Trajectory is too low with my Driver

Dsantor · May 8, 2008

A few years ago I purchased a 420cc Driver that has 10.5 Loft and a stiff shaft because when I purchased it I had my swing speed measured and it was about 100 mph . My trajectory is too low. I can carry to about 220 yds and if the surface is hard It usually ends up 240 - 270. My ball position is left heel and it goes pretty straight most of the time. I do close my stance a little just to make sure that my swing does not go out to in because I used to slice a little. It just stays pretty low and I want to get a higher trajectory. My grip is not too strong or weak. I think I may be lifting my upper body on the downswing . Will lifting up on the downswing cause the low ball flight?

**Fletch09** · May 8, 2008

Couple shot in the dark things to try:

1) Tee it up higher, it will force you to catch the ball on the upswing.

2) Focus on getting more of a weight transfer. Get your weight back and leave it there until you get to impact position. You're likely pretty evenly distributed now, causing you to catch the ball on the way down.

3) If swing changes don't seem to help much, get on a launch monitor. You may simply have a poorly fitted club/shaft. I'm guessing since you're playing a 420cc club you're playing with "old" technology. Many of the latest 460cc drivers promote a high launch.

**SubPar** · May 8, 2008

I have a similar problem, which is the result of hitting the driver with a slightly downward blow. I have a very hard time swinging slightly upward through the ball with the big stick. If I hit it well into the club face and get a low trajectory, that has to be the cause... delofting.

Sometimes I can tee the ball up in the top third of the clubface and still hit under the ball slightly. The ball mark on the club will be near the top of the clubface and the only way I can be doing that, given the tee height, is hitting down at impact. If I hit it in the clubface it goes low. Otherwise I can also pop it up.

I correct for this tendency by making sure my head hangs back behind the ball at impact. I work a lot with my other clubs trying to keep my upper body moving forward through impact, but you don't want that with the driver. Here are some pointers regarding the driver swing.

You can learn something about your swing by cleaning the mark off the clubface after each drive so you can observe where you hit the ball each time. If you are hitting it in the sweet spot and still going low, I think you have to be delofting the club at impact.

SubPar

**bm303** · May 8, 2008

Either:
A- You're teeing the ball down too low
B- You're playing the ball too bar back in your stance
C- You're lunging at the ball and throwing your weight ahead too fast

These are the three problems I have personally had and generally just by thinking about keeping my head still and teeing the ball up decently works fine.

***iacas*** · May 8, 2008

Lee Trevino had a great tip or swing thought that I use when I want to hit a ball really high (#10 at Lake View requires me to carry a ball pretty high over some trees around an 80° dogleg).

His tip was "you want to feel as if you're head is moving backwards (to the right for a righty) at impact." Lee used the tip to hit a draw, but if you're square it's a good way to keep your upper body back through impact, too. Tee the ball up a bit higher if necessary too, yeah.

**BASHERBAKER69** · May 8, 2008

this might sound like double dutch but i wouldnt worry about your driver trajectory being too low!...as long as the carry is not affected . Im tired of having too high a trajectory- its hard to control the shot and makes golf difficult in windy conditions.

You should try teeing the ball lower as sometimes with teeing the ball too high you miss the sweet spot and you get a top-spin lob type tennis shot trajectory. Seriously, tee the ball down and you might get a more pleasing pro traj!..DBM

***iacas*** · May 8, 2008

You should try teeing the ball lower as sometimes with teeing the ball too high you miss the sweet spot and you get a top-spin lob type tennis shot trajectory. Seriously, tee the ball down and you might get a more pleasing pro traj!..DBM

I think he'd know if he was topping the ball. You can't get topspin unless you cold top it.

**BASHERBAKER69** · May 8, 2008

but i find that with the new 'trampoline' type drivers on the market that you get a funny type of traj if you tee it too high..what i mean is that the ball dips suddenly when hit near to the top of the club head..,.,thats just my experience.

**beung** · May 8, 2008

Why not try a regular shaft flex or try a shaft that has a lower kick point?
Just because you have a 100 MPH swing doesn't mean you have to use a stiff shaft.

**Left Is Right** · May 8, 2008

You could try putting 60% of your weight on your back leg on 40% on your front

Along with teeing the ball up higher you will also hit it higher

**SubPar** · May 8, 2008

this might sound like double dutch but i wouldnt worry about your driver trajectory being too low!...as long as the carry is not affected . Im tired of having too high a trajectory- its hard to control the shot and makes golf difficult in windy conditions.

I don't see how someone with a 2 index can be such a cornucopia of wrong-headed advice to golfers. This must be a gag. Whoever you are, you must be purposely making dumb statements and giving bad advice for your own amusement... now where was that "ignore" option?

SubPar

**Three Putt** · May 9, 2008

I think I may be lifting my upper body on the downswing . Will lifting up on the downswing cause the low ball flight?

clean your driver face often at the range and see where impact is, or buy some impact tape, if you are lifting in the downswing you will probably be hitting near the bottom...ie, low trajectory. I don't think its the club, just the impact position. Swing through the ball on a flatter plane, the club shoud do the work. If you have mostly center impact on the face, you might want to try a low kickpoint shaft to help with a higher ball flight.

Dsantor · May 9, 2008

I will try some of these tips. Thanks.

Dsantor · May 9, 2008

This makes sense. I need to go get some impact tape and hit the range. I really think that I am lifting up a little on the downswing.

**CG031** · May 10, 2008

Get a 12 degree driver. I had htis problem a year ago, got a 13.5 driver and it fixed it. Now my swing is much improved, so i need to back to a 10.5

**Avid Golfer** · May 10, 2008

A few years ago I purchased a 420cc Driver that has 10.5 Loft and a stiff shaft because when I purchased it I had my swing speed measured and it was about 100 mph . My trajectory is too low. I can carry to about 220 yds and if the surface is hard It usually ends up 240 - 270. My ball position is left heel and it goes pretty straight most of the time. I do close my stance a little just to make sure that my swing does not go out to in because I used to slice a little. It just stays pretty low and I want to get a higher trajectory. My grip is not too strong or weak. I think I may be lifting my upper body on the downswing . Will lifting up on the downswing cause the low ball flight?

There are specific features of the driver setup that promote a high launch, and you should be able to see them in the picture linked below that shows a number of pros at setup with the driver.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/254...ballposdg0.jpg Here is what you will see in the picture(s): The shirt buttons do not point straight at the ground instead they point toward the instep of the front foot showing that the spine is tilted away from the target. The ball is positioned in line with the left (front) shoulder. The ball is teed up so that half the ball is above the top of the driver. The club shaft points straight up, or away from the target. If you adopt those changes to your driver setup you should increase your chances of launching the ball on a nice high trajectory.

**pcitygolfer** · May 11, 2008

I have the same problem. The first thing I would recommend is opening that stance a little (slightly open to target). The second recommendation is to slow your swing down -I mean start at 50% and work your way up.

I hit an 11.5 Mizuno driver low and a 9.5 Cleveland Launcher high. I am more convinced trajectory has more to do with the shaft. One last thought. Have somebody else check your grip. I used to think I had the correct grip - I didn't. Most people have a stronger right hand grip than they think. When you grip the club, the angle between the index finger and thumb on both hands should point to your right shoulder.

The right hand should hardly take part in the swing. Too much right hand results in low ball trajectory - combined with a strong grip - snaphook. It doesn't seem like you have a hook problem.

By the way, I live in Iowa and your current swing would be perfect here with 15 mph winds being the norm. As you work to get your trajectory up, try and remember how your currently hitting it. On windy days, your current swing will keep you in the fairway

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Trajectory is too low with my Driver

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