Driving Problem?

ScummyMan

Alright lads, I'm not much of a regular poster here, but I can't seem to find much of an answer on youtube and thought someone else might have suffered from a similar problem!

Anyways, recently my driving of the tee has really let me down. I'm connecting with the ball well (well feels like it anyway), and I have a soft draw as many pros do. However I simply cannot get any height on the ball, rarely going above about 10-15 yards above the ground. I don't think its a simple top as it feels and sounds like a good connection. What it looks like is the ball rises well as if its going to be a good drive, then dips suddenly as if there is tremendous top spin on the ball. Is it possible to put this much top spin on the ball, and how can I fix it?!

This is seriously affecting my game as drives rarely go further than say 100 yeards, and so I'm constantly recovering.

Sorry if I haven't explained this well, ask if you want anything clarified.

I know its difficult to say without seeing my swing, but if anyone has any general tips or ideas I'd much appreciate it!

PRAF

Very difficult to diagnose the problem without seeing the swing. I'd recommend you speak to your local pro. Otherwise there are some good instructional videos on youtube (e.g. shawn clement) which may give you some tips. Best of luck!

matt-dublin

where's the ball positioned in your stance?

how accurate is your driving?

do you tend to miss the fairway short and to the left?

Dr.Silly

if you were driving it ok before, and all of a sudden the ball is only going 100 yards..
I would say
it's your driver, maybe something happened to it, try a different one for a few shots.
You've some seriously dodgy golf balls :-)

is the ball way back in your stance ?

ScummyMan

matt-dublin wrote: »

where's the ball positioned in your stance?

how accurate is your driving?

do you tend to miss the fairway short and to the left?

Ball would be positioned roughly middle of stance, maybe slightly left of centre.

Yeah that would be usually what is happening, short and left, like a duck hook almost, there's a thought actually...

My driving was never amazing, it would be one of the weaker parts of my game, but not to this extent.

I realise it is hard to see without a video, a trip to the club pro is definately in order!

matt-dublin

i was thinking a snap hook alright and exactly what i was thinking.

whats your grip like? where are your v's pointing?

i would guess this is completly your grip being overly strong, on your left hand you should only be able to see 2.5 to 3 knuckles and on your right the line that forms between your thumb and forefinger should point straight up your right forearm. (assuming your a righty)

also, stop trying to murder the ball, snap hooks can also come from an over active release, ie trying to get too much power by using your wrists.

you should be swinging with your arms body and shoulders, reduce the wristy action, only really good players like monty or couples ever had a good wristy swing as its a much more precise art than a body swing.

ScummyMan

matt-dublin wrote: »

i was thinking a snap hook alright and exactly what i was thinking.

whats your grip like? where are your v's pointing?

i would guess this is completly your grip being overly strong, on your left hand you should only be able to see 2.5 to 3 knuckles and on your right the line that forms between your thumb and forefinger should point straight up your right forearm. (assuming your a righty)

also, stop trying to murder the ball, snap hooks can also come from an over active release, ie trying to get too much power by using your wrists.

you should be swinging with your arms body and shoulders, reduce the wristy action, only really good players like monty or couples ever had a good wristy swing as its a much more precise art than a body swing.

Hmmm bit of a contradiction there....

:pac:

Seriously though, I think that's where my problem. Ill have a look at a few videos on grip and see what happens. Ill book a lesson with the pro aswell.

Cheers for the advice, I knew there would be someone able to help here!

matt-dublin

:P

Apart for his attitude and always falling at majors, I think he was a great golfer, couples on the other hand was a king!!

He's probably one of my favourite swings, so fluid like.

You have for argue though that woods and mcilroy have two of the most technically perfect swings about as well but a completely different style!!

IMO there's a photo in the below link that should give you a good idea on grip, go get a club, line up in front of a mirror and see where it's different.

http://www.bestfreegolftips.com/best-cure-for-a-golf-slice/

ScummyMan

Yep ill try that photo.


Apart from his hands scaring the sh!te out of me (I think its the veins!) It looks like a pretty good grip.

