Hitting on heel???

[chessbum]

I got a new driver, a Nike Ignite 460, duh big one..hehe.

So, I go to the driving range to dial it in. Seems as though, I am hitting all shots off the heel. To confirm, I stick some impact tape on the face and sure enough, hitting all shots off the heel, missing the sweet spot.

So, I move back some and same result. I am now setting up with the tip of the driver even with the centerline of the ball. The hit spot has moved forward a little but still not at the center of the club. Can you believe it??

Any ideas??

Thanks,
Chessbum...

[ubizmo]

Re: Hitting on heel???

Here are some guesses...

I'm assuming that this problem only involves your new driver and hasn't spread to your other clubs. And I'm also assuming it didn't affect your old driver.

One possibility is that your new driver has a heavier head, so that when you swing it the centrifugal force tends to straighten the angle between your wrists and the club shaft a bit, causing you to extend more.

The other possibility is that you bought this jazzy new driver hoping to hit the ball farther. This hope is leading you to swing harder and, in so doing, to unconsciously "reach" a bit more to increase the radius of your swing.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Hitting on heel???

Chessbum,

Todd is quite right, new driver maybe a bigger swing, unfortunatley human beings will stretch when swinging a weight at the end of the arms fast, the speed can also pull your shoulders, thus heel shot.

However a constant heel shot comes from a slightly over the top swing, ie coming down on the outside and staying there through impact.

Check your set-up that you are the correct distance from the ball, at least 6 inches between you and the butt of the club.

Remember a smooth swing will hit further than an agressive swing.


Hope this helps


Ian.

[leebev]

Re: Hitting on heel???

Hi chessbum,
I had exactly the same problem when I purchased a new driver. I was hitting it off the heel every time. The more I moved back the less consistent I became and this is where you are likely to be causing yourself more problems.
Due to this problem I decided to go back to the drawing board literally, as I thought 'this can't be right, having to line the ball up right at the toe'. Anyway, I have some very old Jack Nicklaus instructions books. I immediately realised that the more you try and compensate for a fault, the worse it gets. In addition, you start to bring in more faults. The driver is just like any other club. You must square the club face up at address as this is exactly where you want to hit it. If you do not hit it square, the problem lies with your swing. So, having also looked at my swing, compared to Jack Nicklaus's instructions, I was clearly letting my right arm take too much control over the back swing, and not turning fully from the hips, causing hip sway (not good).

The above comments are true in respect of swing weight, tempo, etc, but if you follow the below instruction, no golf club is going to stretch your body as you will have taken this out of the equation.

Try this and let me know how it improves your game. Align yourself squarely to the target. To help, pick a point only a few feet away which is in line with the target. This helps to square the club face. Ensure you square the club face centre of the ball at address so that the ball is just above grounded club height. Stand tall with slight knee flex ensuring the right knee is turned into your body slightly. Ensure your left arm is straight and both wrists are straight at address. The ball should be just in line with your left heel. When you take back the club, don't do it with your hands as this will immediately cause a poor back swing. Instead turn your body from the hips upwards keeping your left arm straight. Feel your club being taken away from the ball with your shoulder turn, not from your hands. Don't worry about cocking your wrists at the top, they will naturally do this. Also ensure you make a full swing as the momentum will play a big part. Watch that ball fly (after you've hit it of course). Remember a swing lasts 2 - 3 seconds at most so you can't remember everything, but address the ball correctly and swing from the upper body and you'll notice a big difference. There are a few other minor alterations, but they can come later. See how you get on with this first.

My driving has improved so much since I read Nicklaus's instructions and my handicap is tumbling due to playing consistent second shots from fairway instead of rough, etc. My two last stableford rounds came in at 43 points and that's with poor putting, so I'm now off 14.1 . I dare not read his putting instruction as I feel I am struggling to catch up with myself.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.
Lee.

[leebev]

Re: Hitting on heel???

Well that blows my theory. Still Nicklaus's instruction books are about 1978 ish. They probably didn't have drivers over 200cc then.

Anyway, my swing works for me, even with an R5 450cc. So I must be doing something 'nearly' right. That's the beauty of golf.

Cheers.
Lee.

[chessbum]

Re: Hitting on heel???

Hey, Thanks guys for all your hints. I will give them a try tomorrow.

I didn't get this new driver with the intent of hitting my drives longer. My wife won it in a drawing and I was the lucky recipient, along with a full days golf lessons at the ESPN golf schools. The driver just arrived last week and I have been dialing it in. For the record, it is a Nike Ignite, 460cc, 10.5 Deg loft with R flex shaft. I am 57 and my swing speed is not what it used to be, although it was never really that fast.

My old driver was a Cobra 380SS, same loft, same shaft. I was hitting it fine and it seemed to be a mystery to me why I was hitting this baby on the heel. You might be right about the increased weight pulling me out over the ball. I will move a bit farther out and see what happens. And thanks to all the others for the great suggestions.

This site is fantastic, especially all the comradery with all the other hopelessy addicted golf fanatics..haha

Chessbum....

[chessbum]

Re: Hitting on heel???

Okay, tonight I go to the driving range with my new driver. In an effort to hit it more in the sweet spot, I move back even farther. Now I am set up approx. 1/2" inside the centerline of the ball. I start hitting it right on the sweet spot.

It looks so weird lined up like that??? I have a nagging feeling I am going to whiff it..haha. But it hits the sweetspot almost everytime....

Chessbum...