bjw181

I think you are hooking because you are opening the clubface a whole lot in the backswing (watch your face on at around 7 sec. and you can see your left arm completely cover your right). you have to have perfect timing to square the face coming through and more often than not you will end up duck hooking it. Also, this rotation of your arm causes you to be off plane in the backswing, requiring alot of adjustment in the downswing, and hence, your inconsistencies. Work on a one piece takeaway!

Yeah hes right. Steep doesn't mean straight up and down...An inside swing is essential on every shot. its timing and rhythm that make the great contact.

Have you tried moving the ball back in your stance??

So you are saying you push the ball? You might be tilting/sliding instead of turning through impact. When I start doing that I try to focus on turning over my left leg, through and around to my target, instead of sliding.

I usually push the ball when I get tired. Something to do with sliding instead of turning for me.

At the range today hitting some balls. Of course it was hot as all heck and I'm sweating like a grease monkey. I hit a pretty bad one and recoiled back and my 3-iron slipped right out of my hand and flew back towards the putting greens...Glad I didn't hit someone... Lesson? Anger only makes things worse...How embarrassing...

I think Villegas has probably the worst swing on tour. No rhythm. Just takes the club to 3/4 and swings as hard as he can. But hey, if it works enough for a PGA win...well...then it must work.

You mean a pitch shot? Yes, its a good shot to have!

I disagree with ball type. I can hit the range balls and get them to back up a few feet with my 8 iron. But that's with a full out swing and crappy range greens. I think the pro V1s and other 3-piece balls are more for feel with pitching/chipping/putting. Its all skill/technique with spin...and clean grooves help too.

Yea. Try keeping your weight more centered if not slightly over your front leg. This should steepen your swing.

Can't do much without seeing your swing but I would guess that you are too shallow in your swing...or mishitting the ball...how is your trajectory? Divots? Swing speed? You are a 12 handicap so I assume you know the basics.

Grooves are kind of a misnomer. From a clean lie the type of grooves doesn't influence the shot at all. But when in the rough, the square groves with more volume act to channel more moisture and grass away from the club face. This allows for better contact on the ball. And for your spin. For less spin, take more club and swing 3/4. For more spin take one more club and swing more aggressively.

From what distance does this happen?

Does your ball land on the green and end up rolling off the green or are you overshooting the pin and the ball ends up settling on the back?

Haha I thought this thread was going to be about something other than golf balls!

^^^^ Thank you! I can finally live!

Jack Nicklaus 1986 Masters. Watch at around 40 seconds when he depresses the ground behind the ball. For some reason links won't work. Its on youtube.

I wish I had TGC. I have to TIVO the hell out of my friend's DVR to watch Thursday through Sunday golf. Oh and of course the Haney Project...and Big Break ...and reruns of The Natalie Gulbis Show...

Hmmm...could be a few problems. Scooping, no lower body drive to start the downswing, coming out of the shot... A quick fix might be to take a PW, 9, or 8-iron and do a long chip shot/bump and run. Can't do much w/o a video.

I read it in a golf digest. I bet pros could juice up their iron distances but I think any pro would go for a low flying controlled shot any time they could (i.e. little wind and middle/back pin location)

Ive been playing 10 years...and I still can't play scratch

Average distance of pro 6-iron in play - 176 yards

Show us the video

On the downswing, try only feeling your left hand, as in leaving the right hand out of the swing. Almost like a one handed swing with your left arm...but with both hands on the club. It may feel like you will ground the club, but you won't with a proper turn around your body. This should give the proper feeling of holding the lag by simply allowing centrifical force to release the club.