Online Students: Doug De Mott

Wayne,
 
I am 60 yrs. old. Student of the swing. Have 30 golf books. Taken many lessons (including video lessons) over the years from many different people. Current handicap 6.5 (low was 4.0 about three years ago).
 
Historically, my swing has been too upright (growing up in the 60’s emulating Nicklaus) with flying right elbow and crossing the line at the top (attempt to get an inside out path). Downswing started too steep, necessitating shallowing the shaft by early extension (hip thrust). Additionally, I’ve also had more of a sideways move with the body rather than a more circular motion. Path has been too far inside out.
 
I am 5’8″ with long arms (like Hogan). I have decided that flattening the plane is a good idea for my body type with the goal of more rotation and coil.
 
My most common misses are toed shots, occasional fat shot (dropkick with driver), blocked push or duck hook.
 
My (amateur) analysis of the videos:
1. Head does not move down
2. Right elbow disconnects a bit too much near top of backswing
3. Spine tilts slightly towards target at top (the dreaded Stack & Tilt)
4. Club is still not laid off enough
5. Body is (and has ALWAYS been) too far ahead of the hands on the downswing and I lose the wrist cock too soon
6. Lateral slide in downswing (left leg doesn’t straighten early enough) resulting in path too inside out
7. A bit of a chicken wing thru impact (arms don’t extend fully).
 
Doug

 
As you can see from Doug’s email he is an avid student of the game, and in this video, I hope to get him on the right track as he tries to improve his ball striking. My main issue with Doug’s swing begins with his arm position at address and how that affects the takeaway. This is another example of a common pattern among players who like to keep their right arm stiff at address and their upper right arm firmly against the body in the backswing. Players that keep the upper right arm in front of the body throughout the backswing need excellent upper trunk rotation so that the arm gains enough height and depth. What I see all too often is the left arm rolling over the right, thus flattening the shoulder turn and carrying the right arm well behind the body. I would like to have Doug create some bend in his arms at address, and to make sure that the space formed between the upper right arm and the ribcage stays the same throughout the backswing. In the takeaway, I want the handle of the club to stay on the plane, which will feel to Doug like it’s moving slightly inward toward the body. I would also like to have Doug feel like his left shoulder works more under his chin while his right shoulder moves more upward. He can achieve the flatter swing plane he is looking for by rotating the forearms and twisting the clubface open in the takeaway while the right arm continues to stay bent and to follow the shoulder turn. Doug will also do himself a great favor by quieting down his leg movement. It would be a good idea to keep the left heel much closer to the ground and the left knee from moving so far inward, and to make sure the right foot did not allow the pressure loading to roll the foot to the outside edge.
 

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