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Did I buy the Wrong Driver?


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I am a 20-ish handicapper who tends to fight a slice with my driver, usually caused by coming across the ball when I pick my head up or otherwise 'come out of' my shot. It doesn't happen all the time, just a few times a round, maybe.

About a month ago I got fitted for a Titleist 909 D Comp 9.5 Stiff with a Matrix X-Con 5 shaft. It came down to the R9 460 or the Titleist for me and the Titleist gave me better (lower) spin numbers. I understand that the club sits square to .5 degree open but I was OK with that because I wanted to keep the left side out of play. I figured that .5 degree shouldn't make that much of a difference anyways, and if I was going to slice I was going to slice. I didn't want to get a closed face driver because when I hit one straight (which I can do)I want it to go straight, not left.

The first round and several range sessions were great. I was hitting the ball either straight or with a very slight fade with lots of roll. The last few rounds that has not been the case. I have been slicing the crap out of it! I know that my setup and swing have been jacked up, and looking at the Tee marks on the sole of the club confirms that I am coming across the ball. I know that this is a swing flaw that I need to fix and I am working on that.

The broader question is whether or not I messed up by getting a Titleist driver with my handicap. Would an R9 460 or Burner Superfast be a lot more forgiving? The 909 D Comp is supposed to be a very forgiving driver for a Titleist which is I was OK getting it. I also got good launch monitor numbers and liked the sound/feel. Now I am second guessing it. The store I bought from does not have a 90/90 policy but they said that they would work with me as much as they can on a trade in for something else if need be.

Should I keep the driver or do I need something more forgiving? Would there be a big difference in forgiveness between the Titleist and something else?

Thanks for the input folks.
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Driver isnt gonna make you hit every fairway.
It'll come as your swing gets better, just keep getting lesson and working on your swing. If you later decide that you dont like it, that's fine, but it shouldnt matter
Like bought an 09 burner last year, loved it, then i hit something a little better for me now i hate it wth a passion and gotta get the shaft cut down and such
Just work with it now and figur eit out later

My Clubs:
Ping I3 + blade 3-pw
9.5 09 Burner with prolaunch red
Nickent 4dx driver
Taylormade Z tp 52, 56, 60
YES Carolyne putter

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Yeah, it's no good for you. Please sell it to me.

Honestly, though, I think if you hit it well before there's nothing stopping you from learning to hit it well again. Changing the club isn't going to fix the swing flaw that's currently putting you out in the trees.

Stretch.

"In the process of trial and error, our failed attempts are meant to destroy arrogance and provoke humility." -- Master Jin Kwon

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The thing that helped me straighten out my driver the most, was practicing with my irons. I used to be scared to death of the Driver, because I was trying to swing it like a driver. I try to keep the swing as natural and as close to my irons as I can and the driver has become one of my better clubs. Also don't try to kill it, just make contact, the driver will do the work for you...


Also this video helped me out tremendously with my driving...


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Yeah, it's no good for you. Please sell it to me.

That is kind of what I am thinking as well, and that is the thought process that led me to get the Titleist instead of a 'more forgiving' driver. I am wondering if the swingweight isn't a bit too light though, particularly coming from a Taylormade driver with a heavier clubhead. I am considering playing with some lead tape to see if adding a bit of swingweight helps.

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Back off and swing easier. Your comfort has you swinging too hard.

Yeah. I probably am swinging too hard. I fight that urge anyways and since I have been hitting the driver well it has gotten worse. I did slow down a bit yesterday and while my slices weren't as bad, they were still definitely there. I am hoping to take the club to the range today to see if I can't get some confidence back with it. I may look into a lesson as well.

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Sounds like you almost beat the slice, but it crept back in. Suggestions:

1. Try swinging easier; tempo is a big thing with longer-shafted clubs like a driver.

2. If #1 doesn't work, take a golf lesson. Spend $60 to learn how to maximize your $300 D Comp.

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
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Also this video helped me out tremendously with my driving...

Just a quick word of caution - this guy isn't right. His center of gravity is not just below his throat. And if it was and that's where the club bottomed out, then EVERY shot with an iron would need to be played BEHIND the center of his stance in order to hit the ball then continue descending into the ground.

Apply some common sense - and think for yourselves - when watching videos.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
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Back off and swing easier. Your comfort has you swinging too hard.

That is the bulk of my problem. I start feeling comfortable, then think I can start slamming it. Drive goes right down the toilet. I back off and swing comfortably through the ball, and it goes much better for me. Got to get out of the "slamming" mode.

