Driver backswing

[bwillielv]

So I have had a terrible time hitting my driver.  I have a massive slice that almost always ends up in the next fairway over.

Today I decided to go to the driving range and try to figure it out.  After a few of my normal massive slices I decided to start by taking a half swing... straight as an arrow.

After a dozen or so straight shots like that I moved up to 3/4 swing.  The shots were still straight for the most part and when I did miss it was a small hook.

When I went back to my full swing the slice was back though not quite as bad.  Still not playable though.

I was pretty happy with my 3/4 swing though I am not sure on distance as the driving range didnt have yardage markers.

I just wonder if I am overswinging on my full swing or what the deal is.  Any ideas?  I may have to invest in a video camera.

[saevel25]

I am not sure if its the same issue, but i found that i really have to shorten my shoudler turn. I still keep my hands wide, and get depth with them, but i really do a quick shoulder turn, its really fast because i use to get like 100+ degrees of shoulder turn, and a john daly backswing. So doing that for 15 years really messes with the perception of what is a normal swing length. But when i shorten my swing i can attack from the inside better. I think its because there is a point in the swing were the clubhead will feel a way that you think you got to swing it over the top to get it back online.

Two drills i liked, which i posted elsewere were similar to the flying wedge video shown on this forum. Were you take a stance similar to the impact position. Weight on the front foot, hips slightly open, hands near the front of the left leg, my right foot is banked to the inside, heel might be slightly off the ground. Then what i would do is, is just rotate back, keeping my weight on my front foot, and then rotate forward to a finish, were my rotation brings my right foot up. This has helped me nail a good impact position, and the sense of getting the weight forward. The second drill is were i will slowly bring the club to the top of the backswing, just so i can ingrain a good backswing as well, multitasker.. At the top i will pause for like 5 seconds, then i will swing down, with my hips starting the swing. Really from there its impossible to think of the hands doing nothing but comming down. I find i can't think of nothin, but letting the club do the work. Its a really great drill to feel a free swinging swing. I do it now in my preshot routine, it really frees my mind up.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by bwillielv

So I have had a terrible time hitting my driver.  I have a massive slice that almost always ends up in the next fairway over.

Today I decided to go to the driving range and try to figure it out.  After a few of my normal massive slices I decided to start by taking a half swing... straight as an arrow.

After a dozen or so straight shots like that I moved up to 3/4 swing.  The shots were still straight for the most part and when I did miss it was a small hook.

When I went back to my full swing the slice was back though not quite as bad.  Still not playable though.

I was pretty happy with my 3/4 swing though I am not sure on distance as the driving range didnt have yardage markers.

I just wonder if I am overswinging on my full swing or what the deal is.  Any ideas?  I may have to invest in a video camera.

It's not hard to pick up a poor swing path and a bent left arm with even a cel phone camera.

[Nickstj]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

It's not hard to pick up a poor swing path and a bent left arm with even a cel phone camera.

I agree. I recently even used my laptops webcam to record my swing and it really made a difference seeing my own swing. I would suggest setting up some sort of camera and taking a few different swings from all different angles. Take a couple swings lined up facing the camera, turn your body 90 degrees from the camera and take a few more until you've swung the club a couple times from 4 different viewpoints of the camera. If your swing is inconsistent like my own, you can not only see what your doing differently on swings that don't look great but if you do it a few times you begin to feel when it's off. Just analyzing my own swing has helped me make tweaks to keep it much more consistent.

[bwillielv]

That's a good idea.  I have never thought of using my laptops webcam.

I played the front nine the other day using a shortened back swing with the driver.  Six of seven shots were in the fairway but I really feel like I am losing distance.

I am hitting it as far as I do my 3 wood.

It did feel pretty good to hit it straight.  Now I just need 20 to 30 more yards out of it.