Drills/Tips To Gain Consistency With Driver

[Yanks Fan]

I'm at a loss now to be honest. I just recently bought a Cobra S2 10.5 stiff shaft. I was able to try that driver and compare numbers vs my old driver and a few other drivers. The Cobra by far had the best numbers for me (distance, spin, dispersion, launch angle, etc).

First, let me start with my typical ball flight with my driver. It's always a cut/slice and low. If I hit a draw it's an act of God. Just a background note here, I can shape the ball both left and right no problem with my irons and hybrid. I have had a few people look at my swing with my driver and give me their thought on my mistake and the common answer is "my right elbow/arm is being tucked in too much and i need to let it out" and "my swing is far too flat".

Here are my numbers from the swing monitor (averages):

Launch angle: 6-8 degrees (out of 20+ swings, I had one above 12 degrees)

Spin Rate: 2800-3200

Dispersion: 8

Ball Speed: 130

Swing speed: 103-105

I guess my two questions are, without seeing my swing:

1. Assuming the two ideas above are what is truly wrong, what drills or tips or swing thoughts can you give me to practice?

2. How the hell can I get a launch angle that isn't the same as a middle school kid's shoe size?

Now I understand the best option is to get a video of my swing up and I'll try to this weekend but it just snowed again last night...mind you it was 75 three days ago lol.

Also, for the record, I used to not even bother carrying a driver and would just hit 3 wood off the tee because I used to not miss with it but recently it's been nothing but quick little duckhooks with it...but being a regular flex and draw bias isn't helping I'm sure lol.

[zeg]

Originally Posted by Yanks Fan

Here are my numbers from the swing monitor (averages):

Launch angle: 6-8 degrees (out of 20+ swings, I had one above 12 degrees)

Spin Rate: 2800-3200

Dispersion: 8

Ball Speed: 130

Swing speed: 103-105

Not an expert, but your ball speed-to-swing speed ratio seems low---less than 1.26 for the numbers you've given there.  That probably means you're not getting quality contact with the center of the club face, which could quite possibly cause (or be related to) some of the other problems.

[Gioguy21]

Quote:

I'm at a loss now to be honest. I just recently bought a Cobra S2 10.5 stiff shaft. I was able to try that driver and compare numbers vs my old driver and a few other drivers. The Cobra by far had the best numbers for me (distance, spin, dispersion, launch angle, etc).

First, let me start with my typical ball flight with my driver. It's always a cut/slice and low. If I hit a draw it's an act of God. Just a background note here, I can shape the ball both left and right no problem with my irons and hybrid. I have had a few people look at my swing with my driver and give me their thought on my mistake and the common answer is "my right elbow/arm is being tucked in too much and i need to let it out" and "my swing is far too flat".

Here are my numbers from the swing monitor (averages):

Launch angle: 6-8 degrees (out of 20+ swings, I had one above 12 degrees)

Spin Rate: 2800-3200

Dispersion: 8

Ball Speed: 130

Swing speed: 103-105

I guess my two questions are, without seeing my swing:

1. Assuming the two ideas above are what is truly wrong, what drills or tips or swing thoughts can you give me to practice?

2. How the hell can I get a launch angle that isn't the same as a middle school kid's shoe size?

Now I understand the best option is to get a video of my swing up and I'll try to this weekend but it just snowed again last night...mind you it was 75 three days ago lol.

Also, for the record, I used to not even bother carrying a driver and would just hit 3 wood off the tee because I used to not miss with it but recently it's been nothing but quick little duckhooks with it...but being a regular flex and draw bias isn't helping I'm sure lol.

for a 10.5* driver that launch angle is mighty low my friend. with that swing speed your ballspeed should be at least 145. somethin's up. i'd say you're hitting it really low on the face and the monitor is broken...things don't add up.

[Yanks Fan]

Originally Posted by zeg

Not an expert, but your ball speed-to-swing speed ratio seems low---less than 1.26 for the numbers you've given there.  That probably means you're not getting quality contact with the center of the club face, which could quite possibly cause (or be related to) some of the other problems.

I can't argue either of those points. Honestly, I've been playing three years and any other club I can hit just fine. My irons are fantastic and same story for my hybrid. In my three years of playing though, I have never ever ever been able to hit driver and quite frankly, it's pissing me off. I guess it's time to turn to lessons finally lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gioguy21

for a 10.5* driver that launch angle is mighty low my friend. with that swing speed your ballspeed should be at least 145. somethin's up. i'd say you're hitting it really low on the face and the monitor is broken...things don't add up.

The launch angle is horrid. There's no beating around the bush with that lol. Hitting it low on the face is definitely a plausible idea and I know I do. As far as the monitor goes, it could very well be off here or there I'm sure.

If the weather doesn't suck tomorrow, I'll go get a video of my swing as I think that might help put a visual to the problem.

[zeg]

Originally Posted by Yanks Fan

I can't argue either of those points. Honestly, I've been playing three years and any other club I can hit just fine. My irons are fantastic and same story for my hybrid. In my three years of playing though, I have never ever ever been able to hit driver and quite frankly, it's pissing me off. I guess it's time to turn to lessons finally lol.

When you head out to take your video, you might grab a roll of masking tape and hit a few with a piece of tape on the face of the driver.  You should be able to see where you're contacting the ball by the mark on the tape.

Just a stab in the dark, but maybe you're overswinging trying to hit your driver hard.  You've got a high swing speed, but if the launch monitor numbers are accurate, you're wasting a lot of it.  Relaxing and letting the club do the work might improve your contact and get you a longer drive even with a slower swing.  I know that the feel of a good driver swing for me is a lot less hard than the feel of a good iron swing.

Anyway, get the video and/or lessons, because something funny is going on.

[Yanks Fan]

Here's some videos. The first two will be my pitching wedge. The last two will be driver. Honestly...My swing feels awful.

PS, third swing with the driver was me swinging hard out at it hence the poorer swing.

[CalBoomer]

Here's my two cents. The slice is caused by your swinging over the top and hitting the ball outside-in. You appear to be very vertical at contact, almost but not quite a reverse pivot, causing your club face to very vertical and perhaps hitting the ball with a slightly descending blow, hence the low ball flight. But you do have good swing speed. For the driver you need to get more behind the ball, with your spine slightly tilted away from the target and right shoulder lower, and you have to swing inside-out. Good luck.

[Yanks Fan]

Quote:

Here's my two cents. The slice is caused by your swinging over the top and hitting the ball outside-in. You appear to be very vertical at contact, almost but not quite a reverse pivot, causing your club face to very vertical and perhaps hitting the ball with a slightly descending blow, hence the low ball flight. But you do have good swing speed. For the driver you need to get more behind the ball, with your spine slightly tilted away from the target and right shoulder lower, and you have to swing inside-out. Good luck.

Definitely going to work on all of that. This is the first time I've seen my swing in about a year I think and it was eye opening to see it lol. Time for lessons I believe.