Help with high trajectory

[Collie]

Hi All
Just got myself new X-20 Tour irons. ( had ping 13+). Playing off 8 handicap. Help I need is with my ballflight/trajectory. It is just to high on all my iron shots. The new set of irons did not change that.
Please tell me what to do to change this. Swingchanges/club loft changes??
Thanks guys.

[bill reed]

Re: Help with high trajectory

hi
go see a pro and get on a monitor and have swing checked and also clubs too, could be the shafts need to be stiffer. but a few things could be the cause, most new clubs have stronger lofts and hit lower but shafts do play a big part. think lowpost is the guy that is best to ask about shafts and club lofts.
bill

[BrianW]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Look first at your left wrist through impact. Are you allowing it to break down and flip forward at the ball, this will create a high weak shot where most of your clubs achieve a similar distance.

If this is the problem work on keeping the line from your left shoulder to the clubface in a straight line and hands slightly ahead of the clubface at impact.

[Collie]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Brian
Any drill you can recommend ? Not sure about " keeping the line from your left shoulder to the clubface in a straight line and hands slightly ahead of the clubface at impact."
My swing speed is about 80mph, shafts regular as per the pro that did my fitment. (pings were stiff but also hit them high).
0,5inch lenghtened with 3 tape layers added to grip).

[BrianW]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Brian
Any drill you can recommend ? Not sure about " keeping the line from your left shoulder to the clubface in a straight line and hands slightly ahead of the clubface at impact."
My swing speed is about 80mph, shafts regular as per the pro that did my fitment. (pings were stiff but also hit them high).
0,5inch lenghtened with 3 tape layers added to grip).

Hi Collie,

This video link gives an idea of what I mean

EDIT: This is a better example:

http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/l/blclubheadlag1.htm

Also: Greg Willis on this site has a "Right hand drill" to stop any flipping of the wrists. Take a look at "Staff" in the menus above, then select Greg and go to his web site for Right hand drill.

[golfseeker]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Brian
Any drill you can recommend ? Not sure about " keeping the line from your left shoulder to the clubface in a straight line and hands slightly ahead of the clubface at impact."
My swing speed is about 80mph, shafts regular as per the pro that did my fitment. (pings were stiff but also hit them high).
0,5inch lenghtened with 3 tape layers added to grip).

Here is a drill that might help.....assume an impact position and just jab your club into the ground (mid iron and no ball). With a short swing just keep jabbing the club into the ground so that you feel how the left wrist should be at impact. The left wrist should be bowed out towards the target. You can do the same with an impact bag or a cloth bag filled with rags. This drill has helped me a lot as I too had a weak flipping of the left wrist...see my photo above. I have since corrected that swing flaw and my ball flight is much improved. Hope this helps.
Seeker

[jambalaya]

Re: Help with high trajectory

So trajectory is the only problem? How about distance or accuracy? I think a high trajectory would be pretty desireable most of the time unless it is very much reducing your distance. Seems most people have problem with low trajectory. Not trying to be a smartass I am just curious about your distance and how this is affecting your game.

[BrianW]

Re: Help with high trajectory

So trajectory is the only problem? How about distance or accuracy? I think a high trajectory would be pretty desireable most of the time unless it is very much reducing your distance. Seems most people have problem with low trajectory. Not trying to be a smartass I am just curious about your distance and how this is affecting your game.

Hi Jamb,

I guess Collie will answer but he is an 8 handicapper so he must be getting reasonable direction and accuracy. High trajectory is fine for high lofted clubs when pitching but not for lower ones where you want that penetrating lower ball flight that cuts through the wind and stops up fast on the greens.

[bdbl]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Ok, ABSOLUTELY NOT having a go at Colllie here its just that his / her post has reminded me about questions I've been meaning to ask for a while.

More frequently than I'd expect we get single figure players on here talking about a problem, often (as this one) linked to a comment about new clubs.

