Basic Tip Required

Pommy Jacko · August 3, 2008

Hi everyone, I was just hoping for some advice on what loft of driver would probably suit me, I normally hit quite low with a slight draw when I catch it well and like to keep it low. I am just getting started really and need a lot of practice, Ive been told my swing is good and have a medium tempo to fast swing. I currently use a 11.5* driver with a small head, its my dads from about 20 years ago! but get the tee well down into the ground to keep it low, I was thinking I might be good with a lower degree of loft to keep it low or I might be good trying to get the ball up higher . Any help to ease my confusion is appreciated!

**gr8hntr** · August 3, 2008

ball placement plays into the height of the drive also ... like playin it in the middle of your stance will cause a lower ball flight and the shaft plays into it also...i would think a 11.5 should get the ball up purdy good

but some better plays will chime in w/ more or better tips or info

**m11** · August 3, 2008

like playin it in the middle of your stance will cause a lower ball flight and the shaft plays into it also..

If you are making a proper stroke, putting it in the middle of your stance will likely pop the ball straight up however, your best bet is get fitted at a golf store. They do a good job and will let you know the specs that you should be hitting.

**ks8829** · August 3, 2008

I would go to the golf store with a driving range and try hitting your choices of driver in different lofts and find what fits your game and your pocket book. Most store have a liberal return policy incase you need to change the loft later.

Pommy Jacko · August 3, 2008

cheers for the ideas, I think ill get myself down the local driving range and have a go with their shop drivers to see what I prefer, tbh I like to keep the ball a bit lower than the average player and let the ball run a lot as in New Zealand I generally play when the ground is VERY dry and the ball will run. Keep the ideas coming though guys. Cheers.

**Stacey_E** · August 3, 2008

If you hit it low and don't slice it, good luck finding a high loft driver that isn't draw biased (thus turning your draw to a hook). I did a LOT of research looking for my driver. Ping was the only company at the time that offered a high loft driver with a square face. The companies assume that if you need 12 degree or higher that you are a slicer. I dig my G5 even if it does have 27" of cleverly disguised lead tape on it.

**gr8hntr** · August 3, 2008

If you are making a proper stroke, putting it in the middle of your stance will likely pop the ball straight up

lol my swing must be jacked up purdy bad then

cause i have to hit dads G-10 w/ the v2 high launch in the middle of my stance so i dont sky it ... if i hit it up front like i hit my Callaway X it goes nine miles high and 150 yards sry Pommy Jacko dont listen to my advice these guys will fix ya they have helped me alot

**Dub** · August 3, 2008

I'm reading this one carefully....hoping to gain some insight, too.

I'm getting about tired of my quail high drives!!!!!

**m11** · August 3, 2008

I'm reading this one carefully....hoping to gain some insight, too.

in order try not to hijack the thread on your behave Dub, i'll keep it short.

Hitting it high with the drive is likely to be a result of playing the ball too far back in your stance. There are of course other possibilities, but generally...ball position is the first thing to address. David Leadbetter recommends an inch or two inside the heel. It may look naturally like its too far forward....but trust that thats where the ball needs to be.

**m11** · August 3, 2008

cheers for the ideas, I think ill get myself down the local driving range and have a go with their shop drivers to see what I prefer, tbh I like to keep the ball a bit lower than the average player and let the ball run a lot as in New Zealand I generally play when the ground is VERY dry and the ball will run. Keep the ideas coming though guys. Cheers.

I'd actually recommend going to an Edwin Watts or Golf Galaxy, Golfsmith...any of those kind of golf specialty stores to check out clubs. They can put you on a launch monitor to get you empirical answers in letting you know whats the best club for you. I think thats the first step instead of walking into your driving range (im assuming your range doesnt have similar technology....if it does wonderful) and looking for the prettiest club. The club that looks the best might not be the best one for your swing.

From there, they can give you a selection of clubs that you hit the best..and its generally recommended to pick one from that group. If the one that you realllly had your eye one isnt part of that....there certainly isnt anything wrong with getting it anyways...but at least allow the technology thats available to point you in the right direction.

