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.

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.

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.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday at noon EST 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!

Welcome to the Tuesday edition of Ask Brady Riggs Live! Thanks to everyone for your patience. I tried to get to as many questions as possible. Time to get some sleep here on the west coast as it is nearing 1 a.m. If I didn't get to your issue, please resubmit the question next week and I will be sure to get you some help. Thanks again to all for your participation and I will see you on the lesson tee at Woodley Lakes GC in beautiful Van Nuys, CA.

Lefty asks at 2:00:

Hi Brady, thanks as always for doing this. I've finally sorted out my backswing (moving my left butt cheek to the target in a twisting fashion -- I'm a lefty), and I love the idea of stepping onto my right foot to start the swing but sometimes that move gets me too far over, i.e., not enough separation between lower and upper halves. Any tips?

Glad to do it. It sounds like you have found a good key to sort out the "tush line" during the backswing. I assume when you say the "step onto the right foot is getting you too far over," you are referring to your upper body. Try to keep your chest and head facing away from the target and behind the ball as you begin the transition with your lower body. This will help you get the separation you are looking for that will produce more power and prevent you from going too far. You can visualize a little more tilt with your upper body away from the target at impact as it will help you move the swing into the right direction. Let me know how it goes.

Kris asks at 1:45:

Snow day today, so actually get to ask a question for the first time in awhile! I made a big swing change at the end of last season, and over the course of two weeks all my irons added about 20 yards (4i from 175 to 200, 7i from 145 to 170, 55° from 80 to 100) and go much lower and straighter (went from a sweeper to a digger). But I did find that my driver didn't improve at all! It's still lucky to go 250 with roll (barely longer than my 3 metal). Help me out. What exactly are a few of the general differences between a driver swing and an iron swing? My old swing led to a really high ball flight with the driver, but rarely any significant distance (not to mention a regular slice), but my new swing gives me a straight stinger (occasionally pulled left--NOT a hook) that goes a similar distance because my course has long fairways that don't allow for much roll. I put the ball about level with my forward foot. How do I get my new swing to hit up on the ball? Any general driver tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the weekly tips, love reading them every Tuesday!

P.S. my factor has gone from 28 to a 9 in two seasons, and at the end of last year I was only hitting 4/8/SW and shooting mid-70s, so if I can stop losing strokes with my bad driver, it would really help me out!

I think you are looking in the right place when you mention hitting up on the driver as a solution. The steeper angle of attack that has worked with the irons won’t do much for the distance of your driver. The ball position as you have described it seems to be fine and instinct to avoid hitting down is correct. Try to remember two key elements when hitting the driver. First, your head must be at or behind it’s original position at impact with the driver, while this isn’t mandatory with the irons. The bottom of the arc is out in front of the ball with the irons making it perfectly reasonable to move in the direction of the target. This is obviously not the case with the driver. In addition to staying “behind” the ball you need to make sure you have some right-side tilt during impact. This will not only help your head stay behind the ball but will encourage the club to work slightly up during impact. Please keep in mind when hitting the driver that you will have more success in eliminating your slice if the stance is slightly closed. Without getting into too much detail, the forward ball position combined with the ascending clubhead will conspire to make the ball go left of the target. There have been countless champions through the decades that have their stance slightly closed with the driver and slightly open with the irons. Let me know how it goes.

Steve asks at 1:30:

I am 57 years old, 5'10  and weigh about 215 lbs and have always been fairly athletic. I have lifted weights most of my life and am very broad in the shoulders and chest. It has always been more comfortable for me to bend over a bit more at address and have a flatter swing. On my backswing, the club crosses my bicep. I am a 10 handicap and a decent ball striker and very happy with that since I don't have a ton of time to practice. I took a lesson a short time ago and the instructor wanted me to change to a more upright stance and out-and-up swing. I can hit the ball pretty well that way, but it just seems more natural to swing flatter and more around my body. Does or should your body shape have any influence on your golf swing?

Without going into a long diatribe about body types and swing shapes the simple answer is yes, the swing is most definitely influenced by the body type. I would go back to your more natural backswing shape that was both effective and comfortable, leaving the more out-and-upright version behind. As a rule, I wouldn’t make such a significant change to your technique unless you were having significant issues with your ballstriking.

Michael P asks at 1:10:

I have a over-the-top swing that leaves my divots pointing way left of the target. I have had this issue for years and I can't seem to shake it. When I am on the range, if I stop my swing at the very top to check my setup, then continue with my swing, I don't have the over-the-top swing. This only happens when I am on the course and when I do a swing at the range where I don't pause at the top. Do you have tips or drills I can work on to fix my over-the-top or outside in swing?

This is one of those issues that I wish you were on my lesson tee for 5 minutes. The slow swings and stopped swings are great ways to feel and ingrain the proper path into impact. When the speed picks up you lose your ability to control the order and speed of the rotation of your body. The best thing you can do is work in the speed you are having success with the swing changes. If you are at a speed that produces the same over-the-top move then you must slow down or nothing is going to change.

Casey asks at 1:00:

The hip is OK. Just need to go to some PT, no surgery.

Have you read The Talent Code? I remember you hammering away a very slow reps to make a change stick, but I didn't believe it or want to hear it (thick-headed). But over the last few weeks I've noticed my swing falls apart very quickly, like the changes I made do not stick at all. Then I picked up the book and started reading it, and began to understand why -- I wasn't engraining the changes and it was impossible for me to go full speed. I could on the range with a ton of hard work and headaches but I couldn't bring it to the course.

