Driver vs. Irons

[SpacklersEdge]

I have been working a lot on my swing plane and various things to cure my ball striking with my irons.  I had been hitting everything either thin line drives (divot starting 1-2 inches AFTER the ball) or off the toe of the club, losing significant distance.  Last 2 weeks have been MUCH better, I am killing my irons, hitting them high etc.  Everything is good from LW on down to 4I.

When I get to the driver, it's terrible.  When my irons were terrible, my driver was the only thing I COULD hit.  Now it's swapped.

My driver is coming out VERY low, like a low lining slight pull fade.  I think the issue is that I had become way too flat previously, and so I worked and worked to get a steeper back swing and follow through on my irons.  now I am hitting them in the sweet spot with great divots on the target line.  But not this steeper swing seems to be really messing with my drives.  I finally feel like I could score well if I could olny drive reasonably well again.

How much does your swing plane, or swing in general change when using the driver vs. irons (which are much shorter).

Why is it coming off so low?  I feel like I must be de-lofting it at impact and perhaps coming across a little.

Any tips or drills you guys can suggest to remedy this?  It's funny, up until now I would just step up and hit the driver right where I wanted to, with a slight fade, now it's just ugly looking.

[arogolf]

my mindset: you strike down on the ball with a slight decending blow with your irons,  your driver requires a sweeping blow, catching the ball just in front of the bottom of your arc.  There are probably more in depth/expert answers but that is the basic distinction between the two.  Swing plane is one thing to fix, but a simple change in ball position at address might help.  Try moving the ball alittle forward with your driver, widen your stance a bit and really try and widen out your arc with your driver.

[Leftygolfer]

The swing isn't different IMO, it is just set up.  I think plane is dictated by the length of the club so obviously it gets more upright with the shorter clubs and the ball moves back in the stance to hit it with a decending blow and not a slightly downward, flat, or upward strike as you do with the longer clubs.

I agree with AROgolf in moving the ball more foward and a wider stance.

One thing I've noticed is how great players (with every club, but more so with driver, 3 woods) keep their heads behind the ball but there lower body is driving foward at impact.  This is a feeling I have when I'm swinging well.   I think you can get away with moving everything forward with the irons but would make it difficult to drive the ball well w/o compensations

[Gopher1000]

Other than a "mindset" (which is helpful), is there any other tip or double check (in your setup or otherwise) to ensure you are getting yourself in position to properly execute these types of swings? I have the same problem as Spacklers where, even with correct ball position, I will get one swing down and the other comes unglued. A lot of times if I am hitting my irons well I tend to hit low hooks with the driver. On the range it is not as bad as it is easy to get into a good rythmn with each club--the main problem is on the course when you don't have the luxury of constant repetition and each swing goes on the scorecard.

[SpacklersEdge]

Great replies so far, I think I am going to hit the range at lunch and focus on the setup only.  No swing changes at all, I will simply be more conscious of having the ball off the left instep, and a wider setup.  I will report back and let you know how it goes.

[DeanS]

I am also having the same problem as Spacklers. I'm resonably comfortable with my setup so I'll be trying AroGolf's tip this Wednesday. Had some success last night with the driver. I placed the ball off my front foot with the idea of generating a laid-off feeling in the backswing. Hit a few like that, returned to a normal ball position and was able to hit driver. I think thats a great tip, perhaps I now know what to look for.

[arogolf]

Hope it helps. The key, really, is to keep your weight/mass in between your feet (more rotation, less swaying) so don't be afraid to widen that stance while moving the ball alittle bit forward.

[arogolf]

Other than a "mindset" (which is helpful), is there any other tip or double check (in your setup or otherwise) to ensure you are getting yourself in position to properly execute these types of swings? I have the same problem as Spacklers where, even with correct ball position, I will get one swing down and the other comes unglued. A lot of times if I am hitting my irons well I tend to hit low hooks with the driver. On the range it is not as bad as it is easy to get into a good rythmn with each club--the main problem is on the course when you don't have the luxury of constant repetition and each swing goes on the scorecard.

Well this is tough because everyone has different mechanics, but your natural swing from club to club shouldn't change much for a stock shot. I will say that the amount of forward lean of the shaft should in crease from driver (least) to wedge (most). At least that's what works for me and my ball striking is fairly consistent.

[oltombon]

The swing should be different. You should be leaning away from your target when hitting your driver and leaning towards your target when hitting your irons.

[arogolf]

Here is a quick visualization (RH) of what I am looking at during setup. Its not a blueprint or drawn to scale, its a sketch to give you a basic picture. Actual positions may change depending on your swing type, grip or even shot you are trying to execute. But when I am on the range and working on basic stuff/stock shot, these are the basics I go back to. As far as grip, for a stock shot (slight draw), I have three nuckles showing on my glove hand and both Vs (the V created by your thumb and pointer finger as you grip the club) on both hands is pointing towards my back (Righties=right, lefties=left) shoulder. Adaptations/specifics can be found in ben hogan books and others.

Be sure to keep your stance wide enough so that your mass does not shift outside of your knees and feet during your swing.  This is a common mistake and kills your power.  As far as shifting your weight, my pattern goes, neutral at setup, as you complete your backswing weight shifts to your back heel, back to neutral/slightly forward at impact and finally weight on your frontside at finish, but all in a rotational movement, not swaying. Weight shift is a by product of good fundamentals and practice, not a conscious thought. This

[iacas]

Originally Posted by oltombon

The swing should be different. You should be leaning away from your target when hitting your driver and leaning towards your target when hitting your irons.

Can you clarify that?

When would you ever want to be leaning towards the target? What do you mean by "leaning"? When in the swing?

[DeanS]

I don't know how best to express this. I've been far to literal with the notion of 13 clubs one swing. One swing for sure but with feel. Anyway I came across this writing might be of interest http://www.golftoday.co.uk/proshop/features/the_big_feeling.html I think it describes well what arogolf was saying.