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Golf Impact Lesson with Mark Crossfield PGA professional AskGolfGuru. Mark talks about the skills needed to really improve your golf game and shows you using GC2 HMT how impact can be controlled in many ways. Play your best golf with solid and easy to understand golf tips, drills and fixes from Mark Crossfield.
Interesting though not sure i can relate to it as I think I kind of go
about it the other way round. I dont think about grip, stance or setup. I
was taught all that in 1964 by Don Curtis, the pro at Queens Park
Bournemouth and I havent really thought about any of it since. I just walk
up to the ball, pull the club back and hit it, there isnt much ceremony
about it. From what other people have commented, its pretty clear that I
have no idea how I am delivering the ball or how I am moving. What I think
about is where I want the ball to go and by trial and error when I hit it
that is generally where it goes, its on automatic pilot. I dont think about
it, just hit it. My guess is that my game will never have subtlety, its
brute force and ignorance, but to be honest I dont really care, its fun
😉
I get this vid. But, as a relatively new golfer, I struggle to hit the ball
at target consistently. You say that I need to understand face to
path/dynamic loft/twist in backswing more. I think I do understand it but I
can’t dial in adjustments because I’m not sure if I am delivering path
consistently. Is your advice then simply to spend hours on trackman or some
other device or are there any practical solutions that present a good
picture of path/loft without expensive technology? I love the vids, this
isn’t a dig, I’d just like some advice for golfers that have no access to
this tech.
Yet again Mark you have made a thoughtful, helpful and original video.
Thank you. Keep it going.
Probably best vid so far!
Excellent Mark. Go to the course and put the ball where you miss learn to
make a par from the trees & hazards. Learn to have a find the fairway shot.
Build your skills & the confidence you get will help you loads. Golf is
about finding what works for you… Everybody made different… Practice
when windy learn low shots high shots etc…. Keep educating us Mark
thanks.. Next Vlog somewhere
Fantastic explanation! Golf is situational, and what we do to react to
(create) the shot, is most important. It’s about spatial awareness.
I like the fact that you addressed that some people’s perceptions are far
from their realities. This is REALLY when people need an objective eye
(a.k.a. golf coach).
Ok guys ……..I think I have finally I’ve worked it out………
golfninja is a psychiatrist and Vici is one of his patients. They have come
on here to work through her problems.
+Mark Crossfield Great vid. In essence what you’re talking about is what
many people learn to do when they’ve played from a young age, experiment
with little fear of failure. Kids do that much better than (most) adults.
Golfers who have difficulties in the swings don’t give themselves the
permission to experiment & often as golf is counter intuitive even if they
do, they experiment on the wrong premises. Takes a good teaching pro to
give them both the license to experiment & the permission to fail & also
the right guidance in the way they should ‘experiment’. Top stuff Mr C.
Excellent video Mark! I think what you are saying in this is so important.
I have been going down the practice range over the past few weeks and
finding I can setup myself to play “text book” shots after many shots. But
them get on the course to play nine holes and it is not anything like the
practice mats and it is difficult to determine what is actually happening
at point of impact.
This tells video tells me to be much more dynamic and try different shots,
grips and then watch the outcome to help see what is actually happening at
point of impact and how that affects your shots. Incredibly useful idea
indeed.
Thanks for the great videos!
Hi Mark. This is exactly what I miss in my game. I´ve been playing football
since I was a little kid. And when I play football I know how to kick the
ball in the given situation – its just a naturel reaction as the game is
faster than golf. Lets say I have to kick a penalty and I want the ball to
go to the left and high. Then I just know how to kick it – dont even think
about it. When I play golf Im not anywhere close to that feeling or
confidence. And I miss that a lot! How can people without HMT GC2 get the
feedback needed? Yes, I think my 0 is about 5 out-to-in. But I dont really
know – how can I know?
