Hitting it straight, but not center

[pilotschmidt]

I'm fairly new to the game. I bought my first set of clubs this past fall and have become a regular at the free practice area at the near by golf course. I'm yet to actually play on the course (I wanted to become reasonably proficient before I did).

I've been really happy lately with several of my shots. I've been working primarily with the 6 and 7 iron from 150-175 yards, hitting in the rough to a small green. When I first start practice (after doing a thorough stretch), I find that I'm hitting some of my best shots, straight, and within an easy pitching range of the green, say with in three meters (if not on the green itself). I find that when I first start practice, I make beautiful straight, and good distanced shots roughly 30% of the time (three out of ten shots). As my practice continues, I start topping the ball, or, after 60+ swings I start slicing it (I think this is because I have to work on building my endurance).

This, while still an obstacle, is not the source of my most recent fustration.

Remember on how I said I hit the ball straight and on target ~30% of the time when I first start practice? Well, 10% of the time I top it, another 10% of the time I might slice it slightly right (or slightly left on rare ocassion), and the remaining 50% of the time I hit it straight but right of the targeted green by 20-30 degrees. I've tried lining up a 4 iron on the ground with the flag on the green in calm winds, and standing with my feet at shoulder width and equal distance from the four iron, and still, I hit it maybe 20-30 degrees to the right of the target from 150-175 yards with the 7 iron.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance :-)

-Steven

[clutchshot]

You are pushing your shots. Lots of things can cause it, but you are probably sliding you hips instead of rotating them, this causes your body to block your hards from being able to turn over. The result is an In-To-Out swing plane that hits the ball with an open club face. YouTube how to fix a push, lots of good videos on there, just figure out which one is your fault and copy.

[SloverUT]

Originally Posted by pilotschmidt

I'm fairly new to the game. I bought my first set of clubs this past fall and have become a regular at the free practice area at the near by golf course. I'm yet to actually play on the course (I wanted to become reasonably proficient before I did).

I've been really happy lately with several of my shots. I've been working primarily with the 6 and 7 iron from 150-175 yards, hitting in the rough to a small green. When I first start practice (after doing a thorough stretch), I find that I'm hitting some of my best shots, straight, and within an easy pitching range of the green, say with in three meters (if not on the green itself). I find that when I first start practice, I make beautiful straight, and good distanced shots roughly 30% of the time (three out of ten shots). As my practice continues, I start topping the ball, or, after 60+ swings I start slicing it (I think this is because I have to work on building my endurance).

This, while still an obstacle, is not the source of my most recent fustration.

Remember on how I said I hit the ball straight and on target ~30% of the time when I first start practice? Well, 10% of the time I top it, another 10% of the time I might slice it slightly right (or slightly left on rare ocassion), and the remaining 50% of the time I hit it straight but right of the targeted green by 20-30 degrees. I've tried lining up a 4 iron on the ground with the flag on the green in calm winds, and standing with my feet at shoulder width and equal distance from the four iron, and still, I hit it maybe 20-30 degrees to the right of the target from 150-175 yards with the 7 iron.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance :-)

-Steven

I doubt endurance is an issue.  Anyone who swings the club 60+ times is going to get tired.  I can't say for sure what you do at the range but if you are like most newer players you are just banging ball after ball in a fairly quick manner.  Take your time. Pick a spot to aim always.  And go through just like you would if you were on a course.

When you actually go to a course you may swing 100+ times but its never going to be in as quick a manner as most people hit on the range.

[scv76]

I think when I Push, I do not get body around all the way. Next time you hit the ball right of target, check where your body (belly) is pointed.

There is a good chance it will be pointed to the right of target...........At least that is what I see when I hit  straight shot right of target.