getting off the tee

[x-man]

I have fairly recently made some pretty big swing plance changes. Now that i am gettng myself on plane a lot more I am hitting my irons very solid. The problem is that I am really struggling with my driver and 3 wood. I have been hitting my hybrid a lot off the tee cause it's going just as far and staying in play. What would cause me to hit the irons so well and driver so poorly?

[TourSpoon]

The simple answer is that the difference between your driver and say a 5 iron is about 7 inches in shaft length and about 18 degrees in face angle. While you are working on a swing change you need to realize that the difference between these clubs is enormous and that hitting the driver requires a flatter swing plane and more patience in getting that extra length through the ball. Compounding any swing errors is the face angle which at @ 9 degrees is a lot less forgiving than 28 degrees. The hybrids are so popular because they combine a shorter shaft length at 40 inches or so with a more forgiving face angle. It sounds like you are doing well with the hybrid, give the 3 wood and driver a chance as they will come around as your changes start to become more ingrained.

[x-man]

Ok that makes sense. I switch from a VERY flat and laid off swing to a more upright and shaft pointing down the line at the top. Before I could hit the driver decent (certainly not good) but with the irons I was so stuck behind I would sometimes do the S word that us golfers choose not the say lol. The more upright swing gives me a much better ball flight with my iron shots and I'm getting to where when I have a short iron or wedge in my hand I expect to have a decent shot a birdie. Before with the stuck swing my only thought was OMG i hope I don't hit those poor guys on the next fairway.