mutadayen

I have been fitted and taken lessons. My swing speed varied on the monitor between 108 to 114 (PGA Superstore). My club is a Nike VRS Covert 2.0, 8.5*, Stiff, with the a 45" Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage 60 graphite shaft that comes with the club. At my fitting, they threw multiple different drivers at me and mixed up the shafts. The two best performing drivers last year were the Nike and the Cobra. They put me a in a high torque shaft, even the really expensive shaft upgrade that would have added another $300 to the cost, but it didnt make a different. Flights were similar, so we agreed to keep the shaft standard and instead of spending money on a shaft, we spent money on lessons to try to find my right swing path. Like i noted, in the winter time, I felt good about my driver swing and things were clicking. But over the last month, the driver specifically has gone to shite. I use the same takeaway, same tempo, same feel as my wedge (I use to slice and push everything right because my swing was handsy, as i started everything with my hands and my club was behind my body right at the point in my back-swing when hands were parallel to my belt buckle on the takeaway. I was going way too much inside). After a few months of hell, my swing starts with my shoulders and i keep my hands in front of the club at parallel, getting into a more pro like position (we used Nick Faldo, Adam Scott, and Billy Horschel as examples). I've gotten more on plane with all my clubs and shortened my swing as i'm pretty flexible and use to get my arms vertically straight on my back-swing if i wanted to, parallel with my legs). So i use to over-swing to say the least and sway a lot. That's calmed down tremendously. At this point, I have zero confidence with my driver. I spent enough on a driver last year that i didnt want to spend more again this year to get refitted for a new driver because i loved the Titleist 915D2 driver. I didnt go into as much research and time on the shaft as i should, and i will this winter, but Chicago has a short golfing season as is so im just trying to salvage the remainder of this year in hopes of a fresh driver start next year, or simply move to a 3wood like driver which i much more confident in.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. WIll head out to the store this weekend to try and hopefully test my theory. Hoping one of the options out there can get me within a reasonable distance of my 3 wood today

I have come to the conclusion after my last couple of rounds that i simply cannot control the driver and am erratic with it off the tee. Consciously or subconsciously, i think im swinging the 3 wood the same way and my results are infinitely more predictable and consistent. Went again to the range today and spent 30 minutes hitting driver and 30 minutes hitting 3 wood, and came to this conclusion that the driver and me cannot co-exist. This is even after a winter of lessons and thinking i was making strides with the driver after great simulator sessions. Time to retire my driver along with my ego and get smart is what im thinking. I played a 9 hole round using my 3 wood, and the next day using my driver on the same 9 holes. The results were as follow: Day 1 - 3 wood: 6/7 fairways hit Day 2 - driver: 2/7 fairways hit Played 18 holes a couple days after, and managed to hit only 4/14 fairways with the driver, yet still shot an 85, all things considered. With that, has anyone gone through the same thing? And furthermore, are any of the big companies who could make a 3 wood with a lower loft setting (like a 9.5 or 10.5)? Titleist makes a 13.5 degree and im really tempted to go pick it up. Thoughts?

Nike Covert 2.0 Tour driver stiff for $250 on eBay. How I won that bid at that price is beyond me

It was definitely a driver on a sharp dogleg left hole. I watched it again as i was working from home and it had it in the background. Rory and Tiger both took out drivers, Rory went with the layout of the course (as did the other playing partner), and Tiger faded it over the trees. All were in teh fairway, but because of the fade and the setup of the hole, Tiger was way behind the other two

Honestly, that makes sense. That simple sentence has explained more than most experts on the golf channel have explained

I saw him hit draws last year with his 3 and 5 woods at Doral, so I know he can do it. Yes, you are right in the wording. For whatever reason he is choosing to elect to not hit draws. The commentators of the tourney were mentioning it on TV pretty much on every drawable hole, noting that he only hits fades. That's where my wording originated from. It's a good question, but only one that he and Sean Foley can really answer

