! Scigolf presents Scott Hazledine Answers Your Golfing Questions On Your Golf Game.

Question 24

Dear Scott,
Your techniques have hit a nerve... I've been playing for about 26 years - am currently 42 years old - and until about two years ago have never been embarrassed to play with the younger "flatbellies", and watch them stare as I drove the ball just as far or farther with seemingly half the swing - in terms of arc. I had steadily but gradually improved up until then, reducing my handicap to a 3. At the age of 40, I set (what I thought was...) a realistic goal of playing in and winning some state amateur events, even trying to qualify for the USGA national events. Since then, for reasons unknown, I have completely lost the feel I once had.
I've developed a serious over-the-top move, lost 75 yards off my tee shots, and one to three clubs in distance through the bag. Needless to say, the goal I set is quickly losing any chance of being realized. My current swing is an outright embarrassment to me. My regular playing partners don't understand my dismay, because from the member tees, I can still break 80 most of the time. Many hours and dollars later, I'm ready to try anything.
I truly love the game, but it has gotten to the point where watching is more fun than playing. If I don't turn it around soon, I may lose something I love.

Tim.

Dear Tim,

Normally over the top indicates an elbow position that is outside of the spine angle. This means that at the top of the backswing that your right arm is not inline with the plane of the butt end of the club, commonly known as a flying elbow. The next most common problem with over the top is a short backswing that doesn't allow a full transition, typically determined by your left shoulder not turning back behind the golf ball. One of the first things that must happen is your right elbow must move down and inside of your right hip.

Traditionally speaking in order to get the golf club parallel down the line at 6/100 of a second you must have a slight flexion of the left wrist so that the knuckles can point downward and the shaft can become parallel to the target line.

In the IMA Way video I show what all traditional as well as single axis players have in common to create club head speed and accuracy. The only problem is that traditionally you must rotate the club face to square the face and if you're off by 2 degrees you fail to keep the ball in play.

I would love to see your swing on video. From there I can accurately determine your potential and put you on a program of mastery.

Another, and better, approach would be to see me in Minneapolis where I teach during the summer months.

Best wishes,

Scott