My Driver Swing.

[Imurg]

Ok here goes - this could take a while.

I have always had a very "fluid" driver swing. By that I mean one day I can hit very long and straight and another day with a big slice. Another with a big hook and some more with pulls and pushes. Basically, you name it I can hit it with a driver - but rarely to order. And quite often some or all of these appear in the same round. These "swing changes" can last several weeks - I'm currently on a slicing mission. But it won't be long before I'm back to straight shots - I just don't know when. My driver swing, like my signature, changes almost everytime I do it!

This is killing my game. Fairways and Irons are generally there or thereabouts most of the time. I don't really have a issue with them. its just the driver.

Solutions?

I could go for a course of lessons. My only doubt about this is the lack of time I have to practice any changes that would be made. it would however point out problems.

I could get an adjustable driver like the R9 and change the settings as my swing changes. Obviously not during a round but from week to week if a pattern is emerging.

I could get a lower lofted 3 wood and see if this works off the tee - I outdrove CVG on monday with a 3 to his driver!!

Or I could just live with it and let my swing sort itself out over time.
I could post a vid of my swing but as I said it changes so many times it would take years to film them all.

I guess I'm just looking for pointers. Any thoughts?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to say for me the lesson would be the way to go. Get rid of any swing faults at source which will undoubtedly serve the rest of your long game as well. I think with your general game a lesson and maybe one or two range sessions to bed the changes in and you'll be back to normal and hitting every (ok most) fairway

 

[tonecapone]

I know how you feel a few weeks ago shot the round of my golfing life 1 over.Today in a medal dare i say 100 first time ever.Thought of taking up fishing 4 Eights on my card only positive was a birdy on a par 5.Lesson or a break thats my thoughts.Or even take up fishing?

 

[JustOne]

A) go for a lesson explaining that you want any glaring errors corrected.

B) stop changing your swing every 5 min.

C) post a vid of your most up to date swing.

 

[Imurg]

B) stop changing your swing every 5 min.

This is the crux of the problem - I am not intentionally changing my swing every 5 minutes, I'm not doing a Paddy and making swing changes, they just happen.

 

[jeffc]

Imurg
I'm exactly where you're at, most of my game has improved and have to say I am pretty happy with it but with my driving I just don't know where I am at.

A few weeks ago I took a break and came back with the intention of relaxing and playing within myself and it worked my driver was longer and straighter than ever. However am now back to no mans land - hook slice etc.

I played a 9 hole bogey comp on tuesday and had a great 9 holes except on the first I hooked but saved par and two other holes where I sliced to a lost ball, should of come 2nd or better and ended up nowhere.

Having a lesson this morning to concentrate on driving to see if I can find a way to control this flippin thing.

 

[Adrena1in]

Let me know if you find a useful solution, because this is the exact same problem I was having a few months back. Everything apart from my driver and 3W was going well, and I ended up leaving the woods in the back of the car a few times when I went for a round. Then my irons started to fall apart, so I'm nearing the end of a few weeks without touching a club at all in the hope that my mind might have cleared itself a bit.

 

[USER1999]

I think if you leave the woods at home, your irons fall apart as you try to hit them too hard to make up for the lost distance.

As for the driving, I am in the same boat. I have currently tried to simplify my swing, with a shorter back swing which appears to be working well. I am trying to take some of the wrist out of it as well, as timing this release has become an issue.

Worked last night, was 4 over for 13 holes with one 3 putt and one shank (yep, they are back again).

 

[Imurg]

As for the driving, I am in the same boat. I have currently tried to simplify my swing, with a shorter back swing which appears to be working well. I am trying to take some of the wrist out of it as well, as timing this release has become an issue.

Hopefully going out today for a quick round - this is one thing I'm going to try. Good luck beating the s****s Murph!

 

[CrapHacker]

The problem I've had in the past ( I'm hoping that'll change with the new guy ) is that many ( in fact 'ALL' ) the pros I've asked before wont give a one off lesson on the swing with a driver.

They've said learn to swing with a 7 iron then use that swing with the big dog.

Problem for me is that, on the course, I can get my 7 iron to work within the swing I've got, but as soon as I get the driver in my hand, the whole thing goes to pot.

So yet another lesson on how crap I am with a 7 iron leaves me feeling totally unsatisfied.

If you can find the right guy, like Homer has, who works with you, rather than against you, then I'd definately say go with the lessons - even if you can't practise as much as you want, if he gives you a swing drill, or two, you know at least what you're trying to achieve, for when you can wangle half an hour at the range.

PS if you really want to, and you have a range fairly near you, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to find half an hour, twice a week, just to hit balls. It's just a case of prioritising. And whilst that isn't as long as you'd want, it's plenty long enough to notice a difference.