Thanks for a great video.
will t-off one footed in my next round! #yesplease
Wow! What a fantastic video Mark. Thanks very much for this, it really
makes a lot of sense for me and where I am at with my game and it gives a
great insight into your teaching style. I loved the the 9:13 part
especially, when you talk about students who present with ‘uncalibrated’
swings and explain your methods to help them swing better. Currently my
swing thought is to keep my shoulders closed at impact, not because I want
them to be closed but because I am very prone to having them open at impact
which, I think, explains the open face and occasional dreaded slice? So,
for me, thinking ‘shoulders closed at impact’ leads to me having squarer
shoulders (not closed as per the swing thought and certainly not open) and
hopefully better golf shots. Does this make sense? My only criticism of
this video however, is that for beginner golfers this video might lead them
to not paying as much attention to grip, stance and posture etc., as they
should. This, of course, is open to interpretation as those basics are
second nature to golfers of your caliber. But at the end of the day, you
recorded a thirteen minute video in one take and nit picking isn’t really
justified. Thanks again!
Gday Mark, I watch almost all your videos and love them, well done. I like
this one especially. I have found that just by thinking about delivering
the clubface squarely to the ball has improved my game out of sight. Slowed
down my swing and concentrated on letting the club head catch up so that it
is delivered square. I have always known that I am delivering the club face
open and wasnt sure how to fix it. It is all a thought thought process and
thinking about what the club face is doing. Swing speed is not so important
I don’t think, if you lose 10mph club head speed but hit the ball square it
will still go further and straighter. I have gone from 16hcp to 10 in the
last 6 months just concentrating on these things. Cheers Mate!!!
Sorry, but I think you’re giving too much credit to the GC2 in this
instance, as someone in their mid 40’s who’s been playing golf for only 4
years having gone from 28 to 6hcp with 6 lessons, take the hint that the
ball flight never lies.
You can feel where you’ve hit the ball on the club, you can see the ball
flight high, low, hooky or slicey. You don’t need a GC2 to tell you this!
Get the fundamentals right – grip, stance ball placement ect and provided
you’re self aware – more often than not you’ll be far more consistent on
the course than someone who has bad fundamentals and concentrates solely on
their club path.
Yes there are ecxamples of pros with not ideal fundamentals but in reality
they are the exception that prove the rule.
Mark, tell those people who hit their driver too high to simply put in a
stiffer shaft. Done.
;-)
I don’t like all the different Mark Crossfields but I do like this one.
This is the best video you have ever done. I personally gain far far more
by talking about the golf swing in this way.
Ultimately the human body knows how to make a golf swing but we get so much
in our own way. You would not practice swing if you were hammering a nail
into a piece of wood. Your body just knows how to.
A good visualisation of the shot we want to play, setup to that feeling and
then make the swing. It’s far better than standing over it thinking “I hope
this goes as well as last time”. We have to make each shot a fresh each
time!
Never usually post but this video struck a huge cord. As a 6hcp that plays
regularly (understatement of the year, more like obsessed with the sport!!)
and gets lessons, I went to Carton house (Ireland’s Titelist centre) for a
fitting of the 915 driver and 3wood. First set of shots, I was hitting
3.4deg down at impact. The fitting turned into a short lesson. I ended up
hitting 6deg up and gaining 22 extra yards. We went back and hit the old
driver with 6deg up and was gaining 12yrds over first set of swings. The
fitter was able to find me an extra 10 yards carry over my RBZ Stage2 tour.
In short, I would never have believed anyone that I hit down on driver
until the numbers were in front of me. And all the fitter had to say was
hit up on the ball. Took a few goes but changed nearly 10deg and I believe
all because of trackman. I enjoy lessons but without numbers, I sometimes
doubt my “feelings” in the swing. Numbers don’t lie.
As an avid follower of your Chanel, I would like to say thanks for sharing
your videos and thoughts. IMO this is by far your best video.
Thanks
Darren
Mr C, this was a master class of a video. Well Done. Practise with a
purpose.
