Hitting up on the driver

[postmanclark]

So, just recently after getting my swing some what in working order, after the winter relapse - I was trying to improve my launch angle on my driver and hitting up on the ball. Having read the advice given in Iacas' thread on it, I tried it to some degree of success. However, what I need help with is that for the few days that I have been trying to practice it - some days I hit pushes / push - fades and other times I hit pull - draws. Does anyone have any kind of 'feels' where you know what shot shape you can try and hit?

[dchoye]

I just try to hit straight or hook/draw it. I have a hard time hitting a fade with my driver.

Only when Im swinging down then I tend to fade it, but generally on the tee i hit up, or least that's my feeling, even when i try to hit it straight it draws.

I like to have that right side lean (I guess it call tilted spine angle) I like having treetop or a row of trees to hook it away from as a that's my target. If it's a treeless fairway/course, i tend to drive poorly.

[hopefulhacker]

So, just recently after getting my swing some what in working order, after the winter relapse - I was trying to improve my launch angle on my driver and hitting up on the ball. Having read the advice given in Iacas' thread on it, I tried it to some degree of success. However, what I need help with is that for the few days that I have been trying to practice it - some days I hit pushes / push - fades and other times I hit pull - draws. Does anyone have any kind of 'feels' where you know what shot shape you can try and hit?

Not sure what you have been practicing but I had big issues with my driving until this summer. My driving has been transformed since then. I won't put it all down to the following as I'm new enough to the game and my swing was improving. But it certainly had a major impact. What did I do different? Stopped addressing the ball with my club. My set up now involves my club grounded near the centre of my stance... About 5-6 inches behind the ball. This helps me mentally prepare for hitting up on the ball. Lots of playing partners noticed the improvement and my ball flight is very high now... Some have even switched to this method as they were so impressed with the before/after difference they noticed in my driving. Shawn Clement has a very good instructional video on this. On phone at present so can't link. But well worth a try.

[saevel25]

So, just recently after getting my swing some what in working order, after the winter relapse - I was trying to improve my launch angle on my driver and hitting up on the ball. Having read the advice given in Iacas' thread on it, I tried it to some degree of success.

However, what I need help with is that for the few days that I have been trying to practice it - some days I hit pushes / push - fades and other times I hit pull - draws. Does anyone have any kind of 'feels' where you know what shot shape you can try and hit?

So here what might help

Honestly the feel he said here really works for me. If I can feel like my right hand makes a wide arch into the ball then it really helps me raise the handle in the follow through, promoting an upward angle of attack. Don't get caught leaning away from the ball in the downswing. Really force this movement with the arms only. If you get a reverse weight shift, then you'll end up flipping and getting steeper.

Usually putting the ball forward will help. If you don't adjust the way the hands got through impact, or the set up then you'll hit a slight pull fade because of how the golf swing comes back inward as it goes up. The first video is a method to hit a draw while hitting up.