A 'Before' and 'After' experience.

I give almost all of my clients a video of each lesson that has the diagrammed breakdown of their swing and my comments on the audio portion. It is often encouraging to look at the initial lesson and compare their progress over some time interval. I think a 6-9 month interval is ample time to become familiar with most swing changes, and that is the interval of this 'before' and 'after'. I have divided this analysis into 2 parts, a back view and a side view. Approximately the same sequence of the initial lesson is compared to a lesson at 6 months, which I think is very instructional. You will see that he initially swung the club back inside and behind him, and then up to get it into a position for the downswing. The club is actually across the line at the top, and the only compensating move to get the club back to the ball is to is to swing the club out 'over the top'. He did not rotate his arms through the ball, and the club face stays open well past impact. In the comparison swing at 6 months, his club is nearly on plane throughout the entire swing and the club is more loaded coming into the ball.

So how does 'improving your swing' translate into your golf game? I asked this client to e-mail me and describe how his improved swing has affected his golf game. This e-mail follows.

I have been working with Neil Wilkins (for about 9 months) and in this time have seen my handicap drop from a 12 to a 6. When I came to Neil for help I had not had a lesson in over 10 years, and it showed. My swing was too long, my swing plane too steep and my clubface shut on the downswing yet wide open at impact. All of this led to me hitting shots that had a high trajectory and faded off line. Over the last nine months Neil has revamped my swing and consequently, my game. Today, I am hitting shots with a much lower trajectory and playing a slight draw.

When we started working together I was hitting an average of 46% of fairways and 53% of greens in regulation. Now I am hitting 66% of fairways and 72% of greens in regulation. My average drive has increased approximately 10 yards yet is more accurate. Neil has taught me how to hit pitch and chip shots around the greens and the importance of these shots relative to scoring. All of these improvements have added up to an increase in my confidence and shot making ability.