Anyway, like numerous times before, I've realized that you gave me very good advice about doing the slow reps to engrain. Thank you for pointing this out. I wish I understood this and realized why it was important months ago.

Here is an update video. It's amazing how if I just get my takeaway and setup right the rest kind of falls into place.

Thanks again,
Casey

DTL - first swing at 1:04 (sorry I was stretching and making slow reps)

Glad to hear about your hip. It sounds like you are learning a great deal about how to get better. The Talent Code is a very good read. Casey, the fact is you learn things that are important when you are ready to learn them. One of my mentors in teaching, Ben Doyle, had two great things he used to stay that have stuck with me over the years. The first was that the chick has to peck at the egg a thousand times to break it and get out; in other words, sometimes it takes a great deal of repetition and effort to make a change. The other thing he always used to ask me was, Can I make the motion “slower and heavier”? He wanted me to stop over-accelerating, slow down, relax, and feel the weight of the club be moved by my pivot. Those are lessons I learned over time and they have stuck with me for the last 20-something years. I agree about getting the takeaway working first and the benefits that go with it. The swing looks really good and I like how you are practicing very purposefully. This is going to be a big year for you, Casey.

Kevin asks at 12:35:

Thanks for sharing your wise insights with us each week. I have a question about straightening and bracing against the left leg at impact. How does one do this without lifting up a bit. If you start the swing in an athletic position, with the knees slightly bent, and then the left leg straightens at impact, wouldn't that naturally cause the body and head to lift a bit, resulting in a thin shot? Do you have any drills to help perform the correct lower body motion with the legs (particularly the left leg) while staying down?

Thanks for the kind words and the great question. The funny thing is the left leg can be straightening through impact and the head can be lower than it was at address. This is possible because the left hip is farther from the ball at impact through rotation than it began and the upper body has right-side tilt. This allows the left arm to be extended, left shoulder higher than address, right arm more bent than at address, right wrist bent backwards, hands forward, etc. The most important thing to understand is that impact and address are completely different. Here are a couple of pictures to help you visualize.

Mark R asks at 12:15:

Great job, makes my Tuesdays. Equipment question if you don't mind? Would a heavier driver (greater than 75 grams), stiff shaft help slow down my incorrect fast transition. Or would an X-stiff light weight shaft (less than 65 grams) help cure the tempo of my transition? I understand swing speed is critical and every swing is different, just wondering your thoughts as you see the best swings and equipment perform up close. Thank you, sir.

Equipment issues are always best sorted out on the range with multiple options in clubs, balls, etc. and with the use of technology to measure ball speed, spin rates, launch angle, etc. The simple answer to your question is without seeing you hit balls with the above mentioned equipment present I would be guessing. I don’t like guessing much. The final thing I would tell you is that I have never been a big fan of trying to fix issues with your swing through equipment changes. There are better ways to improve the sequence and timing of your transition than changing drivers although I’m sure an equipment expert would have a different opinion.

Chuck Spanburg asks at 12:00:

I pull most of my irons to the left. HELP PLEASE!

There can be multiple reasons why your iron shots are heading left of the target. Here are a couple possible scenarios: The most common cause of the pull is the clubface being closed. This can happen for a variety of reasons from a grip that is too strong, a left wrist that is bowed excessively during the swing, the body hanging back behind the ball too much at impact causing the hands to flip the face shut or the ball being played too far forward in the stance. While you might think the closed face will cause an excessive draw or a hook, the shorter irons won’t curve very much making the clubface a strong possibility. The other likely culprit is the path. If the club is attacking the ball from too far outside a neutral path, the ball can start left of the target if the face isn’t open to the path. In other words, if everything is pointing left (path and clubface) the ball will go there. The first step to fixing the issue is to make sure the grip isn’t excessively strong and the ball isn’t too far forward in the stance. Get the grip and ball position in a fairly neutral spot at address and try to start the ball right of the target. The combination of these three things should help considerably. If they don’t, your body is hanging back too much and you need to get your upper body moving more towards the target on the downswing.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs was online Tuesday at noon EST to answer your swing questions and analyze your swing videos. If you have a question or video link for Brady, he'll be back next Tuesday on Golf.com!

Thanks to everyone for your questions, comments and videos. I will see you next week on Tuesday at noon! Go Packers!!!

Bill asks at 2:00:

Happy New Year! Was working on my tush line issues from before and have since fixed my backswing from going too much inside, I just can't seen to get the tush line fixed going forward. It's ok going back from what I can see, but I seem to hang back and flip it still. If I rotate from the top I feel like I am swinging a mile to the outside and will pull or slice it. Any help would be greatly appreciated since I have been fighting with the tush line fix.

Thank you very much!

Thanks for the question, Bill. I would love to see the swing to give you specific advice as there may be multiple things causing your problem. Here is a video dealing with this specific issue. Let me know how it works out. 

Joe asks at 1:45:

One of my favorite golfers and swings used to be Payne Stewart. I would be interested if you have ever analyzed his swing and what your thoughts were. I always thought he had a great swing.

