Driving consistency

[Collie]

Playing off 8 handicap , and my biggest handicap is consistency off the tee. I will hit some perfect drives with a nice draw about 260- 280 meters, then the dreaded hook(out to in with clubface closed and not correct weightshift), or sometimes a lovely fade that goes nowhere.
My 3 wood is my go to club. Will hit that down the middle 8 out of 10 times and some 230 odd meters, either from the tee or the fairway.
Is it a confidence issue with my driver? Is the driver/3-wood swing very different ?

[WAE]

Re: Driving consistency

I have the same issue mate. If I didn't hit my driver in a round, I would easily save 10 strokes because it ends up OB 9 times out of 10, but I refuse to not drive a hole because I am **** at the mo with it.

My go to is a 3 iron (I can launch my long irons - weird) and I can hit 180 with it with a straight ball flight. KNocks me sick. I'd be happy if I could hit my driver 180 straight.

Someone help us.

[bam10]

Re: Driving consistency

hi,it could be your grip pressure.you may be gripping to tight and trying for longer length.i had same problem until i felt i was swinging with my arms and not my hands.a light grip was the cure for me

[BrianW]

Re: Driving consistency

Playing off 8 handicap , and my biggest handicap is consistency off the tee. I will hit some perfect drives with a nice draw about 260- 280 meters, then the dreaded hook(out to in with clubface closed and not correct weightshift), or sometimes a lovely fade that goes nowhere.
My 3 wood is my go to club. Will hit that down the middle 8 out of 10 times and some 230 odd meters, either from the tee or the fairway.
Is it a confidence issue with my driver? Is the driver/3-wood swing very different ?

Hi Collie,

You will get better results with your 3 wood because it has more loft and creates more backspin to the ball, backspin tends to negate some of the side spin that creates hooks and slices.

I would guess it is related to confidence, when you hold a club that you are confident with there is more chance of making a smother relaxed swing, resulting in a better shot.

I can only suggest that you work on creating a slow swing with a nice tempo when using your driver, work on relaxing and swinging with the same speed and tempo as your 7 iron, forsake the passion for distance for a while, just think of driving the ball 150 yards. You may be surprised at the results!

Regards
Brian

[Collie]

Re: Driving consistency

Hi Brian
Thanks for advice. Will give it a try. I also think it is a confidence thing. The 3 wood is working nicely off the tee my last 2 games - played a 77 and a 79. Hitting the long clubs ( 5 wood , rescue iron or 4 irons ) to the greens does make it difficult though.

[Mcdougle]

Re: Driving consistency

Try thinking about finishing your swing in a great finish position and not about hitting the ball and you will find that everything in between just fits into place.

Well, it works for me.

[canadian_man_44]

Re: Driving consistency

It used to be that when I was having trouble with my driver I pull out my 3 wood and hit a few tee shots with that. I thought it was a little weird that I could hit my 3 so well, yet, with seemingly the same swing, my driver was slicing pretty badly. I tried taking my driver and 3 wood to the driving range. I hit 3 wood for 10 shots then shifted to my driver, told myself "it's just a 3 wood" and hit the ball perfectly. After a few drives the slice came back so I'd shift to my 3 wood again for 10 balls. Same thing. That day I came to the conclusion that it's a headgame.

You might want to try something my brother tried one time when he wasn't hitting his driver all that well but was bombing his 3 wood. Seems kind of simple, but, he put a 3 wood sock on his driver. Next thing you know, he's bombing his driver. The intelligent mind sometimes is such a simple thing, eh.