Can't Hit my Driver

I just started playing golf again after a 5 year hiatus. I am 25 and played a lot in high school. A lot of my game has come through the break and I have shot between 80-86 in each of the 10 or so rounds I played this summer at a 6800 yard 114 slope course in Los Angeles.

However, I am simply unable to hit my driver. I usually hit my 3-wood off the tee and even with that I am very inconsistent. When I really connect with the 3 wood I can hit it ~250 but every time I pick up the driver I ground it or hit it extremley low, with a large slice.

I was talking with a friend who is much better than me and he told me that I don't hit the driver well because I am hitting down on the ball too much. I do hit my long irons very high so I know that I have a very steep downswing. No matter how many times I try to be cognizant of hitting through the ball on my drives, I am unable to connect. I am using pretty old Mizunos that I got in high school but even when I take a rip with my friend's newer drivers, nothing changes.

One thing I have noticed is that I really seem to hit it better with a smaller club head. My 3-wood is very small by today's standards and I really enjoy that. I have a lot of trouble with these 460cc monsters that I see everyone carrying.

I really want to take the next step and I need to improve my distance off the tee so that I can reach the longer par 4s in two. I only hit my 3-iron 210 so if I hit a mediocre "drive" with my 3 wood I can't reach the 420+ par 4s in two which is very frustrating.

Sorry this is so long. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

Just curious: where are you playing? The "easiest" 6800 yard course I know in the area has a 119 slope, but I'm willing to look at other courses

Well, there are drivers out there without massive heads. But I do need some more information: * What is the loft of your driver? * What is the kick point in your driver shaft? If you need to get the ball up in the air, you'd need a different kick point than if you wanted to keep the ball low. * Did you hit it well when you played pre-hiatus, or has it always been a detriment? * Where in your swing do you connect with the driver? Most instructors suggest hitting your driver on the upswing, not the downswing, but that won't explain the slice. It could explain the low ball flight. Let me know and I'll see if I can help. Most of the time, my driver is a reliable ally to me, so I'd like to help make yours your ally.

Where do you place the ball in your stance with the driver? It should be just inside your left heel....and I have seen some people play it up even farther. To control your shot better, try choking up on the club.....it may be flexing too much for you.

When I get into trouble with my driver, I choke up (as advised), slow down and abbreviate the backswing, and just focus on making a clean swing with solid contact. That always works. I try then to ramp up little by little into a full swing, only changing one element at a time to try and identify where I'm messing up. That's driving range work!

As some have already mentioned, with the watermelon sized drivers, it's a case of: a) playing it up in your stance (at least off your left heel, maybe middle of your left foot even); b) keeping your head and much of your body BEHIND the ball; and c) launching the ball off the tee with a swing that is on the way UP.

Hitting DOWN on the newer 400+cc drivers isn't going to get that high launch angle that results in max yards down the fairway.

dave

one tip that has really helped me improve with my driver is to pretend I'm shaking hands on the backswing and follow-through. I think I saw this on TGC from Paddy. basically, extend the left arm out (if swinging RH) as if you're shaking hands with it, then reverse on the downswing. I think it helped me promote more of a sweeping motion and hit "up" on the ball (placed on my left big-toe).

This is a very good summary of the essential fundamentals of hitting with the driver. Hitting on the downswing with a driver is a shot killer. Sliding forward into the shot is a killer too thus the direction to keep your body, particularly your head, behind the ball. If you are already a decent striker of the ball their is no reason you shouldn't be able to hit a driver. But, a driver will probably never be the most consistent club in your bag.

Sorry, I was wrong on this one. I play at Woodley Lakes which has a slope of 119. Probably the same course you are talking about. It is a perfect course to start playing on after a long break. Wide fairways, but still fairly long.

-The loft of my driver is 10.5

-I don't know the kick point. Like I said, the clubs are ~10 years old with a steel shaft. -I have never really hit my driver well. I almsot always used the 3-wood off the tee. Now that I am back, I really need to add some distance to my drives to improve my play. I am really striking the ball well with my irons, but it is that swing that is hurting me. -I usually try and connect with the driver as I come through the ball, rather than down on it. I need to start trying to hit up through the ball I guess. Thanks everyone else for your tips. I will try the dropping the right shoulder drill at the range. Are there any other good drills that can help me? Thanks.

Yep, it's Woodley. I play there when I'm coming off a long break, too.

Chip with your driver. Not literally, but here's what I find helps when my driver starts heading bad:

* Tee up as if you're going to hit your driver. * Try to hit it 50-75 yards. Repeat 2-3 times. * Try to hit it 100 yards. Repeat 2-3 times. Repeat until you're trying to hit it about as far as you hit a good 3-Wood shot. You'd be surprised how well you hit driver after doing this. It helps me whenever my driver shots turn bad.