What i've noticed, and maybe this is just me, but I stayed up and watched the first round of Dubai tourney last night and he appears never to be able to hit a draw. The entire back 9 is set up for a draw, and he only hit fades. On one particular hole, he was between 40-50 yards behind Rory, who both use the same driver, but Tiger hit a fade electing to go over trees where Rory following the course setup. Is it just me, or has the draw been completely wiped away from his game altogether? Very strange to watch from a player of his stature who's been playing all of his life. You'd figure he'd able to pull out a draw on command should he choose to, but it now seems not to be the case.

I dont think the weight training or his physical routine really is having a negative impact to his game. I dont think that's been an issue. What i've noticed, and maybe this is just me, but I stayed up and watched the first round of Dubai tourney last night and he appears never to be able to hit a draw. The entire back 9 is set up for a draw, and he only hit fades. On one particular hole, he was between 40-50 yards behind Rory, who both use the same driver, but Tiger hit a fade electing to go over trees where Rory following the course setup. Is it just me, or has the draw been completely wiped away from his game altogether? Very strange to watch from a player of his stature who's been playing all of his life. You'd figure he'd able to pull out a draw on command should he choose to, but it now seems not to be the case. The working out to me is only beneficial.

I've been doing something all summer that has worked reliably from the driver on down to the wedges that has gotten me (1) far better accuracy and consistency and (2) further distance on all my clubs. At address, i've been "pushing" my left hip (im a right hander) about a couple inches towards the target which results in my tilting my head behind the ball a bit more at address, and keeps me in that position throughout the swing to promote, if not exaggerate, that "hanging back" feeling. When I do this specific move at address, i would say at least 7 out of 8 eight times the ball goes within 5 yards of my target, to which im thrilled at. Does this logic make sense to anyone and to why its working, or can anyone confirm what i'm doing is correct and that since its new its just a weird feeling for me with this swing change until it become second nature? Thanks...

I fought with the same issue and never found consistency. I took lessons this year and I worked on a concept of "hanging back" in the downswing. What I actually found wasnt so much the feeling of hanging back in the downswing, but tilting a bit more away from the ball in the setup position. I would advise trying putting the ball back where you previously had it on the heel of your foot, and on your setup tilting from the waist up only, with your head about 6 inches behind the ball, and maintaining that position thru impact. It took me about a month to get comfortable with this position because man oh man did it feel weird, but my results have been fascinating to say the least. I stopped slicing all together and I only pull the shot left if I swing too fast, but about 60-70% of the time, the ball goes in the general direction I was aiming. The illustration of adam scott illustrates what im talking about. Hope that helps... http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2013-06/gwar-adam-scott-instruction-0603

New girlfiend effect. But in my opinion, I find that steel shafts provide more stability. I started off with graphite shafts 8 years ago and switched to steel shafts a couple years after, and while the transition took a little time, it was has led to more consistent results.

I've been struggling with slicing the driver and not feeling confident that my iron shots would go in the direction I wanted them to go for a couple of years now, but one drill has literally made all the difference (and god knows i've read all the magazines and watched endless videos that all said the same thing...swing out to first base, but that rarely worked consistently). I watched a video about getting a feeling like your hands and club on the downswing feel like they are coming over the right foot on the downswing (promoting that inside to out, on plane swing). After about a month of getting that feeling to be consistent, I literally never slice or shank, and about 80% of the time get the ball to go in the direction I want it to go, and the other 20% are misses I would expect to miss and know where it's going to end up. I've take the right side of any hole out play, and its nice to finally be able to say that. What i've recently disovered, and what works for me, is how to consistently hit a draw and fade pretty routinely. For a draw, I close the club face slightly and really feel like im coming in over the top of my shoe laces, where as with a fade, I move the ball slightly forward in the stance, open the club face slightly, and feel like im coming over the front of my foot. With the draw, its just feels like im coming more inside and I dont have to swing as hard. With a fade, it's a little bit harder swing but it works. 8 years now playing this game (started late at the age of 26) and now this trick is revealed. Anybody got Doc Brown's number cuz him and me gotta talk about going back in time? Wanted to know if this essentially is what more experienced find to be true, or if anyone else has tried this and gotten similar results?

