trouble with blocking driver/hands coming across body

[Sam Alfieri]

A little background info.  Please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors as I am writing shorhand.  I recently took up the game about 8 years ago; I'm 24 now, and have had no lessons whatsoever, although being a natural athlete a (D1 hockey player) I was quick to pick up the game.  I shoot to about a 10 handicapp, but i know it is within reason that I can shoot lower.  I swing hard, hit the ball far, and have good hands, although somewhat stiff from playing hockey.  I swing hard, but I feel as though I am coordinated enough where I can, and still make good impact, which I do most of the time.

The problem.

Like a lot of people I tried to forever get rid of the slice, (which didnt come out thaaat often), and also try to begin working on drawing the golf ball especially with my driver.  So I began working on my swing path, drastically more inside than out, and trying to get my hands to turn over a bit more so that the club head is at the correct angle (remember I have stiffer wrists, so I felt that conscious effort to use more of my hands/wrists was needed.  This is when I began to block my driver.  I know why the ball goes off to the right (because the clubhead, and path are pointing that way), but dont exactly know what to do to fix it.  I am aware that the problem usually comes from my arms coming across my body, which makes sense because although I usually dont have a steep swing, I have a steep impact with the ground.  I have been able to control iron shots in this way, almost always hitting knockdowns or 3/4 shots, but I feel it is time to move away from this and get the ball high into the air.  I feel as though this extra lag in my iron shots reminiscent of sergio's has stopped me from being able to make a proper swing with the driver, and for once get the ball moving right to left, and not just straight, or slicing.

[mvmac]

The problem.

Like a lot of people I tried to forever get rid of the slice, (which didnt come out thaaat often), and also try to begin working on drawing the golf ball especially with my driver.  So I began working on my swing path, drastically more inside than out, and trying to get my hands to turn over a bit more so that the club head is at the correct angle (remember I have stiffer wrists, so I felt that conscious effort to use more of my hands/wrists was needed.  This is when I began to block my driver.  I know why the ball goes off to the right (because the clubhead, and path are pointing that way), but dont exactly know what to do to fix it.  I am aware that the problem usually comes from my arms coming across my body, which makes sense because although I usually dont have a steep swing, I have a steep impact with the ground.  I have been able to control iron shots in this way, almost always hitting knockdowns or 3/4 shots, but I feel it is time to move away from this and get the ball high into the air.  I feel as though this extra lag in my iron shots reminiscent of sergio's has stopped me from being able to make a proper swing with the driver, and for once get the ball moving right to left, and not just straight, or slicing.

Hi Sam, welcome to the site. I would suggest starting a swing thread here. Have you seen you that you have too much lag on camera, it's a very rare problem for amateurs.

http://thesandtrap.com/f/4180/member-swings

Also you don't really need to "turn the hands over" to draw the ball. You just need to have the path further out to the right than the face. Players that typically draw the ball have the face aimed a little right of their target. Ball starts where the face is pointed and curves away from the path. So there is a good chance the slice isn't coming the face, it's the path.

Some good threads to check out.

[Sam Alfieri]

Thanks for the reply, sorry it took soo long to get back, but without seeing it on video I believe I do have to much lag, because I take sizable divots with something as low as a 4 Iron, or even 3 wood.  Its weird because I still make great contact, its just a matter of trapping the ball tooo much, which is not always ideal.  And I totally understand the path to club face ratio, and thats all fine, but starting the ball right always results in a block, because the club face is too far behind, because of lag, that I cannot always square the clubface to where it needs to be. excluding saving it purely with my hands, but I know this is not proper.

[mvmac]

Thanks for the reply, sorry it took soo long to get back, but without seeing it on video I believe I do have to much lag, because I take sizable divots with something as low as a 4 Iron, or even 3 wood.  Its weird because I still make great contact, its just a matter of trapping the ball tooo much, which is not always ideal.  And I totally understand the path to club face ratio, and thats all fine, but starting the ball right always results in a block, because the club face is too far behind, because of lag, that I cannot always square the clubface to where it needs to be. excluding saving it purely with my hands, but I know this is not proper.

Having too much lag is a very rare problem, usually only see it with low handicappers, pros and college players. Taking big divots doesn't necessarily mean you have a lot of lag, just means you're steep coming into the ball. Feel free to start a member swing thread for confirmation.