Just about ready to throw in the towel

[Wade]

Yesterday is the closest I've come to driving cart, clubs and all into the pond. The thing is I can do pretty well on my second shots but my driver is absolutly out of control!!! I can hit my driver about 290 yds but I'm usually WAY LEFT( I'm lefty) its more of a push- slice. I play 4 to 5 times a week and don't seem to be getting any better. On top of that I just sank a ton of money into upgrading my clubs this season. I'm frustrated and don't even look forward to going to the golf course anymore. Any tips, drills, etc. would be greatly appericated.

[5ironkid]

im a righty and i have a slice. to prevent this i either strengthen my top hand, or i move the ball way up to my front toe

[blue72ss]

Golf is a sport that you can practice and get worse instead of better.

I'm also a long hitter, I have a fast transition at the top of my swing so generally I can just slow it down and get back on track, but this game is frustrating.

Hang in there

[Chief Broom]

Lessons from a good teacher.

Yesterday in my weekly sunday foursome my buddy who really struggles with his game, and lately has been in a slump, after the third hole and an especially abysmal start to his round (last week he quit on us at the turn) he looks at me and tells me he's seriously thinking about quitting.  The game is no fun, he's getting worse not better, nothing he's tried is working, etc.  So what happens he starts making pars.  He's one over for the next four holes and closes the nine with a bogey and a par.  He finished the 18, and while his play didn't stay quite that good he broke 100 for the round.  I didn't say anything to him about his round (even when he was down), but I wonder how much it effected his round when he let go of his expectations and just started hitting shots?

[Wade]

I usually shot in the low 90's, but Saturday I shot a 110 and Sunday shot a 105 with a 59 on the front nine. Maybe I am just trying too hard. When I approach the ball I have so many things going through my head instead of just getting up there and hitting the damn ball. I definitely have gotten worse over the past month. Not really sure what to do.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by Wade

I usually shot in the low 90's, but Saturday I shot a 110 and Sunday shot a 105 with a 59 on the front nine. Maybe I am just trying too hard. When I approach the ball I have so many things going through my head instead of just getting up there and hitting the damn ball. I definitely have gotten worse over the past month. Not really sure what to do.

thats where I am ... I'm in golf overload mode ... thinking about way too many different things during the stroke.    Stagnating, not really improving.    For me, the driver is the only club that gives me the shitz - it's either on (nice and straight), or totally off (slicing off the course) - NO medium ground.   I need to back down into a more forgiving regular shaft & get out of this stiff shaft ...

[bplewis24]

I throw in the towel at least 3 times per year.  By the following Thursday the towel has been laundered and put back in the bag.

[Goonsidious]

So you hate your driver huh? The more frustrated you get without even looking for a solution.. the more you will just randomly try to change things and hit the hell out of it.

Stance, posture, ball placement, grip, arm positioning, and most importantly swing plane.

I use to hate my driver.. knew for a fact i was going to completely embarrass myself when I went to the tee. Trial and error with the above checklist, and now I'm as confident as ever.

Going back to basics is probably the best answer. Maybe try slowing down your backswing as a start.

If you golf 4-5 times a week.. you're lucky and should be taking advantage of all this free time. Find time for the range.

[Topper]

I developed a horrible slice earlier this year and I'm not talking about a baby slice either.  Like 200 yard out and 100 yards to the right kind of slice. No matter what I did fixed it.  Anyway, I took a lesson and the problem has for the most part been fixed.  But I am wondering why I can hit a slice "300" yards but not even close with something that lands in the fairway.  Anyway, my instructor showed me .....

1. The swing I thought I had was not what I actually had....not even close.
2. My attempts to fix my imaginary swing were not effective because I was attempting to fix a swing that existed only in my head.
3. how correct the slice by associating a specific change with a particular feel by repeated visits to the tee area and video display.

Take a lesson from a teaching professional with experience and equipment.  You will not regret spending the money.  Golf is fun when you spend more time playing from the fairway.  But keep your towels because you'll periodically need to throw one in.....because that's just golf.

[Wade]

I have taken a couple of lessons with little to no improvement. Also just invested $400 in the Taylormade R11s driver about a month ago. I have all the settings closed. I'm at a complete loss!

[RonTheSavage]

Originally Posted by Goonsidious

So you hate your driver huh? The more frustrated you get without even looking for a solution.. the more you will just randomly try to change things and hit the hell out of it.

Stance, posture, ball placement, grip, arm positioning, and most importantly swing plane.

I use to hate my driver.. knew for a fact i was going to completely embarrass myself when I went to the tee. Trial and error with the above checklist, and now I'm as confident as ever.

Going back to basics is probably the best answer. Maybe try slowing down your backswing as a start.

If you golf 4-5 times a week.. you're lucky and should be taking advantage of all this free time. Find time for the range.

You nailed it! Your checklist is right on. Glad to know that I wasnt the only person who hated pulling the driver out of the bag.

[SoundandFury]

I had never been able to hit my driver.  Wouldn't even take it out of the bar on par 5's because I knew I would either top it or hit it so far right I'd need to take the car to find it.  I tried three things this past week at the range, and was able to hit 50% of the fairways off the tee.  What I did:

1. Step back with your rear foot about 6 inches.

2. Make sure your left wrist is flat or even a little bent in (towards your body) at the top of your back swing.  Over-emphasize this if need be, it's the most important.

3. Tee it up high, as in the bottom of the ball is just above the club head.

I'm serious, I'm god awful at golf and this helped a ton.  Hit a few 260+ straight down the pipe.