Hitting it straight w/ driver

[Gohan2005777]

Lately I have problems with my driver. I hit it left AND right of the target line about 200 yards (my average). I went to a free clinic for help with my 3w because I couldn't hit it off the ground. They said I had a great set-up and a great swing but they didn't know why I only hit it only 10 yards. They finally figured it out and I would start to hit the ball 250 yds. (+ or - 10 yds.) dead straight off the tee and off the ground.The pro said that I was fine with my 3w now and that my session was over. I went to the driving range the next week and I'd still hit my 3w 250 yds. When I hit my first ball with my driver, it went to the left about 30 yds. and only traveled 200 yds. I also took the same swing with the driver that I did with my 3w and I was spraying it averaging 200 yds. and 30 yds. off the target line. Help from anyone would be appreciated.

[golf-instructionz]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

The only different between a 3W & a driver is a longer shaft & a bigger head. You could have unknowingly change your posture & swing plane to accomodate the driver. I believe in keeping my spine, posture, swing plane almost identical & only widening my stand very slightly & positioning the ball further forward in front of me (because the shaft is longer).

[Gohan2005777]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

I made the exact same swing that I did with the 3w. I even swung my driver after I hit my 3w.I tried to make everything like the 3w swing except stand a little farther away due to the shaft length.

[Scragger63]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

Would also suggest you experiment with ball position, should notionally be a little further forward in your stance than for your 3 Wood.

Cheers

[BrianW]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

Check your alignment. It is easy when playing a ball forward in your stance to have your feet square to target but your shoulders pointing towards the ball with the clubface set just behind the ball, this will encourage a slice or fade and can also send the ball very high thus loosing distance.

Set up with your driver and at address and have the club lay straight out in front of you with your shoulders square on (not pointing at the ball), this will set the clubface 4 to 6 inches behind the ball and square to target. Now make your swing from here, this will ensure you catch the ball on the upswing rather than swinging under it.

[Gohan2005777]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

Thanks for the input. I'll see if I can try it out Monday because my mom is signing me up for Summer Golf for $30 a month for 2 months. I go there from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and I can hit golf balls for free or play the holes for free .

[RandomHero1090]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

[quote=Gohan2005777;10539199]They finally figured it out and I would start to hit the ball 250 yds. (+ or - 10 yds.) dead straight off the tee and off the ground.The pro said that I was fine with my 3w now and that my session was over.quote]

What did they figure out? What did they say you were doing wrong?

[Gohan2005777]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

The face of the clubhead was pointing to the sky like this(front view): _. Instead of this: /. I had too strong of a grip in the beginning and my club would be fine until the top of the swing. It became shut and stayed shut throught the entire downswing and follow-through because I'd weaken my grip at the top and it would stay like that. He said that's why I hardly ever achieved lift-off and that when I'd do that, it was like hitting a driver or less of the ground. After he corrected me by weakening my grip alot, I stared to hit the golf ball straight and far with my 3w. I also attribute my distance to my hieght. I'm about 6' - 6' 1".

I went to Golf Headquarters Saturday and I wanted a new driver because of my grades and the money I saved up. I tried the Nike SasQuatch SUMO Squared. I demoed the 10.5º regular (the stiffness of the shaft) and I hit it high and to the right of the screen (there's a simulator inside but it wasn't on )(I never knew how loud it was until I hit it in a space where the walls are like 15 feet away and I think everyone in the store got scared). The guy fitting me asked me to swing The Speed Stik to find out my swing speed. The first time was 105 mph and the second time was 100 mph. He said I was about 10-15 mph over the limit of the regular shaft and that's why my balls go to the right. He said I swing so fast that the shaft bends and the clubhead stays open through the impact zone and that's why I hit it high and to the right. He got a 9.5º stiff and made me hit it. I hit it and it went to the middle of the screen consistently. My mom didn't get it because there's a guy there who would fit me better. That's what the guy told us. She's going to get it for me when the guy is there. BTW, the only club I swing the fastest is the driver. I'm too scared of swinging the 3w too fast and have it break like last time .

[cyc53870]

Re: Hitting it straight w/ driver

Try a three wood for par 5s and a five wood for par 4s when teeing off...