Stewart had a terrific swing. It was long and smooth with some idiosyncrasies. The grip was strong, face was closed, legs were very active, arm swing vertical, finish high, etc. There would be many teachers who would say the swing didn’t work into their particular model and it would have been better had he changed it. It’s just another example of how greatness is unique and not created with a copy machine. I did some breakdowns of his swing in a magazine about a decade ago. I will try to find it and post the pictures next week. Thanks for the question.

Eric asks at 1:20:

Thank you for helping all golfers get better. We all have heard the term "swing from the ground up." Does this term not apply to the modern player who appears to gain all of their power from core rotation vs. Ben Hogan's swing (where all parts contribute to his powerful swing)? Does the modern player still utilize the fast rotation of the hips like Tiger's swing in 2000 or is the core the focus? Do you recommend the "squat" for all shots full SW through driver?

Some great questions, Eric. The saying “swing from the ground up” means different things to different people. There are some teachers who feel all movement during the swing begins from the feet working into the ground. In this model the weight moving into the right foot initiates the backswing and the “step” onto the left foot begins the downswing. There are other teachers who think the feet are anchored into the ground and the body stretches, coils, or turns against them during the backswing. I have seen so many different types of golf swings work over the years that I am convinced there isn’t one method that is best for everyone. I would also tell you that Hogan’s swing isn’t very dissimilar to the “modern players” you mention. The basic idea from my perspective is to help each player find their own keys that help them play their best golf. We could go into swing theory for hours and not make anyone better because it isn’t specific advice for their game.

Mark asks at 1:15:

Brady..... I am pushing the driver. What are a few things to look at to avoid this?

The best place to start is the address position. If the ball is too far back in your stance with the driver it is likely that you will lose shots right of the target. Rather than going into a long rant about the D plane, just move the ball more forward in your stance and you will see an immediate change in the initial direction of the shot.

Caleb asks at 12:45:

My misses are a block or hook. I tend to hit my irons a grove or two thin. I know that on the downswing my head pulls back, my hips, come toward the ball, and the shaft comes in very vertical. Is any of this caused by my setup and backswing? Or do I need to work on my pivot?

The scenario you describe is a classic loss of the “Tush Line” through impact. This is a line drawn vertically down to the ground at the back of your backside at address. If your address position and pivot are working properly, you will maintain your connection to the line from address to several frames past impact. When and how you lose contact with the line is significant to fixing the problem. For example, if you lose contact with the line immediately during the takeaway, it is likely your weight is sitting too far in your heels at address. In an attempt to find balance, your weight will move more toward your toes during the takeaway, pulling your tush off the line. Creating an address position that is neutral and athletic will go a long way to fixing the problem. I have attached a couple of pictures to show you the proper posture in the address. For more info on the tush line check out this video:

Kevin asks at 12:30:

I love the blog each week. Last year I got a new set of clubs, which I love. I am a low-handicap golfer and hit the ball pretty well. However, I have noticed recently that on all of my irons I consistently hit the ball off-center, a quarter of inch of so, toward the heel. I have a feeling that the clubs may not have been fitted properly when I purchased them. Rather than going through the process of getting re-fitted and my clubs possibly re-shafted, is there any way possible to make a minor adjustment in either my setup or swing to move the impact position of the ball more in the center of the clubface? Thanks in advance for your help!

The last thing you should do is change your swing to adjust for golf clubs that aren’t fit properly for you. If this is a problem that began with the new clubs I would get them checked out. Screwing around with your swing to fix an equipment issue will not serve you well in the long term.

Casey asks at 12:00:

Happy 2012! I wanted to post some update videos and ask you about some pain I've been having in my left leg. (I've already went to the doctor too and they ordered an MRI.) My left hip and ankle have been hurting a little (mild pain but it's there) and I think it's a combination of practicing and the gym that are contributing to this. I think my mechanics are mainly to blame, because I previously slid my lower body too much and rolled my foot over (which you pointed out, thank you), and I am really trying to clean that up now.

Could you recommend any kind of left leg/left foot action that puts less stress on the hip, ankle and knee over the long term? Part of the problem is I need to putt and play more which is my 2012 resolution, but I'd love to get your take because I'm sure you understand these things as good as anyone.

Thank you,
Casey
PS: sorry the ugly belt is still here. Saving $ for my plane ticket to Cali for a real lesson.

Thanks for the videos, Casey. There is obviously some roll in your left foot through the hitting area, but it is fairly insignificant. There is nothing in the action of your left leg during the swing that would lead me to believe the swing is causing your issues. With that said, if you are having pain in the area caused by working out, making a full speed swing and posting up on your left leg will certainly not help. I try to get my players to keep the left foot flat at impact with the weight working toward the heel into the finish. I have included two pictures of a flat left foot at impact that will give you a model to work from. The amount of foot flare you have at address is determined by your level of flexibility. Let me know what you find out from the MRI.

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

Welcome to the 2012 edition of Ask Brady Live! Special thanks to all the folks at golf.com for making last year so fantastic. Thanks to everyone for your questions and comments. Next week I have a new method of blogging that will speed up the response time to your posts dramatically. I am hoping beginning next week that I will be able to get to everyone's questions during the blog. Have a great start to your 2012 season.

Golfer3407 asks at 1:45:

how stop hitting fat shots? left shoulder shoots up on downswing.

