[mabramb]

Welcome aboard, Michael, and thanks for this first post. Keep'em comin'!

Your problems -- lack of 'Down', Distance and desirable Ball Flight -- are due to Throwaway (6-D-0). And there is a high probability it follows the usual sequence: Hand Throw from the Top followed by Over-Acceleration in the Downstroke and Quitting through Impact (6-D-1/2/3). The cure, basically, is learning to swing the Club correctly.

My guess is that you have Off Plane Shoulder Rotation in the Start Down combined with the aforementioned early Hand Throw Release and Wrist Bend (a Horizontal Motion) through Impact. You need to substitute an On Plane Start Down of the Right Shoulder and Hands; a positive Lag Loading; and a strongly Downward Left Wrist Uncocking (a perpendicular motion) through Impact.

So, conceding the constraint of an unseen Stroke, do the following:

1. Leaving your Hands at the Top, begin your Start Down with a slight Hip 'bump' parallel to the Target Line. This move will correctly Load your Left Wrist (and the Lag) On Plane.

2. Drag this Loaded Left Wrist directly toward the Target Line in the Downstroke.

3. Then, sensing the Pull of Centrifugal Force in Release, Throw the Club strongly Downward -- directly toward the ground -- with a vigorous Uncocking of the Left Wrist.

These moves are not a band-aid cure. Instead, they are fundamental to a sound Swing. With a little practice, your Swing will improve, and when your Swing improves, your Shots will improve.

That's the way it works.

Thanks so much for replying so quickly to my questions. I'm certainly no expert but what you are saying in your analysis sure sounds like exactly what's going on! I certainly know that I overaccerlate and the funny thing is is that each time when I set up to the ball I tell myself that I'm not going to do that but... voila, almost every time I do. I want to take what you recommended and also research the book so that I can cross-reference the two and help the book make more sense to me. And of course work on your recommendations.

I have another question if you have a minute. The feeling of "dragging" the club through the hitting zone (i.e. lag or drag drills)... it seems awkward to keep the body moving in such a manner that would give this sensation while swinging in realtime. Is that natural? Do I just need more practice? Is that something I even need to be trying to accomplish?

Thanks again for taking the time out to read and reply to my questions... it really makes a difference.

Michael