Driver Crisis

[daly_vision]

Hey everyone,

I've been golfing casually for the last few years now, but have really started to put some time and effort into the sport this year. This is where my problem begins.

After deciding it was time to upgrade my old hand-me-down driver, I went out and purchased an 09 TaylorMade Burner (10.5 Stiff). I've read that the stiff flex is a bad idea for a relatively 'green' golfer, but when I purchased this club I got GREAT results. To the point where my drivers were always consistently straight down the fairway, and a good 200 yards. It became the best club in my bag, and I was on cloud nine.

After deciding to put a few range sessions in on my fairway woods, everything went to hell. I can basically no longer get ANY loft on my drive, or distance for that matter. I repeatedly top the ball, smacking it along the grass. I've switched up my stance, slowed my swing down, watched numerous youtube clips and seem to have tried almost everything. Funny thing is, if I tee up my 3-wood I can crush the ball a good 200, grab the driver, and *poof*, nothing.

I'm at my end here. The most expensive club in my bag, and the one I COULD hit conistently well, has vanished. Can anyone help?!

[Wildcat]

A few things that have helped me with similar issues in the past:

* Make sure the ball is teed up high enough (around the top of the driver).
* Make sure the ball is teed even with your left heel so you're catching it on the upswing.
* One thing that helped me visualize the upswing at one point was to rest the driver at the low point of the swing, about 4 inches behind the ball, rather than right up behind the ball at address.

I've since begun using the Stack and Tilt swing and (knock on wood) haven't had any serious driver issues so far with that, but those are things that seemed to help before I switched.

[sean_miller]

Funny thing is, if I tee up my 3-wood I can crush the ball a good 200, grab the driver, and *poof*, nothing.

Maybe 200 yards is as far as you can hit. Whether it's technique or a physical limitation, it sounds like your driver is indeed a little beyond your skill level.

Regarding hitting the ball on the upswing (post #2): Unless you're playing an 8 degree persimmon, you don't want to catch the driver on the upswing - at least not very much. The safest bet is to catch it with the club head travelling relatively parallel to the ground. During your waggle, swing the club slowly back and forth through your imaginary impact zone. You can also practice slow motion swings with focus on impact.

[James_Black]

how about just hit the 3 wood for now?

Your hitting it well, why change things around?

[daly_vision]

Maybe 200 yards is as far as you can hit. Whether it's technique or a physical limitation, it sounds like your driver is indeed a little beyond your skill level.

The distance isn't the problem. It's the fact that when contact is made, 9 times out of 10 the ball bee-lines into the grass. As for the club, when I first bought it I could hit it well, consistently. Overnight, things have changed. It's something in my swing, as if I'm coming down on the ball at impact, rather than swinging through. Just looking for advice.

Thanks

[sean_miller]

The distance isn't the problem. It's the fact that when contact is made, 9 times out of 10 the ball bee-lines into the grass. As for the club, when I first bought it I could hit it well, consistently. Overnight, things have changed. It's something in my swing, as if I'm coming down on the ball at impact, rather than swinging through. Just looking for advice.

Yeah, that's why I added the second paragraph in my post. Did you read it?

I wasn't trying to be rude. Trust me, if you're "crushing" a 3 wood to 200 yards, you don't probably don't need a stiff flex in your driver.

[daly_vision]

Yeah, that's why I added the second paragraph in my post. Did you read it?

Sorry, "crushing" is a term we sometimes use on the course for a strong shot (for me, I guess). Thanks for your advice, I'm going to try to focus on having the clubface more parallel at the point of impact. It's been a frustrating week or two.

[Rexx]

Sorry, "crushing" is a term we sometimes use on the course for a strong shot (for me, I guess). Thanks for your advice, I'm going to try to focus on having the clubface more parallel at the point of impact. It's been a frustrating week or two.

He knows what "crushing" means, he's just needling you for using that term to describe a 200-yard shot with a 3W... maybe if you said 250+ yards.

Anyways, if it's possible for you to post a video of your swing (see the sticky thread here ), the folks here might be able to point you in the right direction.

[JetFan1983]

* Make sure the ball is teed even with your left heel so you're catching it on the upswing.

There have been a few threads on this subject here, but with driver, PGA tour players actually hit the ball very sightly on the down swing-- like 0.5 to 1.0 degrees. It's actually a myth hitting the ball on the upswing.

*** Anyway, I post this video quite a bit, but it's just so helpful, I see no reason to stop. You said you were having trouble getting the ball in the air. This video will explain the likely reasons for this. In general, you should watch all of the Golf Evolutions videos.

[JetFan1983]

I'm trying to find the thread where iacas (and I think Zeph) were advocating hitting down slightly, but I can't. Hopefully I didn't just imagine that. Because I found this other thread where iacas says "I maintain that hitting down on the driver is almost never a good thing to do." Hmmm. I could have sworn he said the exact opposite thing somewhere on these boards too but I can't find it. Hopefully he can confirm or disconfirm this.

The thread where everyone agrees its bad to hit down on the driver:
http://thesandtrap.com/forum/threads...n-driver-swing

Jeez, where the hell did I read on here that you're supposed to hit down very slightly with driver?

[KEEPITSIMPLE]

Swing the club up and out,you know like toward the right field power ally and up. Heck, usually I don't recommend using the hands but if you don't care about power and just want 200+ yards,just make sure your tempo is decent and **keep the body quiet and throw the hands toward right field. Let your hands move your body. You know like baseball, If you are a single hitter the simplest swing is to throw you hands, so just imagine yourself slapping a ball to right field.

[James_Black]

Post a video of your swing.

that's the easiest way to sort this out.
We could try give you tips for the next 10 pages but we still mightn't get to your problem.

[iacas]

There have been a few threads on this subject here, but with driver, PGA tour players actually hit the ball very sightly on the down swing-- like 0.5 to 1.0 degrees. It's actually a myth hitting the ball on the upswing.

Also to be clear, it's just over half that hit the ball with a slight negative angle of attack. Some swing up. More swing down.

I'm trying to find the thread where iacas (and I think Zeph) were advocating hitting down slightly, but I can't.

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/threads...ith-the-Driver Remember, it's not that everyone should hit down with the driver, it's that the obsession with hitting up is overstated and over-emphasized and typically leads to worse swings - people tilt back, they sway off the ball, and their weight doesn't get to their left foot.

[sean_miller]

Post a video of your swing.

Good point. With a driver you need a proper takeaway, shoulder turn, leg action (both directions), and the dreaded "release". Maybe he using all arms to muscle that 3-wood out 200 yards?!?

[JetFan1983]

Ahhh, thanks so much iacas. Appreciate the help. I guess I suck at using the search engine, but it was killing me last night trying to find that thread.