To the range or not?

[elivate]

I have been hitting the ball pretty well this season and I am pretty happy with my game right now. If it was not for my crappy putting I would have at least 2 rounds in the 80's... When I am hitting my irons well I can hit a nice draw or hit it straight, depending on the situation. But, this weekend I reverted back to my old ways and I hit everything right... not a slice but a "push"... It was very frustrating because I really felt that my swing was the same as it has been all year. I hit the range yesterday to try to get my straight/draw shot back but I still hit everything to the right.

I am hoping this is a temporary lapse, I am playing again Wednesday night and I will hit the range Tuesday afternoon in preparation like I always do.

But right now I am wondering... Should I go to the range today as well? Or should I take today off and forget about it? I know it is stupid but I have been thinking about it a lot since I left the range yesterday and I need to get my swing back!

[Thrdroc]

Personally i would go to the range until the problem is resolved. I would not go the range and practice your typical swing over and over as you will ingrain your bad swing over and over again. Each swing try something different. Try bring the club back in a line for as long as you can, or try turning your grip a little bit until you hit a ball straight. Then use the same swing you did for a couple hits to see if that is really what is fixing it or it was just a fluke.

[elivate]

Yes, I think I will go... I know that the problem is that I am not squaring the club face on impact... and I know that I need to get my hands through the ball, the problem is that I was so messed up last round and yesterday on the range that every time I really tried to do this I hit a nasty hook... I am pretty sure it is a mental issue right now so hopefully I can work it out at the range this afternoon..

[Thrdroc]

Well the hook is you are getting your hands past the ball before your club face. As for squaring the club face, make sure you are taking your grip with it square. I have a problem of taking my grip and then unsquaring the face of the club.

[elivate]

Well the hook is you are getting your hands past the ball before your club face. As for squaring the club face, make sure you are taking your grip with it square. I have a problem of taking my grip and then unsquaring the face of the club.

I am not 100% sure what you mean by "taking your grip with it square"... Do you mean keeping the clubface square to the target line at address?

[Thrdroc]

Yea set your club down and square it, then take your grip making sure your club is still square.

[elivate]

Yea set your club down and square it, then take your grip making sure your club is still square.

Right thanks, I am heading to the range in about 20 minutes... Hoping for success

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

I don't see why not. Although there are plenty of times I'd suggest taking a day or two off after a bad round. The last thing you want to do is pound ball after ball and groove a bad swing. As long as you are going to the range with a purpose I say go for it. The problem I sometimes have with the range (after a bad round) is I work on, say, my iron game and work it out on the range until I'm comfortable. Then I'll have like 10 or 15 balls left in the bucket and I'll hit them just to get rid of the bucket and I'll hit them poorly and I leave just as frusterated. That's why it's important to have a purpose. But since you seem to be obsessing with this I say to go the range and put your mind at ease. You'll probably be unapproachable until this happens

[elivate]

Well I went and hit a large bucket at lunch time... Not a lot of success... All my iron shots were to the right and I hit a bunch of shanks... I think it is mental...

The funny thing is I was hitting my driver right down the middle...

What a game....

[golfchief]

Should take the day off hitting balls and only use the putting green.

[elivate]

Should take the day off hitting balls and only use the putting green.

Well, it is a little too late for today I am afraid... I think I will take tomorrow off and then play Wednesday and see where I am...

[Mikey]

Should take the day off hitting balls and only use the putting green.

I agree I would skip the range and straight to the putting green, when I start hitting it bad I take some time off and try not think about it.

[J_Bone]

Well the hook is you are getting your hands past the ball before your club face. As for squaring the club face, make sure you are taking your grip with it square. I have a problem of taking my grip and then unsquaring the face of the club.

I was thinking this exact same thing. I think it still might be the the problem since your driver seems to be ok. Maybe it's still your alignment or grip at address?? I have the same issue and I correct it my using a bit more forward press just before I start my back swing.

[elivate]

I was thinking this exact same thing. I think it still might be the the problem since your driver seems to be ok. Maybe it's still your alignment or grip at address?? I have the same issue and I correct it my using a bit more forward press just before I start my back swing.

Grip is an issue for me... I have trouble relaxing my grip and I know I grip the club way too tight... I am really working on relaxing my arms and loosening my grip... I am in the process of booking some lessons so I am hoping that I can get my grip and alignment fixed up...

What exactly do you mean by "using a bit more forward press"?

[sandtrap]

Sometimes the range is the worst place to go. Give it a rest and forget about it. skip the range. you might just enforce the badness

[J_Bone]

What exactly do you mean by "using a bit more forward press"?

My hands are in front of the club head. For instance, the ball is in the middle of my stance while my hands are aligned on my left(front) thigh. That seemed to really square up my Irons.

[WhiplashSmile]

I'm a range rat. Now that I have that disclaimer out of the way, I would go to the range and work on it. I have about 20 range sessions since late April and have played 8 rounds in the same 6 weeks or so. I constantly tinker with my swing and grip to try to find something that I can use. I may be playing with fire but I'm trying to understand my swing better and don't want to stray too far from what I know works on the course. I figure that's what the range is for.....to work out the kinks. I'm playing in a tournament Wednesday and worked on my grip this evening, at the range. I think I found a grip that works better for me and will try it Wednesday. Additionally, I putt for at least 30 minutes (usually it's more like an hour) after every bucket of balls.

[elivate]

My hands are in front of the club head. For instance, the ball is in the middle of my stance while my hands are aligned on my left(front) thigh. That seemed to really square up my Irons.

So I now know for sure that this is a problem for me. I do not get my hands in front of the club head... I tend to "flick" my wrists at the ball now and I never get my hands in the proper position and I push my iron shots to the right...

I am working on it and I was wondering if you (or anyone) could suggest a drill that will help? Thanks!