 

[Macster]

Hi Murg,

I could have written your post, word for word.
I used to be a reasonable Driver of the ball with my trusty G5, which was the 1st Driver I have ever owned or being able to hit, and for 2/3yrs, it served me well.
Then, something happened this year, which I cant put my finger on to actually identify, but I have proved all over the place with any Big Stick in my hand:

1. I won a place on the 909 Custom Fit session courtesy of GM, but having receieved my beautiful 909 D2, I just couldnt get on with it, and huge slices became the norm, - very strange for someone who draws the ball usually.
I persevered, with little success, until......
2. I had a bash with a friends 905R, and hit it a country mile, well,.... 310yds, so thought I had found the solution, and picked one up on Fleabay for £85.
However, it's also proved less than consistent, so proving that it isnt the clubs, its something between my ears.
I even went back down to Titleist where they kindly went thru the fitting process again, and where I was once again hitting the D2 'reasonably', but put me back on the Tee, and I just cant get on with it.
3. Even my G5 is erratic now too........

All thru this, I have hit my trusty old Callaway WarBird 5Wood with a Steel shaft nearly flawlessly, with a penetrating flight and great distance.

So, spotting my sons Taylor Made R7 3wood in the garage, also with a steel shaft, and seeing as he's not playing much at present, I thought i'd slip it into the bag and see how it went.

Result. - nearly as consistent as my 5W, and whilst not as far as a Driver, not far off either, so seeing as I only really use a Driver on about 6 holes at our place, Ive decided that the 3 is staying in, as its the club that puts me in play more.

Seems something about Steel Shafts suits my game more,....I dunno why.

 

[Golfmmad]

I've just come back from a four day break in Cornwall. Played two rounds and on the second, my mate and I teamed up with a couple,(husband & wife). He played off scratch - and what a player! Really nice guy, as was his wife,not big headed at all. Drove the ball easily 350yds and straight.
I asked what he thought the main reason why low and scratch handicap players hit the ball so much further, without seemingly putting any more effort in. He said apart from good tempo and timing, its about understanding muscles and how they tense and relax. So being able to relax and swing through the ball.
Another instance during the round, we were both about the same distance from the green, his second, my fourth, about 100yds to green. His shot on the green pin high, mine sliced to the right of green,aarrgh! He came over and showed me what iron he took and asked what I used, they were both 9 irons. His thoughts were that the mind knows what you are capable of, meaning that I was probably thinking as it was an uphill shot, the mind knows that an easy 8 iron is better than thinking will I make it with a 9 iron. Common sense I suppose, but good tips anyway.

Golfmmad.

 

[JustOne]

This is the crux of the problem - I am not intentionally changing my swing every 5 minutes, I'm not doing a Paddy and making swing changes, they just happen.

Out of interest, what would you say has changed in your driver swing in the past 6/8 weeks?

 

[JustOne]

The problem I've had in the past ( I'm hoping that'll change with the new guy ) is that many ( in fact 'ALL' ) the pros I've asked before wont give a one off lesson on the swing with a driver.

They've said learn to swing with a 7 iron then use that swing with the big dog.

Problem for me is that, on the course, I can get my 7 iron to work within the swing I've got, but as soon as I get the driver in my hand, the whole thing goes to pot.

So yet another lesson on how crap I am with a 7 iron leaves me feeling totally unsatisfied.

Whoever told you that is a total imbecile

Hitting a 7-iron is NOTHING like hitting a driver.... if it were then why not hit your driver like you would a wedge?

 

[jeffc]

Hi all

coming back to this subject after my lesson yesterday (post might be too old now and not being read)
I told the pro that the driver was my problem and wanted a lesson for that in particular. However he started me with my irons, a 5 iron was in my hand.
Basically he picked up that I was turning my hips too far back in the back swing and bringing the left knee across too much. He had me stiffen up my legs keeping the same distance between my knees througout the backswing and not bringing my left knee so far across.In addition he told me to try and snap my hips through as the first part of the downswing.

It took a while to get used to as it threw my tempo a bit but when I progressed up to the driver it was much straighter even when leaving the arms behind to introduce lag. When I do this with my normal swing I get a wild slice with the driver.

Now this is my swing with it's own plusses and minuses so in reply to Imurg's original post I would say get that lesson because where I thought the fault and solution was, was way off the mark so GET THAT LESSON BOOKED.

 

[jeffc]

The problem I've had in the past ( I'm hoping that'll change with the new guy ) is that many ( in fact 'ALL' ) the pros I've asked before wont give a one off lesson on the swing with a driver.

They've said learn to swing with a 7 iron then use that swing with the big dog.

Problem for me is that, on the course, I can get my 7 iron to work within the swing I've got, but as soon as I get the driver in my hand, the whole thing goes to pot.

So yet another lesson on how crap I am with a 7 iron leaves me feeling totally unsatisfied.

Whoever told you that is a total imbecile

Hitting a 7-iron is NOTHING like hitting a driver.... if it were then why not hit your driver like you would a wedge?

JustOneuk,
no they are not the same but usually the faults in someones swing ARE the same and if you have basic faults with a 7 iron these will be major faults with a driver.