Not Enough Air Under Ball When Using Driver

[huskylawyer]

Noobie golfer here.

So I took 2 hours of lessons, with 90% of it being the basics and how to hit an iron.  I feel pretty good hitting 5-9 and all the wedges, but the driving is giving me fits.

The instructor noted that with both the irons and driver, I was taking the club too far back on my back-swing and losing control.  This helped a ton!   He also pointed out that the driver swing is different than the iron swing, whereas with the iron I'm kinda coming down on the ball, with the driver, I'm more sweeping through it (at least that is what I think he said lol).

So with the driver (Ping K-15), I have a wider stance, a bit farther away from the ball, with the ball a few inches inches from the inside of my left foot (iron, more center).   When I do get decent contact, the ball travels about 200 yards after roll (I don't swing very hard or fast), and fairly straight on the good hits (15% of the time, he he), but not much air.   Knees are bent, keeping my head down, following through.

I tend to grip the club very tight (as evidence by the blisters), so perhaps this is it?  Also, should I be aiming to get under the ball more?  How about my wrists? Maybe the club face isn't positioned correctly when I set up (pics would be great if anyone has any). Any tips would be greatly appreciated, and let me know if you need more info.

I plan to take more lessons, but giving the forums a shot.

Thanks in advance.

[bkoguy07]

You're asking about why your driver trajectory is low right?

You definitely want to have a looser grip.  Also, how high are you teeing it up?  Are you finishing "high"(when you finish the swing where are your hands?  you can promote a lower trajectory shot by keeping your follow through low).  If all else fails, you could always opt for a higher lofted driver.  How is your iron ball flight?

[huskylawyer]

Yes, thanks.    I'll work on the looser grip.  Not sure why I grasp the iron like I'm holding onto a life line or something.

When I finish the swing I follow through and hands are at my head level.

Iron ball flight is pretty good.  About right I would say.

Originally Posted by bkoguy07

You're asking about why your driver trajectory is low right?

You definitely want to have a looser grip.  Also, how high are you teeing it up?  Are you finishing "high"(when you finish the swing where are your hands?  you can promote a lower trajectory shot by keeping your follow through low).  If all else fails, you could always opt for a higher lofted driver.  How is your iron ball flight?

[Stretch]

Something else to consider is that your driver probably* doesn't have enough loft for your current swing speed. Your distance suggests you swing about 85 mph at the moment and -- with that speed -- you need at least 13 to 15 degrees of loft to give you a decent launch and enough backspin to keep the ball up in the air. My guess is that you'll hit a three wood better and further than your driver off the tee right now.

* I say probably because the higher-numbered Ping drivers seem to err on the side of understating the true loft of the club. I had a "10.5" G15 that actually measured out at 12.5 degrees.

[huskylawyer]

That's a really good point.  I know my swing speed is slow.   With confidence, I'll swing more aggressively, but right now I'm mostly focused on form.    I tend to lose control when I try to kill the ball.

Maybe I'll see if the shop I bought the Ping from (just bought it a few days ago) will let me replace it with a ping with a higher loft.

Originally Posted by Stretch

Something else to consider is that your driver probably* doesn't have enough loft for your current swing speed. Your distance suggests you swing about 85 mph at the moment and -- with that speed -- you need at least 13 to 15 degrees of loft to give you a decent launch and enough backspin to keep the ball up in the air. My guess is that you'll hit a three wood better and further than your driver off the tee right now.

* I say probably because the higher-numbered Ping drivers seem to err on the side of understating the true loft of the club. I had a "10.5" G15 that actually measured out at 12.5 degrees.

[abraxas]

i thought i was the only one with this problem!

my swing speed is in the mid 90s according to my fitting so i was fitted with a 12 degree driver with a regular shaft.

i dont know what it is but my trajectory is still pretty low.

i feel like my swing plane is pretty flat with my driver so could that be the issue?

i have the same standard setup that you have...

its frustrating for me as well only because i dont have this issue with any other club including my fairway wood

how odd AND frustrating, grrr