Driver Lesson Later

[User 105]

Well after another shocking weekend with the driver and no clue as to why I'm so bad with it I'm off to see the pro tonight, again, to try and sort something out.

I honestly have no idea\control over what the driver is going to do. Whereas my irons, even my 3h and 3w, I can pretty much hit whatever shape\trajectory I want at will.

i know what I'm supposed to do with the driver by now, but for some unknown reason I simply can't seem to do it. If I do hit the fairway, the one I'm supposed to, it is pure luck.

I managed to get a usable swing going in the end at the weekend. Which I can only describe as a 1/2 swing punt\punch with no wrist hinge or body rotation. It kept it straight and was getting out there far enough to be usable.

But it is a god awful swing.

I'm flying out to Spain Thu morning for a week of golf, just hoping I can get something decent working otherwise I think it's 3h or 3w off the tee from now on.

 

[hines57]

I managed to win a medal last summer taking nothing longer than a 21 degree hybrid off the tee. The driver was a shocker at the time, but the hybrid was really reliable.

If that's what gets you round and the driver still isn't working, enjoy Spain and leave the big stick at home

 

[User 105]

I managed to win a medal last summer taking nothing longer than a 21 degree hybrid off the tee. The driver was a shocker at the time, but the hybrid was really reliable.

If that's what gets you round and the driver still isn't working, enjoy Spain and leave the big stick at home

I remember a few years back I won a 3 club and a putter comp with a hybrid, 7i, PW and a putter. Shot a PB in doing so.

Trouble is the driver is such a fun club when you hit it well :lol:

 

[patricks148]

I know the feeling, I too am hitting my irons, 3 wood and 2 hybrid very well.... driver i could and does go anywhere. apart from a 2 drivers per round these get creamed just to keep me even more puzzled.

had 3 lessons with the driver and each time i didn't hit a single bad shot!!!!

 

[Garush34]

Driving is the only part of my game holding me back right now. Missing too many fairways, not too drastically, but in places where I just have no second shot and it ends up costing me a few shots in the end. I really need to work on my driving but also my management of controlling the damage.

Need to get booked in for a lesson soon, just not sure whether to wait a bit till nearer the end of the season or to get one mid season and hope to turn things around, just don't want to be working on too much in the swing during the season.

 

[User 105]

It'll be interesting to see what happens later as even on the range last week it was truly awful.

There's just something that just doesn't work for me when I get the driver in my hand. It just feels all wrong before I even swing the club.

I'm sure part of my problem now is in my head. I'm almost standing there expecting to hit it badly, can't even visualise a decent shot. Which isn't the best mental state to be in when you're about to pull the trigger.

 

[User 105]

Driving is the only part of my game holding me back right now. Missing too many fairways, not too drastically, but in places where I just have no second shot and it ends up costing me a few shots in the end. I really need to work on my driving but also my management of controlling the damage.

Need to get booked in for a lesson soon, just not sure whether to wait a bit till nearer the end of the season or to get one mid season and hope to turn things around, just don't want to be working on too much in the swing during the season.

Same here. I can almost guarantee out of the 11 shots I get for my handicap 8 or 9 of those will be used up from bad drivers.

I actually shot my first level par for 9 holes a few weeks back. Think I hit about 2 fairways and OOB'd a drive as well. And still shot a level par 9.

My m8 always jokes, saying if I could drive the ball I'd be off scratch. But the reality is he's probably not too far off.

 

[Garush34]

Same here. I can almost guarantee out of the 11 shots I get for my handicap 8 or 9 of those will be used up from bad drivers.

I actually shot my first level par for 9 holes a few weeks back. Think I hit about 2 fairways and OOB'd a drive as well. And still shot a level par 9.

My m8 always jokes, saying if I could drive the ball I'd be off scratch. But the reality is he's probably not too far off.

Yeah same here most of my 19 shots go trying to either get back in the fairway or from being in the wrong position.

I hit it really well and get the right amount of distance to play my course. Measured a few drives the other day get them out there about 245 but they are mostly in the rough, I've straightened things out over the last couple of years but still a bit of a miss to the right. If I can straighten it out then I'll get a bit more run and have a better shot from the fairway.

 

[User 105]

The really frustrating thing is every so often I'll start driving the ball great, for no apparent reason. I haven't changed anything but everything feels as it should.

And usually those are the rounds when I'll shoot a mid-70 round, easily.

It's like the golf gods are teasing me. Giving me a taste of what things could be like if they'd just let me be able to hit a driver consistently.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Been working hard on my driver, slowly slowly getting there but it has been a real pain to get right.

