Foward press with the driver?

[Bogeyman68]

I have noticed that the forward press has really helped me make more consistent contact with my irons and hybrids and even my three wood. Would this also help with the driver? I seem to have good and bad days with the driver and want a little more accuracy off the tee. Any thoughts?

[Shanks A Million]

I don't really understand what you mean, a "forward press." That's a putting term. All the clubs in the bag should be moving downward when they strike the ball, but the driver can also be moving straight or up. A "forward press" on a full swing is a bandaid, a fault correction but not a fix.

[Zeph]

Only when putting? Forward press is to set the hands in front of the ball at address, and a lot of players do it.



What sort of problems do you have with the driver? A forward press is usually done to keep the hands in front of the clubhead at impact. With the driver, you want the hands around level with it. A swing ranging from +5º to -5º attack angle is OK, depending on the loft of your driver. If you have problems with the hands coming too far behind at impact, you can try with a little more forward press, but not so much as with irons.

With the irons, you are supposed to strike the turf in front of the ball, so the more the hands are in front of the clubhead, the more you de-loft the club. Ball will go lower and often straighter since it helps prevent any flipping or turning with the wrists. You can give it a shot, but it might not be what you are looking for to help fix your driving accuracy. If you had a video, it would be easier to tell if hands position at impact was an issue.

[jamo]

Forward press with a driver, that's just lag. Or at least your hand position is just an attempt to encourage lag.

[Zeph]

As it is with every other club. You are essentially setting the wrists a bit before starting the swing.

[Bogeyman68]

Thanks guys. I saw this in the March edition of Golf magizine. Zach Johnson changed his address with the driver by moving his hands slightly forward. I know that it delofts the club some but it it feels similar to the impact postion at address. It is also much easier to contact ball first with my irons. I understand the press in a putting stroke but really do not care for it.

[canadianpro]

Hey Guys

The forward press was standard teaching philosophy for years...a kicking in of the right knee along with a slight movement of the hands/grip toward the target...this was the start of the swing

[iacas]

Zach Johnson changed his address with the driver by moving his hands slightly forward. I know that it delofts the club some but it it feels similar to the impact postion at address.

It doesn't necessarily de-loft the clubface. Pay attention to the parts of this video that relate handle position to loft.

[Bogeyman68]

I really appriciate all the feedback. All I am wanting is to be more consistant off the tee. I regisitered on this site last night and I am really enjoying it. As soon as the weather breaks I will work on this some. Keep the comments coming.

[Zeph]

How is your launch angle? If the clubhead gets ahead of the hands, it's difficult to stay consistent. High launch angle is usually a sign of the hands staying behind the clubhead too much, opening the clubface, could also open the clubface, sending the ball to the right.

[James_Black]

I do a forward press with all my clubs.
It helped with the driver the most though.

[Shanks A Million]

Again, I defer to my original point, that a forward press is good, but you need to make sure your hands are leading the ball at impact . You can set up with a forward press, or without one, but the only position that matters is impact. So, if it helps you to set up with a forward press, then do it.

[Bogeyman68]

As far as launch angle I am not sure. It just seems that I have a hard time getting the face squared up at impact. This small adjustment seemed to help me get the feel of impact at address. I have only tried a few times so I am not sure it would work long term. That is why I wanted feedback from you guys. So far it seems as if it may be o.k.

[Zeph]

Do you leave it open or closed when losing the accuracy? Ball starting left or right?

[Bogeyman68]

I have had some of both but mostly to the right(slice). I am having a hard time understanding how one day is good and the next is bad when the swing seems to feel the same.

[Shanks A Million]

I have had some of both but mostly to the right(slice). I am having a hard time understanding how one day is good and the next is bad when the swing seems to feel the same.

Timing. The less you have in the swing, the more it stays the same from day to day.

[jambrose]

I also found that forward pressing kept me from flying open and slicing the ball.

[Gioguy21]

i've found the same, a slight forward press keeps me from flying open and also somehow emphasizes the 'slide' or 'shift' of my left hip towards the target through impact/release/follow-through