I bought it a couple of months ago and was really struggling finding a comfort level with it, especially on the launch monitors indoors. I can honestly say that a month ago I was really having buyers remorse. Not sure what happened tho, but in the past couple of weeks everything has clicked after playing with the settings and setting it to 8.5* and neutral (swing speed averaged 115), i've never felt as confident stepping up to drive. I have the tour version because I was a slicer, but I think a combination of lessons and this club has cured my ills greatly. Id honestly say ive increaed my accuracy by about 50% (not slicing at all in my last 20+ plus drives), and when I miss I miss on the line I was starting the ball at, so I either hit it where I want or miss it where I would expect to miss it at. Distance wise, on a no wind day, i averaged between 280-290 yards consistently. Are there other clubs that are longer...yes, there are. But im a believer in the covert and ill sacrifice a few yards for confidence any day, thats what i feel now with this driver in hand. Very happy I stuck with it...

I was at the PGA Superstore and using the balls they had in the bays, so im not sure what make and model the balls are. Im actually going to head over to Golfsmith this weekend for a club fitting and see what they say, and then do the same but at the other PGA Superstore in the area. I want to see if I get the same results or different ones. I didnt realize the ball speed was considered low, but in researching the internet for Tour players ball speeds, I definitely see what both of you are saying. I'll get tested again and also get tested for a preferred ball and see what combination works best. Thanks for both of your inputs as it's helping to open my eyes...

I've been taking lessons for the last month which helped a great deal, and yesterday was the first day the instructor gave me the green light to hit the driver so I can test things out using the same principles. First swing was at 110, then I got more and more comfortable with the swing and started getting into a grove. My question comes around how to lower ones launch angle without sacrificing the things one has been working on, and what that launch angle is. My average distances with those swings were about 270 yards of carry, but I think with a bit more refinement, I can get more out of it. The other question is the driver I was testing I was using a stiff shafted driver, and he stated im in that grey area between stiff shaft and x-stiff shaft. Could that be having an affect on launch angle as well (forgive my ignorance, but i've always played a stiff shaft and this is the first year i'm really paying attention to investing in equipment). Thanks... Club Speed:110.6 Ball Speed:149.8 Launch Angle:15.8 Backspin:2583 Club Speed:115.4 Ball Speed:152.6 Launch Angle:18.6 Backspin:3807 Club Speed:114.1 Ball Speed:152.6 Launch Angle:17.5 Backspin:3099 Club Speed:118.8 Ball Speed:153.3 Launch Angle:22.1 Backspin:3102

So i'm being fitted for a new driver, and i'm really having an internal debate on whether to get an X or S flex shaft in the club. I tested both out in a fitting, where my swing speed ranged anywhere between a 102 to 112 (thank you current golf lessons for messing with head), but the average was a 108.2 with the S, and 107.9 with the X. In the new driver I was fitted with, I was reaching optimal launch angles with both shafts, both shafts were averaging about the same speeds and distances. The dispersion was a bit less with the X than the S, but not by much (noting it from naked eye test, as I wasnt really pushing anything to the right with the X shaft as i've read from results in other posts). Lastly, and maybe in my mind, but the weights of the shafts are supposedly the same, but I felt the X flex was a bit heavier when held, which I actually liked. My question is, if I went ahead with the X flex, am I missing something or would I miss something based on everyone's experience between the two options? It's more of a question I have based on some of the things i've read on the internet (and the internet is always right as you know) that have put some of these questions in my head. Experience and input would be better trusted coming from this forum. Much appreciated...