I know the drive for show thing but you get so much confidence when driving well, it is frustrating

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Having being driving like a muppet. Went over to Silvermere this afternoon, got a bay with pro tracer and hitting it lovely again. Only about 210 carry which would be about bang on, considering they are range balls but very near my average of 215-220. Didn't feel I changed anything. Shame Ascot is a no go this week, but off to Surrey National this week so hoping it holds firm. Tempted to get a driver lesson anyway and trying to squeeze a few more yards from somewhere

 

[Iceian]

I struggled with my driver for ages (Constantly trying to find one that worked) ended up seeing an article about Hever Castle Pro that run a Driver School. Had 2 lessons with him and now the driver is straight and long. Used Trackman for numbers and video to show what I needed to improve on. (Was standing up to soon so not hitting ball in the sweet spot) Hever Castle is in Kent a bit of a trek from Essex but worth the trip if you book a round after

 

[delc]

The driver is the hardest club to hit straight due to its lack of loft. An error of only 2 degrees in the club face aim at the point of impact is generally enough to miss the fairway. Be very careful to point the club face exactly down the intended line and to take the correct grip at address. I usually pick a spot a few feet in front over which I want the ball to fly and make sure the the club face is pointed squarely at that spot. I am considered to be a pretty straight driver of a golf ball btw. 😊

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

If you can hit a decent 3 or 5 wood you could score well enough around Knebworth without using the driver.

 

[User 105]

If you can hit a decent 3 or 5 wood you could score well enough around Knebworth without using the driver.

Yeah you are right. I don't tend to use driver on quite a few holes as I'm long enough with a hybrid or 3w.

I just think if I can hit the driver consistently then it's such a huge advantage.

It's kind of like saying, yeah I can putt with my 4i. But it would be much better to learn to use the putter.

I had the lesson last night and it kind of confirmed what I suspected, but hadn't been able to fix myself.

As I move into the longer clubs my takeaway gets gradually quicker and as i get to the top of the swing my right elbow comes away from my body more and more the longer the club. Which makes it damn near impossible to get the driver back square at impact as my arms are completely out of sync. Hence feeling like when i do hit a straight one it's more luck than judgement.

My pro has got me focusing on keeping the same tempo throughout all my clubs and trying to stay more compact, not a shorter swing, just more compact. Struck the ball much better and got rid of the 'big miss', probably lost a bit of distance as well but I can work on that when I can keep the swing in check.

So, positive step forward. Need to see if I can take it to the course now.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Had a lesson today. Was suppose to be short game but the weather put the kybosh on that. Worked on the swing, all the issues set up related, and looked at the driver. Few tweaks to set up and blasting it much better. Need to drill it in, ideal as I'm not working this week and the course is a no go zone, and hope to be ready for Surrey Downs

 

[Matty6]

Similar driver woes for me at the moment. No confidence whatsoever with driver in hand.

Had a lesson two weeks ago and the few tweaks my pro showed me made a massive difference. Was consistently hitting a nice little draw. Went to the range a week ago and was still hitting it well. Played in a comp on Saturday and hit one fairway with my driver! My miss with the driver is a hook. Most ended up in the 2nd cut, which meant I could forget hitting the green in two on the par 4's. We have 13 holes that require the driver off the tee! Luckily my irons are working well at the moment which is saving my rounds. Ended up with 33 points on Saturday which I was happy with.

Just got back from another lesson and seems as though some of my old tendencies have crept back in. I was completely oblivious that they had! Again, a few tweaks and I was back to hitting it well. Its a work in progress but I feel that there is something to work with.

 

[Vardon11LDN]

I struggled with my driver for ages (Constantly trying to find one that worked) ended up seeing an article about Hever Castle Pro that run a Driver School. Had 2 lessons with him and now the driver is straight and long. Used Trackman for numbers and video to show what I needed to improve on. (Was standing up to soon so not hitting ball in the sweet spot) Hever Castle is in Kent a bit of a trek from Essex but worth the trip if you book a round after

Have you got any further info about the driver school? Can't find anything on google.

 

[Simbo]

Threads like these are one of the reasons I think driving is a far more important aspect of the game than the short game for a huge percentage of golfers. You're never going to score well if your confidence has gone with the driver and the second shot isn't at the green.
Driver issues for me at the moment aswell, to short and hitting it all over the club face,. I'll need to get in for a lesson aswell.

 

[User 105]

I think the ability to drive the ball well is hugely under rated, especially as your handicap starts to drop. For me it's probably my limiting factor right now.

I just know when i'm getting good drives away I'll make a reasonably easy par and give myself a lot of good birdy chances.

When I'm not, I'm scrambling to save par at best.

Getting off the tee well just takes a lot of pressure off the rest of your game.