Problem with balloning

[lefty66]

I am new to the site and it seems to be a great place for advice and instruction. I am having a problem with balloning my irons. It isn't so bad because the ball stops quick but it seems to rob me of some distance and in the wind it is very difficult to control the ball flight. I have had a couple of lessons and it never seems to fix this little problem. I can hit my driver and fairway wooods fine, but it seems to come out everytime I pull out the irons. I use a slightly closed stance and everyone tells me that I have a pretty good swing. It just seems like I am making a reverse C with my body at finish. Any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks,
Lefty66

[thebigman]

Re: Problem with balloning

Do you take a divot?

I think this advice is the most common ever! seems to have been getting said since the day i joined here..but you should be leading the clubhead with your hands into the ball, delofting the club, taking a divot and firing the ball on a lower trajectory with a rise. EASY eh. If your already taking a divot then i really dont know..if you dont seem to be delofting, then hence your ballooning. Ballooning would just be scooping up the ball with a flip of your wrist. The famous gregs right hand drill would help you with this im told. So go check that

[bonzi_532]

Re: Problem with balloning

Finish high to hit high, finish low to hit low

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Problem with balloning

Hi Jeff,

If you hit a good flight with you woods then there is every chance the shafts in your irons are to flexable for you.

Check your swing speed at a local pro shop if it around 100mph and you are using Regular shafts then this could be the problem.

I suggest you stop closing your stance this will only stop a full hip rotation through the shot, limiting a full finish, also check your ball position it maybe to far forward.


Hope this helps.


Ian.

[lefty66]

Re: Problem with balloning

Well to answer most of the questions I do take a divot with my irons and once in a while I even catch it a little heavy. I usually hit my 7-iron about 150-155. I have steel regular flex shafts in my irons and stiff graphite in my woods. I have a swing speed of 100-110 from the last time I checked. I usually play my 7-iron about an inch behind center of my stance. I am not unhappy with my overall iron play it just seems that I am losing 10-20 yards of distance with such a high ball flight. I am new to this site and I can't seem to find the instruction you are talking about the right hand drill.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Problem with balloning

Jeff,

http://members.cox.net/gregjwillis

By all means try this drill it is great.

However from your answer I would say your shafts are to flexable for sure.



Ian.

[pgmetcalf]

Re: Problem with balloning

yeah Greg's drills are hilarious ... but I'm just a weirdo

[lefty66]

Re: Problem with balloning

That could explain some of the balloning of my ball. I hate to think that I have to put stiff steel shafts in my irons. I got fit for these irons when I purchased them. I hope the did it right and I might go back and get rechecked with these clubs. It is so hard to know who is trying to make a fast buck or who really wants to help you.

[gord962]

Re: Problem with balloning

All advice is geared to a leftie since your user name is lefty66....

You are ballooning your irons because of an incorrect weight transfer. What is happening is that when you start your downswing, you are falling away from the target which opens your clubface. This increases the loft on the club you are using, creating the ballooned shots.
This can be caused be either tilting (dipping your right shoulder instead of a proper turn) or a reverse pivot (wieght starting on your right foot to the top of your backswing and finishing on your left foot on your followthrough) A simple cure for both of these is to ensure that your right shoulder is over your left knee during your backswing. Try it out and let us know how it works!!!

[jscerbo]

Re: Problem with balloning

Concerning your ballooned iron shots (skyed iron shots) you are suffering from a left wrist breakdown which is most likely being caused by a lack of weight transfer. You mentioned that you finish in a reverse C. This is caused by the hips sliding out in front of you. When weight hangs back on your right foot the shaft passes the hands and the left wrist collapses leaving the face of the club open at impact and adding unneccesary loft. Another cause of this is you having a closed stance setting up to hit a draw. Setup to hit a fade aim well left of the target. This will encourage a steeper angle of attack. You may also add firming up your left wrist. You do this by adding alittle more pressure to the last three fingers on your left hand(not too much, make it a 6 ona scale of one to ten) The reason for this is it retards the release of the club.

Attempt to keep the arms and body moving together. Your body is outracing your arms leaving them well behind this is a result of setting up right of the target.

[lefty66]

Re: Problem with balloning

Thanks gord962 I will try it out probably tonight if I can get to the range. I don't want to tinker with the swing to much because I have my club tournament this Sunday and I have a goal of getting into the top ten. Also I think that I am getting most of my weight on my right foot because the toe of my left shoe always has grass stuck in it and my left foot is perpindicular to the ground when I finish. I just want to thank everyone that has replied for all the help and suggestions that I am getting. What a wonderful site to gain some more knowledge.