This is exactly the trouble I had when I tried having lessons.
whilst the pro I used had a launch monitor with a simulator he didn’t use
this to try and correct my swing which was to out to in and cutting the
ball a lot. He was more in to the video and trying to get me to hit x y and
z positions in my swing which ended up with me thinking about to many
things and my game fell apart.
Since that in early summer last year Ive corrected myself using marks
videos and plenty of practice and now I’ve got a handicap of 14 which must
be ten shots better than I was before I had lessons.
In short monitors are good when used correctly
Good stuff Mark. I am fortunate that I have always been an excellent ball
striker. Unfortunately, when they were passing out distance, I was in
another room. I do hit “normal” shots to warm up on the range, but after
that, I immediately begin hitting punches, high shots, draw, fade,
different distances with the same iron, etc. I generally finish up my range
sessions by playing a few imaginary holes. Of course, I learned all this
long before launch monitors. You just looked to see if the ball landed
where you were aiming. I am also a big believer in visualizing the shot.
Similar to the Lockey example, from 150 yards I may hit anywhere from a
stock 8 iron, to a low fading 5 iron. It just depends on what my mind sees
as the proper shot, the situation, and how I am performing that day. As
they say about golf, “It is not how, but how many”.
I like to think of myself as Luke Donald because I play Mizuno Mp-4’s now
lol. Except I thin the ball around the green and he holes it xD
Couldn’t agree more with this philosophy. In 4 years i turned from 30 to a
1.5 handicap by trying to hit funny shots. Only thing I would add is that
doing this with a 7 iron or other iron may be more beneficial so people
don’t simply assume there moving path when in fact it may be more gear
effect with the driver. I always try to hit at least 7 of the 9 ball
flights with 9 balls before a round to install some confidence. I found
learning to hit the low cut was the hardest because I am a natural drawer
and all the components required, open twist, swing right (left handed),
shaft lean and of course strike.
Great Video. Completely agree with this.I often try to demonstrate to
friends that you can still hit the ball and target regardless of how you
stand, hold the club or swing (within reason) I’m so glad you demonstrated
that in this video. Strike and understanding how to deliver with the
positions you have is key.
Keep up the great work!
I like your philosophy Mark. Problem being in my eyes, as a +1 handicap is
that the solid mechanics of the golf swing “ASSIST” and HELP and make it
easier for the average golfer to achieve the ideal path numbers. You are
providing this data with what is near to as good a swing as anyone could
have. I question this theory if you asked someone with a horrific over the
top move to swing 4deg in to out, things could get messy. When what that
person needs to look at is swing mechanics and fundamentals and ask himself
what is causing the over the top move. Yes, I believe launch monitors are
great for diagnosing some flaws in the swing but I don’t believe they
should be used to solely shape ones swing. Swing fundamentals and mechanics
assist in creating good path and launch numbers.
I just hit 70 balls using all different delivery methods with 3 different
(short) irons and feel I have an understanding now of WHAT changes in
delivery will cause WHAT results…in the memory bank they go !, next I
will use multiple clubs (long irons + driver) to try and reproduce the
results…then out to the course to evaluate their effect in different
situations, great video…my biggest problem is distance – I can shape as
desired, but, cannot hit a ball with any credible distance no matter what I
try ?? WHY , they all go the same distance WHY ??
When I first took up golf 30 years ago I was a consistent drawer of the
ball and could predict the line most of the time. Now, having not played
for nearly 20 years I find I have no idea whether I will draw, hook, fade
or slice. I have no idea why this is so inconsistent. On a good day I shoot
+ 14 and on a bad day + 30. I guess this should be a technique I should
work on – but how can I tell what path I’m taking without some expensive
tracking device?
Surely to a certain degree playing with the fundamentals and engraining
them first builds a solid swing and your stock shot. After you’ve learnt
and feel this you can then learn and feel how to shape other shots. You may
be able to play whatever shot shape you like by only swinging your arms and
nothing else but only hit your driver 100 yards, by learning the textbook
fundamentals and mechanics of the swing you’re more likely to reach your
peak in terms of distance and consistency. Then go practice shot shapes and
scenarios.
