Need some help analyzing my impact tape results

[NCSU_MSE]

First off let me say that I'm sorry I can't provide a video of my swing at this time because I don't own a video camera.

Little bit of background: I ended last season pretty poorly - either snap hooking everything or hitting a big high block out to the right. The worst clubs in my bag...the ones I feared the most, were my hybrids. I couldn't get them in the air, and when I did they were pull hooks.

Yesterday I went to the range for the first time this season and decided to just swing naturally and have a look at ball contact using impact tape. I hit PW, 8 iron, 6 iron, 5 iron, 4 hybrid, and driver. The results are below.


8 iron:



6 iron:



5 iron:



4 hybrid:



driver:



Results of yesterday's range session:

I hit my PW and 8 iron fairly straight with the occasional draw. I hit my 6 reasonably well and with about a 10 yard draw.

The problem came with my hybrid. I tried addressing the ball like I would an iron and swinging the club like an iron, but every shot was low and darted hard left. Even my half swings with the hybrid produced bad shots.

So I decided to back off and hit my 5 iron. It was as bad as the 4h! Couldn't get one airborne, couldn't keep 'em from going hard left. I backed down to my 6 iron, and all of a sudden my shot went back to that 10 yard draw.

I hit my driver ok. I couldn't work one left to right, but given last year's bout with snap hooks, I was satisfied with a slight draw.



Can anyone comment on my impact results? Obviously I am hitting out towards the toe, but I am confused as to why my bad shots are all pulls and why my shots get so bad when I try to hit a hybrid.

[DarkPrince]

I don't know if it will help you, but I had the same issue with my hybrids last year. I've heard a number of things that help with hybrids, one being that you have to hit down on the ball for the hybrid to do its job properly, but that it doesn't mean put it really far back in your stance. A hybrid is not a fairway wood though and shouldn't be played too far up either, I figured out this season (which I'm nailing them all of a sudden with an occasional duck hook or push) is that my old grip forced my club face closed at impact, so I took a more neutral grip, played the hybrid where I would normally play my 3 iron, and took easier swings at it rather than trying to nut it every time. This worked for me, but everyone's problems are different. I can't decide looking at your tape if when you skull it with your hybrid if its on the downswing, or after your club starts going up again :/

[sean_miller]

Little bit of background: I ended last season pretty poorly - either snap hooking everything or hitting a big high block out to the right. The worst clubs in my bag...the ones I feared the most, were my hybrids. I couldn't get them in the air, and when I did they were pull hooks.

I trust/hope that someone here will correct me if I'm on the wrong track, but this is what I'd check:

1.) get a buddy or a coach to tape your swing. At the very least get them to watch the ball flight. Where are your snap hooks starting out. Are they beginning their tortured life as a push, then snapping left, or are they pull hooks. 2.) If you're starting everthing basically on the same path, and even if you aren't, consider getting your clubs fit (re-fit if possible). Snap hooks can be a swing issue or a shaft/head issue. I see you have R-Flex in everthing. Some companies R is another company's L or S - you need to get them checked out. 3.) If you get them fit, ensure you hit some balls on an impact board. My laymen's guess is that those irons are too flat for you - or else you may have suffered a bout of shank les as a teenager. 4.) If you're hitting off driving range mats, you might struggle with the hybrids - especially if the bottom of your swing is early - you'll swing back and forth between thinned shots (which the tape indicates you're doing) and when you hit fat ones, the clubhead skips off the mat into the ball - tricking you into thinking the fatties aren't so bad. You need to hit off real turf to gauge your contact. If you're at a range with hard mats, maybe you're concerned about hitting the ground beyond the ball. It can be hard on the wrists and elbows.

[NCSU_MSE]

Thanks for the responses.

sean_miller:
1) I'm planning on asking for a video camera for my birthday...I'll post a video if get one. My hooks all start left of my target and then go further left. "Good" shots tend to end up on target with where my shoulders are aligned at address.

2) I have been begging my wife to let me shell out the money to get properly fit. I bought this set of clubs off the rack when I was in college and on a tight budget. I've had my eye on a set of Pings, but the mrs. is having none of it.

3) I had 'em really bad as a kid - to the point that I quit for a long while.

4) I'm hitting off of grass, but I'm wondering if I'm lifting up in an effort to try and find where the hell my ball is going to go and hence the thin shots? I'm also wondering if poor weight transfer has anything to do with my pulls...like maybe I'm over-turning, getting too much weight on my left foot in the backswing, and as a result shifting my weight all wrong.