Online Lesson: Josh Bialowans, PGA

Message to Wayne: I am a PGA Professional looking to improve my ball striking. Since I am able to practice and play more I would love to hear your insight on how I can improve my technique with both irons and the driver.
 
 My misses would be thin/heel shots with irons that typically start straight on the target line then over curve, mostly to the left. I have been inconsistent with my impact on the face and don’t seem to compress the ball great.
 The driver miss would be over curves mostly to the left and low left when I struggle. I have hit some that go straight on the target line and curve away from it to the right and left. The curve doesn’t happen down range and it’s a struggle to keep the ball in play off the tee with the speed I have. A more difficult shot of mine is a 3 wood off the turf, I tend to hit it to low without much launch in the air. I feel somewhat steep and unable to compress he ball well.
 
 My goal is to shoot scores at or under par especially since I have the time to practice and play. I enjoy this game for many reasons, but it is very frustrating when not hitting it solid and far offline.
 
 Thank you for your time and helping me with my game

Here is another great looking swing that would cause most people to wonder why his results aren’t better. It is most annoying for people to tell you your swing is great and that “it must be in your head”. When you watch at full speed you would be inclined to agree with that, but of course if you are a member of this website you know by now that without analyzing a swing in slow motion with a stable camera shot from proper angles you can’t really see much. Of course, the gearheads (Trackman, SwingCat, Gears, etc.) would say you can’t really see it with just video, but that’s what we do here, and I like the way I teach. The main problem that I focus on here is Josh’s upper body movement in transition. He has a tremendous amount of extension away from the ball in his backswing, and with the driver creates a severe angle between the waist and the shoulders, tilted back to the right. From there his upper body not only makes up the rightward movement but keeps leaning well past his original set up position. He also leans well forward with his iron swing. This is a serious sequence problem that jams his arms into his side and creates the likelihood of a throw type release. I see this all the time with lesser players, and I call it the “lean and throw” pattern. If Josh stays a bit more centered in the backswing and can keep his head from moving past its starting position, I think it will be a major step forward.

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