Driving thoughts

[zenchili]

  CalBoomer said:

Your driver does indeed stand out for being inappropriately short compared to your other distances. Unlike all of those other clubs, the driver needs to be hit on the upswing (very slightly) and with a slightly flatter swing plane for optimal distance. The fact that you feel "cramped" suggests you may be too close to the ball and setting up for too vertical a swing plane. Nicklaus may have been able to hit the ball a ton with a vertical swing but Ben Hogan is the better role model for the rest of us.

I agree. Ben Hogan is a really good model for us. Obviously his swing is amazingly solid. But watch his tempo and how effortless the swing is. That is the thing to copy in my opinion.

"The Magic Swing of Ben Hogan"

[right handed phil mickelson]

Try keeping everything together on the backswing, and then unleash it from the ground up. Starting with legs, hips, torso, arms, hands, then club. Tempo is a key factor in this process.

[Jay-Bird]

  zenchili said:

I agree. Ben Hogan is a really good model for us. Obviously his swing is amazingly solid. But watch his tempo and how effortless the swing is. That is the thing to copy in my opinion.

As a kid I had a framed, frame-by-frame picture of Hogan's swing on my wall.

I watch Hogan swing videos on Youtube all the time. I'm giving you Rep points!

[zenchili]

  Jay-Bird said:

As a kid I had a framed, frame-by-frame picture of Hogan's swing on my wall.

I think that would make a great desktop background.

[WUTiger]

You mention having trouble with draws on your problem drives. Make sure you aren't rushing your backswing, taking a partial pivot back but a full followthrough, and putting a left curve on the ball.

If your driver also has an above-average shaft length, this could make the partial coiling worse.

[Keep It Simple]

  lcfd42 said:

The only difference I feel with the driver is my swing has a "cramped" sensation. Ball flight is straight with maybe a little draw to it.

This "cramped" sensation means you have too much angle between your arms and club shaft at address. You either have to reduce your spine angle (stand up a little straighter), choke down on the handle somewhat, or a combination of both. This should make sense given the driver is much longer than the other clubs.

I recommend both. Stand a little taller and choke down on the handle an extra inch. Maintain the same swing as your irons but use this little setup adjustment. It works beautifully .

[flatom]

I play a 7*, 48" driver and love it but you can't rush things. It takes time to get through the swing but the results of patience are outstanding(for me).