Driver question

[clonewars222]

I was at the range today, and a guy was helping me out with my driver. he told me that I was coming across the ball (basically shoulders were turning left through impact) and therefore pulling the ball and hitting it low. He told me to move the ball forward in my stance and feel like I am staying behind the ball and swinging upwards instead of releasing it. He called it a delayed release or something... It was working for me at the range... He also told me to keep your eyes on the back of the ball, until the club reaches the ball. He said that this would get rid any slice. (is this true?)

the thing is, I thought you were supposed to release the club (but he says that it will cause a pull b/c of closed clubhead)... I'm hitting a lot higher now and further though.

What are your opinions on this? Is it right? Like fundamentally? Thanks!

[groovezilla79]

If you're thinking about releasing the club, you're swing is flawed to start. The release should happen natually, not something you knowingly do. The swing is too fast for anyone to think "ok, here's where Im gonna release the club" I always like to quote Will Smith from Bagger Vance when he talks about your hands being smarter than your head will ever be.

Keeping the ball a little forward and hitting it on the upswing is technically the correct way to hit a driver. So if that's what you're doing and it seems to work, keep doing it. Don't over think it!

[ks8829]

Take a video and let us see what your driver swing looks like.

[clonewars222]

Ok, now it's slicing a lot... But if I try to close the clubface wouldn't that be "releasing" the clubhead??

[groovezilla79]

Ok, now it's slicing a lot... But if I try to close the clubface wouldn't that be "releasing" the clubhead??

Let me ask you this: do you sometimes hit a dead pull instead of a slice? If so, you may actually be closing the club face, but coming across the ball. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you have 1.) an open club face or 2.) you have a closed face and coming across the ball. This is because the results are often the same. I agree with KS here. A video really would help.... a couple sets of eyes from this forum would probably do a lot of good.

[clonewars222]

Just to make sure (for now before I can get a video), i'm going to focus on:

1. Feel like I'm swinging up.
2. Rotate hands more naturally, don't force it with shoulders coming across (results in low left).

[trumps4]

FWIW, I have found it better to think of a flat left wrist at impact rather than "releasing" the club.

[mctaylor22]

If you're thinking about releasing the club, you're swing is flawed to start. The release should happen natually, not something you knowingly do. The swing is too fast for anyone to think "ok, here's where Im gonna release the club" I always like to quote Will Smith from Bagger Vance when he talks about your hands being smarter than your head will ever be.

He's absolutely right, never think about the release--it's something that just happens. Also, if you're having problems with yanking it left (I think I remember you saying something like that) try to keep your hands in front of your body, and starting your down swing from the bottom up (back swing should start from the top down). What I mean is all throughout the backward and downward swing is the chest should move, or try to move, with your hands. Starting the downward swing from the ground up will promote a natural "forward hands" motion such that the hands will [should] be ahead of the club head--unless you have serious "handsy" problems. However, what we're assuming is that you're swing paths are accurate and/or not extreme to create a slice or hook. Go ahead and post a video (side and front). It will help us determine what is happening.