Never thought of it as me being too much on my toes. Thats actually a really good point. Thanks as that simple statement really explains a great deal. I just have to keep finding that right balance until it feels natural. Its still a work in progress, but its a major step forward. Thanks...

So, I did something last week by pure chance on the range and its started working. For a few years now, i've been coming up out of my stance and posture on my forward swing, nearly getting up on my toes. Being tired of consistency issues, I took my normal stance but one time, at half swing, put my weight more on front of my heel (not on my heels, but where the arch of your foot and heel meet), and got that feeling down. The last 10 balls I hit at the range were at full swing and I lost no distance, but gained immedate results (I hit 8 of out 10 drives near or at where I was aiming). I did the same thing the next day by putting the weight back more than on the balls of my feet, and I had the same results. Much more predictable aim and flight. This past weekend, I put my theory to test playing 18 holes and here's what resulted Fairways - 11/14 Right - 1/14 Left Fringe - 1/14 Hook - 1/14 Slice - 0/14 I've never hit that many fairways or felt that comfortable with the driver, 3 wood, or 5 wood in my life. I also thought I was going to lose distance, but I was hitting all my drives a minimum of 275 yards to 300+ yards (longest measured out at 318...thank you downhill roll). My question does this defy all golf teaching as everywhere i've read and videos ive seen, as well as lessons i've taken, have always taught putting more weight on the balls of your feet. I havent had to change any mechanics in my swing, just my weight distribution in my feet which has now kept me down in my stance instead of jumping up. Thoughts on this?

Good to know. This will be the third time i've sent this club back to Nike so they have a record of what's happened before. I'm losing my faith in Nike drivers though...

This past weekend, I was driving the ball fairly well until we got to the 11th hole of a local course outside of Chicago, where I heard a dull yet loud pop off the club face and a 150 yard flight at best. Upon examining the club, my whole group was completely dumb-founded as you'll see by the picture, my club had a crack all the way up the compression channel. I didnt hit the ground or anything yet it completely is a dead stick now. The club has been sent back to Nike and we'll see what they say, but i'm hoping they get it replaced (I dont feel like dropping a few hundred dollars this season on a new club). I've now experienced a cracked shaft, a cracked connector (shaft to club head connector), and now a cracked head. Moral of the story...dont buy a Nike driver or the golf gods are telling me to quit... Has this type of crack ever happened to anyone else with any manufacturer?

No, I meant the opposite. With my Driver, woods, and 3-4 irons, I actually flare out my back foot while keeping my front foot parallel or very slightly opened to parallel to the target. With my shorter irons, both my feet are more parallel to the target (little to no flare with the back foot or front). I've tried the entire "flare your front foot out some 10 degrees or so" and its just so uncomfortable for me and gets me all out of whack. Im really focusing on the back foot now...

Ok, so i've been heavily practicing over the past week and the last three times i've gone out to range, i've been doing the complete opposite of what i've been doing for the last few years and what they teach you in lessons and magazines. I've been prone to slice and have been getting it somewhat controlled, but I have found that if do the opposite of keeping my back foot parallel to target and my front foot either parallel or flared a little (meaning I keep the front foot parallel and the back foot flared out a little), my drives are much straighter and my hip turn is much easier. In the three days I worked on this at the range, I found that exactly 73% of my drives where within 5-10 yards of my target line. If it was one day, id be skeptical but I am quite enamored by these results. I only do this with driver, woods, and long irons (3 and 4). Everything else goes back to parallel with the shorter irons. My question is is whether anyone has ever heard of this or experienced this?

So when you're saying flexing the knee a bit longer, do you literally mean keeping it more flexed and in a sense rotating through the knee in a flexed position through impact? In a sense, would that also be resisting the feeling of standing up (kinda...i hope this is making sense)? I just went into a open office and tried to simulate what you referenced and that is definitely a different feeling, but ill give it some practice and see if I can get that feeling down...