please help!!!

[acedIt]

whats up gentlemen, im not a very good golfer pretty much low 90's...thing is i can not hit my driver to save my life...i line the ball up on the inside of my left foot...try to take a nice easy swing and i just cant seem to get out of the tee box. most of the time im topping it and hitting it right. i just cant seem to get this figured out. if any one can just give me a little help step by step for a nice easy simple golf swing the help would be greatly appreciated.. i use a 10.5 degree driver....thanks, Mike

[BrianW]

Re: please help!!!

Low 90's means you are a fair golfer, if you cannot hit off the tee your mid/short game must be very good.

The driver is the hardest club to hit well, maybe you should use your 3 or 5 wood off the tee for now and when you can hit them with confidence then start to use your driver.

[acedIt]

Re: please help!!!

brian thanks for the reply..thats what i use now a 3 wood or a 4 iron to tee off..when i actually hit my driver i can really get a hold of it.. but there is so much inconsistency. any tips on how to solve this problem?

[canadian_man_44]

Re: please help!!!

A 3/4 backswing until you get the hang of it would probably help some. Once you're getting solid ball contact that way you could take it back a little more.

[BrianW]

Re: please help!!!

brian thanks for the reply..thats what i use now a 3 wood or a 4 iron to tee off..when i actually hit my driver i can really get a hold of it.. but there is so much inconsistency. any tips on how to solve this problem?

Make sure you are making a full and committed shoulder turn and not just taking the club back with your arms. Keep your arms in the centre of your chest and keep your body turn smooth. Ensure you are not letting your wrists break down through impact, keep your left wrist bowed forward with your right wrist bent back as you come into impact.

[Wil]

Re: please help!!!

A 3/4 backswing until you get the hang of it would probably help some. Once you're getting solid ball contact that way you could take it back a little more.

Good advise. It works well but if you're like me you likely want to continually kill the ball and would have trouble easing up.
"Jack" in his book 'Lesson Tee' points out if you keep your head still, turning your body around it, you won't top, scuff, shank or mishit the ball.
...Wil

[canadian_man_44]

Re: please help!!!

Good advise. It works well but if you're like me you likely want to continually kill the ball and would have trouble easing up.
"Jack" in his book 'Lesson Tee' points out if you keep your head still, turning your body around it, you won't top, scuff, shank or mishit the ball.
...Wil

In my experience, the only way to keep your head perfectly still is with a 3/4 swing. Anymore backswing then that will pull your left shoulder into you chin(for right handers) and cause your upper body rotation to pull your head around a little...if you're doing the 90 degree shoulder turn like the majority of pro's teach. What I've found with a 3/4 backswing is you only do about a 70 degree shoulder turn which allows you to keep your nose at the ball and your head still. True, this does sometimes make you want to kill the ball, but it also takes one of the variables out of the golf swing so you don't have so many things to get back in line before contact with the golf ball. I can take a 3/4 swing with a 70 degree limited shoulder turn(aka Don Trahan's Peak Performance Swing) and hit as hard as I can and make solid contact with the ball on the sweetspot which is not only an easier swing to master, but, because of the fact that you're more apt to hit the sweetspot, it also will give you a longer, straighter drive then a mishit on a full shoulder turn with a regular swing.
Besides that, using a 3/4 swing for awhile may give a person the muscle memory for that part of the swing so when they go back to the full shoulder turn, if they so choose, their muscles will automatically bring them back to the correct position at ball contact.
Just my thoughts on it.
J.L.

[BrianW]

Re: please help!!!

If you make a smooth backswing and start the transition at the same speed you can make a full and committed shoulder turn. A short and restricted turn can lead to a rushed and jabby downswing which will not assist with sound repeatable ball flight

[canadian_man_44]

Re: please help!!!

The point is if you make the full shoulder turn it will pull your head around a little. Besides, people that tend to have a rushed downswing are going to have to overcome that since it can, and likely will, happen no matter what kind of shoulder turn you use.
I've been using the 70 degree shoulder turn with a limited backswing for a little over a month now and have had no issues with a repeatable ball flight.

[Wil]

Re: please help!!!

