Driver progress - driver session

[anthony]

Well, I was on vacation last week and it rained nearly every day this week, so I've been dying to hit some balls. I went to the range Thursday and yesterday. I've been working on my fundamentals mostly. Proper griper, stance and alignment. The grip is really coming along since I've switched to a neutral grip form my mega weak grip. It's pretty much automatic now. I can get in a good stance pretty quick now. I like to bend at the waist, let my hands hang naturally and grip it from there. Alignment is a part of my game I have to keep an eye on or I'll end up pointing left. However, I'm getting better each practice session and it's been transferring to the course pretty well.

I started off the range session as usual with my PW and moved through the irons. I hit 5 3 woods off the deck and teed up 3. Everyone one was straight as an arrow. I pulled out my driver with a bit of confidence. However, I proceeded to slice the shit out of every ball. I was even hitting half shots and still slicing it. I know I'm coming over the top, but I can't figure how to come from the inside with this club. So, I put it away and took break. I finished off the bucket with irons and some more 3 woods that were very good. I felt pissed about the driver and didn't want to leave, so I grabbed another bucket of balls.

After chatting with the guys a little I returned to my area and hit a few 9 irons. I then pulled out the driver. But, I really analyzed my setup this time. I noticed that I had my hands forward to compensate for the ball being forward. I adjusted that and hit a few balls. While the impact felt more solid and the swing more connected, it was still slicing right. I figured that my alignment must be off, even though it felt straight. I've been told in a lesson once that my shoulders were well left with my driver. I've been aware of this, but maybe I was still too far left. So, I exaggerated my shoulders pointing right. It almost felt like my back was facing the target at address. I took a swing and hammered it straight as an arrow. Tee'd another one up with the same setup and hit a draw. A DRAW!! I was coming from the inside also. I could feel it. I also dropped my right foot back a bit. It makes sense now, because the driver needs room to from the inside and go straight (or draw). I think it's the length of the club that makes the setup feel so akward and like I'm pointing well right. Obviously, it wasn't well right, since I was hitting the ball straight.

I still have a lot of work to do with the driver though. I still blasted a few banana balls and even a few duck hooks. However, I think I'm starting on the right path this time around. The driver swing feels like a golf swing now and not like some weird ass goofball swing. The setup is where I need to concentrate and experiment to what suits me best. I've thought I was on the right path with this club before, but this time I know. It's so liberating to swing this damn thing and it feel like it should.