The left shoulder should work up on the downswing. The cause of hitting fat shots is the bottom of the arc being behind the ball. The basic idea about bottoming out correctly is you need to get your left shoulder closer to the target at impact than it was at address so the club can hit the ground after it hits the ball. This shift towards the target should occur to start the downswing and fix your issue. A great way to practice this is to use a trick Ben Doyle showed me 20 plus years ago. Go into a bunker and draw a line in the sand perpendicular to the target line where your club would sit at address. Without a ball make some swings where you take out the front of the line and the sand in front of it. You will begin to feel how the weight needs to work to get the bottom of the swing in the right place. This works best in firmer sand as it is easier to move your body. Give it a try.

Kermit Murphy asks at 1:00:

Thanks so much for all of your time and effort. I really enjoy your weekly blog. I have attached a video below and wanted to see what you would change. The first swing really looks bad and very laid off. Is this becasue the left arm is working away from me during the takeawy? Any other thoughts on my takeaway? I would also love to hear what you have to say about my face on view. My pivot does not look right, almost looks like my left hip gets closer to the target at the top of the swing. I really strugle with low left shots.
Thanks again for your help. Kemritm

Thanks for the video. I always watch the swing before I read your question as it gives me a fresh perspective. When viewing your swing I thought the grip was strong, the weight way too far back in your heels at address, the club was laid off at the top and you would have a tendency to lose shots left. This isn’t too far from what you were thinking. The clubface would be the place to start. I would have you weaken the left hand on the club to help get the clubface square. The strong grip isn’t a problem for many players, but in your case it isn’t helping the low left issue. The posture really needs to improve. Your weight is sitting well back in your heels at address causing you to lose the Tush Line with both the iron and the driver. This change in posture during your swing makes it very difficult to make solid contact and rotate through the ball properly. I agree with you that the pivot needs work. If you look at the pictures I posted earlier of Hogan and AK at the top you will see AK has his legs in a completely different position than you do. I would like to see your knees more apart at address and your hip less active during the takeaway. The legs should be significantly more quiet during your backswing and serve more as a stabilizing force. This will keep your left hip from working immediately in the direction of the target and help get your arms and body working together instead of in segments. Send in some new video and let me know how the changes are coming along.

Tom asks at 12:40:

Have you ever done a comparison of Anthony Kim's swing to Hogan? They seem similar but with AK being more 1-plane. About the same height too.

Also, as an addition to my earlier question, how does AK get that final burst of speed into and through impact once the legs have done their part?

Their pivots are very different on the backswing. Hogan has more of a front foot pivot even though his head moves slightly off the ball. AK works much more behind the ball during the backswing and his on top of the right leg post at the top of the swing. If you are working off a stack and tilt model AK wouldn’t be your guy. I think both pivots are excellent and effective for different types of players based on athleticism, flexibility, and desired ball flight. That is AK and Hogan’s pivot…….Here is a picture of Hogan and AK at the top so you can see the differences in their body positions.

Tom asks at 12:20:

Assuming a golfer has successfully lagged the club and is approaching impact, what muscles or body motion do you recommend them focusing on to get the needed burst of acceleration? I get great distance (260+ and I'm 5'9) but must be using my lower back too much as it often gets sore when I try to finish strong. I finish in balance but rarely with full shoulder rotation.

I’m not quite sure what you mean when you say “using your lower back to much”. The left leg should be straightening through impact and acting as a post to hit against. Once both arms have become straight after impact you should allow your right side to straighten and release to the finish. When you try to stay bent over too long after impact it can be very hard on your lower back. I would recommend that you look at the pictures of Annika if you are more flexible and Darren Clarke if you are less flexible and incorporate the same look into your swing.

Todd asks at 12:00:

Hello, my biggest issue with my swing is that I OVER swing. I have been trying for a long time to stop my backswing at either halfway or three quarters of full will little success. Do you have any tips or drills to help me shorten my back swing and avoid the dreaded reverse "C"? Thanks

The fact that you said you are trying to “stop” your backswing tells me a great deal about why you are struggling with this issue. Instead of trying to stop your backswing, you need to focus on when you are starting your downswing. The starting of the downswing really is the end of the backswing. The downswing begins with weight moving in the direction of the target, hopefully from the ground up. If you “wait” to move the weight your arms will keep going back and the swing will become long. The longer swing isn’t necessarily a bad thing for some players, but it is difficult for to create the proper sequence of motion when the club gets well back past parallel. To fix this issue you need to get your weight moving towards the target much sooner during the backswing. Think of stepping towards the target when your left arm is parallel to the ground during the backswing. The swing will feel unbelievably short but when you look at it on video it will be considerably longer than you thought. I have a sequence of Tommy Armour III that will help you see when the weight is moving back to the target. The reason the swing is short isn’t because he tried to stop the backswing but the result of starting the weight very early towards the target. Focus on the difference between pictures 4 and 5.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs stopped by on Tuesday 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 on Tuesday, January 3 for an all-new edition!

Thanks to everyone for all of your support this year. It has been a blast. I will see everyone back after the New Year!

Jon asks at 1:45:

Help! the last year I endured the torture of sometimes great (for me) but inconsistent golf all year long. I shoot rounds of; 109, 98, 83, 82, 94, 101, 86, 113, 90, 81, 105, 90, 87, 84, 100, 95, 86, & 87.... I went from hitting the sweet spot to hitting rockets off the hosel. Can you please offer some advise and/or drills to help improve consistency?