In my bag:
Driver X460 TOUR OPTIFIT 10.5* Graphite
FW 3W BIG BERTHA DIABLO 13* Graphite
FW 5W BIG BERTHA DIABLO 18* Graphite
Irons X-22 IRONS 5 - PW & SW GraphitePutter Odyssey Dual Force Rossie IIUnder my bag: 2007 EZGO ~ Customized

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Just a quick word of caution - this guy isn't right. His center of gravity is not just below his throat. And if it was and that's where the club bottomed out, then EVERY shot with an iron would need to be played BEHIND the center of his stance in order to hit the ball then continue descending into the ground.

The thing that helped me out the most was the set up.

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the best thing you can do is
take a video, get it analyzed then you can get things to work on.
its a million times quicker doing it this way than people trying to guestmate what the problem is when people can just simple view it in slow motion

My Clubs:
Ping I3 + blade 3-pw
9.5 09 Burner with prolaunch red
Nickent 4dx driver
Taylormade Z tp 52, 56, 60
YES Carolyne putter

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Well, I went to the range last night and checked everything from grip to address. I think that I had a combination of things going wrong. My grip was too weak so my clubface was open at address. I would then set up with my shoulders way open to the target in an attempt to 'pull' the ball to the left side. I fixed my alignment and was striping the ball again. Midway through the slice came back. I re-checked my stance and found that I wasn't bending at the waist properly which was making it very hard to come back and through on plane. Fixed that and I was hitting the ball straight again.

The Titleist is definitely easy to lose way right if you come out to in. In that regard I think I could benefit from a more forgiving driver. The flip side is that when I played a driver with a closed face and I hit the ball well it would go to the left. I know that as a 20 handicap I should not be worried about taking the left side out of play, but it it nice to only have to worry about one miss. I think I am leaning toward keeping the driver, although I may hit a G15 just to be sure.
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Take a video of your swing, Post it on here or email it to someone.
Even a picture of your setup would help
The only driver these days that arent forgiving enough for most people are the ones that ar like .5 to full degree open, and some people might like those still.
Get some video lessons, You might not even be on plane or coming through the ball properly. There are so many things Besides the driver that could be wrong that will make a poor shot.

My Clubs:
Ping I3 + blade 3-pw
9.5 09 Burner with prolaunch red
Nickent 4dx driver
Taylormade Z tp 52, 56, 60
YES Carolyne putter

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Just a quick word of caution - this guy isn't right. His center of gravity is not just below his throat. And if it was and that's where the club bottomed out, then EVERY shot with an iron would need to be played BEHIND the center of his stance in order to hit the ball then continue descending into the ground.

The one thing i noticed he pointed out in the video that i tried and it helped a bit, was the setup for the shot, setting the driver 3-4 inches behind the ball. I had never even thought to try that before, I think it did help me to hit my driver a bit better though you have to make sure that it is lined up properly with the ball when you start your swing or you will still slice it but i hit one of my longest drives ever(about 270-275 yards yesterday) with my cheap kmart clearance rack nitro driver that im using now. So you dont need an expensive driver to hit good drives. I had more consistency if I didnt start the club quite as far behind the ball, maybe 2 inches or so because its easier to see if it is in fact lined up with the ball. Its just something i have never thought about doing before. Ill listen to any instruction and give tips a try, thats what the range is for, trying to improve yourself. If it doesnt help, i revert back to what I know has worked. You cant expect miracle results from a one-size-fits-all generic tip downloaded from the internet but at least they're free so if they dont work you didnt lose anything.

In my bag
Driver-top flite cannon 460 cc 10.5 deg, reg flex
3 Wood-ACUITY GOLF RCX 14°
3h-warrior golf tcp 20°
4h-warrior golf tcp 23°5h-warrior golf tcp 26° 6-pw-AFFINITY / ORLIMAR HT2 SERIES irons steel shafts regular flex56° sw-tour seriesram puttergolf balls-intech beta ti

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Sounds like you almost beat the slice, but it crept back in. Suggestions:

swinging easier is what helps me the most

Driver- Insight Tech A4 with Matrix Ozik shaft
Fairwood- Exotics CB2 7 wood
Hybrid- Burner 08 3 Hybrid
Irons- XCG Irons 4-PW,SW
Putter- GT Max

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The thing that helped me straighten out my driver the most, was practicing with my irons. I used to be scared to death of the Driver, because I was trying to swing it like a driver. I try to keep the swing as natural and as close to my irons as I can and the driver has become one of my better clubs. Also don't try to kill it, just make contact, the driver will do the work for you...

I absolutely approve of this video 100%, the only difference is the ball placement, for me it's just outside my left foot, I consistently drive 270 with a 44" shaft

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
44 inch driver helps a lot

My Clubs:
Ping I3 + blade 3-pw
9.5 09 Burner with prolaunch red
Nickent 4dx driver
Taylormade Z tp 52, 56, 60
YES Carolyne putter

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Note: This thread is 5055 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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