Learning to rotate and adding in strength training for golf

Last two days of practice have shown promise. Started to stop the sway it will take more time and practice. Have been stretching and doing therapy as shown early also starting to do some strength work to get stronger for golf. Being 59 I have lost a lot. Below some videos of some of what I am starting on.

Lesson 1 of 25

First true lesson today. First were swing review and getting signed up. So today we begin. Still need to focus on pivot and not sway..  Instructor says only work on what we are working on do not try to fix other parts it will only slow us down. I think he is right I fell like I should be able to fix total swing at once. However he explained that you need to own the small changes to move on and keep them.
drills o for this week chair drill and line up the clubs drill together.

Actual Golf Tec Lesson 8/28/12

Here is a link to my swing analysis by Steve Bishop it is called a  Skill Cast  this was  before my first lesson. I can't see any way to post a link to the analysis by golf tec.  But Steve did this one for me and it talks about many of the same things.  I watch it almost daily and pick up. Something new ever time. If you are trying to change you swing you need a swing analysis buy a top pro. Steve has a Blog with lots of great insights on the golf swing.

Flexibility and rehab

I am doing a lot of stretching and rehab work do rebuild my flexibility and strength areas of damage, both rotatory cuffs and both elbows as well as a fused back.  Her are some videos of things that seem to be working. All have either been recommended or approved my my PT

These next few videos are from Charlie Mardach He has is one blog and you tube channel. The method is Awareness Through Movement. It is a very interesting concept. I had never heard of it. He Explains it on this blog oage

what-is-the-feldenkrais-method 

practice 2

objective:  Stop Sway, One piece take-away stop flying elbow.

Still swaying a bit when I take a full back swing. Have to think about turning into my back leg. take away looks pretty good good Y on line. Finally was able to keep elbow in. Still need lots of work.

Love the video feed back I only hit about 25 balls.  But made more progress than I would have hitting 200 with no video.  Drills I have been doing

First practice session

Did my first practice at golf tec, You can schedule unlimited practice time using the video and measure devices. Working on stopping sway turning in a  a barrel. Relly helps to have the video feedback.

New Putter

Putting has always been the best part of my game. That being said since I came back I have been having problems with alignment. I tired several putters at the shop. Fell in love with the odyssey two ball blade putter. Found one for $119 on line ordered it yesterday.

Flip

I woke up this morning to read this

I think this is a chick flip.

Both pros said the same thing. It is the result of what proceeds it. I do not do it when I chip. but here is a fix.

On the more positive side. I have lost 10 pounds this week.  Now the first 10 are the easy ones but a good start. On the bad side my golfer elbow are rearing their ugly head. was worried about hitting off mats even those they are very padded. Will have to get another McDavid Band. and where them all the time not just when swinging.  Right one was so bad at one time I could not even bend it with baring any weight at all. Have to be very careful at practice.
 

Second Lesson all most.

Went in a made the commitment for 25 lessons on At Golf-tec. Will be doing it over the next 20 months. Did not really have a lesson today. He did check my set up and it was much improved. He wanted me to bring it back a bit went a little overboard on the him lean to get behind the ball.  I develop a hip sway while working on the one piece take away so want be to do the swing in a barrel idea with a chair behind my right  hip to keep the sway away. Not trying to turn my hips over much just come back two half way with no hip sway and Y intact.None of what we have done so far is part of the 25 lessons package so the first 90 min swing annalist. and today were free. The cost of the lessons breaks down to $57.00 each which is at the low in of lessons in this area. Right Now I fell overwhelmed by how many things I have to change but the pro says not to worry we will just take it one thing at a time.    This is how I understand it/

T

Having a great time learning to use all my new toys.  below are the same photos with hip and Knee angle measurements. It show good improvement but I still need more knee flex and lest hip. Thanks to my Free golf info pro for showing me at least indirectly how to use this stuff and swing academy and how and why I need to make the changes. The Golf tec pro said the same thing and their software also did the measurements however I do  not think you can add your own videos when you are not on their program.  I got the tour tempo book and down loaded the app. I am very impressed It seems to improve my mechanics along with the tempo. I have a drill for the house using a lunge whip instead of a club do not want to break the walls, ceiling or roof. It is just the write length to keep me on swing plain if I get to steep I hit the low spot in the ceiling were the air duck is I am standing there just for that reason.

before lesson

Two days after lesson.

  

I did my swing review at Golftec on Friday : It was pretty extensive. So far I did not pay him any thing or even sign to pay for the 90 min we just spent. If I sign up for a lesson plan then there is no charge for this first one. We went over a lot of stuff As I knew my swing is very over the top. I thought it had improved but after seeing it I have know idea how I can even hit the ball. It is more than just the videos they put a senser on my shoulders and hips and it measured a lot of things including shoulder and hip tilt, shoulder and hip turn. and a lot of other things. set up was not to bad he had me do a few tweaks. Turn right foot in. Close hips a bit. added a little knee flex stick ass out, and move left arm on top of pec. That was done at the end of lesson. after he had critiqued entire swing major problems were. Take away all arms. lack of connection flying left elbow over swinging. casting the club hands leading the swing. resulting in outside in swing. to name a few. Now there was no hard sell he gave me all the paper work for the the different options. 10 lessons over three months cost/ lesson $90/lesson 25 lessons over 6 months $65/lesson 35 lessons over 9 months/ $56/ lesson. scheduled another lesson and told me to take it home review it and we could talk about it at next lesson. Young guy seem to know his stuff he played on some of the mini tours. 

Gave me drill to work on for the week to improve my set up have been doing them during commercials.  Here are some before and after photos.

Getting started on my new swing

I have decided to rebuild my golf swing. From past experience I know I do better when others hold me responsible for my goals. So this blog is not only an outlet for me to review and write down my experiences but to hopefully get a few people  interested enough to comment and keep me on task.

The plan after today into is to post my progress complete with swing videos, drills used. instructor lessons, etc. I know it will befit me  to write it down I hope you find beneficial on your quest or at least interesting.

About me:

Stats. :  Age 59   Height 5' 11"  Weight 238* Wrist to ground 33" right handed
Driving distance 240  150 club 7,8 Iron.
Typical ball flight Woods: High fade or slice.   Irons: High push
Average score with no mulligans 100
Strengths Putting,  weakness everything else.

One Year Goals: Lose 40 pounds, get in better shape with more flexibility, Develop and consistent repeatable swing. Score in the 80's consistently.

The Plan:   Commit to taking 25 lessons over the next 10 months. Develop a practice plan and use it daily.  Use tour tempo lessons and skill along with the lessons.  Have an open mind. Use internet tools to help me. v1golfacademy.com Swingacademy.com ,  Freegolfinfo.com , hermanwilliamsgolf.com .

The Lessons: I have decided to sign up for lessons at my local golftec. I went for a swing evaluation and was impressed with system and my instructor it is a pretty $$$ commitment but the lessons are below the local average if you commit for at least 25 lessons. I also have a pro who  I met on Freegolfinfo.com who told me he would work with me for free. He did a very intensive swing review for me using Swingacademy.com and I learn a lot from this. It is very tempting to just have him work with me. I fell however that I would have a hard time learning the things I need with out someone physical in the room with me to help me fell the positions. I hope that he will agree to review my plan and swing videos as I value his input and it gives me another way to understand my swing and what I need to do to make changes. 

My Current Swing: I felt that I was making progress on my swing over the last two months after quitting the game for over 5 years out of frustration. However after I saw it on video I have now idea how I can even strike the ball at all. It is hard for me to let anyone see it but how else will you know how much improvement I make.

So there it is. In the words of Timothy  Green, I can only get better