Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

[jcbdb]

Help please (preferablely before my 4pm tee time!).

I have just got back from the range, I hit all my mid/short irons straight, no problems there but did not hit the long irons/woods due to time constraints.

Then as soon as I took out my drive I started hitting the ball right with a strong draw and a number of low duck hooks. A few went staight and long with just the right trajectory but not enough considering I have a match in 2 hours time!

Could this be down to ball position. I did have the ball too far forwards causing the same shot a while back, maybe I am over compensating and causing the same shot shape having the ball too far back?

I am not looking for a quick fix here (as I don't beleive they work!) my swing is usually very consistent and I think this maybe something in my setup causing a swing fault more than anything.....

ideas welcome or I will be teeing up on the first aiming 100 yards right of target later today (and sods law it goes straight!).

[aftford]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

Hi pal.
Hope this is in time for you .
If you have the ball too far froward in your stance at address then, by the time it reaches impact your natural release has already started to close the clubface cuasing the Duck hook .

Move the ball back to just inside left foot ( right handers ) and you should get a better impact.

Good luck for the match.

[jcbdb]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

Thanks - that is spot on for what I was doing previously and my pro told me to move the ball to an inch inside my left foot rather than have it on the front toe. I have moved it back but maybe too far, I guess this may mean I am coming over the top to manage to hit the ball.

I'll pay close attention to this on the course though I may stick to the 3 wood for today

Thanks again - I'll update this post tomorrow with how it goes

[aftford]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

Hi mate
remember, golf is a game of CONSTANTS.
you have to constantly check your grip and set up.
you have to constantly maintain your spine angle through the swing
you have to constantly maintain the same ball position for a certain club.

Add to many VARIABLES to these CONSTANTS and you will end up with CHAOS.

cheers pal.

[jcbdb]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

It's constant alright, constantly right, then constantly left.

However, today went better than expected. I went to my new three wood for the majority of holes as it was a tight courseback and my fairway shots and shot game were on good form (alot of time spent on pitching and putting).

The driver will stay in the bag till a visit to my pro who will once again have it fixed in 5 mins (luckily not a pro who then thinks his job is finished there and will find something else in my game to improve rather than watch me hit balls down the middle for 50 mins whilst I pay him to say "great shot""!)

P.S I won but had to buy the beer so am poorer than before!

[golfonenemesis]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

To control the driver, hit it on upswing-ascending blow; at set up, waggle back low to high and swing away.
A little spine angle tilt at address for the driver/3 wood will help you sweep it low to high finish.
You will also get extra distance because the ball will hit with overspin just like a forehand drop shot in tennis

[dannyra]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

It's impossible to hit a golf ball with overspin and get any distance, unless your playing down the cart path. With the driver your trying to hit between 2000-3000 rpm back spin. Even though that is a lot of backspin it is less than you get with an iron.

Just like the overhand drop shot in tennis the ball will Drop. So unless you want to hit your second shot from the front tees, never try to put overspin on a shot.

[golfonenemesis]

Re: Driver problems - strong draw/duck hook

Technically you are correct, however, the driver imparts spin naturally and if you hit down on it, its underspin which drops like a lead weight.
By hitting up on the ball with driver, you are limiting the amount of spin thus reducing natural spin from 3,800 RPM which balloons down to 2,200-2,800 which pierces the air like a rocket, hits the ground running like a deer. I was referring to the motion of a forehand release.