Need swing help

[thegambler]

I haven't played a lot of golf lately, but i'm starting to pick it up again.

I'm having a TERRIBLE time with my driving right now. I'm just not able to get the ball off the ground. My shots are hard line drives, lots of top spin, hooking left (I'm a righty), finishing about 30-50 yards from the tee.

This is happening BOTH at the course, and the range.

I've tried everything. Hips, hands, head down, feet, nothing works. I've tried moving the ball out, in, up, and back. I'm consistant, and I'm hitting the piss out of the ball. I just can't get it up. Weird thing is, my iron play is fine. I have no problem hitting with the irons.

Occassionally, I'll get WAY under the ball, and hit a skyrocket. When I do get good contact, I'm still getting a major hook.

I haven't always hit like this, and have been able to break bad habits in the past. This recent problem is getting out of hand.

HELP!!!

[thegambler]

I thought there'd be some good golfers in here who could help. Was I wrong about that?

This is an official BUMP.

[pinhigh27]

Post a swing video? You could be doing a lot of things, but it sounds like an extremely inside switch path along with a descending blow.

[shortstop20]

I had the same problem for about a month, still comes up every once and a while. Here's what helped me.

Always start the downswing with the hips, never the arms.

Smooth transition, never start the downswing with a fast, jerky movement, or you're doomed. Tiger goes hard after the ball but he still starts his downswing smooth, THEN he accelerates.

Don't think about keeping your head down(worst advice ever IMO), think about keeping your spine angle consistant, the head will take care of itself. When people think about keeping their head down their swing looks stiff and robot like. Not to mention the head MUST move after impact, what would happen if Tiger's head stayed in the same spot after impact, while his body kept moving? It's impossible and you'd probably hurt yourself.

Make an effort to chase the ball down the target line with the clubface after impact, but not to the point that you create a chicken wing.

It sounds to me like you're either a little steep on the downswing and/or rushing the downswing. All of these things should help alleviate that. I ignore any and all, "keep your head down" comments.

Obviously I am not a Pro so these comments may be worth a a grain of salt or they may be worth gold.

They all worked for me.

I've been hitting slight pushes now, which is on the opposite side of the spectrum, just gotta find that middle ground. But a pushed shot is 10x better than that line drive that I like to call the "gopher killer". Heck, Lee Trevino won how many majors and he pushed the ball his whole career, and it wasn't a small push.

[thegambler]

Post a swing video? You could be doing a lot of things, but it sounds like an extremely inside switch path along with a descending blow.

I'll try to get out to the range, and record a video.

[EGS]

I had a similar problem a few years ago. The solution was to open my stance slightly and tee the ball up off my left big toe. Keep the driver pointed straight, while your stance is slightly open. Make sure you are comfortable over the ball and not reaching. Make sure only about 1/4 or 1/2 of the ball is showing above the top of the driver head. Take a normal swing and you should completely eliminate the left side of the course. If you want some dramatic effect, hold on a little longer after impact and do not break down your left wrist.

This is likely just as much a mental issue as a swing issue. If you have hit good drives before, you are certainly capable of doing so now. Confidence is everything in this game. Good luck, let me know how it works out.