Stop Topping and Take Better Divots 2; #1 Most Popular Golf Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[LBos11]

This is a very good video! My mishits tend to be thin but I can set up correctly however in my downswing I have an occasinal problem of losing my spine angle therefore raising the club up and catching it a little thin, please note I am familiar with the golf swing and have +1 handicap so even when I catch it thin it is not awful just a little. Thanks

[Daz85UK]

Shawn, In your video you say that you should focus on the point in which your club will bottom out. Does this mean you keep your eyes on that point during the swing and NOT the ball?

[clemshaw]

@Daz85UK Not exactly; you want to feel that the ball and the low point in front of the ball are in the way of your action towards the target; see "how to focus; shawn clement" part 1 and 2; very important!!

Thanks for the question! Shawn

[fishblade2]

so are you just keeping most of your weight on your front leg or just pushing towards the front leg?

[liamcal93]

I finally get it! I now understand why am topping the ball and how to correct it, Shawn you do a great job at explaining clearly to everyone no matter what level they are at.

Thanks!

[RubxQub]

Great video, thanks for this.

For some reason, though, every time I try and aim in front of the ball, my body tries to go lower instead of more forward leading to fat shots. I can't seem to convince my body to move the swing forward instead of lower. Any tips?

Thanks again for all the videos, love your stuff!

[dinorell]

Very good instruction, as usual.

Thanks, Mike in Memphis

[bboardma]

Shawn can you knit this together with your 'Tilted Spiral' and 'Be a Better Ball Striker'. I get that the sternal notch is the bottom of the swing arc, but what is the relationship of that bottom for low shots and longer irons and fairway woods? In the 'Tilted Spiral' part 2 it looks like you move your club back but the head remains static as if the ball was still placed in the center of your stance. Thanks

[loftboy2000]

Hi all at RHGLC! This works for my irons up to 5 iron but when i get to 3/4 iron my ball flight is low and weak - sometimes tailing off right with an unintentinal fade, any thought? regards, Paul.

[clemshaw]

Hey loftboy2000! This just means that you are playing it a bit too far back in the stance; feel like you are hitting the long irons like the fairway woods! Shawn

[loftboy2000]

@clemshaw Shawn, when you say hit like fairway woods are you talking about sweeping the irons like a wood or are do you mean just the position of the ball?

[texagjosh]

Shawn,

How do you convince your mind to focus on the point in front of the ball, rather than the ball itself? I have tried relentlessly to build this into my swing, but find my mine reverting back to the shiny white ball at the last moment because it stands out.

Also, what is a good way to train on having the notch maintain lateral position where you've set up? I see some swings that have a lateral shift, and I see yours that has only a slight upward bob in your backswing.

Thanks!

[clemshaw]

@texagjosh,

The goal is not so much to focus on a specific spot in front of the ball, you want to focusing on swinging to your target. While your eyes are on the ball, you don't really "see" the ball, you see the pin, or the middle of the fairway.

When it comes to maintaining your centre, you have to secure it against your forward side, have a look at "Golf Pro Lesson Braced Tilt" for the details.

-Matt Blois

RH Golf Learning Centre Assistant Professional

[pawndominance1]

At address...if your knesss, hips, feet, etc...are all aligned parallel...does that mean your weight is even, as in 50 percent on each foot?

[clemshaw]

Hi there,

This is Matt Blois, one of Shawn's Teaching Professionals at the Richmond Hill Golf Learning Centre.

The most important question in terms of setup is whether or not you're set up in a position that will allow you to effortlessly whip the club to your target. Take a look at "golf pro lesson Braced Tilt", hope that helps!

-Matt

[pawndominance1]

Yeah the braced tilt helped a bit...but something that i think shawn should make a video on: after studying the best ballstrikers on tour ive noticed that ALL of them have the same quality in the downswing which is-the head drops a bit, and the hip level actually rises...im interested in why shawn thinks this happens...?

[clemshaw]

pawndominance1,

Take a look at "golf pro lesson Head Bobbing" for a really great explanation of how the head moves during the swing. When it comes to the hip level, take a look at Kenny Perry and Boo Weekley, two of the best ball strikers on tour right now. They both have very solid footwork through the ball allowing their hips to clear properly and actually stay quite level. Watch "golf pro lesson Leg and Footwork" for further clarification. Hope that helps!

-Matt

[pawndominance1]

yes but when u look at the very best ball strikers..their hip level raises from top of downswing to impact...and i think there is something to this...

[avidgolfr]

pawn...youtube search Ben Hogan swing...watch his first move from the top of the swing...shawn makes a good point of this in the head bobbing vid

[loftboy2000]

Hi Shawn, Seasons greetings to you.

