Firing the Right Foot

[Weeeee]

Hello, all. I took a little hiatus from golf because I started focusing on how bad I was playing instead of enjoying the course like when I first started playing. When I first started playing, I didn't care if I lost a ball a hole. Then, I started hoping for better and without seeing better results, started struggling and becoming frustrated.

Well, here in Charleston, it's the weather for it, and I've been getting back into the habit of playing. I've been practicing at the driving range and just swinging in general...trying to graze the ground and take a slight divot. A few weeks ago, I had a lesson at my local Edwin Watts.

The lesson went well even though I left feeling a bit more confused than when I first walked in. He told me that I don't push off my right foot and have issues with allowing my right arm cross over the left. Now, I'm not sure what my problem is.

I've been trying to make a conscious effort to push off my right foot to start the downswing and making this my ONLY swing thought. I have noticed with my irons 5-LW that my shots seem a lot crisper and I can hit the ball miles. Even my LW seems to go at least 90-100 yards on a full swing. I don't normally have a problem (when practicing) with my irons until I start playing. I'm sure that's all psychological though.

Anyway, my real problem is my driver. I just can't hit it, and I don't know why. I mean, I'm swinging a Hibore 1 9.5 degree with a UST V2 stiff. I have a swing speed anywhere between 100-110 so I know it's not the shaft. I swing hard. I've always swung hard. I think I'm rushing the downswing and not even firing my right foot. It seems like I'm hitting my 5 iron the same distance if not longer than my driver. Can anyone help?

A friend of mine suggested stack & tilt so I don't have to worry about shifting weight at all and I've studied it, but the idea of not shifting my weight on the back swing doesn't seem ehhhhh....natural to me.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[BrianW]

Re: Firing the Right Foot

As you will be aware the Driver is the most difficult club to use due to the length of shaft. The slightest deviation of the clubface through impact can have disastrous results.

The biggest fault golfers have with the driver is swinging it too hard and fast such that they cannot control the clubface sufficiently.

You should try swinging your driver at the same speed you would swing your sand wedge or seven iron with a nice steady tempo. Hitting the ball cleanly in the sweetspot will produce impressive results without undue effort. If your arms outpace your body you will hook, if your body outraces your arms you will slice.

Swing nice and easy and in control for now. As you get better you can wind up the speed some.

I hope this helps you.

[LowPost42]

Re: Firing the Right Foot

Have you always struggled with your driver or only since your lesson? If it's the latter, it could very well be that you're getting out in front of the ball - it makes for crisp iron striking, but horrid driving; every student of stack and tilt mentions that iron play improved dramatically but they can't hit their drivers at all. The reason is that they're now very good at getting on their left side but get there too early with their driver. In other words, they stack well but don't tilt well.

[Weeeee]

Re: Firing the Right Foot

Brian,

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking the same thing...that my woods need a back to basics overhaul. I think if I start swinging slowly from scratch, I just may be able to get to where I'm happy again.

LowPost,

My total game has gone from being able to hit my irons real well and hitting my driver poorly to being able to hit my driver real well and hitting my irons poorly. Right now, it seems I'm just on the iron good...driver bad side of things. This really isn't too bad, but I paid for all of my sticks, and I'd like to use them all! *laugh The only thing that's been real consistent is my short game. I'm good around and on the greens...always have been.

I really do wish I could have a lesson where I can be instructed to fix just minor things I do wrong instead of the instructor trying to get me to change my swing entirely.

I think one of my biggest problems is at the top of my backswing with my driver. With my irons, I feel the weight of the club and can honestly feel that my wrists and arms are relaxed...not tense at all. With my driver, I feel like my whole upper body is tense. I really don't know why. I was swinging an old practice 3 wood of mine last night and didn't have this feeling then. Maybe I'm just too paranoid of the outcome of my tee shot while using driver. I'm going to practice and probably play this weekend so wish me luck!

Thank you both for your help. I'll post my results after my round.