Various Questions from Newbie

Hi John,

Welcome to the site! You have a good-looking move for only playing less than a year. But yes, as a former tennis player, I can relate to how much harder golf is compared to tennis. The difference between your good days and bad days in golf are way more dramatic.

As far as your questions:
1. The head movement is from a slightly flat shoulder plane and a little bit of level hip turn.
2. Yes, the release is likely you're biggest challenge, it looks more like a tennis release. But you're new, and it's a challenging movement pattern. So be patient with yourself. At impact, your shoulders are spun too open, the trail leg is buckling, and there needs a little more wipe with motorcycle. I'd probably start with the pivot of the shoulders being open and the trail leg more extended (check out trail leg hip push - https://www.golfsmartacademy.com/golf-instruction/3-way-trail-hip-push/). This spine movement is one of the biggest differences between golf and tennis.
3. Good observation, this is because of the shoulders spinning level and the lead arm pulling. It's related to your release. If you didn't pull that arm, you'd hit the ball way right and likely heavy because of the position of the shoulders and hips.
4. Yes, you're right. Your arms are more behind your body (like tennis) so your body has to move the low point forward by spinning and you make it less steep by buckling that trail side. If you get the arms more in front during the release, then you'll be able to brace and use the wipe move better. Basically, it needs a little clean up at a few places to look more like the pros.
5. You have to get the shoulder blades in a better position and the lead arm less pulling down and around. I'd start with the training the shoulders to spin less. It can be a tricky one. A lot of athletes feel their rotation in their shoulders, so it can feel like not rotating to rotate correctly. Monitor it on video as you practice it.

Happy Golfing,
Tyler

Awesome - thank you so much for the detailed response! Will be focusing on those items for the foreseeable future!

Hi Tyler,

After last video's feedback, I've been working on spinning those shoulders a bit less. Been pretty happy with the results so far, but with new elements being introduced, new questions and new issues creep up lol... As with last time, I wanted to ask you some specific questions.

1. Whenever I do the motorcycle move, I hit it fat every time. No idea why.
2. This may be somewhat connected to question 1. When I look at pros' lead wrist post-impact (like one or two frames after impact), it is always perfectly flat whereas mine is in a bit of an extended position. What could be causing this? Lack of motorcycle pre-impact? Lack of UD post-impact? Not supinating lead forearm fast enough?
3. Do you think my hips should be more open at impact? (getting more open has always been a struggle)

I uploaded a normal speed version and a slow mo version. Sorry the videos are a bit slanted. As always, thank you!

John

1. See answer to question 2, there could be a few reasons, but my guess is that it's the trial arm.
2. During the release, it appears that you lose the trail arm extension and ulnar deviation and don't get into that good stop sign look. I'd recommend testing out the single-arm release drills and see what your trail arm looks like.
3. Eventually, but it's not the highest priority for you. It's not just the hips, it's the core that needs to be more open, but the right arm is preventing that from happening.

Good luck with that trial arm, feel free to post a video of you trying the single arm test,
Tyler