Wow! 113 then 81 two rounds later is quite a spread. The fact is that you need to go back to the beginning and check everything. Grip, posture, alignment, ball position, tilt, weight distribution and relaxation before you take the club back. Once those are under control work in this order, clubface, path, then pivot. Get the clubface in a relatively square position at address, make sure the path in neutral, then work on the speed and explosiveness of your swing. I know this may not be the advice you are looking for but it works.

Victor asks at 1:25:

Lately, I have been playing good golf, but my downswing and impact is a mess, due to my hips early extension. Any tips for that please? The shot here is an intentional fade that I pulled slightly, but it faded nicely towards the target. I naturally draw the ball straight, so pulling is not a problem.

I agree with you that you lose your posture through impact and become too vertical. This drives your hands up and away from your body forcing you to lose leverage and overuse your hands during impact. Your tush moves in from the “tush line” immediately during the backswing. This means that your weight is too much in your heels at address and needs to push out more towards the balls of your feet or even your toes before you take the club back. I would work on moving in the exact opposite direction than you are currently going. Start towards the balls of your feet and move towards the right heel during the backswing. Try to get more bent over on the downswing and into impact than you were at address and at the top. Only when you can exaggerate the change will you be able to see it in full speed on the golf course. Here are a couple of pictures to help you visualize.

John asks at 1:05:

Brady.... I think in the past I have read on the blog the the left wrist should be flat at impact. How do I know that I am achieving this when I am hitting balls at the range? How far past impact does the wrist stay flat?

The left wrist should be flat at impact. When you are hitting the ball properly with the irons the club should be bottoming out beyond the ball. If the left wrist is bent backwards at impact this can’t happen. The duration of the flatness in the left wrist is dependent upon the grip at address, the desired ball flight, the pivot through impact, etc. I can tell you that attempting to maintain the flat left wrist too long has ruined many good players, specifically with the driver. The best way to practice this is with short and slow shots where the finish of your motion is just past impact. This will give you some feedback about how to use your body to drive the hands, arms and club through impact without forcing the left wrist into a “position”. The fact is to achieve a flat left wrist at impact you need to be relaxed and sequencing your motion properly. If you make the swing all about the hands you have no chance. Start small and slow and build upon the success of the shorter shots.

Casey asks at 12:35:

I hope you have a great holiday season. I had a quick question on the lower body and pivot in downswing. From face on, my left knee still has the habit of sliding out past the left foot in the downswing, before it clears back behind the foot. I notice a lot of good modern players (AK, Woodland, Hoffman) never get that left knee out in front of the left foot on the downswing like I do, but some old school guys (including Hogan) have a move similar to mine.

My question is should I work on trying to eliminate that slide? or is it OK? My goal is to avoid any body stall through the shot, I want to keep rotating through it like AK Woodland and Hoffman, so my body controls the release of the club more and the toe doesn't flip down after impact. Here is my swing DTL and face on. Thank you!! and PS, is it possible to get lessons in person from you? I'm sure it would be extremely helpful.
Casey

Thanks for the Holiday wishes, the same to you and yours. Of course you can come out for lessons, would love to have you although you would have to lose the white belt;)

The left knee’s position on the downswing is determined by the direction the left foot is pointing. For example, AK’s left foot is nearly pigeon toed at address making it impossible for his left knee to rotate past his foot (unless he wants to blow out his MCL). Your left foot (and Hogan’s) is flared out in the address position and becomes more flared during the downswing. This allows your left knee to point in the same direction as your foot creating the possibility for the knee to get further out. The problem with squaring up your left foot is that it requires significant flexibility to rotate the hips through impact. This is something you can experiment with to see if your body will handle it. Here are a couple of pictures to help you see the differences.

Scott Chievers asks at 12:20:

I am thinking of moving to Stack and Tilt, any opinions?

Are you on a fishing expedition to see if I’ll take the bait with this question? Seeing as it’s the Holiday Season I am going to pass on this one. If you have questions about my opinion on this methodology feel free to look at the past blogs. If you are serious and don’t know where I stand send me an email. I have grown as tired of this subject as Mike Weir and Aaron Baddeley were of the swing.

Jdduckhook asks at 12:00

I tend to get stuck on the downswing. My lower body gets way ahead of my arm swing on the downswing. This creates blocks and big hooks. What is your favorite drill to correct this problem?

It is very difficult to work on your golf swing by trying “not” to do something. This is why players have limited success thinking of doing less with their body as the downswing begins to cure being stuck. When I work with my students I am always trying to give them a positive thought to improve their golf swing. With your specific issue I would like to see you “light up” or engage your left quad muscle as you begin the transition. Driving your weight into the left quad will prevent you from spinning out with your lower body and allow your arms to get synced up with your pivot. The rotation of your hips will be delayed with the positive thought of driving into your quad and enable you to work against the ground with your legs through impact.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs stopped by on Tuesday 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 for an all-new edition.

Thanks to everyone for your questions and videos. Let's get it going again next week!

Kevin asks at 1:45:

I have a case of the sh**ks. I wouldn't dare speak the whole word as the golf gods would frown on me. I was a solid 10 handicap until I hit a wall a couple months ago with this. It started with by wedges, 56-64 degree, but has now moved throughout my entire bag. Any help would be much appreciated.