I enjoy watching your videos you email me, but being a novice and a lefty,
it took me some time to understand what the hell you were talking about,
and wonder why you don`t direct you videos at novices, and more
demonstration of your club.
So to get it straight you were talking about changing the loft, up and
down, and open and closed by altering your grip????
Great video, Mark. Now, if you could just tell us what your swing
thought/feeling is when you execute each shot, I think that would give us a
good idea of how to approach implementing the idea of path and delivery
rather than just setup/position(s)/grip. I know you’ve done several in the
past, but I think one video that would just quickly break down each type of
shot in relation to what you mentioned in this video would be superb.
Excellent video! Some people don’t ever talk about the golf club in that
manner, “deliver the club head to the ball”. So every shot shape is because
you’re “delivering” the club the same way every time to create that shape
shot? A slice is always because out to in path with club face neutral or
slightly closed, right? Based on the shape of the shot you just hit and the
actual shot you want to create is where you want to make the adjustment to
“deliver” the club head to the ball? So someone on the driving range that
doesn’t have the equipment to measure their shots would have to recognize
what the ball just did to make the proper delivery adjustment for the next
shot, as to what you want the ball to do.
Really like this video Mark! I previously had an issue with an over the top
swing which I fixed, then I realised/felt how important impact is. I feel I
have got to a point now that when I hit a bad shot, I can relate it to my
club path, which helps me prevent it recurring. Can’t wait for the next
course vlog!
One of the best videos you have done mark. Great work. Impact is nos 1.
Doesn’t matter what positions you get in as long as you can control impact.
I have been working so much on positions over the past year and my handicap
hasn’t moved. I will be focusing alot more on trying to control impact.
Keep up the good work looking forward to next course vlog
I spent my first four years of golf practicing mechanics at a range. But it
never made my game on the course better. I wasn’t learning how to play golf
(controlling flight/trajectory or hitting different clubs for lie or
weather influences), I was learning hot to hit one shot per club off of
matts. As a better player, I simply play more rounds of golf – focusing on
making results happen (on the away side of the ball), far more than
mechanics (on the to side of the ball).
Just had a lesson for the first time in years and I have to agree with you
on this mark. I am lucky in the sense that he would put me in weird
position and ask me to hit a shot and I can pull it off with regards to
direction. The issue arises when I try and control trajectory, and with
that my tutor is doing the “traditional” form of coaching finding certain
positions. I am a good striker of the ball and whilst these new moves are a
struggle the ability to lower my flight is already noticeable.
Totally agree mark I am a lefty and suffered massively with slicing and
would get worse the more right in aimed through having a lesson on GC2 and
my pro actually saying aim left and imagine hooking the ball I now play
with a slight draw and hit fairways it’s amazing how the numbers and
simplifying them to understand them eg hook the ball work for people and we
are paying for this lol
best vid you’ve done so far. very helpful. I would love a vid on putting
delivery. Talk us through your putting thoughts. In/out, pull back, follow
through etc. Up or flat to the equator of the ball, all of that….. Could
be just as helpful.
great video!! i just cant get the club on plane from the get go.. i bring
the club inside on the take away, need some crossfield logic for plane,
take away, i played baseball all my life so i swing around my body more
than up and down, really struggling with longer clubs
Great vid this is gonna give me something to look at on the range Monday, I
sort of do this anyway in practice but this has refreshed my mind to focus
less on my set up a bit and more on the delivery. This might help me be
less fidgety at set up, thanks Mark.
Excellent video! Rather advanced concepts? Can a player who cant hit the
ball straight , still use his somehow? I guess my question is, “what basic
knowledge of the golf swing does one need to make this useful? please do
more on this, you have hit on something important here. But its not easy
to understand. I mean we are all used to practice hitting certain position
to hit it “RIGHT”. good work Mark, you are a hell of a teacher. thank you!