Ok i'll try and explain this as brief as possible. For a while I have had problems missing left. Usually my misses were all pulls or I over hooked a shot.

Yesterday playing in a scramble one of my friends pointed out I was bringing the club straight back and not "rotating my hands" so the clubface was staying closed for a very long time, essentially forcing the ball low and left.

We talked about it yesterday and again this morning, and as he recommends I need to "rotate to allow my hands to follow my shoulders and shake hands in my backswing". While I totally understand what he's telling me, i'm trying to find something to "key on" in order to make sure i'm doing it.

Anyone else gone through anything similar or have any ideas?

Try telling yourself to TURN around your upper body during your take away, and not straight back. This should help you with the closed clubface, and add some distance to your shots at the same time.

Not sure Sox, as I never think about these things. But just grabbing the club I have in my office and swinging, when my club gets parallel to the ground, like a at the 9 o'clock position on a clock if you were inside the clock looking out, the toe of my clubface is pointing toward the sky. The hands do rotate naturally so if you were keeping/forcing the clubface to stay sqaure too far back maybe it is part of the problem.

Sox,
Last time my clubface got closed at the top, I had begun to let my right (away from target) elbow stick out from my body a bit during my backswing. It didn't take much, either. I fixed it by focusing on keeping my elbow tucked to my body, and being a pivot for the backswing, such that the point of my elbow faces the ground all the way through. Dunno if this will be the solution for you, but can't hurt to mention it.
Laney

thanks for the input all.

My problem appears to be immediately at take away. In trying to bring the club straight back i'm somehow holding my hands in a "shut" position and not allowing them to rotate with my shoulders.

Scott I like the idea of checking at the 9 o'clock position.

I'm supposed to play my weekly league tonight (even though the heat index here is around 110!!!) so I'll let everyone know if I come up with anything.

Obviously, as a novice, I may have this wrong. But wouldn't just practicing that particular swing/shot with a focus on doing it properly help correct it eventually? It would seem that it would become a habit after practicing enough.

Problem is if you don't have someone telling you "when" you are doing it correctly, you could practice and ingrain the bad swing!
Sox, see if a mirror allows you to get a peek at the club position.

Aimee your right, I couldn't feel the club face being so shut, but as soon as my friend pointed it out (He's a very good player, so when he mentions something I definately listen) it definately made sense with my problems lately.

Tried to work on allowing the club face to "roll open" last night, my first 3-4 holes I hung everything out to the right. As the night went along I tried to just make a more natural feeling swing just concentrating on allowing the club to follow my shoulders. A couple balls I over hooked probably bringing the club more inside than usual (trying to get a more full turn), but otherwise the results were better. Ball flight was better for certain.

Didn't play great (struggled early but ended strong) but hopefully I can get out saturday and work on it some more.

Good morning Sox...

You are taking a "big chance" when making major swing changes on the golf course....Confine them to the practice area...That is where you will hopefully groove the results.It is to easy to give up and become a basket case when new things don't work while we are trying them on the course...We are using to many different clubs when we play.

Selftaughtman

Sox,
Your deal is simple to fix.
If you are having a difficult time rotating on your backswing, it's because your right arm is away from your body and during your backswing you'll have a flying right elbow. You can't rotate if your right arm is away from your body on your take away.
All you have to do is let your arms rest against your body at address, start your backswing with your left shoulder and work on keeping your right elbow as close to your body as possible during your backswing. If you do this, you can't keep the clubface closed on your backswing.
Bill

BTW, you're probably starting your take away by drawing the club back with your right hand. As stated above, start your backswing with your left shoulder.

Bill is back....

Bill they need you on the topic Re: Driver too long...

Bill thanks for the idea on the shoulder start, I'll have to think about that saturday morning. I think part of my problem was focusing too much on coming "straight back" and not just letting the natural muscle movement guide the club.

Selftaught your point about the range is a great one for 95% of golfers, unfortunately i'm in the 5% who doesn't "practice". EVER. Going out and playing is my practice, and I can't remember the last time I just went to the range to hit balls. Usually if I do that i'm bored within 15 minutes and want to go play. I don't really consider this fix any kind of major swing change, I feel like I have a "pretty good" swing, so generally anything I am doing is simply tweaking here and there and not trying to drastically change anything.

You know Sox, my boss is like that. When he has time to hit the "range' the course is his range. But it's tough to make real changes and make them stick if you don't at least swing a club around the house or do drills at least every few days...

I am so thrilled that I got this one right!

SOX. I have no idea WHY you are taking the club STRAIGHT BACK to start your swing. You're supposed to be taking the club back INSIDE. This could be your whole problem with closing the club face.

By the way Bill, leading with the left shoulder is really helping consistency - as is the low and slow takeaway and not over extending. Thank you.

Good Chris. FYI, at the start of our company tourney, I mentioned the 'low and slow' idea to one of my team mates, and he probably played 'better' golf over his ability than anyone that day. may have just been a coincidence but he did his job better than anyone that day.