Sounds like a great deal of fun Kevin. There are 4 ways to shank it, fortunately you can only really do 3. Start too close, get too close, swing too far from the inside and swing too far from the outside. Obviously you can’t swing too far from the inside and the outside at the same time so you are left with 3 possibilities. Here’s the quick solution. Hit some practice shots working on the following: Get the weight more towards the front of your shoes at address and allow your weight to move towards the right heel during the backswing. Try to attack the ball from the inside and actually hit the toe of the club. Once you are able to hit the toe consistently you will have overcome this issue. It seems a bit simplistic but it works!

Clif asks at 1:15:

Hi Brady, golf swing theory question here. I injured my lower back about 6 months ago and am still recovering. The question I have pertains to what Rocco Mediate is doing in his swing as he has a bad back as well. If I understand he wants a very wide stance, side to side movement is encouraged, but up and down is bad. I have really been working on your tips this year and love your philosophy. Should I now get a little more "Rocco" in my swing as my back will never be what it was? Or is there a better approach that you advocate? Thanks so much for the great blog!

Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I have been struggling with lower back issues for years so I feel your pain. Standing a bit more upright at address and limiting the amount of right side tilt you produce during the downswing will help significantly. With less tilt your hands will not lead the clubhead as much into impact creating less descending blow and more clubface rotation. As a result I would avoid a stronger grip as the tendency to hit excessively right to left shots would be too strong. As with any adjustment to your golf swing, understanding how all the parts work together will give you a chance at being consistent. Dealing with lower back pain is an unfortunate reality for a large percentage of players. You can play great golf without pain if you work on your fitness off the course and improve the mechanics of your golf swing. Send in some video and I will try to help you through this issue, unfortunately I have a great deal of experience with it on a personal level.

Joe asks at 12:45:

Brady: My short game is good but pathetic distance makes it difficult to reach any but the shortest holes in regulation. It's hard to break 100, let alone 90. My best drives only go 160-170 yards, and no other club goes more than 140, even a new Diablo 5-wood. I see plenty of duffers who are older, smaller and/or have worse swings routinely hit farther. My Nike Machspeed 10.5-degree driver (senior shaft) goes no farther than my former Nike Sasquatch 13-degree. I can hit a 9-iron 100-110 yards, a 6-iron 130, 5 hybrid 140. If I could hit at least 200-yard drives and 175-yard fairway shots, I feel I could often break 90 with my decent short game. I've tried every power tip and taken many lessons but nothing helps. I really don't think I'm that weak but I just can’t generate any club head speed. Can you help?

Thanks for the videos Joe. Yes, I can help. The issue for you is in the sequence of your golf swing. Instead of starting the downswing with the body moving towards the target leading the arms and club, you are in reverse. When your arms start the downswing there is a significant loss of power and balance. In fact, in your video you lose your balance approaching the finish in the direction of the target line, a dead giveaway to your sequence problems. If you are going to gain speed and power you have to change the transition between your backswing and downswing. The body needs to start moving in the direction of the target BEFORE your arms and club finish the backswing. There are a number of drills you can do including the step drill that will help you feel the proper sequence starting the downswing. Think of throwing a ball, hitting a baseball, slinging a Frisbee, anything that is athletic is done in the sequence of body before arms and object. This is the issue Joe, get to work.

Luke asks at 12:15:

I have been struggling with hitting shots fat and taking a big divot. I do not have a steep swing path and the divot is shallow but I believe it has something to do with my head mivement during my swing. I have watched video of my swing and seet that I lean over the ball during the backswing and the during the downswing my head moves back(laterally) and hangs way back but is still over the ball causing the lowest point of my downswing to be way out in front of me. Is there any drill to keep the proper head position during the downswing? Thanks

Thanks for the question. When the body is off-balance in the address position it creates the movement during the takeaway. If you are falling over the ball during the backswing it is very likely you are standing too upright during the address position with your weight too much in your heels. As a result, your body will search for balance during the motion of swinging and move down and in the direction of the ball. When the weight moves in this direction during the backswing the adjustment coming down is to back up and hang back. To fix this excessive movement you need to start where you were going. In other words, get more bent over with the weight more towards the front of your shoes. This will kill the movement over the ball during the takeaway and stop you from adjusting during the swing.

Aman asks at 12:00:

dear mr riggs, what is the most consistent manner in your opinion to switch between a draw and a fade in the middle of a round? My stock shot is a draw , but certain situations do demand a fade.
Also in what manner should one work on his distance control particularly with the wedges .
Thank you for your time
Aman from Kolkata, India

There are several factors you need to consider when it comes to shaping your shots. Because the draw is your natural stock shot, moving the ball left to right requires some effort. Some players will change the shape by adjusting their address position, some will adjust their swing, some will change both. If you need to curve the ball significantly then you will need to adjust both the address position and the shot. When it comes down to a slight fade it really is up to you. You might want to open the stance slightly, visualize swinging along the line of your feet and hold the face open a bit through impact. You may want to aim left and weaken the grip slightly to alter the ball flight. The simple fact is you need to go experiment with what works best for you.

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 missed Brady, be sure to check back next week for an all-new edition.

Thanks to everyone for your questions and comments. Sorry I couldn't get to all the questions. Please check back in next week.....

Nate asks at 1:15:

Without using video or a mirror, how can I be sure that I am standing the proper distance away from the ball at address? Should my arms feel loose and heavy like they are hanging from my shoulders?

