So I have fought a pretty extreme over the top motion for my entire golfing life, which no amount of swing thought standing over the ball could seemingly cure. In the best of times, it was just a reliable fade that would get me around the course, hitting fairways and throwing the occasional dart into a green. As I started to play more this last year and got my short game back in shape, my scores kept dropping. But even though I was consistently hitting fairways, I was bleeding distance with every club but my driver, which is an absolute killer on my home course where I end up hitting woods or laying up on long par 4s, and rarely have less than a 7 iron into even the shortest ones.
I am only 39. I am big, strong, coordinated, and powerful at pretty much everything else I do (e.g., tennis, throwing). I get decent distance off the tee, but should probably hit it even farther. Moving up to the senior tees might put a bandaid over the fact that I was only hitting my 7 iron ~125 yards, but I didn't really like that option, especially since my 67 year old father (and most likely playing partner) is still going from the men's tees.
When the shanks showed up a month ago, and persisted, even if less severe, for a few weeks, I decided it was time for a complete swing overhaul. I have never been able to fix my over the top action with any amount of practice. I probably should have gotten a lesson years ago, but I like the fact that I am "self taught." Anyways, after hacking my way around the course last Saturday, I watched some internet videos that clicked with my mind. I knew my grip was too weak, but it never occurred to me that my over the top swing was my subliminal correction for an open club face, which coupled together could produce a relatively straight ball flight if synced perfectly, but was robbing me of distance and consistency.
What clicked was the advice in one such video to simply strengthen the grip as much as possible, so that you could not physically have an open club face at impact. Then just realize that you're going to be hitting horrible pull hooks that dart off the left edge of the practice range until your mind and body naturally bring your club path back in line with, and eventually to the right of, the target.
I put this plan into motion on Sunday, and the initial grip adjustment felt like such a severe change from what I had been doing that I could barely take the club back. Once I did get it back, my wrists were only flexible enough to get the club vertical, much less horizontal, and I'm sure both the swing and the results looked like somebody swinging a club for the first time. That first bucket was so weird, I imagine I would have felt more comfortable trying to swing left handed. But each disgusting rope hook was actually reassuring in its own way.
I stuck with it and just started hitting little quarter swing shots, trying like hell to push the ball to the right of my line. Since I'm afraid there is no going back, I am totally fucked if I don't fully commit to this, so I have left the office to go hit a bucket of balls at lunch each day this week. Starting with my gap wedge, and adding the 9 iron and 7 iron the last couple days, today felt like a massive breakthrough in that I know feel comfortable at address.
Although I am only giving it half swings because of my inflexibility, five range sessions in and I am already hitting shots just beyond my old full swing distances for those clubs. Despite hitting into a wind that is quartering from left to right (previously a worst case scenario for me), I don't recall a single shot that moved right since making the change, save for the early shanks or dribblers off the toe when I could barely make contact. About 10% of my shots the last couple days were legit misses to the left (although I've moved past the rope hooks), but the vast majority are now starting online, and falling off a few yards left at the end.
No doubt that this stronger grip is going to temporarily wreak havoc on my close in pitching game, but I will get to that in due time. I am interested to see what happens when I start working in my driver and longer clubs. But for now, watching those balls work right to left feels like I've unlocked a super power.