Ok so I am about a 2 handicap and its because of my natural ability/talent. It is not because I have a great golf swing. So time to change that. I have 2 issues I feel like I need to fix. 1) I need to get into a better position at impact by getting my hands more ahead of the ball and a little more forward shaft lean. And the other is why I'm starting this thread 2) I need to get the club in the slot. I've gotten pretty good at timing my wrist action to hit the ball well but not consistently well which has given me enough short game practice to get up and down from everywhere, so here's some pics to show what I'm talking about. Sergio on the left and me on the right in case you couldn't tell which one was the pro . I used Sergio because he really gets the clubbed back and down on the downswing more than most. I tend to stand the shaft more vertical where the correct way is to lay it back more horizontal. So fire away, help me fix this. The line is the shaft plane line at address

I think it is because I'm turning my shoulders too soon which in turn pulls the club forward into al almost over the top kind of position. Even tho I know I need to let the arms and hands drop first before the turn I can't make my body do it

You're much better than me, but I think a reasonable question would be:
Aside from the looks of your swing; how is your ball flight, where do you normally miss (slice/hook? ) or is it just a problem with consistent ball contact?

Guessing you fade it or pull it? Might be easier to analyze with a video but you are clearly steep

This is often the case that you start your swing up top rather than from the ground up

I find Mark Crossfield very good in explaining stuff--not sure if he'll be helpful for a 2 capper (like yourself).

AskGolfGuru

Golf Swing plane

and not sure if this is your specific problem, but this video might help:

Miss is a pull. My problem is that I'm digging the toe of the club into the ground by quite a bit and I'd rather fix the swing flaw than bend my clubs upright 4+ degrees. And that still wouldn't fix the misses

Yeah video might help. I assume your top picture is a few milliseconds into your downswing? Looks like Sergio's first pic is still in his backswing. Either way some pics or video of transition (and face on) would really help.

Video would help for sure. I would hazard a guess that you are standing a little more upright in your backswing than your address position / spine angle.

You're not getting enough shoulder turn in your backswing so even though the club looks on plane going back you've manufactured it with arm/hand work.

Looks like you right hip needs to turn more, this isn't 1995 David Leadbetter X factor anymore, the worlds best let their lower body rotate more going back now. Look at how much more open Sergio's hips look at the top compared to yours.

I can't picture your downswing. If I only saw the first and second frame I would have no idea how you save the swing at impact. In looking at the second frame it looks like your only option is some steep, OTT, movement with a huge cast and basically a weak and steep cut across the ball.

Yet, by keeping that right arm close to you side you somehow save it at the bottom. not sure how.

It you could just drop that right elbow down/back (a laid off feeling almost), at the start of your downswing, you might get rid of that first steep move that changes your entire plane. It is really odd that you change your plane so much in the downswing, as even people with bad OTT moves turn the upper body too quick/soon but retain the plane and cut across the ball.

full video front and down the line would be great so we can see where exactly you transition to that steep swing.

kudos to you for saving that swing after frame 2. Most people could not.

just my two cents.

Yeah you pretty much nailed it with changing the plane. On video it's like it changes from on plane to steep and then somehow I get it back close to on plane again by impact. Idk how either because in my swing it feels like it stays the same. I am able to hit a cut or a draw fairly easy on command but I think this is all cuz I just got good at timing and using my hands/wrists around impact. Certainly not the right way to hit the ball.

Is there a way to get video on here without YouTube? I lost my gmail password and the process to change it is impossible.

As for the pics in the op. the first one is the dead top of Sergio's backswing and one frame into my downswing.

Here's a couple videos with 7iron DTL and face on

Read my advice, especially after that face on vid, look how locked up your lower body is.

Narrow you stance a tad and get some hip turn in that backswing.

I have figured out that I start my swing a little bit by turning the shoulders which pulls the club towards my front side rather than letting my hands drop down and the club fall. I'm looking for a way to teach my hands to drop first before I turn my shoulders. It's proving to be very difficult to teach the old dog a new trick I guess

Suit it seems like that is an effect of what Spenda is talking about, not the cause of all the problems. Otherwise you are just making another compensation that is going to be hard to repeatably pull off

This. Suit the only way you are going to be able to get the club in the slot from that position is some serious manipulation, which is going to put you in a worse position miss and power-wise imo.

There is a lot of good leg action imo, but your hip turn is so restricted that you are almost forced to slide forward. Other than that, you hold your trail leg bac while your lead leg rotates to start the downswing, and I think with a proper amount of lower-body rotation you should have a nice angle towards the ball.

Finally was able to get out and get in a good range session. Only my 2nd time hitting any balls all year but I went back to this thread and just want to give a shout out to Spenda because you're exactly right. Thank you, more turn going back has made everything work better.