Weight Forward - Irons vs. Driver

[Dave325]

I have been working on Key #2 (Weight Forward)... specifically with my irons. I have seen great improvement in the ball striking and the increased distance. However, when I applied the same concept to my driver last week, my drives went from a fade to a direct straight push. So, I went to the range and hit a whole bucket of pushed balls. Hmmm...  no change.... but after doing some searches about pushes on-line, I laid back to amount of "weight forward" shift that I was applying to my drives. On my latest round this week... I focused on driving with steady head and just a "touch" of weight forward (less than my irons).... and this translated to long and straight drives. I love the results, but would really like to understand why the difference between the two... iron vs. driver. Mainly, to diagnose this issue in the future, if it come up again. Any thoughts?

[iacas]

Busy day today for me, so apologies for the brevity here:

• Feels aren't real. you may feel you're getting more or less weight forward, but doing the opposite. Not necessarily, just maybe. They're unreliable at best, though.
• There's less importance on getting the weight forward with the driver because the ball is not sitting on the ground.
• There's importance on hitting the ball on the upswing with the driver for many players.
• If your head is going forward it's common to hit pushes, and to hit down on the ball.
• Key #2 is mostly about the hips, not the head moving around.

[Club Rat]

The key between "why the difference between the two... iron vs. driver."

My thoughts? It would be the longer radius of the path the club head travels, which would lead to the time required for transition of the lower body movements. Also, the club head travels more away from the body with a Driver with a longer sweeping path and the upper body has more rotational turn. The result of getting the weight forward may feel less subtitle with the driver, but actually ends up in the the same position at the completion of a swing. Granted, a 3/4 swing with a wedge would feel different versus full swing of longer clubs.

Club Rat

 

[mvmac]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

• If your head is going forward it's common to hit pushes, and to hit down on the ball.
• Key #2 is mostly about the hips, not the head moving around.

Agree, I'd film it @Dave325 and make sure the head isn't going forward with the lower body.

[SavvySwede]

Ball could also be too far back in the stance with the driver, though moving it up could make the head slide forward more if you're not careful.

[Dave325]

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! This really helps. I do believe that was attempting to shift my weight forward and got to the ball a bit too soon (Club Rat's suggestion. And also, if I moved the tee position back (SavvySwede's suggestion) or move my head forward (mvmac's suggestion).... I would reach the point of impact a bit too soon as well, but with an open club face that ending in a fade. I have worked a long time to try figure out that fade thing and I think the lights just went on here with and knowing what I was doing. I really appreciate all the great input from everyone here. Many thanks!

Regards,

Dave

[vangator]

I think Erik hit the nail on the head about your head moving.  I see the exact same thing happen with my swing when I let my head move.  Dead pushes to the right.  My main swing thought is steady head on every swing.

[Dave325]

13 hours ago, vangator said:

I think Erik hit the nail on the head about your head moving.  I see the exact same thing happen with my swing when I let my head move.  Dead pushes to the right.  My main swing thought is steady head on every swing.

I agree too! I am going to borrow your "main swing thought" too... hopefully, the nail on the head will keep the ball on the fairway (smile). Thanks much!

[vangator]

I also think Erik's second bullet is right on.  The weight forward is essential on hitting irons and hitting from the turf in general, but with the driver is not as important.  Not that you can't get a little more a$$ in the shot with a good weight shift, but it may be more important to make good contact rather than dynamic contact.  However, this is not a recommendation for hanging back.   Just that the driver swing is a little different and you have the great advantage of hitting off a tee. 

I keep my lower body a little quieter on my driver tee shot than other shots just so I can make better contact.  I'd like to make a move like the pros do, but I'm also realistic.  The driver is probably the most difficult shot on a hole.  The club is much longer, the loft is the least and you're swinging to get distance, not so much accuracy like you are with irons.  Courses are designed to gooble up stray tee shots (not that greens aren't either), and you're hitting your least accurate club

The pros hit it so well because they're good and they practice a lot.  I don't do that. 

Edited November 3, 2015 by vangator

[rkim291968]

On 11/1/2015, 8:07:57, Dave325 said:

I have been working on Key #2 (Weight Forward)... specifically with my irons. I have seen great improvement in the ball striking and the increased distance. However, when I applied the same concept to my driver last week, my drives went from a fade to a direct straight push.

Others gave you what I think is good suggestions and advice.   If I were to add ...

If you look up "ball flight" topic, you would understand the misses better.  If you haven't already, I suggest you look it up. 

I have been focusing on the same key.   I do better with irons & hybrids.   3w is the worst for me but I think I am getting the hang of it.   I need to make sure I start my downswing with my left knee turning and pushing forward.  BTW, this is my 2nd time focusing on the same key.  I thought I got it right but I regressed over the last few months.  Among other things, I went back to the old habit of not shifting my weight and keep moving the ball back at address to compensate for it.   Duh.  

[iacas]

Testing,  

[Dave325]

3 hours ago, rkim291968 said:

Others gave you what I think is good suggestions and advice.   If I were to add ...

If you look up "ball flight" topic, you would understand the misses better.  If you haven't already, I suggest you look it up.

I have been focusing on the same key.   I do better with irons & hybrids.   3w is the worst for me but I think I am getting the hang of it.   I need to make sure I start my downswing with my left knee turning and pushing forward.  BTW, this is my 2nd time focusing on the same key.  I thought I got it right but I regressed over the last few months.  Among other things, I went back to the old habit of not shifting my weight and keep moving the ball back at address to compensate for it.   Duh. 

Oh yes, I know the feeling!  It seems like getting all the keys in place is similar to a very long game of "Whack-a-Mole"... when you seem to get one down (like the steady head).... another pops up (weight not moving forward). But, that is what makes this game interesting, eh?

[rkim291968]

1 hour ago, Dave325 said:

Oh yes, I know the feeling!  It seems like getting all the keys in place is similar to a very long game of "Whack-a-Mole"... when you seem to get one down (like the steady head).... another pops up (weight not moving forward). But, that is what makes this game interesting, eh?

 

"Interesting" isn't the world I'd use.