Help me improve my golf swing?

Question

Help me improve my golf swing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGMWc2V5R5U The whole of my left leg 'gives' before I have hit the ball. Is that bad? I can hit the ball cleanly most of the time so is there any point in changing it. If I try to change it feels really strange.

Just to give you guys a little insight, i'm hitting an 8 iron, which usually goes 150-170 yards. I have a handicap of roughly 25, mostly due to a shite short game!

Answer 1

Id like to see your hands moved back towards your left shoulder.  This shoulder is too low and this small movement will lift the shoulder and create a slight angle between your right wrist and the shaft of the club - its too straight at the moment.

But hey otherwise its looking good and if it is your short game why are you worried about an 8 iron?

From the distance you say you are hitting that is a long way for an eight iron - learn to hit it shorter but straighter and with greater control.  Golf is not about hitting the ball far.  A 6 inch putt counts the same as 170 yard 8 iron.  They're both one stroke. Of the two though you would feel far worse about missing the putt!!

Answer 2

Heres my advice.  If your short game is holding you back, why are you more concerned with your golf swing.  Send in a short game clip of yourself and practice your short game more.  Good Luck.

Do not worry about keeping your right arm staight.  That will lead to tension and kill your swing.  You have a little bit of a reverse pivot.  Your weight appears to start slightly on your front leg and you never get fully stacked over your left side at the top of the backswing.

Edit: To Phil:  Exactly, dont worry about keeping your left arm straight.  You do want the left arm extended but not locked straight.  Trying to keep your left arm completely straight will limit your turn in most cases.  Occasionally you will see a player who can keep it straight but not a lot.

Answer 3

I would say the biggest thing you should change is keeping your right arm straight. It should be straight all the way through your backswing with your wrists kocked (darn filter wouldn't let me spell it right). This should improve your consistency quite a bit.

Edit: "Do not worry about keeping your right arm staight" Seriously? Whether it's a long or short shot, it's nearly impossible to make consistent contact with a square clubface if you're not keeping your forward arm straight (right for him, left for right handers).

Answer 4

Grip needs improvement - both hands need to work as one unit, go to an overlapping grip.  Square up your left foot to the target line, it is open allowing left hip to go back further than desirable.  Keep right arm straighter during backswing.  Overall looks pretty good - work on chipping and putting to get stroke average down.