So:

How do you get to play to 4 - 8 with these problems?
Why change Top Brand X for Top Brand Y in the first place?

Serious questions in that they are meant to go to the heart of a) how flawed can you be to play well in the Sunday Medal? b) how much can you expect from equipment?

[Collie]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi bdbl
To answer your statements:
I've been a 8 or 9 handicap for as long as I remember. I hit the ball pretty straight on a good day and my shortgame has to be good to make up for my lack of distance.
I would dearly like to better that, and I know my problem is with my ballflight. (probably lots of other problems and faults too, but can only work on one at a time).
Had my pings for many years and wanted a change(just for the hell of it), also the X-20 clubhead feels heavier and I like that. Why do you go out and buy a new car or whatever bdbl? Looking at buying a new driver too, how do you feel about that?
I only got these clubs last week and was only wondering what other players experiences have been with them.

[Collie]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Jamb
BrianW has got it spot on. My direction and shortgame is pretty good, but not getting that penetrating ballflight. ( do get it more often than not with my driver and fairway woods though).
It is affecting my game as I am having to hit in longer irons to the greens.
And off course swinging too hard only makes the ball go higher and spin more. On a good day I'll hit my 7 iron about 140m , wedge about 100m.

[bdbl]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Collie

Had my pings for many years and wanted a change(just for the hell of it), also the X-20 clubhead feels heavier and I like that. Why do you go out and buy a new car or whatever bdbl? Looking at buying a new driver too, how do you feel about that?

Since I specifically stated that my post wasn't about you, I'm totally indifferent about your purchasing plans.

However you did start to answer the questions;

a) accuracy and short game can make up for lack of distance
b) it was a "fun switch" you weren't trying to buy a different game

I'll repeat that my questions were a serious attempt to start a discussion. I think that most high caps seek perfection which leads to tension and detracts from performance - therefore reviewing how good you had to be to score well seemed a valid idea; at the same time the ads suggest that the new Cougar Zxi will have even me driving 350+ so again I thought it valid to ask whether you can buy a game.

[BrianW]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Something I have learned recently is that getting a reasonably priced set of clubs that fit properly does more for your ball striking than a top notch brand that doesn't.

I have used a set of Callaways for some years and felt that they were not quite right for me, due to their price, I soldiered on with them making compensations for the lie angle and shaft length that were wrong. I had a fitting session for a set of clubs locally and was pleased that the standard set was just right, especially the graphite shafts (As a new Grandfather I have to adopt the image ) I purchased the new clubs just before Christmas and after a few weeks adjusting I now strike the ball so much sweeter with additional confidence.

So, IMHO be aware before spending mega bucks on top name brands, get your clubs fitted for best results.

Then again: If something new makes you feel better then why not. Swing faults are a completely different department though and need their own attention.

[BrianW]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Jamb
BrianW has got it spot on. My direction and shortgame is pretty good, but not getting that penetrating ballflight. ( do get it more often than not with my driver and fairway woods though).
It is affecting my game as I am having to hit in longer irons to the greens.
And off course swinging too hard only makes the ball go higher and spin more. On a good day I'll hit my 7 iron about 140m , wedge about 100m.

By keeping your hands ahead of the ball and a straight wrist at impact you are de-lofting the club so your 7 iron becomes a 6 or 5 but with a shorter shaft so easier to control, when the wrist flips forward you add loft and it becomes an 8 or 9 creating additional height with less distance.

[Martin Levac]

Re: Help with high trajectory

Hi Jamb
BrianW has got it spot on. My direction and shortgame is pretty good, but not getting that penetrating ballflight. ( do get it more often than not with my driver and fairway woods though).
It is affecting my game as I am having to hit in longer irons to the greens.
And off course swinging too hard only makes the ball go higher and spin more. On a good day I'll hit my 7 iron about 140m , wedge about 100m.

When I want to send the ball lower, I put the ball back in my stance. Or use a club with less loft. Or both.