Tying myself in knots with the driver

[topgrape]

OK not literally, but it is making me crazy. I hit my 3 wood pretty well 75% of the time. The other 25% I tend to block it - not wildly, but out to the right at an angle of about 30 degrees with no shape at all, dead straight.

I recently bought the Taylormade R1 driver. I'm blocking this maybe 60% of the time. I've youtubed driving tips and now have my head full of crap. I'm setting up with the ball opposite my left heel, putting a lot of weight on my back foot, taking the club inside the line - I have 4 or 5 swing thoughts in my head to the point where I'm completely messed up.

I went to the range and hit 200 balls with the above set up and I would say that about 180 were really nice shots, long and pretty straight, certainly straight enough to hit any fairway at my course.

But the last 3 rounds I'm all over the place. I feel like I need to start again as far as driving is concerned. I'm going to book a lesson but does anyone have any tips on how to stop blocking your drives ?

[Stretch]

Could try moving the ball forward an inch or two in your stance. Might help to get your path less out to the right and give the face time to close a little more. Block comes from club face and club path matching at impact, with both to the right of the target line.

[saevel25]

Quote:

putting a lot of weight on my back foot, taking the club inside the line - I have 4 or 5 swing thoughts in my head to the point where I'm completely messed up.

1) stop putting your weight on your back foot. Its true you want to be behind the ball, but you can do that with the ball forward in your stance. If you get your weight back its very hard to get it forward again. personal case study, myself, when i overswing i get my weight back and i am dead, my divots are at the ball or just behind it, and i block shots way right. When i take a shorter backswing, i find my divots way forward, my swing feels more in control, and good shots happen. So, stop getting your weight back, its very hard to transition from that position. Its an old, bad tip.

2) Consolidate your swing thoughts, seriously, stop thinking. If i was you, i would concentrate on feeling like your keeping your left knee flexed through out the shot, even feel like it into the finish. This will get your weight forward. See if that helps out. I also find, concentrating on that feeling, keeps my head still as well, because it feels like my left leg is locked into the ground, so i don't mvoe off the ball as bad as i do.

[thanw]

Take a hacksaw and cut that driver shaft down to size. [/not advice]

[topgrape]

Originally Posted by thanw

Take a hacksaw and cut that driver shaft down to size.

Damn you. I acted on this before I read the end part. Kindly send me $400.

[onephenom]

Don't hit 200 driver shots in a row.

Practice like a round... hit a drive, then an iron, then a pitch, etc etc. Hitting 200 drivers in a row will not help

[topgrape]

Don't hit 200 driver shots in a row.  Practice like a round... hit a drive, then an iron, then a pitch, etc etc. Hitting 200 drivers in a row will not help

I agree with you and I've started to do this. I was just trying to test my new set up when I did this

[onephenom]

I agree with you and I've started to do this. I was just trying to test my new set up when I did this

Yep, I can understand trying the new set up. But that's probably why you couldn't incorporate it into play on the course, imo . It wouldn't see so foreign