2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

[Lefty-9]

I was out of golf for app. 2 years (both rotator cuffs repaired). Before that, I had played for about 7 years. I was a -16 hcp. I could usually shoot 85-90 (consistently). I played EVERY week with the same foursome. For the past 4 months, I have been working to get back in the game. I have NEVER been through as much hell !!! I CANNOT make solid contact anymore. I hit everything I hit thin, irons and woods. If I try to make sure I don't hit it thin, it is a snap hook. I can't even go play with my buddies anymore; it is that bad. No tournaments, nothing. Nothing but practice, and it seems it is getting worse instead of better. I'm afraid I am ingraining bad habits that will be hard to break if I don't stop. I have thought about PGA instruction. I have ordered a Laser Guide and a Medicus in hopes of it helping me. It seems I have a LOT of issues: ball position, weight shift, over the top, etc. I used to take all this for granted, just go play and enjoy. Now it is miserable. Any tips? thanks in advance.

[doppelganger]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

This may not be what you really want to hear, but the best advice I could give you is to see a pro asap before anything else goes bad. Unlike ourselves, he can see the flaws in our swings (tempo, rhythme, in/out, out/in, over the top, ball position, etc.). In 2 weeks, you'll be back in the thick of things. Hey, that's what I'd do.

[Lefty-9]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

Hey, thanks a lot. I have the PGA's # on my desk. I may as well go ahead and call him. I managed to hit some pretty good ones yesterday, but it seems when I get one thing half-way fixed, something else breaks !!

Thans again

[jbrunk]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

I would begin with setup. Grip. posture, ball position. I would assume if you go see a pro, he will spend the first couple lessons on this.

[Lefty-9]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

I tinkered with grip yesterday; I know from past experience that's USUALLY where my trouble is. I tried Greg's right hand drill last night. I could not believe the difference!! My wrists have been breaking way too early in downswing.

Thanks for the tip

[30yearlayoff]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

My layoff was 15 times longer than yours (see my moniker). Big thing for me was the hip turn. Make sure you are turning the hip properly

[Lefty-9]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

Thanks for the tip; I hit some @ lunch in front yard. It seems I CANNOT keep from coming over the top. I've always played with strong grip; that translates into pull (hook).

Right hand drill was working yesterday; today it is not.

When I concentrate on hips and weight shift, I forget something else!!

[tpg1965]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

hi
patience and practice my friend and it will come

[slater170]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

hi
I have an immediate fool proof solution:

Take two weeks off , then give it up for good.

message withdrawn

[jimleigh1313]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

I had the same problem after a layoff. I couldn't hit the ball off the ground and it was getting pretty irritating. Tuesday, for my birthday, my fiance bought me a lesson with a pro. I have been to the driving range every day since and its literally like night & day. I am already hitting some of the best shots of my life and it has only been 3 days since the lesson!

[aftford]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

Hi jim
Why not share with everybody what you and the pro worked on and how you applied it. It could help lots of people in your situation.

[jimleigh1313]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

The things we worked on were grip, stance, hitting down on the ball & releasing the clubhead.
Grip: I thought I had a strong grip but the right hand was killing me. He said that my left hand & right hand were working against each other. so I moved it even more to the right. He also noticed when I was topping the ball, my right hand had slipped back over to the top of the grip(leave right thumb on top).
Stance: (since I tend to hit the ball to the right) is now closed which I thought would be totally backwards of what I wanted since i couldn't get my hands through the ball. (I was square or slightly open). It helps to swing along my body line and therefore hit the ball from the inside instead of the outside.
Hitting Down on the Ball: I kept chunking the ball so what he did was at the top of my backswing he held the club and told me to pull down on it. This ensured that the butt of the club was moving toward the ball and taking away any unnecessary club movement in the downswing.
THE MOST IMPORTANT however was the split-hand drill. It has to be the greatest drill ever. I recommend it to anyone hitting the ball to the right often (right handers). First make sure you have a correct grip. You want your left hand at the top of the grip and your right hand at the bottom of the grip without them touching. Now make a full swing and it automatically makes you release the clubhead which squares the club at impact instead of remaining open. At the range, I hit about 40-50 7-iron shots with the split-hand drill before I hit anything else, first off a tee, then off the grass. This really ingrains the feeling of the clubhead releasing. If I start hitting it right again, I go back to the split-hand drill and hit a few. If this works for anyone else, please reply! Thanks.

[aftford]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

Hi JIM. regarding the the split hand drill: I think this was made famous by DAVID LEADBETTER. I use this drill all the time. It is also an excellent drill to help promote the feeling of release through impact.......Thanx for sharing your thoughts .......cheers

[Lefty-9]

Re: 2 year layoff: Now I CANNOT hit it!! HELP!!!

Thanks. Boy, my patience is wearing thin!!!!!