Driver Ball Flight

[umpiremark]

There are a number of threads on here about tee height and driver distance, ball flight and all, frankly I didn't read every one. I'm starting a new thread on a specific problem of mine, looking for input, advice, your experiences.

I built a Snake Eyes Python XL driver, 44.75" with 10.5* loft. It has an Aldila NV 67 gram shaft, the club was meticulously swingweighted to D0.0. The NV shaft has a mid ball-flight bend profile (I didn't want a high ball flight, when I built this) and nominal torque. I tee the ball so the equator of the ball is about the top of my head's crown, when soled. I've been playing Calloway balls.

Lately I've been driving the ball about 225, 230 with a lot of ball height, straight. In some cases (I know this is wrong) it almost looks as though the ball falls out of the sky like a shot duck. It isn't, but that's how high it appears to be - to me. Someone told me I'm loosing distance with a too high shot. I cannot disagree ...

I've read on here that teeing the ball lower puts excess spin on the ball; true? I'm asking, how do I get a more boring trajectory and add distance, without excess spin (and thus slice/hook)? Advice, gang???

[$2 Nassau]

Definitely a lot of backspin on the ball. Does the ball balloon on you? Meaning, does it rise up and then weakly fall to the ground?(sounds like that's what you are describing) That will cost you big time distance, and if it's windy...ouch. Could be a matter of just having a steep swing and hitting down on the ball, which you shouldn't do with the driver. Stay behind the ball through out the swing & sweep it off the tee. High launch low spin.

EDIT: Also, what is the flex on your shaft? If you have a high swing speed and are using a regular flex shaft that could contribute to the problem of excess spin (I experienced this problem, then got fitted for the proper shaft- all better now). Were you fitted for that shaft you are using?

[umpiremark]

The ball doesn't "ballon" per se ... just goes out high, then higher, then higher and comes back to Mother Earth ... I do sweep the ball with my driver, I have a decent in to out swing or at least on plane (I hit the ball straight, an occassional fade, and occassional draw, but mostly just straight).

I failed to mention (thanks) - the shaft is a regular flex, selected for my swing speed and trajectory. Stiff shafts are just that - too stiff for me; I don't know why but I have no "feel" with an X shaft.

I've never been monitored for swing speed, ball rotation, etc. on any device, FYI.

[$2 Nassau]

The ball doesn't "ballon" per se ... just goes out high, then higher, then higher and comes back to Mother Earth ... I do sweep the ball with my driver, I have a decent in to out swing or at least on plane (I hit the ball straight, an occassional fade, and occassional draw, but mostly just straight).

Hmmm. That's interesting. I'll be curious to hear how you eventually fix the problem. Keep us posted.

I'd also be interested to know what your swing speed is if you ever get it checked out.

[LaPuzza]

I'm hitting a 12 degree, and I'm having the same issue. I brought mine a bit lower than it was going by moving the ball back a bit in my stance, inside my left foot. I'm not hitting up on the ball as much, so I'm delofting the driver a bit, which has gotten me better results.

[Keg0brew]

I have a similar issue...but with all my clubs.

I hit all of my clubs higher than anyone I have ever played with...but I don't have a distance issue, I jut hit my shots sky high for some reason.

For example, my tee balls start off a bit higher than most, but continually climb until they appear to hit a wall and fall, similar to what you describe. Its not a spin issue I don't think, as I am a sweeper, and my tee shots do get decent roll (10 yards maybe) they just don't have the penetrating flight like they should.

For me though, I'm hitting my drives about 270 consistently, so its not much of an issue. Sure I could be launching over 300 probably if I fixed it, but is there really a need? The other side of it too though, is that on my irons, while I'm only hitting my 7 iron 155y, it comes down from about 10 stories up, so it hits real soft and doesn't roll at all after hitting the green, so I know where I land it, is where its going to end up.

[wannabe]

I was having the opposite problem - ball flight too low. I moved the ball further forward, raised the tee height, and opened the face just a smidge. Fixed it right up.

So maybe you could try the opposite - ball further back in stance, lower tee height, clubfaced slightly more closed.

[SubPar]

It is hard to find a driver that fits you well without spending a lot on money on fitting and/or clubs. Obviously there is much more to it than loft. Many long driving pros are using 6.5° - 9° drivers, but Sergio uses an 11° driver because he delofts it so much at impact. There is an interaction between your swing speed, angle of descent, your head position, the stiffness and kick-point of the shaft, and so on.

If you have access to a driving range where you can demo different drivers, try different models and lofts to see what gives you the best net distance. I used to play a 7.5° Cobra because I hit the 7.5°, 9° and 10.5° repeatedly on a range where the fence was 250 so I could see what worked best for my swing at the time. I carried all of them pretty much the same distance but the 7.5° produced a lower ball flight and less spin so the ball released more than the others.

I generally have had a low ball flight with the driver. In the last few weeks I have been able to produce a higher ball flight by simply teeing it up a half ball higher and making sure my head hangs back at impact. You could try the reverse. An easy adjustment you can make is to play the ball an inch or two back in your stance, or a half ball lower, and make a little more forward shift with your head. That might give you a more penetrating flight with more release and won't cost anything.

SubPar

[umpiremark]

I generally have had a low ball flight with the driver. In the last few weeks I have been able to produce a higher ball flight by simply teeing it up a half ball higher and making sure my head hangs back at impact. You could try the reverse. An easy adjustment you can make is to play the ball an inch or two back in your stance, or a half ball lower, and make a little more forward shift with your head. That might give you a more penetrating flight with more release and won't cost anything.

I like this thought ... I'm playing in a "fun night" in league tonight which is a 5-man scramble, so score really doesn't count for me. I think I'll experiment with ball position and tee height just for grins. Thanks.