I've been working on getting somewhat closer to the ball, which seems to get me in a better position at the top (clubface neutral instead of shut and arms a little more vertical and "on plane"), but I feel a little crowded in the downswing, like my arms don't have quite enough room to swing freely due to my hips being in the way.

Some of pros whose swings I most admire (Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel) look like they set-up pretty close to the ball and it seems to be working out pretty well for them :) Any insight you could offer into this facet of the address position and how it affects the swing would be greatly appreciated.

This is a very good question, Nate. Yes, your arms should hang down and not out away too far from the body at address. You lose leverage, power, and consistency if your arms are too far from your body. Unfortunately, you can also get too close to the point where you have no room for your arms through impact. You should be able to draw a vertical line straight down from the butt end of the grip to the front of your toes at address. This is the standard distance most good players use, but it can vary a little from player to player. To get there without a mirror or video is more difficult but not impossible. Your eyes can give you a good idea where you are. The other issue you need to consider is that you are the proper distance from the ball at address but are closing in on the target line during the downswing. Getting closer to the ball as you swing will give you the feeling of being jammed. Make sure wherever you start, your weight is toward the balls of your feet at address and works toward your right heel going back and left heel going through. This will give you more room at impact. Send in the swing if you get a chance…

Benjamin asks at 1:05:

Hey Brady: Is there anyway you can get a video of Tiger's tee shot on 18 in the final round of the Chevron from behind? It was a mammoth, 3-iron stinger that appeared to get no more than 20 feet off the ground, but it's tough to appreciate the shot from the camera angle that NBC used. We know there was a camera directly behind Tiger (that's what NBC showed as Tiger was addressing the ball), but NBC then switched to the in-the-air/high-above camera.

If you could get that video, it would be great to hear you walk us through how he hit that shot (farther than Zach Johnson hit his driver, incidentally).

Let me work on that for you, Benjamin. I agree about the shot, love to see him hitting the stinger again. As I have said for years he had a weapon that was lethal and set him apart from the field. It should have never been taken away from him. It would be like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar not using his patented “Sky-hook." 

Steve asks at 12:45:

I'd like to get your opinion on "connection" between the arms and the body during the golf swing. I have read some stuff by Jimmy Ballard and Rocco Mediate talking about left arm (for right-handed player) connection throughout the golf swing helping to keep an "in" to "in" swing. I do practice keeping a towel under my left armpit throughout the entire swing. But what about the right arm? How connected should that be in a more rotational modern golf swing?

When I first started researching the golf swing, my opinion of Jimmy Ballard’s swing theory wasn’t nearly as high as it is today. I think his description of the similarity between the golf swing and a baseball swing being identical is fairly true. While I think the upper left arm should remain “connected” to the chest during the takeaway and backswing and increase in “squeeze” through impact, I also believe the arm should “blow off” the chest as both arms become straight after impact. In other words, the towel under the armpit can fall after release and into the finish. The right arm is another matter entirely. The left arm can drift up the chest at the top of the swing; the right arm can completely disconnect and “fly” off the body at the top. There are Major Champions with the right arm all over the place: from pinned to the side of the body to flying up in the air. There is no “have to” with the right arm going back, but it should be in front of the right hip approaching impact regardless of where it was at the top. My advice to all my players is to spend less time worrying about where the club and arms are going up and focus instead on how the club is working down through impact. 

David asks at 12:30:

good day brady...if you feel like doing so and have a current video of tiger, would you analyze what you like/dislike about the swing changes that you see now. thanks!!

I have been watching. There are two things I really like about what he’s doing. The length of the swing with the driver is significantly shorter than it used to be. It hasn’t gotten quite as compact as it was with Butch, but it is much better. As a result, his hips aren’t running away from his arms on the downswing like they do when his swing is longer. This makes Tiger's swing more in sync and much more consistent. The second positive is that he seems to be hitting shots and playing golf again instead of obsessing about the backswing. I see more of a focus on the forward portion of the swing rather than the swing from set-up to the top. This is a great sign that he is moving in the right direction.

Jonathan Schauer asks at 12:18:

Brady, please help me! I want to know how you bump wedge and stop it on a dime like we see the Tour pros doing. I can put spin on the ball with a full swing, but on 10-30 yard chip shots I just can't spin it at all. I dont want to change the ball I play because my swing speed is 118 mph and I play titleist ProV1x's, so a softer ball would only cause me to lose distance, right?

Hitting the one-bounce-and-check shot with a wedge requires several factors coming together. The grooves on the wedge and the type of ball you are playing are factors in the equation. Make sure the grooves are cleaned out and that your wedges are relatively new. An old, beat-up wedge won’t get the job done. If your equipment is good, this shot requires a slightly open clubface and slight acceleration through impact. “Striking of a match” is a good feel for how the impact works to impart spin on the ball. Keep in mind that this shot is very difficult to hit and you can control the roll out on your pitches easier with trajectory control instead of spin. 

Michael asks at 12:00:

I am having trouble pulling my short irons (8-wedges). I am making solid contact but the ball flight is starting left of my target and draws most of the time.

