appears to be well back in your stance and your weight is sitting well back in your heels. When the ball is too far back and your weight sits in the heels, it is almost inevitable that you will take the club too far to the inside during the takeaway. This usually forces the club across the line at the top of the swing, triggering a transition that is too steep. Steep in this case basically means an extension of the club is pointing well inside the target line when your hands are just below your right shoulder on the downswing. The save for this is to slide your lower body to the target as it buys more time for the club to drop onto a more playable path. As a result, your upper body will get stuck through impact and hang back behind the ball excessively making it difficult to rotate properly through impact. This is the cause of your lack of extension and inability to finish the swing in a more traditionally balanced position.

Hey, you asked!!!!

So, here is the deal. It may seem like a daunting task, but you may read into my critique the fact that it all starts with the set-up. When you improve the starting position, your takeaway will improve as will the top and so on. Get the ball more forward in your stance and move your heels back away from the ball so your knees can bend over your toes. Once this is adjusted you will be on your way to making a better and more productive golf swing. The takeaway will need a bit more work to get on track but if you focus on maintaining the bends present in your left wrist from address to the top of your swing you will be well on your way. Get some video to me in the next couple of weeks so I can check on your progress. Here are a couple of pictures to help you visualize the changes.

Nate asks at 1:20:

Hello Brady. I'll keep it short and simple; how does my swing look to you?

I know it is hard to tell much with a single camera angle and without high quality video or slow motion, but any thoughts would be appreciated. My miss is pretty consistent: a straight push to the right (w/ a slight right-to-left bias). I am thinking perhaps I have the ball too far back in the stance and am not getting around to square at impact.

Here is a "caddy view" to complement the down the line angle:

Thanks for sending in the video. There are many that would love to have not only your golf swing but your consistent miss. Overall I think the swing is quite good. There are a few things that could be changed to make the swing more dynamic and consistent. Your grip is a bit on the strong side and the clubface appears closed at the top of the swing as a result. While many great players have played with this combination, it can be problematic for some and is often the source of the “right-to-left bias” you mentioned. The other issue has to do with the (lack) of participation of your lower body during the swing. Your stance is too wide, making a dynamic lower body move nearly impossible. I would also like to see your weight get more up onto the balls of your feet at address. Your weight is sitting back too much in your heel, making it very difficult to move properly during the swing. This will give you the “feel” of more bounce in your legs and encourage you to use the body more actively during the swing. The combination of a more neutral grip and livelier lower body will be uncomfortable and challenging to be sure. How much you should change things should be determined by your comfort level and the changes in ball flight that occur. Let me know how it goes….

Jack Stein asks at 1:00:

Morning, I am a low single-digit index. However, at the top I cross the line, my left wrist cups too much and my right elbow gets behind me -- ouch -- I then come from the inside too much and too shallow. I have learned to hit the ball from this position; however, I would love to cure it. When I put the club to the top in a good position, I am able to swing with no re-route and my right elbow comes in front and I hit the ball better. Help? Please. Thanks, Jack Stein 

It sounds like you have a good idea about what you need to do with your golf swing. As a low single-digit player you face a unique challenge when changing the shape of your backswing. While the across the line position at the top creates its own set of issues you are able to deal with it and play well. When you make the changes to the backswing the results immediately become inconsistent, especially on the golf course. If you are certain you want to make the change, you need to adjust the way you practice and the expectations you have when playing. Take some time away from the course under competitive settings so you can remove the “result” component of the game from the equation. Work with the feedback of either your coach or a camera so you can continue to ingrain the changes you are making. Like any swing change you will have some ups and downs along the way but if you stay away from “results” based practice and play you will have a better chance of making it stick.

How would I describe former President Bill Clinton’s golf swing, as seen at last week’s Humana Challenge in Palm Springs? Entertaining and dangerous. Seriously, I don’t know what those people were thinking when they stood in front of or to the side of him at that tournament. I would be behind all of the celebrities, or next to the flag –- those are the only safe places.

Here’s a video of Clinton in action in Palm Springs.