You know '44', this 3/4 swing is starting to sound better and better! It could solve many of my own swing problems.
And it brings up a related question of keeping the arms (and hands?) in front or your chest on a full swing-how can you possibly do that when the right elbow is at your side, pointing down at the ground and your left arm (per Tiger and Jack) is "reaching for the clouds"?
(Probably starting to sound like Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes here)

Best regards to all...Wil

[BrianW]

Re: please help!!!

You know '44', this 3/4 swing is starting to sound better and better! It could solve many of my own swing problems.
And it brings up a related question of keeping the arms (and hands?) in front or your chest on a full swing-how can you possibly do that when the right elbow is at your side, pointing down at the ground and your left arm (per Tiger and Jack) is "reaching for the clouds"?
(Probably starting to sound like Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes here)

Best regards to all...Wil

Maybe this video will help your understanding:

[Wil]

Re: please help!!!

Thanks BrianW: Boy, would I like to see that Utube clip but my "Ultra Slow Speed Dial-Up" just can't seem to handle video of any kind. Can you simply describe what the Utube clip is saying?

And getting back to what Mike originally said:

if any one can just give me a little help step by step for a nice easy simple golf swing

I went out yesterday and while the 90 degree shoulder turn straightened out my drives it damn near killed me! I'm still sore this a.m.
If a 3/4 swing will help then I'd like to hear more. A lot more; as well as keeping the arms out front.
...Wil

[keiko]

Re: please help!!!

Years ago, a friend of mine created a golf aid called the inside approach. Try to get one or you can make one. It will help you greatly because:
you need to grasp the concept of hitting inside to out
you need to understand how to stay down and through the shot
you will have to slow your swing to use it properly
you will go from hitting slices to draws
Also, check your grip and grip pressure and that you are making a decent
shoulder turn.
You might consider taking a few lessons; that would be money well spent.

whats up gentlemen, im not a very good golfer pretty much low 90's...thing is i can not hit my driver to save my life...i line the ball up on the inside of my left foot...try to take a nice easy swing and i just cant seem to get out of the tee box. most of the time im topping it and hitting it right. i just cant seem to get this figured out. if any one can just give me a little help step by step for a nice easy simple golf swing the help would be greatly appreciated.. i use a 10.5 degree driver....thanks, Mike

[BrianW]

Re: please help!!!

Thanks BrianW: Boy, would I like to see that Utube clip but my "Ultra Slow Speed Dial-Up" just can't seem to handle video of any kind. Can you simply describe what the Utube clip is saying?

...Wil

The video reinforces the concept of keeping your arms and hands between your shoulders or in front of your chest through the swing. Ben hogan promoted keeping your elbows as close together as possible right through the swing, this keeps your arms and torso connected and moving together. He also talks of lee Trevino in the video and explains how he said that you should not let your arms move outside your shoulders. A good drill is to make half swings with a glove held under each armpit, you should keep them held there through the swing.

Try and keep your upper arms pressed against your upper chest, your arms extended with your elbows turned inwards so that your chest, arms and wrists form and maintain a long narrow triangle through the swing. If you have Ben Hogan's book ' Five Lessons' then look at pages 49 & 50 for pictures and explanation.

I hope this helps.

[Wil]

Re: please help!!!

Thanks again BrianW and Keiko;
It's funny how everyone in golf seems to refer back to Hogan's "Five lessons" book so often. Guess it's time to get a copy and reread it.

Try and keep your upper arms pressed against your upper chest, your arms extended with your elbows turned inwards so that your chest, arms and wrists form and maintain a long narrow triangle through the swing.

Interestly, I've never 'zeroed in' on that "long narrow" part before-now it's starting to make more sense! Without really thinking about it I was imagining a triangle with 3 equal sides-HUGE DIFFERENCE, especially with those elbows tucked in-the arc should get bigger and the arms should hinge better.
BUT doesn't keeping the arms between the shoulders shorten the swing and then, can you actually generate more power by doing this?

Keiko:

Years ago, a friend of mine created a golf aid called the inside approach.

Can you describe it for us?

Great stuff, terrific site!!!!
...Wil