Could you just clarify if this applies to fairway woods or is the skipping technique the only thing that i should be concerned with? best regards, Paul

[clemshaw]

Hey Paul! I talk about having the notch behind the ball on the fairway woods which will bring it to the "skipping technique" of one of my earlier videos "golf pro lesson fairway woods and skipping technique"; you can also see "golf pro lesson hybrids"...Happy New Year! Shawn

[TheHaresear]

Shawn I am 74 and have tried everything to keep

from hitting the ball thin on 90% of my shots I

even gave the game up, until I seen your video on

sternum notch ahead of the ball weight left side

head stays behind the ball. Went to indoor range

did what you said in the video and hit 20 solid shots not one thin hit. Thanks Shawn, all these years and you sloved the problem.

[clemshaw]

You are very welcome!

Thank you for your great comment!

Shawn

[mangravy84]

Great two videos on divots Shawn, definately taken some shots off my game..thanks heaps...

ive watched all your videos, many times over, and they have helped immensly...although, there is one thing im suprised no one has asked if you have covered.

What way do you create back spin on the ball to stop or spin back ont he green, especailly from 9 iron to lob wedge..ive tried many "methods" yet it just rolls on and on.

- Is it as difficult as it looks?

[clemshaw]

Thanks for the comment and question!

Spin is simply the result of a well struck and compressed shot; having the right ball as well as soft greens with tight fairways is important as well; have a look at my "golf pro lesson contact and spin" as well as my "golf pro lesson compress through the ball" videos...Shawn

[mangravy84]

Thanks so much for the reply, ive gone over the videos you mentioned im definately using less power via proper compression..and gettin more spin with proV1's...also your idea of having the carpet on top of the practice mats is great , ive started that as well...everyone looks at me strangely until they see what its for...no more sore wrists! :)

thanks again

[grossranger]

I went to the golf bubble today and used the the mat technique in the video. I can't just rake the balls into place. But, after a htting a whole bucket of balls there were no green plastic stains on my 7 iron and my arms felt great. Thanks for the tip!

[cockywatchman1976]

Shawn,

Good video. GREAT tip on the injury avoidance-I have been getting some shoulder pains, I suspect due to this problem with hitting off hard mats.

I have a question. I notice for your general stance you do not have your left foot opened out at all. Hogan talks of opening it out a quarter turn. Do you have any thoughts on what is best, or is it just a personal thing, or even irrelevant??

Cheers

Matt

[clemshaw]

Hey Matt! The feet positioning is very important; I like to have both feet slightly toed open to allow a solid turn in both directions; open the left too much and there is too much resistance for the hip turn into the backswing (same if the right foot is too square); see "golf pro lesson leg and footwork" video; Thanks for the question! Shawn

[cockywatchman1976]

Shawn,

I'm trying to avoid excessive hip turn and overswinging past parallel. So I have a fairly square right foot and slightly open left foot. It is definitely helping. Do you have any tips/advice/drills on stopping/avoiding the right leg straightening and losing flex in the back swing. I think it causes me to overswing and lose stability, but is so hard to stop.

Cheers

Matt

PS Oh yeah, quick question. Is it Ok to send my swing vid for analysis, even if it is just swinging into nets?

[aldojoel1981]

Hi Shawn, Can you please do a video with analogy of how to focus on target and not at he ball, because sometimes with this tip I hit the ball so good and sometimes topping the ball!!! Well if you can please!!!

[clemshaw]

No Problem; I already have a couple of them; see "golf pro lesson how to repeat your practice swing" and "golf pro lesson target focus"

I will be uploading something else soon!

Shawn

[1tontomato]

Topping the ball is very common, and if you don't top the ball, you end up flailing the arms lower to catch the ball which usually ends up in a nasty hook. When I loose my spine angle at impact is when I hit nasty hooks. A poor spine angle happens because of a poor use of the squatting action and the lack of hitting up against the left side.

Every weekend I see about 90% of golfers stand taller through impact and then they wonder how come they can't hit the ball straight.

If they only knew.

[russellbenj]

hi shawn im calling from staffordshire in england your videos hav helped me a lot any chance you could do a vid on getting out of the rough this one area i have difficuly on

[clemshaw]

It will have to wait till spring...:) But you are in luck as my DVD series has a nice section in disc #3 where I execute all shots from the driver to the putter on the golf course and the shot from the long rough is in there;

All the best! Shawn

[tsmith109]

Shawn, great idea taking out the insert to help with the prevention of injuries, do you need to choke up a little bit on the club because the mat is raised??

[clemshaw]

Not really; You can if you want to and it feels better for you but I don't feel the need to do that; it is a fun way to hit low shots into the wind as well; Shawn

[carrera993]

Also, what is the purpose of hitting the second ball at the 8 second mark of the vid?

[sedowney]

My guess would be to be sure of a downward blow on the first ball, if not you won't hit the second ball.