Let’s start with the good stuff. At 65, Clinton still has a lot of flexibility left, and he creates some decent speed with his swing. He’s a big guy who still has some athleticism; he doesn’t look like an old man out there. See the way he gets off his back foot? He’s really swinging at it and not leaving anything in the bag. It’s an aggressive move.

Unfortunately, it’s not a good move from a technical standpoint. His grip is too weak and his left shoulder is open, so he is set up to hit the ball right. He also doesn’t keep his balance through the swing. At the end, he staggers around a little, so the swing feels a little incomplete. From where he starts, Clinton doesn’t have much of a chance to do anything with the ball. In fact, everything he does is to compensate for the right-side miss he sets up for. If he fixed his grip, he’d do a lot better very quickly.

Clinton and President Barack Obama played golf together last fall, and afterward Clinton said he shot 92 and lost “by a shot or two.” That sounds about right to me. Back in 2008 I analyzed Obama’s swing, and everything about Obama’s swing looks more solid than Clinton's. That said, Obama doesn’t swing the club as aggressively as Clinton. His swing is more conservative and flat-footed. Clinton has a bigger swing with a wider range of motion, but that weak grip doesn’t give him much of a chance. Obama won’t hit it as far as Clinton, but Clinton is more likely to find trouble.

Both of them have better swings than most of what I see on the driving range every day, and it’s great for golf that presidents and former presidents love the game. (George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are both avid players as well.) But if you ever find yourself watching a president at a celebrity pro-am, remember to stand back, way back.

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This story was produced for Golf Magazine's weekly Front9 app. To keep up with the latest golf news, get great tips from the Top 100 Teachers in America, and weekly Rules Guy columns, download the Front9 app at the Apple iTunes store. A lifetime subscription is $2.99.

The 2011 season ended in a ‘24’-style cliffhanger with Tiger winning the Chevron. Back playing this week, will Tiger continue his winning way in 2012? Can he still break Jack’s record? Did former coach and current biographer Hank Haney breach Tiger’s trust. We asked our Top 100 Teachers for the real story. Here's what they said:

Comments: 

"I would absolutely bet more if I had it." --David Glenz, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, N.J

"No, but that is only because I would never bet that amount on anything. I still think he has a shot at it." --Dom DiJulia, Dom DiJulia School of Golf, New Hope, Pa.  

"I would bet my house on Tiger breaking Jack's record 18 majors. When Tiger is done he will own 24 majors." --Mike Adams, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, N.J.

Comments:

"If it’s all about golf, then don't teachers share their knowledge to help others become better? If it’s not about golf then its weak." --Jim Murphy, Sugar Creek Country Club, Sugar Land, Texas 

"He is being selfishly opportunistic. His ego is far beyond his teaching knowledge." --David Glenz, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, N.J

"Not unless he wants to lose all credibility and make some tabloid $$$." --Joe Hallet, PGA Center for Learning and Performance, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 

"Hank's claim that the book covers part of golf history has validity but we'll have to see how far he goes...it will all depend on the content for me." –-Dom DiJulia, Dom DiJulia School of Golf, New Hope, Pa.

"Why not? I can't wait to read it." --Steve Bosdosh, The Members Club at Four Streams, Beallsville, Md.    

"I would have to think that Tiger did more for Hank's career than Hank did for Tiger's. Pretty sure the Golf Channel wouldn't do a Haney Project if Hank was teaching me instead of Tiger." --Jason Carbone, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.     

"Why would an instructor write a book about any student? The intimacy of a relationship that long and well-known should remain private. I compare it to a spouse writing a book about their well-known partner following a divorce." –-David Wright, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club‎, Mission Viejo, Calif.

"Yes, unless he's allergic to making a ton money." --Tom Stickney, Big Horn Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif.

Comments:

"He can still control his trajectory and distance at an elite level." –-Jason Carbone, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J. 

"I don't see him as having a dominate part of his game at this time." --Ed Ibarguen, Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C.

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This story was produced for Golf Magazine's weekly Front9 app. To keep up with the latest golf news, get great tips from the Top 100 Teachers in America, and weekly Rules Guy columns, download the Front9 app at the Apple iTunes store. A lifetime subscription is $2.99.