FixdePitchmark

Man.UnitedLad wrote: »

Ball would be positioned roughly middle of stance, maybe slightly left of centre.

Yeah that would be usually what is happening, short and left, like a duck hook almost, there's a thought actually...

My driving was never amazing, it would be one of the weaker parts of my game, but not to this extent.

I realise it is hard to see without a video, a trip to the club pro is definately in order!

The ball is in the wrong place for good flight.

Your spine angle is wrong.

Try move ball forward.

golfnut1

Sounds to me like your alignment is way off. Id guess you are aligned way to the right. This would fit in with a low hook flight.
Go to the range and line yourself up with two golf clubs one pointed to your target the other parallel for your feet. Once you hit a few shots correctly aligned you should see a higher straighter ball flight.
Imo you a sub consciously over correcting your alignment issue with your hands by closing your club face this explains both the low flight and direction you describe.
Hope this helps.

stockdam

Sounds like a snap hook.......maybe an out to in swing with the club face closed or else rolling the face closed with the hands.

It can be solved with the proper setup and basics so go and have at least two lessons (a month or two apart).

ScummyMan

golfnut1 wrote: »

Sounds to me like your alignment is way off. Id guess you are aligned way to the right. This would fit in with a low hook flight.
Go to the range and line yourself up with two golf clubs one pointed to your target the other parallel for your feet. Once you hit a few shots correctly aligned you should see a higher straighter ball flight.
Imo you a sub consciously over correcting your alignment issue with your hands by closing your club face this explains both the low flight and direction you describe.
Hope this helps.

This makes a lot of sense, the more I think of it the more I think that this may be the problem. Ill give it a try thanks.


Thanks to everyone else aswell, didn't expect so much good advice!

Myksyk

Ball in the middle of stance?? Sort that out anyway. You are trying to come up on the ball with a driver (or at least getting that sense). Try positioning the ball in line with the inside of your left heel for a start. You can move it back an inch or two from there maybe but I wouldn't suggest any more than that.

Kace

Man.UnitedLad wrote: »

Ball would be positioned roughly middle of stance, maybe slightly left of centre.

Yeah that would be usually what is happening, short and left, like a duck hook almost, there's a thought actually...

My driving was never amazing, it would be one of the weaker parts of my game, but not to this extent.

I realise it is hard to see without a video, a trip to the club pro is definately in order!

I can't believe that you can even get the ball that high off the ground with the ball close to the middle of your stance with a driver. As others have said, this will contribute massively to this issue. Good news is it's easy to change.

whizbang

all rubbish :rolleyes:

this much top spin on the ball, and how can I fix it?!

there was an old school of thought, says you have to hit the ball on the upswing.
this is the main issue. ducks, hooks, are like the cackling geese above.
the only to get topspin is by pulling up , usually includes reverse pivoting.

maybe irrelevant but:
put some masking tape,(or electrical tape) on the face of the driver, hit a few balls, post a pic of the tape here.

alxmorgan

Kace wrote: »

I can't believe that you can even get the ball that high off the ground with the ball close to the middle of your stance with a driver. As others have said, this will contribute massively to this issue. Good news is it's easy to change.

Have to disagree with this. I have played the ball out of the middle of my stance with my driver and if anything I get a higher ball flight due to putting backspin on it by hitting down rather than up.

Not saying ball position is not contributing when added to other factors but on it's own I don't think it will cause this issue

Just my two cents

matt-dublin

its grip/alignment/release on this i think

GreeBo

alxmorgan wrote: »

Have to disagree with this. I have played the ball out of the middle of my stance with my driver and if anything I get a higher ball flight due to putting backspin on it by hitting down rather than up.

Not saying ball position is not contributing when added to other factors but on it's own I don't think it will cause this issue

Just my two cents

A high ball flight with the ball in the middle of your stance is due to other things (popping the ball up, skying it, etc)
For you driver the ball should be a couple of inches inside your front heel at most.
Whether or not this is causing the OP's duck hook is largely irrelevant, he needs to fix this.