All this bottoming out with my driver is making me MENTAL !

[inthehole]

I have no issues with my irons, hybrids - everything is coming together nicely.   I hit my hybrids just fine off the short tee.      However, my driver is killing me ... I'm slightly bottoming out & hitting the turf first (probably 50% of the time).      I can't figure out how I can even hit the ground when the tee'd ball is practically 3 inches above the turf.     I have moved the ball to the center of my stance instead of off the front foot to try to make contact at the bottom of my swing arc - doesn't seem to help much.

Some background - I've changed my swing over to S&T; - helped everything else in my game  tremendously, except for my driving - although when I do make solid contact, I now have a nice straight drive with maybe a baby draw, no more slicing, which used to plague me with my old swing (sorry, no way to film my swing).      This is by far the most annoying thing I've ever had to deal with in golf ... even slightly bottoming out absolutely squashes all distance & direction.    Anybody have any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong or what could cause this to happen ?      Any thoughts at all are welcome.       Many thainks !!.

[TitleistLefty]

Diagnosing swing faults is terribly difficult without visual aid. The first thing that comes to mind is standing further away from the ball and putting the ball inside your lead foot instead of in the middle.

[senorchipotle]

it could be your body is in the way of where your hands are supposed to go. you've got to clear your hips out left as well as sliding forward.

[inthehole]

thanks guys - was also wondering if this is common or am I doing something really unusual by bottoming out my driver ?

[happyroman]

The driver is different from the other clubs in that you want to catch the ball on the upswing. Therefore, the swing arc must bottom out prior to impact.  Moving the ball to a more centered position (with a lower tee) is OK if you are hitting into the wind or are willing to sacrifice a little distance for accuracy. However, if you want to tee it high and let it fly, you want it more forward in the stance, approximately off the left instep.

The key is to make sure that you do not face the ball at set up.  You want your sternum to be facing the center of your stance. That way, the clubhead will bottom just forward of center, like all your other clubs, and then catch the ball on the way up. If you are hitting the ground directly under the teed ball, you are facing the ball and as a result, losing your tilt and altering your arc so that the club is bottoming out when it should be rising.

Hope this helps.

[sean_miller]

Did you try a little less S&T; with the driver?  Weight forward and a forward press aren't necessary for hitting a driver. It's the same basic motion, but maybe try to stay a little more centered / balanced with the long clubs.

Quote:

. . . I've changed my swing over to S&T; - helped everything else in my game  tremendously, except for my driving . . .

[shortstop20]

Moving the ball back to the center of your stance isn't going to help. It's actually counter-productive. The further you move the ball back, the steeper the swing plane will tend to get unless you make some compensating moves.

The steeper the swing plane gets, the more likely you are to bottom out the driver.

[boots1302]

as odd as this sounds...try teeing the ball up so high that its impossible to bottom out, and hit the ball. it will make you focus on hitting the ball and not worrying about bottoming out. might work, might not, just a suggestion

[iacas]

Originally Posted by shortstop20

Moving the ball back to the center of your stance isn't going to help. It's actually counter-productive. The further you move the ball back, the steeper the swing plane will tend to get unless you make some compensating moves.

Ball back can encourage the upper center to tip back to create axis tilt as well. Try the ball forward and really push the hips forward to create the secondary axis tilt rather than faking it.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by iacas

Ball back can encourage the upper center to tip back to create axis tilt as well. Try the ball forward and really push the hips forward to create the secondary axis tilt rather than faking it.

Thats the one thing I struggle with - really getting the hips forward ... I will work on that.

I've played two rounds since I initially posted this ... I've tried moving the ball out towards the toe of the driver at set up ... seems to help extending the arms & I haven't been grounding the driver nearly as much.

[CalBoomer]

Try to make your swing plane slightly flatter. Bottoming the driver frequently is the result of too vertical a swing plane.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by CalBoomer

Try to make your swing plane slightly flatter. Bottoming the driver frequently is the result of too vertical a swing plane.

That makes perfect sense & something I have suspected since I switched over to S&T;, I've totally eliminated my slice & have more control, BUT have a feeling I have way to steep a swing now ... I'll have to film myself to see, thx

[tshapiro]

First off, if you have messed around with ball position or tee height go back to a traditional setup. The most important thing is that you are balanced all the way through the swing. Next, your club should hover off the ground at address. Next, please slow down your swing so that a very easy swing has the club head cleanly contacting the ball. If your ball position is too far from you than the slower swing will have the club head dipping into the ground. If you are dipping your upper body as the swing reaches the low point, the slower swing should cure this. If it does, you know that you need to practice staying in balance as you begin to speed up your swing. Also, if you are swinging properly, than your left arm should extend at the low point of your downswing. Make sure your setup is tall enough to accommodate the extending of your arms. Choking down an inch may reveal if your drivers shaft is too long for you. So, essentially, choke an inch, slow it down, and swing within your capabilities. Gradually work it back up. Your clean ball striking should more than make up for the fact that you have slowed things down.

[jjjjj]

if uve been using the S&T;, the one key thing in drive with S&T; is that u need to raise lower body upward at impact. it should almost feel like a jump sansation, but ur body stays achard. this is the one draw back to driving with S&T;, but if u master it will get out there. im sure if u r hit the rest of ur club good, that your technique is pretty sound. maybe refresh ur driving technique with some youtube videos. they will explain the raising at impact that i am refering too. good luck love! :)