Dead Driving

[sandmac]

Hey guys. Pretty new to golf. Been playing regularly for a 2 months now.
I'm still very much building my swing...

I'm a bit worried because my driving has just almost completely fallen off.
There seems to be no reason.

When I first started I could always get solid contact and sometimes just drill it past others who have played for years and have much better clubs. I did have a slice though.

Recently, I started to increase my consistancy and distance by relaxing into a swing and focusing on squaring at contact.

Suddenly last weekend my driving just died. If I hit the ball it either died early or hooked left about 50 yards. Pathetic. This never used to happen. Hit the range again today and apart from 2 drives that were just booming and straight, the hooks and rolls were still there. Ughhh!

Does this ever just happen? Again I'm new to the game.

Help?!

[biclocal]

Re: Dead Driving

Well you are very new to the game, 2 or 3 months right? You shouldnt worry too much about your driving game. Try this, work with your sand wedge. Master the sand wedge. I guarantee if you practice with the sand wedge everday, focus on making it go 10, 20, 30, ..., 100 yards by hitting at targets on the range you will get better. And aim for the flags too, not a little area. When you can do that accurately your skills with the other clubs will increase phenomenally.

[msklar92]

Re: Dead Driving

Not sure, but you may be casting the club i.e. releasing the wrist cock as your first move down. try building up the speed of the down swing so that your maximum acceleration occurs at the ball. If you look at a series photo of a pro swing you will see that the club head is pointed to the sky through the initial part of the downsing - they maintain the wristcock and release it at the right time. The proper timing of cocking and releasing of the wrists is one of the most important parts of the golf swing.

[FLFINS-N-SKINS]

Re: Dead Driving

I can give you some good advice because of what just happened to me, im new to the game as well. 2 weeks ago I was hitting the best golf shots of my life. Hitting greens from 220 with a 4 iron etc. Then all of the sudden I couldnt hit squat and the club was turning in my hand. I was duffing all over the course
I got a mirror out and got out to practice with the mirror set up behind me. I noticed that the pros have a steeper angle on the back swing and a straight left wrist both of which were failing me. I have 2 checkpoints on the backswing that I observe in the mirror behind me. The first is with the club horizontal to the ground. The toe of the club needs to be pointing straight up and the shaft needs to be inline with the target line. I Keep the clubhead outside of my hands. once im here I basically just have to cock my wrists and turn my shoulders a bit and im at the top. Then the second check is at the top. My left wrist needs to be as straight as my forearm. Then I just initiate the downswing and all is good about 90 percent of the time. Let me know if this helps

[mr3856a]

Re: Dead Driving

Well you are very new to the game, 2 or 3 months right? You shouldnt worry too much about your driving game.

This is the best advice you can get on this problem. Put the driver away.

If you work on your piches and start building up from there, you'll be a better golfer much sooner than if you learn by pounding drivers. As a 2-3 month golfer, the driver should be the last of your worries.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Dead Driving

Was at the driving range the other day. There were these two guys hitting with their drivers. I saw them do the backswing till the club was horizontal at the top, and then to my horror they continued their backswing right until the club touched their back!

However, I think they must have been doing this for years, cos they were able to hit the ball probably 8 out of 10 times. And there I was with my 7iron and at the most my 4wood (only started golf 3 months ago)... Really felt tempted to go up to them and tell them not to backswing the club past parallel, but who was I to do so when I haven't even hit more than 20 balls with my driver?

[matthinkle]

Re: Dead Driving

I have good friend that is in the same boat as you...very inconsistent with his driver. I got him started into golf and he struggles the same way. I will tell you the same thing I told him. Nobody is absolutely perfect with their driver, it's one of the most difficult clubs to hit, because it's the most important and scoring revolves around it. If you haven't taken any lessons, consider a few to begin with, to help instill correct basic fundamentals. If you have just started, chances are that you are getting tips from just about everyone. Don't ever try to tweak with a swing on the course....it will only frustrate you and make things worse...that's the purpose of the driving range.....Good, consistent driving is a result of proper grip, proper alignment, and confidence, and it sounds like as a beginner you lack in some of those areas. I have been playing for 17 years and I have the same grip, alignment and swing with every single one of my irons and driver. That comes from PRACTICE....I know my swing inside and out, and if somethings wrong I can usually trace it to my alignment. If you don't want to take lessons, or can't afford them, watch the Golf Channel if you get it, they have some VERY good lessons.

[Mike420]

Re: Dead Driving

Well just look a John Daily he has an overswing. I wouldn't recommend it. I was told that hooking was a result of a closed grip and obviously resulting in a closed club face at impact, but is this the only reason for a hook.

I have three check points becuse ive changed my back swing eventually will be come two.

1) Get the club parallel to the ground, toe facing up.

2) Cock my wrists aiming the end of the grip at the ball, like it says in the golf lessons page on this web site.

3) Then lift up till i'm at the top while finishing turning my body.

[tlucas]

Re: Dead Driving

I know that you don't want to hear this, but I agree that the driver should go into the garage for a while. Try playing with a 5-wood, or even a 7-wood from the tee. You might surprise yourself with the results. The driver can be very frustrating, especially for a beginner. Go ahead and give yourself permission to work up to the big stick. It'll be worth the wait. Good luck!
tlucas

[GreeBoman]

Re: Dead Driving

they were able to hit the ball probably 8 out of 10 times.

Thats still a lot of missed fairways and punching out from trees.
Always remember, its not how far its how many.