**Treemagnet** · August 4, 2008

The problem with hitting your driver low is your most likely hitting the ball on your downswing creating too much backspin, and to get good distance you have to swing really really hard. I know this because I did that for years until I got a lesson and the pro told me to hit your driver on the upswing ,this will prevent the high backspin increase your carry distance , and launch angle (which we all should want). What he told me to was keep the ball foward in the stance (inbetween the big toe and heel of your front foot, raise your front shoulder a bit more than your back one,and keep 60-70% of your weight on your back leg ,or portion of your body. With this swing now I swing at 85% and easly hit it well over 300 yds and at the right launch angle 12-14*. I play a ping G5 9.5*

**m11** · August 4, 2008

The problem with hitting your driver low is your most likely hitting the ball on your downswing creating too much backspin, and to get good distance you have to swing really really hard. I know this because I did that for years until I got a lesson and the pro told me to hit your driver on the upswing ,this will prevent the high backspin increase your carry distance , and launch angle (which we all should want). What he told me to was keep the ball foward in the stance (inbetween the big toe and heel of your front foot, raise your front shoulder a bit more than your back one,and keep 60-70% of your weight on your back leg ,or portion of your body. With this swing now I swing at 85% and easly hit it well over 300 yds and at the right launch angle 12-14*. I play a ping G5 9.5*

yea that works, but a caveat of this technique (which essentially is the proper technique for long drives) is that if your fundamentals are off...you'll end up physically not being able to transfer your weight...and therefore not be able to fully finish your swing and you'll come up with a nasty banana ball.

**mellojoe** · August 4, 2008

I would think that for more roll, you'd want a less lofted face and keep the ball forward in your stance. This would reduce the amount of backspin the ball has, give you decent carry distance, and when it does hit the ground the less backspin means it will be easier to roll and it will just keep on going.

I'm new to this, but does that make sense?

I'm thinking from a physics standpoint here:

More loft and more back in your stance is going to have the ball roll up the clubface producing lots of backspin, like a wedge. More backspin means a tendancy to want to bite when it hits the fairway.

Less loft hitting a bit on the upswing means the ball is going to jump off the face instead of climbing it. That will translate into less bite when it hits the fairway, meaning more roll.

**odstore** · August 4, 2008

If you are making a proper stroke, putting it in the middle of your stance will likely pop the ball straight up

Why would putting the ball in the middle of your stance cause you to pop the ball straight up? This makes no sense to me. Placing the ball forward in your stance allows you to hit the ball slightly on the upswing which increases the launch angle. Placing the ball farther back in your stance would reduce the launch angle.

**gr8hntr** · August 5, 2008

Why would putting the ball in the middle of your stance cause you to pop the ball straight up? This makes no sense to me. Placing the ball forward in your stance allows you to hit the ball slightly on the upswing which increases the launch angle. Placing the ball farther back in your stance would reduce the launch angle.

thats what i was thinking also when i said playin it in the middle makes for a lower ball flight and father foward will make it go higher

**m11** · August 5, 2008

thats what i was thinking also when i said playin it in the middle makes for a lower ball flight and father foward will make it go higher

or cause you to catch the ball on a descending stroke

**fusioncal** · August 5, 2008

Hi everyone, I was just hoping for some advice on what loft of driver would probably suit me, I normally hit quite low with a slight draw when I catch it well and like to keep it low. I am just getting started really and need a lot of practice, Ive been told my swing is good and have a medium tempo to fast swing. I currently use a 11.5* driver with a small head, its my dads from about 20 years ago! but get the tee well down into the ground to keep it low, I was thinking I might be good with a lower degree of loft to keep it low or I might be good trying to get the ball up higher

I'll be short and quick about this one. First of all since you're just starting out to play golf I'd recommend you to focus more on your swing. Which means that you need to build up a pretty much consistent swing FIRST. Many first timers care a lot about the results more than their swing. My suggestion is to look for a good instructor to help you to become better.

Fine, you had extra money to burn and want to get fitted for new toys. I say go ahead. But later on when you become better, you'll need to be fitted again. Twice the work, twice the cost. It's your call. Hope that helps.

EDIT: There's difference between driver and irons swing. With irons you need to trap the ball by hitting down. That's where the term of hitting down for the ball to go up comes from. As for driver it's already tee-ed up high, so you don't need to hit down on it (translation; place the ball more forward).

**yeis20** · August 5, 2008

popping a driver up high sounds to me like a weight shift issue, I know most will tell you to play the ball forward in your stance, but to me this sounds like the ball might be too far forward and you are shifdting your weight backwards at or after contact.

This will sound strange but try this... move the ball back to the middle or middle back of your stance.

When I play the ball too far forward, I slice the hell out of it and shift my weight back causing a slice. Play6ing the ball back forces me to shift forward and produces a nice little draw with a good stiance add.

This is how I solved my "pop-up" drives and slices.

The further forward I play the ball in my stance on a driver, the more I want to shift my weight back after so many years of baseball / softball.

just an idea to try out.

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