hitting too high, loosing distance, help-

[erikpmort]

I seem to be stuck in this rut where i can't hit my irons a normal trajectory anymore. I used to be hitting pw 120 and 7 iron 155+ and now i can't seem to get a 9 iron to go 110. I know it has a lot to do with me not leading my hands in front of the ball to de-loft the iron, but i have tried to work on it and still can't fix them problem. Its weird because i have never had a problem like this where i haven't been able to fix it on my own by reading books etc... my next step is taking some video of myself i guess. I am just skying the ball so high... arg. Tips anyone?

[NBGC]

You pretty much answered your own question, if your hands are not leading the club, then you're adding loft you your club.

Also, what ball position are you using? If you have the ball forward, that adds loft. Only time I ever have the ball past halfway forward in my stance on low/wedges is if I'm trying to get loft on purpose. If you have the ball ahead of 1/2 in your stance, try positioning it further back.

Do you take a divot? If you practice taking a divot 1" in front of the ball it helps with the loft because the club is travelling downwards at impact, not upwards which adds loft.

[goblue107501]

I am not much of a swing guy, so I will let someone else answer that. Are you hitting down and through the ball making a divot, or do you typically sweep under it? Another question to you would be is this something that gradually happened or just all of a sudden? When it started happening, were you making better contact with the ball, and it just went higher to the point that you were losing distance? I ask because it might be a shaft issue. What shaft is currently in your irons? So many shafts today are designed to help a golfer get a higher trajectory. You may have been benefiting from a high launch shaft in the past, but as you improved and your swing and contact are better, the need for high launch isn't there and it is hurting instead of helping.

I was having a similar problem with hitting the ball too high, and in the set I just purchased I got a shaft that I could hit a little lower. My old set I couldn't hit the ball low at all. I wasn't losing the distance, but playing in the wind was a real challenge. Now I can hit a ball low or high, depending on what I want to do.

[erikpmort]

thanks guys, it has been more of a gradual problem, shafts are dg s300. yeah i have been practicing making that perfect divot- making the downward blow etc. its been great practice but its not the problem. i have been putting my ball further and further back in my stance, have it just behind the middle now, and i have been working on weight shifting, initiating the down swing with the hips turning... i have been hitting the range a couple hrs everyday... anyway i think after watching a video of myself i'll realize its still the hands not leading enough because there is nothing else... i think.... but geez this is driving me crazy. maybe i'll post a video tomorrow so we can tear it apart together :)

Erik

[Mr.Wedge]

You are likely releasing the club early and the more you try to do something with your hands the worse it gets. Release is the result of swing dynamics, not some you consciously do...video definitely the way to go.

[MPS67]

i have been working on weight shifting, initiating the down swing with the hips turning...

When I 1st started practicing the weight shift/lateral hip bump like you are now doing, I made the mistake of shifting my hips too far forward, while pivoting my upper body and head back a little. This resulted in swinging in too shallow, as well as flipping up on the ball. The results were high trajectory shots that fell short. I'd suggest confirming that you're shifting your weight forward correctly.

[TinCupTampa]

You may be hitting a baby fade and not know it. This would more than likely give you more height and less distance.

Go to the range and make a conscious effort to hit a really strong draw... see if that fixes whatever gremlin jumped into your swing.

[fusioncal]

Some people are naturally high hitter and some aren't. Without you providing a video of your swing we can't really tell if it's your swing.

[erikpmort]

those are all great tips thanks guys. what is the "right way" to weight shift? I am hitting baby fades by the way... i can't hook it. You guys are starting to sound more right on. Anyway i don't want to see a video of myself! but it must be done....

[TinCupTampa]

those are all great tips thanks guys. what is the "right way" to weight shift? I am hitting baby fades by the way... i can't hook it. You guys are starting to sound more right on. Anyway i don't want to see a video of myself! but it must be done....

I doubt it is a weight shift problem. Weight shift happens naturally for the most part. I had a problem getting my weight to shift correctly purely because I cant hit the ball from the middle of my stance. I just cant see it correctly so I would hang back and hit it fat more often than not... also I would tend to fade it and lose distance.

