Originally Posted by Yoda
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Welcome aboard, Aussie Bomber, and thanks for this first post. Let's see if we can't get something going here.
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Hey Yoda, thanks for your response, I have been watching all the videos I can in the gallery. You definitely have a passion for what you do and I find your explanations on the machine absolutely fascinating. I truly believe knowledge is power.. Okay onto the answers [Yoda questions in bold].
1. What did you do to achieve your terrific progress this year?
I would first say determination and making a decision to be the best I can absolutely be. I have commited myself to my ambitions and have actually given away playing golf to focus solely on my practice for Long Drive.
My improvement has been achieved via the following methods:
a) Strength and Conditioning: I have embarked on getting stronger and more flexible in what I believe to be the key muscles groups for golf power: Posterior Chain (Hips, Hamstrings, lower back), Core, Upper back/lats, triceps and forearms/wrists. My training focusses on speed of movement against resistance rather than maximal weight lifting.
b) Teaching my neuromuscular patterns to swing faster: This basically involves doing dry swings as fast as possible. Making the club "whoosh" as loud as possible through the impact area.
c) Relaxing my muscles as much as possible during the swing. Loose tension free muscles move faster and contract harder than ones riddled with tension.
d) Regular driver practice with a swing speed monitor. As the range I practice at is only a 311 carry to the back fence, I needed a device to tell me if I was improving or if swing changes were making a difference (positive or negative). I generally alternate sessions between speed focus and strike quality focus so I don't just become number dependant.
e) Making practice as hard as possible. ie. Using reduced flight range balls and practicing into the wind the majority of the time. I hope by doing this no matter what conditions I face in competition, I have already practiced under the hardest ones possible. That way anything less is a bonus.
2. Please tell us about your equipment, particularly your driver specs and ball.
Okay everyone uses the same ball (Pinnacle Gold Long Drive) so it is not really an issue of choice in LD.
Driver heads: I have three Bang-O-Matic 460cc drivers (5 degree, 6.5 degree, 7.5 degree). Generally try to set up one for into wind conditions, one for normal conditions and one for downwind conditions. Also the "roll" factor of the grid is taken into account, whether it is best to get distance via fly or by roll on the day. I have just been lucky enough to join All Out Golf who make the N-Forcer 460. It is a new head on the market that is producing higher energy transfers (USGA legal) and better ball speeds than regular LD equipment.
Shafts: I prefer a stiffer tipped shaft (as I generally hit the ball fairly high) and find any flexibility at the shafts bottom end results in me ballooning drives. I tend to look to set my drivers up at around 270cpms, with a swingweight somewhere around D10/E0, shaft weight is generally 70-75 grams and length currently is 48 inches vertical (approx 46.5 standard). I am working my way up to maximum LD comp length of 50" vertical (48.5" standard) but it takes a long time to get used to swinging with extra length. My shaft of choice is the House of Forged WHUP n SHAFT (manufactured by Matrix) which is the premier Long Drive shaft currently.
3. What are your thoughts on ball spin and launch angle?
Spin rate is critical!! I generally aim for less than 2800 rpm, 2500 rpm is "ideal". Minimising spin rate I find gives more penetration through the air and enables the ball to release on landing so that roll can be achieved.
Launch angle is also an important factor although I tend not to focus on it as much as I probably should. A launch in the range of 10-14 degrees seems to be optimal in terms of distance.
4. Do you attempt to 'hit up' on the ball through impact? If so, do you accomplish this through ball location or axis tilt?
I do try and catch the ball on the up. I do so by teeing high and placing it in front of my swing's low point. I also do use access tilt, but in my case I think this is more of a fault I want to address as I occasionally get caught on my right side. Kind of like a baseball home run hitter trying to launch it over the fence. Using 4" tees is contributing to this problem currently so I am going to experiment with lowering tee height to see if I can improve my mechanics.
5. What are your goals regarding accuracy?
My primary focus is getting it LONG. I would have to say accuracy is a secondary concern. My goal is probably an accuracy of 33%, 2 in 6 (LD has a 6 ball set). The LD grid is approximately 40-50 yards wide, however that being said on a drive that is travelling 350-400 yards the margin for error I am realising is still small. My philoshopy is this in terms of LD: I could fill up the grid with 330-350 yard drives and not be competitive, so I am better going for that 1 long shot that puts me in position to win. If I hit every ball long and OB, I am still in the same position as being a 100% accurate but short of the mark. I therfore take my chances and just go for that 1 in 6 long ball. I must admit it is not golf for the purists and not the way I would ideally like my golf to be going but it is the beast that is LD.
6. Could you provide a swing sequence for us? If so, PM Bambam, and we'll help you with the process.
Currently no, but I will endeavour to do something within the next week or so in order to give you all something to look at.
My current tendencies/faults I believe are:
- Not achieving FLW
- Not optimising the vertical uncocking which leads the LW to horizontal hinge. (I believe this stems from a fear of hitting down with the driver and achieving too much backspin)
- Not optimising the roll component (I watched "Are You Ready to Roll" and "Swivel" last night and my alarm bells went off!)
- Over emphasising my axis tilt in an attempt to "hit up" which leads me to poor weight transfer, often getting stuck on the right side.
My bad shots currently are:
- A big block to the right
- then a big pull hook (over compensation for the block???)
I apologise for the length of my post, I am sure you guys have better things to do than read a mini version of "War and Peace". I am extremely passionate about LD and now TGM, and it is my desire to be the best which leads to my over zealous enthusiasm at times. I feel like a someone who has been blind for so long that can now actually see the world for the first time since finding TGM.
Thanks once again for taking the time to address me, I am all ears for any help and direction I can get. I will work at getting you all a swing sequence as soon as possible.
AB
Hybrid Mode
