Is it the swing or the driver?

[chet231]

I am around a 10-12 handicap with a swing speed of 105. I recently got a new driver. I picked up the Cobra S9-1 pro S 9.5, I came from a 2007 taylormade burner 10.5 in a stock stiff shaft. I got the new driver because with the burner i was hitting the ball way to high in the air and the face was really closed off. My misses with the burner were typically a small slice I adveraged around 250 carry + roll. Now that i got the cobra i cannot hit it straight for the life of me. I am hitting 100 yard duck hooks and i cannot seem to figure it out. my good drives are maybe 220 carry + roll. Is it the driver or is it something in my swing that is causing me not to be able to hit this club?


Thanks in advance, Chet

[Uber$winG]

Your swing issues could be the product of a couple of things:

First – psychologically speaking, you just got a new driver and you might be trying too hard to mash the ball. This means that you might be coming over the top and hooking it.

Second – it might be the shaft of the new driver. Even if it is a stock “stiff” flex, the tip of the shaft may have different flex characteristics than the TM driver that you are used to.

[chet231]

The shaft in the cobra is a matrix ozik x con 6 at 65g. Do you think i need to get fitted for a new shaft?

[grantc79]

Its always the swing

[Gioguy21]

if you change shafts...lemme get that one? lol

[PiKapp23]

I agree with the others on all counts but will also add this (a lesson I found myself). A high ball flight with a driver is not a bad thing because often this is at least in part due to extra backspin on the ball. What is good about this is that a ball that has a lot of backspin is much less likely to also have side spin, so it's quite common for a higher ball flight to be straighter than one that is lower. Of course you don't want too much backspin since that will limit the total distance, but too little is usually not good either for most golfers - especially us amateur hacks. While you might get more distance with a lower trajectory (counting roll) most golfers actually get more distance off a higher trajectory (obvioulsy, there is a limit to this). For the longest time I hit very high tee shots (launch angle on monitor was usually 17+ degrees with 9.5* stiff flex driver) and tried other drivers but always came back to the one with high launch as I hit more fairways and typically longer drivers (except on really dry days where low game me a lot of roll).

It is often recommended by 'expert' to consider going with a higher lofted driver these days maximize distance because of the lower ball spin nature of modern drivers and golf balls.

[goblue107501]

One thing I have found when using a different driver is that you have to find out the proper set up for it. With the Burner you probalby knew where to put the ball in your stance, how high to tee it, and a comfortable swing to hit it. When you get a new driver you have to start from scratch and figure out all this stuff again. It may be as simple as not playing it so far forward in your stance, or teeing it a little higher or lower.

I would say to play the ball a little more towards the middle of your stance and see if that works. Hit a bucket of balls and adjust your regular setup a little each ball to see if anything clicks. It might solve your problem, and might not. A bucket of balls is a little cheaper than replacing the shaft. Each shaft is a little different and will flex differently so you need to find the ball position to get the most out of the flex.

[chet231]

One thing I have found when using a different driver is that you have to find out the proper set up for it. With the Burner you probalby knew where to put the ball in your stance, how high to tee it, and a comfortable swing to hit it. When you get a new driver you have to start from scratch and figure out all this stuff again. It may be as simple as not playing it so far forward in your stance, or teeing it a little higher or lower.

I think you are right. I have tried moving the ball around and teeing it up higher and lower and i cant seem to hit the center of the face its either really low on the face or high towards the toe and this is causing me to hit alot of duck hooks. When i do hit the center of the face once in a while it flys on a good trajectory and and has good distance. But i am not consistant enough i am missing fairways all day long.

[distantpulse]

I am around a 10-12 handicap with a swing speed of 105. I recently got a new driver. I picked up the Cobra S9-1 pro S 9.5, I came from a 2007 taylormade burner 10.5 in a stock stiff shaft. I got the new driver because with the burner i was hitting the ball way to high in the air and the face was really closed off. My misses with the burner were typically a small slice I adveraged around 250 carry + roll. Now that i got the cobra i cannot hit it straight for the life of me. I am hitting 100 yard duck hooks and i cannot seem to figure it out. my good drives are maybe 220 carry + roll. Is it the driver or is it something in my swing that is causing me not to be able to hit this club?

I feel your pain. I am in a similar situation......I am using an 09 burner S flex and am slicing the ball fairly consistantly with a low ball flight. :( I need some serious help with my drives......

[SpringBokVol]

I feel your pain. I am in a similar situation......I am using an 09 burner S flex and am slicing the ball fairly consistantly with a low ball flight. :( I need some serious help with my drives......

In your case, with that ball flight and trajectory it sounds like the stiffness of your shaft is the problem. JMO.

[oregongolfguy]

Your swing speed is just slightly faster then mine and after trying tons of different drivers and finally seeing a real PGA Pro that is also a club fitter and has been a club fitter for about 15yrs this is what i found.....
At my driver swing speeds...which averages around 95-97mph when i hit the ball the best although i sometimes climb into the 100-102 range. Carry averages 230 give or take a few yds.
Couple things we found out on the range....

1. I have always hit the standard club heads with 9.5-10.5 loft on them. These were too low to get good ball flight for my swing speed, started hitting some 12-13 degree heads and the difference was immediate...more carry and easier to control.
2. Shafts make a huge difference. I don't know about the exact specs of the one we decided on but i do know that it was a regular flex shaft.

[distantpulse]

In your case, with that ball flight and trajectory it sounds like the stiffness of your shaft is the problem. JMO.

I would agree, but its not every time.

I can go to the range and hit straight with a decent flight path and have it go 270-280 yds. My iron swing feels totally different than my driver swing. I feel "lost" with the driver when im over the ball.

[chet231]

Your swing speed is just slightly faster then mine and after trying tons of different drivers and finally seeing a real PGA Pro that is also a club fitter and has been a club fitter for about 15yrs this is what i found.....

A higher lofted driver wouldnt work for me because i hit the 10.5 to high and it balooned on me every time.

[imtomtomim]

if yo'ure swinging 105 and hitting 220, you're not catching the ball anywhere near the sweetspot. Work on controling your swing so you get consistent contact first.