This is most likely a clubface issue. When the face is closed and the path is fairly neutral, the ball will start left and curve further left. The cause of the closed face can be anything from a grip that is too strong, a left wrist that is bowed at the top, or an over-rotation of the clubface through impact. The fact that you are hitting it solid suggests it is most likely the grip or the wrist at the top. I would suggest you check your hands at address and make sure the grip is neutral. At the top, try to “feel” like your left thumb is sitting under the handle and supporting the weight of the club. This will maintain the small amount of bend present in your left wrist at address and keep the clubface from becoming hooded at the top. Let me know how it works and send in some video so I can be more specific to your swing. 

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 missed Brady, be sure to check back next week for an all-new edition.

Thanks for your participation in the blog. Sorry I didn't get to eveyone. Please ask your questions again next Tuesday. Have a great week.

Casey asks at 1:00:

I wanted to give you an update video of the swing. I strengthened my grip a little and am still working on my backswing and covering the ball on the down swing. I also want to let my head rotate earlier as you said I just have too much stuff in my head to focus on that now. Could you please talk about covering the ball? I think AK does it really well and I think that helps his release of the club to be more square for longer instead of flippy, do you agree?

Thanks as always for the help. Sorry I am still wearing my ugly belt. I haven't been able to shop yet :)

-Casey

DTL-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5fFnquu_Nk
Face on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYopEiTThzU&feature=related

I agree, the belt is still ugly.

The backswing is looking pretty solid. I think allowing your head to work out sooner is part of covering the ball. Your chest needs to get “over” your left foot more at impact. This happens with a combination of rotation and lateral motion on the downswing. When you look at your left foot at impact it is rolled outside excessively. When you cover the ball properly the foot remains flat.

You have to work your way into the proper position at impact by hitting a combination of short shots and extremely slow motion swings to learn where you are going. Hit some short shots that travel 20-40 yards with your 8 or 7 iron and focus on a very flat left foot at impact. To do this you will need to get your upper body more over the top of the foot and sync up the movement of your hands, arms, and weight. Once you have the short ones down you move on to longer swings at very slow speed trying to feel the same keys you were focusing on with the short shots. Here is a picture of where you need to be.

Ryan Stewart asks 12:40:

Could you please take a look and help me get a better backswing position? Also, does my lower body movement on the downswing need to be tightened up?

Love the blog.

Ryan

The left arm is a little over rotated as you approach the top of the backswing. This gets the club too laid off at the top. Try to keep your hands more under the club at the top of the swing as it will make attacking on the proper path much easier on the downswing. The face on view needs a little work as well. Your head never move away from the target going back (some love this, I don’t) and inevitably is past its’ original position at impact. While this isn’t the end of the world with the shortest clubs, it stinks for the longer stuff. Your lower body is also too far beyond where it should be at impact. The slide of the lower body on the downswing to the target is often caused by the head being out of position. Allow your head to move off the ball more going back and the club will be easier to line up at the top because your turn will improve dramatically. From the better position at the top the lower body will have an easier time rotating approaching impact, getting your hands more out in front of the clubhead, a must for great ball-striking.

Patrick asks at 12:20:

I tried to submit some videos a few weeks back but looks like I had some technical difficulties, so hopefully we can try again. This year I really struggled with a case of the blocks, especially off the tee costing me a couple of strokes per round. I tend to think my right elbow gets a hair stuck behind me on my downswing, not allowing me a full release of the club. I also have a tendency to get the club a bit shut at the top, although i find that the weaker I grip the club the more flippy I get with my hands. I have taken a few lessons, but most instructors tell me it looks pretty good and I just need to complete my turn and try to hit it more from the inside, which makes no sense to me considering I miss right.

Down the line:

Face on:

Hope this works.

They worked this time. You can definitely make the swing better. I wouldn’t weaken the grip either as it looks pretty weak already. The closed clubface is the result of turning your left hand under during the takeaway. When the back of your left hand turns towards the ground the face will get closed. This also takes the club too far to the inside during the takeaway which gets the club across the line at the top of the swing. This will get the club stuck too far inside during the downswing leading to the blocks you describe. You need to get the clubface under control by fixing the takeaway. This will get the club more up and laid off at the top of the backswing, a huge key to fixing your stuck position on the downswing. Once the clubface is square and the path is cleaned up you can start to rotate through impact more efficiently. Your body remains down and inactive way to long during and after impact. Check out the picture for a visual of where you should be headed.

Patrick asks at 12:00:

Brady! I have a vicious slice that sometimes makes me hit most of my irons the same distance. I have been told to try and get more inside on the golf ball but now I am duffing balls bad. Can I be going too far inside now? Any fix?

While there are various strategies for fixing slices, attacking the path first is my least favorite. If the ball is going right because you are slicing it your instincts will tell you to aim more left and swing more left. This is logical and actually can help improve the result somewhat, although the ball will still curve and you will never fix it. It is illogical to swing more from the inside if the ball is going to the right as that would make the ball start in the direction it is already going. The clubface has a significantly more profound influence over the ball than the path. As a result, the clubface should be fixed first for two reasons. First, if the face is more influential the open clubface is the source of the problem. Second, if the clubface becomes square to the path and the path is too much from the outside the ball will go well LEFT of the target. This will be a great motivator for swinging the club more from the inside to start the ball more right.

With all that said getting the clubface square is the priority. Start with the grip by making sure it is positioned between neutral and strong on the handle. The second priority is making sure the left wrist is flat at the top of the swing. This will further strengthen the position of the clubface and get you going in the right direction. Here are a couple of pictures to help.