Desperate golfer here...

[G1ngram]

Hey all. I'm new to the game of golf and plan on playing for my school senior year. I am having an awful time trying to hit my driver with any success. Most of my drives go about 150 yards straight and 100 yards right. Maybe not literally 100 yards right, but it is a ridiculously bad slice. I have my swing recorded and will post it in a minute. By watching my swing I can clearly see that there is something wrong. I just need you guys to pinpoint what all needs corrected in my swing. Thank you in advance!!!

[G1ngram]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awkY5vQdXsM&feature;=player_detailpage

[G1ngram]

[Golfingdad]

You may not learn how to swing a club from this forum, however, there is a lot of good info on here that can help.  I have only been here since February (ish) and know a heck of a lot more than I did then.

The first eye opener for me (might even be the thing that actually brought me here from google) were the "new" ball flight laws.  Anything you are curious about you can find here in the search engine.

Good luck.

[camper6]

Your setup is bad.  You have the ball way too far forward in your setup for your driver.

Move the ball back to where it's just off your left heel

Check this against your setup to see what I am talking about.

http://www.golfingvalley.com/beginner-lessons/proper-driver-setup-routine.html

[G1ngram]

Thank you guys for the input. Is there any drills that will help me get rid of this "over the top" swing. Also, is that the reason for my slice?

[AmazingWhacker]

The problem with getting swing advice on the internet is that it's mostly unqualified advice.  That being said - here's some unqualified advice.  I noticed a couple things in your swing that I am working on in my own.  The first thing is the left wrist.  Try to keep if flat or slightly bowed through the whole swing.  Just pausing the video "golf swing from behind" it looks like you keep it flat to the top of your backswing but it gets cupped in the downswing.

The second thing is keeping your right elbow in closer to your body.  You can let it get a little away in the backswing but tuck it in for the downswing. It should feel like you are swinging out to the right.

This is a problem I don't have, but it looks like you're going past parallel in your backswing ala John Daley.  Personally, I wouldn't do this - at least not until you're hitting it pretty well.

[BWChuck]

  AmazingWhacker said:

Originally Posted by AmazingWhacker

The second thing is keeping your right elbow in closer to your body.  You can let it get a little away in the backswing but tuck it in for the downswing. It should feel like you are swinging out to the right.

Agree with this to help correct the slice.  If you watch the down the line videos, look at the distance between your hands and body at address vs impact.  You want them to be about the same distance from your body at address as at impact, your's are way out in front of you on the downswing (which is the "over the top" move).

[Pablo68]

  camper6 said:

Originally Posted by camper6

Your setup is bad.  You have the ball way too far forward in your setup for your driver.

I think that has more to do with his camera angle than where his ball position is at. I don't think you can really tell from that angle given that it's not a view from straight on.

OP, when you swung that one driver you failed to maintain your balance and fell forward. I think you're coming over the top and overswinging.

[Derek Ong]

Another unqualified opinion here: Firstly, I would check the grip. Secondly, backswing you may be laying it off.

I guess you can never go wrong checking those 2 things.

[hero12]

I am assuming you don't know half the terms everybody is using.  Since the slice is the most common problem for beginners I'd recommend doing a search here, on google, and on youtube for "how to fix a slice."  You'll find a lot of good advice here, videos from instructors, and a lot of advice from people who are as good as you.

[G1ngram]

Honestly I have been looking all over the internet looking at videos and I have been practicing like crazy. I have one lesson every week and I play at least one round per week as well as hitting the driving range once a week. There is just so much different information that I don't know what info is right and what is wrong. I'm just very overwhelmed with all of this and I believe that I need to start focusing on one thing at a time. Any suggestions on a practice routine or something that will just make me more organized and focused while practicing would be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys that already responded. You were definitely right about my swing being over the top because my instructor told me the same thing today. He was telling me to tuck my right elbow on the backswing.

[camper6]

  Pablo68 said:

Originally Posted by Pablo68

I think that has more to do with his camera angle than where his ball position is at. I don't think you can really tell from that angle given that it's not a view from straight on.

OP, when you swung that one driver you failed to maintain your balance and fell forward. I think you're coming over the top and overswinging.

I don't know about that.

The iron setup looks just fine and maybe that ball is a bit forward as well.

I would assume however, that whoever is giving the lessons would have noticed that.