Same swing for all clubs?

[tonyrtonyr]

I've heard it mentioned time and again that we should use the same full swing for all clubs in the bag from the wedge to the driver. "Swing the driver just like you would a 7 iron..."

Does this work for people? Sometimes I'm hitting both the long and short clubs well in a round but often I'm comfortable over the short clubs and striking them well and can't get my driver "set" correctly at the top (or a least that is the feel). Other days, the driver can be dialed-in and I'm sloppy with the short clubs.

I don't think it's ball position, I've experiemented with this. Rhythm could be a factor and I think my set-up could contribute as well. With the shorter clubs I often feel it easier to get my right shouler on plane. My latest thoughts are that equipement could be a factor i.e., maybe I compensate my swing to make my ill-fitted driver work and this swing does not translate naturally to the shorter clubs.

In general, should I strive to make the swing the same for all clubs or do the different lengths and different emphasis on accuracy vs. distance merit different methods?

 

[self-mastery]

Not hitting driver as well as I hit my irons is the bane of my existence
I tempted the gods today on the third hole by playing driver, and was quickly punished for this sin. My driver is a golf bag ornament... Similar to Madonna's guitar (stage ornament.)

Different swings for different clubs?

I think that there are different fundamentals for different clubs.

My solution is to find the absolute best iron face hybrid with 15* of loft. That should get me a consistent 275-280 with roll and a draw.

 

[Scottgas2]

Why would you even think about a driver...

.... if you can get 275 with a hybrid>

 

[JeffM]

Make sure that your driver isn't too long for your body size (specifically the distance between your wrists and the ground). I am 5'7" and I benefited greatly when I cut 2" off the length of my driver. It allows me to swing the driver like I swing my hybrids.

Jeff.

 

[tonyrtonyr]

Make sure that your driver isn't too long for your body size (specifically the distance between your wrists and the ground). I am 5'7" and I benefited greatly when I cut 2" off the length of my driver. It allows me to swing the driver like I swing my hybrids.

Jeff.

Jeff this is an interesting thought. I don't recall this issue being as pronounced back when the drivers were closer to 43" (I've been playing 35 of my 41 years). Now I play with a 45" driver (fairly standard these days) and with the humungous heads of modern drivers I tee the ball much higher which only increases the "crowding". I often do feel more comfortable choking up an inch with the driver.

As I'm sure you know, if you cut off length you effectively make the shaft stiffer. So I may have to apply some science here and hook up with a local fitter and experirment with all the variables. There is a local "lab" here with a decent reputation and they mentioned last time I had a club bent that their data showed enhanced performance for many people with (shorter) 44" drivers.

The extended length would also seem to effect rhythm. Imagine how long you would have to "wait" on one of those crazy 48" long-drive war clubs (I can remember the feeling of taking swing with the flag stick).

self-mastery, yours is a unique solution, but I'm hard-headed enough to want to hit a driver (and I think it would help my game).

 

[puttmad]

...

Not hitting driver as well as I hit my irons is the bane of my existence
I tempted the gods today on the third hole by playing driver, and was quickly punished for this sin. My driver is a golf bag ornament... Similar to Madonna's guitar (stage ornament.)

Different swings for different clubs?

I think that there are different fundamentals for different clubs.

My solution is to find the absolute best iron face hybrid with 15* of loft. That should get me a consistent 275-280 with roll and a draw.

sm,
Your (our) drivers tend to be one off clubs.. That leads to the thought that they will not be frequency matched to the rest of our set...
This is an advantage the pros have that Mr average doesn't generally have conveniently available..

 

[JeffM]

This is Tom Wishon's advice regarding driver length from his book "Search For The Perfect Golf Club".

My wrist-to-floor distance is 31", and Tom recommends a driver length of 42.5" for me. My original driver length was 45".

Jeff.

 

[tonyrtonyr]

Jeff,

I'm guessing you gained accuracy with the shorter club but did you lose distance? I'm curious about your ball flight (trajectory) and how your worst misses changed before and after as well?

 

[Vicious Circle]

I have the book but never tried the measurement til tonight. I'm 34-36 which translates to the old 43.5" length driver.

For fun I set the tape up at 41-42" for equivalent to 45.5" driver (what I'm currently playing) and it ended up halfway up my forearm.

I don't find that I have that much more trouble hitting the big D vs the other clubs in the bag - I hit them equally marginal

 

[JeffM]

Tony

I have actually gained distance (about 20 yards) and also have increased accuracy - the reason is that most of my driver shots are now hit on the sweetspot. According to Tom Wishon, for every 1/2" away from the sweetspot you hit the ball, you lose 10 yards. So, if you hit it 1" away from the sweetspot, you lose 20 yards.

Wishon also did an experiment to see the difference in driver carry distance when hitting different length drivers. These were the results for a constant swing speed of 90mph.

Driver length -- Carry Distance

42 --- 209 yards
44 ---- 210 yards
46 --- 211 yards

He therefore concluded that increased driver length doesn't increase distance, but it significantly decreseas the likelihood of a golfer not hitting the sweetspot, and that definitely affects carry distance.

Jeff.

 

[dbl]

I've heard it mentioned time and again that we should use the same full swing for all clubs in the bag from the wedge to the driver. "Swing the driver just like you would a 7 iron..."
(snip)

In general, should I strive to make the swing the same for all clubs or do the different lengths and different emphasis on accuracy vs. distance merit different methods?

I would say YES, though you can customize with whatever clubs you want to. I know I use the exact same swing thoughts and basic arm and body motions for driver or 3I or 5I or 7I or 9I. As we get into wedges, I use a variety of specialty shots depending on distances.

 

[speedracer68]

I play with a 44" driver and it's very accurate and once in a while maybe twice a round it gives me surprising length..I'm just happy to be in the short stuff all the time..Playing from the rough is a pain in the @ss..=(