So... I started putting the ball 2 inches in front of my left heel a la Nicklaus forcing me to get on my front foot during my swing. I never consciously shifted or not shifted my weight. The ball position dictated how my weight shifted during the swing. Back to the baby fade... this is probably a swing flaw. When ever i start to lose the draw that I have worked all year to develop, I start swinging about 50% with an 8 iron until it comes back. It is typically something wrong with my take away or tempo and this tends to fix it. Learning how to hit a draw has cured alot of my swing problems and helps me fix things when they go wrong... plus it has added at least a club or two in distance.

[ks8829]

are you hitting the ball solid? if you are hitting too high you must be making good contact, I am confused, because usually a lost of distance is lack of solid contact. Have you tried playing the ball a little further back in your stance.

I think the only way you loose distance is not making solid contact with your iron. I would try seeing where on the club face you are actually making contact with impact tape or other forms of marking ball contact with your irons.

lack of solid contact is the cause for distance lost and not position of the irons face. When you make contact do you hear the click sound and the feeling in your hands of a solid hit ball?

I think you are hitting the ball a couple of grooves below the center of the face and loosing distance.

[MPS67]

what is the "right way" to weight shift?

Weight shift during the transition from the downswing should be started with a

subtle hip bump towards 1:00 o'clock while keeping the head stationary (12:00 o'clock representing the target line.) This subtle hip bump is the impetus for the subsequent hips and upper body pivot/rotation action. What I was doing incorrectly was allowing my hips to slide much too far forward (maybe about 6" or more.) This move alone would simultaneously and substantially lower down my right side and torso, while reeling my head back a few inches. I'd then pivot my shoulders around and would come into the ball shallow and powerful. The shots were of high trajectory, but lacked distance. My body position at impact looked like a reverse C from face on.

[Mr.Wedge]

...what is the "right way" to weight shift?

There really isn't a right way but if you "stack the deck" correctly it is near impossible to not shift efficiently back through the ball. Some will feel transition start with the kness, others the hip bump, there is even a school of thought to not think of all that and key everything with the lead shoulder. One of the most powerful moves is to snap the counter tension which has developed in the inner legs back in the opposite direction, and the clockwise rotational feel inside the shoes (both) is a good way to make that happen. I, being fickle brained and older like to keep it simple by swinging with the lats and let the lower body do it's thing. But the key to all of it is to have your weight on the inside of the trailing foot at the "top" with the knee remaining flexed and kicked in towards the target a tad. If you achieve that position, no matter what you feel you do, the first move will be off that fulcrum.

[erikpmort]

well i took a bunch of video today and it was very clear when i watched it. my wrists supinate (i think thats what its called i have the ben hogan book) and my hands get behind the ball right at impact.

I met a guy out there today who helped me a lot... my question is, how do i stop that natural feeling of them wanting to unwind too much at impact? Any good drills to keep your hands leading the club? One other problem is my club is pointed left of my target at the top of my back swing, and this contributes to my fade.

I still want to get video up and will try to do that soon as words are never good enough

[illskillz700]

play it back in your stance and keep your hands in front of the ball

[erikpmort]

Ok here is my video:

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Here is the video I am going to use to help me fix it:

yqsf4bEBF-Q

As you'll read in the description, i have frozen the frame that shows my greatest weakness... i even do it with my driver a little bit.

So my own critique thus far is I do need to lead my hands a LOT more, no actually i need to start leading- if you pause the tiger clip at impact his hands are so far in front of the club.

I do need to play the ball back more... another real bad thing i do is break my left arm too quickly and come up instead of around to continue closing my wrists down.

I also have bad posture, my head needs to be up more and my back more straight instead of curved.

I have a hard time getting the club horizontal at the top...

please feel free to comment, all i ask is if you see something wrong, also tell me a good fix!

thanks

[erikpmort]

i just noticed my links don't work, is that a site regulation that you can't post links or what?

[MPS67]

Erik,

Please check your private messages.