Help with Driving

TRF · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 6

I just got in my new T + HIMO driver and 3 wood and immediately took it to the range. I also got the set of Turner Ablaze with the hybrid 3 and 4. I figured out how to hit the hybrid after a few balls but I am having a little problem with the driver. I know that it is my problem and nothing with the club because I am pretty new to golf and I know I have problems. Almost every drive that I hit goes to the right. If I take my swing down to around 60 percent the drive goes straight so I know that there is a flaw in my swing. What might be some thing that I can try to work on that I may be missing?

As-ol-Joe · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 2

I had a similar problem. You more than likely are swinging across the ball. Outside the ball to inside the ball. Try to flatten your swing plane.

TRF · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 6

So I guess that this means that I am trying to hit my driver like I hit my irons? More of an over the top type of swing.

As-ol-Joe · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 2

Flattening my swing plane helped me. Also drawing the driver straight back from the ball about a foot helps keep the plane flatter.

DTG Jeff · DTG Customer Service Joined: 07 Nov 2008 Posts: 336

TRF,
It is not uncommon that a golfer can hit most of there golf clubs fine but struggle when it comes to the driver. Two reasons for this, the driver has the least amount of loft and is the longest club in your bag. Therefore any error in golf swing is multiplied because of these two reasons. The fact that the ball is going to the right is a common issue with golfers when trying to learn how to hit a new driver. This can be caused by several factors so let me get some information from you before I try and recommend a swing change. When the ball goes right does it start at your target, left of your target or right of your target. Does the ball flight seem to be low, mid or high when you hit the ball.
Answer these questions for me and I will do my best to help you out.

Thanks,
Jeff

TRF · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 6

The ball flight starts out straight and then curves to the right. It probally goes around 50 to 70 yards to the right of where I would like for the ball to go 98% of the time.

Most all of the drives are between low to mid height. The loft on the driver that I got is 9.5 deg.

DTG Jeff · DTG Customer Service Joined: 07 Nov 2008 Posts: 336

If the ball is starting at your target and then curves with a low to mid ball flight chances are the path is not the main problem your contending with. First if you are new golfer the loft of 9.5 might be a little to low for you. Second it sounds more like you are getting ahead of the golf ball hitting a little down on the ball and leaving the club face open. This will cause a low ball flight that starts low at your target and goes quickly to the right. First try and just slow down the back swing making sure that at the top of your back swing without swaying you feel significantly more weight on you right foot. After you can do this without having to think about it try and focus when you are swinging to keep you head behind the golf ball at impact. These two drills will make sure you are making a proper weight shift back and that you don't slide ahead of the ball and hit down on it. With every club in your bag excluding your putter and driver you should be hitting down on the golf ball. However with the driver we want to try and actually catch the ball on the upswing. Let me know how it works out for you and if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Jeff

TRF · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 6

Thanks Jeff. I believe that you are correct in saying that I may be swinging down on the ball. I watched a video yesterday where I saw the more proper way to hit a driver. I believe that I was hitting my driver like my irons with shifting my weight forward when I hit the ball. From what I got out of the video that I watched, I need to keep my weight more on my back foot, sort of like hitting a pop-fly in baseball. I also may need to tee the ball up higher. I think that I am only about an inch off the ground and I may need to go a little higher when I hit my driver like I am supposed to. I think that the height part will have to just come from practice. Once again thanks for the help and I will let you know how it turns out next time I go to the range.

DTG Jeff · DTG Customer Service Joined: 07 Nov 2008 Posts: 336

TRF,
Sounds good let me know how it goes and if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Jeff