New here...Looking for opinions

[GolfAddict602]

I'm new on here. I've been playing golf for 15 years now. My handicap has managed to stay below a 10 for more than half of that time. Here is the problem...

I used to hit the driver straight and long all day when I was younger. I have had some back surgery recently but don't think it affects me too much. I am hitting my irons about the same distance I always have.

The problem I have been having is with my woods. I have both R9 driver/ 3 woods so I can adjust them. My normal good shot is a high push draw...It always has been. For the life of me, I can't hit a cut when I need to even if I open up and open the face.

I can get by with a 3 wood off the tee if I need to 290ish, but my game will open up much more if I can get my driver working again. 300-320 avg. My misses are a straight up push out of bounds with a lot of power on it, or a rediculous duck/snap hook that goes as far as a 4 iron. I feel like the clubface is closed obviously, or flipping through impact.

I have tried so many things to fix this. Weaken my grip, position, distance from the ball, stack and tilt, one plane wing, keeping the weight forward on the backswing etc.

Anyones suggestions would be great. If I can get this thing working again, I can get my handicap lower and get my confidence back...

THANKS!

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by GolfAddict602

I'm new on here. I've been playing golf for 15 years now. My handicap has managed to stay below a 10 for more than half of that time. Here is the problem...

I used to hit the driver straight and long all day when I was younger. I have had some back surgery recently but don't think it affects me too much. I am hitting my irons about the same distance I always have.

The problem I have been having is with my woods. I have both R9 driver/ 3 woods so I can adjust them. My normal good shot is a high push draw...It always has been. For the life of me, I can't hit a cut when I need to even if I open up and open the face.

I can get by with a 3 wood off the tee if I need to 290ish, but my game will open up much more if I can get my driver working again. 300-320 avg. My misses are a straight up push out of bounds with a lot of power on it, or a rediculous duck/snap hook that goes as far as a 4 iron. I feel like the clubface is closed obviously, or flipping through impact.

I have tried so many things to fix this. Weaken my grip, position, distance from the ball, stack and tilt, one plane wing, keeping the weight forward on the backswing etc.

Anyones suggestions would be great. If I can get this thing working again, I can get my handicap lower and get my confidence back...

THANKS!

Are you serious with those yardages? Are you excluding the snap hooks and such for the averages?

I'd say take lessons very soon if you have that kind of power and have a history of back problems.

[GolfAddict602]

Yeah, snap hooks do not go as far, maybe 200ish.  Driver- 300-320   3W- 290  19Deg Driving iron 260  4: 215-225  5: 190- 215 6: 180-190 7: 170-180   etc....

I am considering a lesson when the weather is nicer out, but I just know there are so many different opinions out there, and I really don't want to build a brand new swing. I have 2 years in the military left then plan on attending a professional golf management program

....Sorry about the sideways vid...this was a pull hook into the bay, yardage was good though....

[Phil McGleno]

You're going to find that you get a lot more help here if you're honest. Are you the one-in-ten-thousand amateur who has a 9 handicap and hits the ball 300+ yards with his driver and 260 with his hybrid? Unlikely.

Especially with that swing. It's not bad, but it's not better than most of the guys on the PGA Tour.

[Quinn07]

Regardless of your yardages, I am actually a believer there are high single digit players that can pound the ball because I play with one, but that's not the point.  My suggestion would be to see a teacher but make sure you let them know that you have been playing golf for a while and not interested in re-inventing the wheel. You are looking to improve your swing to help your back, but keep in mind if your swing is the cause of your back hurting then you very well may have to look at changing your swing a la Rocco Mediate.

[GolfAddict602]

I'm not trying to prove I'm John Daly or anything. It just happens. My brother sucks and hits the ball miles... Also, some of the guys on the PGA tour are 5 ft. tall.

Quinn07- Good point about Rocco.

Thanks!

[TourSpoon]

I don't think that your game will be much different if you are hitting it 290 or 310. Sounds to me like you need help help with your short game to get your cap down with all those wedges you must have into the greens. My advice with the symptoms with the driver is to work on tempo and stay connected.

[GolfAddict602]

Thanks! Definitely have been spending more time with the putter and the wedges.I grew up playing desert courses where you could hit out of if you hit wide, but now I play tree lined fairways. Totally different game. I have been putting a glove under my left armpit to get the feeling of being connected. It feels weird. Any ideas for improving tempo?

[GolfAddict602]

I need to swallow my pride and leave my driver home for a day....

[walk18]

Can you post a DTL view? I'd be glad to offer whatever I can, although it might be worth what you paid for it.:)

[GolfAddict602]

I will post one next time I get to the range. Chances are I'm swinging for right field and my hands are casting. I need to find a way to transition the downswing back on plane.

[JackLee]

When you have an arm swing that gets ahead of your body movements, you cannot swing correctly through impact.  You will leave the clubface open, or close it, or flip it.  Those are the three problems you mentioned, all caused by the same thing.  Since you are hitting your irons okay, you could be just overswinging with your metalwoods.  If you have any interest in the instruction I use, do a web search for "golf swing master key".

[Golfhacker]

I feel your pain - I have the exact same issue with the occasional straight block or duck snorting hook with the driver.

Don't overthink this if you are hitting your other clubs well.  9 times out of 10 this problem is caused by standing too close to the ball which throws off the timing of your wrists (that appears to be the case in the video, too).  Either they are late and your inside-to-out swing pushes the ball or they roll over and you get that awful, diving hook.

Try it out: Take your normal stance with the driver and then step back a couple of inches.  Then bomb away and see what happens.

I have some other ideas if that doesn't work, but sometimes the easiest solution is the best.

[GolfAddict602]

Thanks for the ideas. I got some ideas reading Ben Hogan's 5 lessons and his trigger finger. I will have to get that feeling back. I lose my swing thoughts each year, I tend to give up in the winter. I do feel the hands race through with the woods for sure. I have had a little sucess standing further from the ball, but I feel like I am forced too far from the inside to get to the ball. I don't know how it works, but sometimes its a quick fix, or out of bounds right :)

Its not killing my round of golf or anything, I mean yes I have to hit from behind a tree now and again, but that just gives me a chance to practice getting out of trouble. If I get to frustrated, I tee off with my driving iron (yes old Titleist 19 Deg.) I love that thing. I can manage a decent round usually without the wood, but its just frustrating.

I think what I may do is get back in the habit of hitting 1/2 punch shots. I used to hit 100 in a row at least once a week, and it really helped the lag in my swing. I just don't want to be practicing bad habits.

I have never taken a lesson, I have mixed feelings. I like to figure things out on my own so I know in a pinch what I am doing wrong, however a second opinion is always nice...

Thanks ya'll

[saevel25]

Well, go to a Pro and say, "I don't want to overhaul the swing, just tweak it, what faults do you see in it.." He might be able to see something you dont.. I would go to a place that does video, someone with a good camera, get a few video's of some really good shots hit, then bring a memory stick and have him download them so you have a copy. Then you can you use your camera to compare the two.

[GolfAddict602]

good idea. I may go to Golf Galaxy or something.. If I lived in AZ like I used to it would be a lot easier. Lots of good instructors out there