Trouble off the tee with my driver

[kennyrider]

hi everyone

i am currently having a lot of trouble with using my driver off the tee. i am at ease with using anything from a lob wedge to 5 iron off the tee but as soon as i use anything like a 2 iron or driver i feel as though my swing suddenly changes. I feel as though my arms are not turning with my shoulders and are being left behind and my wrists are not cocking (or not cocking enough) leaving me with a swing that promotes a shocking hook off the tee. I get the occasion one right and it flies pure and straight but others are rank hooks that leaves me in the bushes! Its so frustrating! I hit the range this afternoon and my drives really let me down but as soon as used my 7 iron or 9 iron i could put the ball where i wanted to. I have been strugglin with this for awhile and have managed to get down to a 9 handicap but i think this is as low as i can go with my problems off the tee. Any help would be appreciated!!

[bill reed]

Re: Trouble off the tee with my driver

hi
long irons and driver are more a sweeping shot so played forward more and the swing is flatter with the longer shafted clubs, first thing to check is where the ball is in your stance, if you have a pratice swing with say a driver the ball should be just forward of where the club touches the ground and it should make a shallow diviot only scr aping the grass, if your swings is to steep you'll dig deeper. also put talc on the club face and see if your hitting the sweet spot as it can give you so many problems if your hitting toe then more to heel next shot. also on ranges start with driver and hit 50% and work up to 75% and work on hitting them right down the middle, then at 90% and work on a fade or a draw as then you always know what why the ball turns in the air.
i think with what your saying your hitting a decending blow with the ball to far back, but without seeing your swing it hard to say only take a stab at what it could be.
bill

[Robert O' Keeffe]

Re: Trouble off the tee with my driver

Kenny,
I can understand fully the frustration you are having. I used to hook like that with mid to long irons. I made two changes to my set up which have worked really well. First I make sure that I have the right ball position for mid irons, and secondly I cant emphasise enough that I make sure i am standing well back from the ball. Not so much as to be uncomfortable, but enough to eliminate crowding of my upper body with the downswing.

Cheers,
Robert