driver swing

[jingo_man]

Hi,

New to forum. Been playing for approx 3 years - but mainly fair weather player.

Have been practising on the range over winter alot this year, and finally "belting" irons. Took a 4i off tee at 18th last week that defied belief!!!!

My problem is the driver.... I currently have a small headed, unknown brand driver. i just have no idea with it! i may hit 1 in a round. the others scuff 20yds along the ground, go higher and shorter than my lob wedge, slice like its going out of fashion.

In short, everything except what it expected of a good drive.

Should the driver's swing be exactly the same as an iron? (only allowing for the extra length on the shaft) It has taken me a long time to be able to use anything below my 5i. But having had reasonable success in the early part of this year with irons, I really want to hit driver off of the tee. 250+ there would save me alot of shots!!

Would I also be better served with a new driver (i.e. with an oversize head), or should I learn how to use this one first?

thanks,

jingo_man

[GregJWillis]

Re: driver swing

Jingo_man,

In general, the driver swing is a littel different then the iron swing in a few points:
- Ball position is forward (just inside the leading heal)
- Hands are slightly foward to compensate for the forward ball position
- The takaway is as low and as long as you can allow you shoulder turn to make it. This creates a wider arc in the rotational aspect of the swing.
- Your hands do not need to be as aggressive through impact as you may think. They still need to release to get the club square, but all you power will come from your leg, hip and shoulder rotation through the ball.
- There should be a slight upward attack on the ball at impact. This imparts less spin on the ball which makes it fly more in a straight line rather then a rising arc. This angle of attack of the clubface on the ball is created by the fact that the ball is forward in your stance. So, you don't really have to do anything extra, just understand what is happening here and do not try to hit down on the ball as you would an iron. The feelings you get at the point of impact will be "low to high"...low to ground and finishing high in the air with the hands.

As for the driver: Get new equipment. Demo until you have found the club that you like to look at at address, like the sound it makes, and the distance you prefer compared to the accuracy. The shaft will have a lot to do with the acuracy. So don't forget about trying different shafts with the same face. The general rule there, is the stiffer the shaft, the more accurate you will be, but you will loose distance. There can be a ton of discussions here about this topic: "If you can't flex the shaft, you will slice". "If you get too whippy a shaft, then you will always hook". Just try out lots of drivers. Folks have made it an art of finding the right clubs for their swing speed. We have a lifetime to get it right...just in time for a new club to come along and tempt us into spending another 350$.

[jingo_man]

Re: driver swing

thanks man,


is good stuff for me to try at the range before next round...

i do feel that my swing gets "tangled" as i go through it with my driver. whereas with my irons, which has more fluidity and smoothness.

maybe i am trying to swing too fast/hard. i presume it is the same as the irons, in that rhythm and fluidity will make the ball go further than pure force...? and also think that on occasions i chop down on the ball to get some height.

what about tee height? i hear people say "half again above the top of the driver", but is that crucial or a matter of preference?

a major factor on my game at present is confidence. since improving my longer irons to a certain extent, i now have the confidence to give it the club a fuller, more competent swing and am seeing benefits. am sure the same will be true if i could just find the solution to the major flaws in my driver's swing.

thanks again,

jingo_man

[GregJWillis]

Re: driver swing

Tee hight is not absolute, but as a general rule, you have it right: 1/2 above and 1/2 below the top of the driver when resting on the ground. Higher and you run the risk of popping it up, and too low will make you try to hit down on it causing the driver to divot.