LH Golfer would rather hit a 3wood than a driver =(

**Left-handed golfer**

I was slicing my driver. So I recently upgraded from an old Great Big Bertha 10* stiff flex which I played while in high school, to a Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit 9.5* stiff flex(set to a low trajectory draw setting). Still with the same result.  I hit my 3 and 5 woods(stiff flex) both with a soft draw. I hit my irons straight with the exception of blocking one out to the left from time to time. I am getting to the point where the more I hit my driver poorly, the more it negatively affects the rest of my game. Could my troubles have anything to do with the stiffness of the shaft? It feels to me like I have a lot of trouble getting my left arm through the ball at impact, like its lagging behind. Possibly coming underneath as a result.. Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on what I may be doing and what I can do to fix this? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Scott

At first glance, I'd say it's both the club and your swing. I had the exact same problem when I started playing two years ago. I would take the club too far inside on the backswing and swing out-to-in, leaving the clubface open at impact. If you hit your irons straight and hit a draw with your woods, maybe you're having to adjust for a driver shaft that's too stiff and/or too long. There's really no way to tell without being fitted by someone knowledgeable. As I learned from my clubmaker, there's no consistency between manufacturers with respect to stiffness, and off-the-rack club specs are rarely as stated. I would definitely go get fitted if you're able to.

My thoughts that are maybe the driver you are using doesn't have enough loft. When you use a driver that has too little loft, you subconsciously open the face to add loft at impact, which results in a high and right shot. Most people then change to a lower lofted driver because they are hitting it so high which only compounds the problem.

As you are hitting your 3 wood with a slight draw you should be able to do the same thing with your driver but i would suggest switching to an 11 or 12 degree driver, which will allow you to make a more powerful swing, while still getting the ball in the air.

Something like this. You hit your 3 wood better because it has a) more loft and b) a shorter shaft. The first thing I would do is get the Dymo cut down an inch and a half (from the butt) to play at 44" or so. See how much that helps. If you're still losing it right then think about cutting your losses and going to get properly fitted for a driver that suits you better -- which may well also be a higher-lofted one.

Thanks you all for your help. I definately do hit the dymo very high, which confused me quite a bit seeing as I came down from a 10* to a 9.5*. It seems the consensus is that I am playing with a shaft that is too long and possibly too stiff. I have never been fitted before. The benefits of being custom fitted seem to be very close to, if not a necessity?

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Since you're an 8, I would definitely get fitted and have everything customized if you can afford it. When I got fitted, my clubmaker informed me that my iron set basically had either two four-irons or five-irons (about half a degree apart when it should have been three) and that the shaft flexes ranged from senior to extra stiff. Additionally, the R9 460 driver I started out with was like 46.5" or something (no wonder I was slicing like you).

I think anyone with a decent swing who's committed to improving would benefit from being fitted. A lot of people say that the money would be better spent on lessons, rationalizing that you shouldn't get fitted, start taking lessons, and then be stuck with clubs that don't fit your new swing. In my case, my instructor helped me with balance and getting the club on plane. Nothing club related (such as swing speed) necessitated further tinkering with my sticks. Getting fitted was definitely a smart move, because I know that I have no excuse when I hit a bad shot. Now, if I could just stop chipping like Hunter Mahan at the Ryder Cup, I might be getting close to becoming a single-digit handicapper.

I have a feeling I am in the same boat as you were in Larry. My Irons have probably 700+ rounds on them. The dilemma I am having at the moment is. I have had the same Tommy Armour 555s since I was in high school that I love.But I would love to go get fitted and in the process buy a new set of irons. But that may well have to wait until after this season. I read on Club Champion's website that a full bag fitting runs about $350 or so? Is it common for people to have their existing clubs refitted or to be fitted for a new set?

Scott- I am also lefty and driving is perhaps my greatest strength.  Really work on your alignment, getting wider in your stance (keeping your mass in between your feet) and your grip fundamentals.  All three are important (especially with your driver) - if your tendancy is to play a slice/fade - embrace it and make that your stock driver swing.  Its okay to fade one club and draw another - as long as it finds the short stuff.

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Both. You could have your 555s tweaked or start from scratch. I suppose a Club Champion or GolfTEC type place could spit out the "ideal" club head for you, but I'll bet you already have an idea of what you want. I would not go near one of those places that charges that much for a fitting. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a legit clubmaker here:

http://www.twgolftech.com/locator.php

My guy was a certified PCS "Class A" clubmaker before the organization went under. I've gone to him a lot over the past two years. He is extremely knowledgeable and only charges $50 for a fitting. Personally, I trust these types of guys (who don't try to hawk products on you). My advice is to demo different clubs and figure out what type/brand of heads you want and then find a clubmaker you trust and then reshaft and adjust length, loft, lie, grips, etc. as necessary. That's what I did.

Thanks Aro and Larry. Aro, the reason I don't like the flight on my driver is not so much that its a fade/slice. Its that it feels very weak coming off the club. I wind up hitting my 3 about equal to or longer than my driver. But as you said it definitely could have something to do with my set up. I am definitely a fan of consistency, therefore its hard on my mind to not be able to produce the type of shot I am used to hitting with my 12 other clubs. But moreover, what bothers me is I am unable to identify the problem as of yet. Which is why I love the feedback everyone has given me thus far. Cheers!

Another lefty with what sounds like a similar problem -- Report back if you find a fix, as I'm driving myself slightly insane in my search for a fix.  (I ended up trying out one of the few 'I don't use no videos' instructors that are available to me, here... His solution was to aggressively roll my hands through impact.  Obviously, that did not work.)

I have a -bit- of the same problem with my 3 wood.  Basically, my long clubs go 4h: 200, 3h: 215, 3w:  180-235, Driver: WTF?  170 or so if I do straighten it out.

Managed to get on a launch monitor recently on a trip back to San Antone... I was jacking a 9.5 degree driver at a 16-20* launch, monster balloon push fade.

At this point, it's become an -issue-, and I simply have zero confidence in the woods.  (Maybe I'll just get a 1h and 2h to fill out the set, heh.)

I know right. Nothing like having 200 yards in, on a 380 yard hole while "smashing" drivers off the tee! =) I am going to do a little more investigating this week into club fitting and see where it leads me.. I will update soon!

Yeah, if I get more than 200 yards on it, it's going to be in the next fairway over.

I'm looking VERY suspiciously at my shafts.  The hybrids I can hit pretty straight and solid.  When I do miss with them, it's usually a straight hook.  They're Nickent 3DX's with stock S-flex shafts, at about 75g.  The 3 wood, which I tend to push or push-fade, is a 70g R-flex.  The driver, which should cause alarm throughout the golf course when I'm stupid enough to pull it out, is rocking a 45g R-flex.  Whippy.