[clemshaw]

To get the focus down and through the ball; you will see this exercise in my "golf pro lesson through ball" video in the 6th minute...Shawn

[carrera993]

Shawn, how close should you be "able" to place the impact board behind the ball with different clubs...you mentioned a couple of inches for a 7 iron for example...I assume it would be a bit closer for a shorter iron and farther away for a mid to long iron or fairway wood? Thanks much.

[clemshaw]

hey carrera993! about 4 to 6  inches for the mid and short irons and 3 to 4 inches for the wedges...Shawn

[slashdazz]

Brilliant stuff Shawn, simular to Bobby Clappetts aiming point technique for more forward swing arc = better contact except explained better!

[wang1433]

Hi Shawn,

What type of mat do you have there?

[clemshaw]

It comes from Tartan Turf company;

Shawn

[Frazer20]

Hey shawn, the dvd's on my xmas list so hopefully i shouldn't feel the to ask any more questns! just a quickie with rgds to urge the braced tilt that should seal the deal with me.. when you brace your tilt at setup do your hips (as they lean over) stay square to the target line or do they open / close at all?

Gary

p.s the braced tilt has...so far... provided me with the biggest improvement in ball striking out of all your techniques, so im keen to nail it!

[clemshaw]

Hey Gary! The hips and shoulders (pelvis and rib cage) will be closed at address; but remember that this does not mean that the arms are going to come more to the inside; the body at this point in the backswing should already feel like it is in the process of getting out of the way of the arm-club unit which is already in the process of swinging freely away from the body and into the backswing; see "golf pro lesson perpetual motion drill" Shawn

[MadsHilde]

I have already seen SO many of his videos and watch them almost every day. All I know about golf I owe to Shawn. I have only played for 3 months.

To MicrowavedHamster:

Aren't the divot supposed to start about 5 to 10 centimeters INFRONT of the ball. I mean, one aren't supposed to remove dirt UNDER the ball, correct?

[clemshaw]

Hey Mads; the divot starts right after the ball with grass, then a 1/2 inch later it is ground for 3 inches before it starts coming up and out...Shawn

[MadsHilde]

A little thing I don't quite get. You say one should focus on the spot where the clubsole is supposed to buttom out...does that mean I should look at the spot where the divot is supposed to be instead of looking at the ball at setup?

[jkpassage]

Keep watching Shawn's YouTube videos (and purchase his dvd's if you are able). Shawn provides good instruction on seeing the ball while keeping your focus toward your target. For practicing, the idea here is that you want to be sure that your swing bottoms out the club after the ball is struck. Once the feel matches the reality, you are well on your way to making great golf shots. Trust me, keep watching Shawn's videos. They are great stuff.

[MicrowavedHamster]

The divot should start at the ball anyway.

[clemshaw]

Your eyes stay steady on the back of the ball but your focus can be on whatever you want! Best way to focus is to feel the weight of the arc-club unit swinging freely around a solid focal point (sternum notch or keeping left cheek onto the back of the ball) and letting the arm club unit fall through the ball, through the bottom of the arc and to the target. See "golf pro lesson how to feel the short swing" as a good prequel to this one.

[r5audio]

Shawn - without exaggeration, you have inspired me to play good golf. What a great teaching manner and a passion for the game you've got! I've learned so much from your videos. I'll be buying the DVD soon and one day and I'm hoping to come over from Scotland for a lesson or 2!

Please keep doing what you do!

All the best.

[jkpassage]

Just another great video from Shawn. If you haven't ordered the dvd's yet, you should. The instruction is top notch. I have my hitting area set up in my basement for the winter. Love the tip about how to avoid tennis elbow. Thanks so much, Shawn.

[clemshaw]

Thanks for the great comment jkpassage!

Shawn

[MicrowavedHamster]

Shawn, when I watch Swing visions on Youtube of PGA tour professionals, they look quite different than yours. Is it my untrained eye or?

[clemshaw]

You just haven't seen Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus in his prime, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Moe Norman, Arnold Palmer and many others of that era on swing vision; you would see things way differently...Guys you want to immitate today? Bubba Watson's backswing and downswing when he plants his front heel on time, Tom Watson, and out of the modern guys I would say Hunter Mahan...

[1tontomato]

Either you're getting older or your wife is cooking some good meals^_^

Looking healthy my friend.

Great video like always.

[clemshaw]

I know; I am trying this new wide angle lens; gotta stop eating so darn late at night! :)

Thanks for the comment, I think...:) LOL

Shawn

[lilp3t3rr]

Haha, 2nd time we get the same shoes :D.

[cwytonweb]

There is a great product called the Golf Mat by National Golf Products that simulates real fairway turf. The mat is attached to a flexible board so it has a lot of give when hitting down. It's expensive but it works.