How can I get the ball to go straight off the tee?

[El-Boogie1975]

I visited an indoor facility today that I feel I will use to work on my swing, I took a swing today on a simulator and when I hit it, the ball went almost dead left (I'm lefty BTW)

I'm trying to hold the club so it will be square when it contacts the ball. I feel this is the problem I'm having because I think my club is angled when it strikes the ball. I know it's all in the swing and my swing sucks at the moment (very beginner).

Is there anyway I can correct this issue?

[The Road Dog]

Hi El, without seeing your swing there is nothing to tell you that would assist you. So I suggest two courses of action. 1, You could get a video of yourself hitting from a tee, just a few shots should be enough. Post it on you tube and link it here for group analysis. 2. Invest in some lessons with a local instructor. Try to find one with video analysis equipment so you can keep a video to study at home.

As a beginner it is extremely important for you to get help now when you're creating your swing. The time and money you spend to create the right moves should also help you understand how minor changes in what you're doing affects ball flight. This could make the difference in becoming a life long golfer or a hacker or possibly abandoning the game after a few unsuccessful seasons.

[EverythingGolf]

It sound like you are pushing the ball, lefty and ball go's straight left. It is possible your hips are out racing your upper body and you can't get your arms/hands to the ball in time so you have a more in to out swing. A swing that is in to square is what you need to hit the ball straight down your target line.

Here is a club path chart

[BugDude]

How can I get the ball to go straight off the tee?

Aim straight right out of bounds and try to hit my normal hook...it will go straight every freaking time!!!  I have no idea why.  Any other time, it turns left.

[El-Boogie1975]

I'm a very new beginner. My swing is comical at best and atrocious at worst. I found out through some self analysis that I tend to take a more upright posture when coming on the down swing, aside from pushing the ball to the left.

I'm going to go to Golf Smith and see about getting some instruction.

[golfernc]

how do you hit a 3 wood?

[walk18]

I'm a very new beginner. My swing is comical at best and atrocious at worst. I found out through some self analysis that I tend to take a more upright posture when coming on the down swing, aside from pushing the ball to the left.

I'm going to go to Golf Smith and see about getting some instruction.

I would strongly suggest looking somewhere other than golfsmith for instruction.

[saevel25]

I would start with halfswing, than work your way up to a full swing. Think of a swing set, how you start off at center, then you increase the arc. Progress like that. Its easier on your balance to keep things simple at first and then increase the swing arc, getting a feel for balance. I like doing this once a year to get a feeling for my balance. You be suprised how easy balance can be lost. Even during my workouts, i do balancing on my feet, to bridge the neuropathways together between my brain and my muscles to increase there functionality, not just remembering the feeling of a bench press. Its like doing chest flies while balancing on one leg.

Here is a drill for your posture. Don't need a club for this. take your posture, crossing your hands over your arms. Back up till your butt barely touches the wall. Rotate your left shoulder down, keeping your head still, looking at one point ont he carpet. Your butt should not pull away from the wall during the swing.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by El-Boogie1975

I visited an indoor facility today that I feel I will use to work on my swing, I took a swing today on a simulator and when I hit it, the ball went almost dead left (I'm lefty BTW)

I'm trying to hold the club so it will be square when it contacts the ball. I feel this is the problem I'm having because I think my club is angled when it strikes the ball. I know it's all in the swing and my swing sucks at the moment (very beginner).

Is there anyway I can correct this issue?

A few things:

1.  No one hits the ball straight.  What you really want is a repeatable pattern to your shots, such as that they always go 5-10 yards right of where they start and never go left of where they start.  This is the basic idea of a shot cone.

2.  The angle of the club face when you hit the ball is a much bigger factor in where the ball starts than in where the ball curves.

3.  How dead left?  45 degrees?  Is it a snap-fade?  A push?

[haapamaki]

i agree with shindig!

I can only play 3 shots! a mini draw, a large looping draw, and a fade.

beginners should concentrate on ball contact and not distance.