Tips wanted: Driver paractice

bcoak · Jul 17, 2006

Tips wanted: Driver practice

Thought I would add more data to this post to solicit in depth answers.
I would really appreciate some tips on how to hit more fairways with my driver. Missed fairways killed me this weekend and killing overall game. I find most drives, but in rough making it hard to hit green/control shot.
Context: Club Championship, 54 holes, cut after 36 to low 9 players
Par: 70
Conditions: Calm sunny both days
Course type: New England Donald Ross with hilly, very fast, smallish greens, not overly long (6,596yds) but need to hit driver to shorten approaches due to tricky greens. Thick rough (wet spring/summer and just held State Open at Course a few weeks back)
Me: hdcp 5, swinger.
Scores: 87, 84= MC

FWYS Hit over 36 holes: 5/26. Hit 8 drives left, 13 drives right. Hit it left on same hole both days but that has OB right which is always in my mind. Tendency is Right. Right misses start right of aim and cut. Lefts are more pulls than hooks.
Greens hit: 8/36
Score breakout over 36 holes:
1 Birdie
14 pars
12 Bogeys
8 Dbl Bogeys
1 Other

HELP!

alani · Jul 17, 2006

bcoak said:
Thought I would add more data to this post to solicit in depth answers. I would really appreciate some tips on how to hit more fairways with my driver.

Tips? TGM is not about tips. Either get a lesson with Brian and/or read, study and practice TGM concepts.
Btw, the driver should never hit the fairway, that's why the ball is put on a tee

.

bcoak · Jul 17, 2006

alani said:
Tips? TGM is not about tips. Either get a lesson with Brian and/or read, study and practice TGM concepts.
Btw, the driver should never hit the fairway, that's why the ball is put on a tee .

Real helpful. 4 posts vs. 427 posts.

wanole · Jul 17, 2006

I'm no pro, but just some friendly guesses.

from your other posts I would say one thing is you put too much pressure on yourself. Your post before this tourney had you cooked before you tee'd it up on day 1.

Are you being fair to yourself? Didn't you say you hadn't had much time to practice? How are you hitting your 3 wood? long irons?

Have you looked at your setup compared to your other clubs? ball position, grip and such? If the driver is the only club in your bag your hitting poorly I would think it's either......pressure, the club not right for you or your setup/grip is poor.

Burner · Jul 17, 2006

bcoak said:
Thought I would add more data to this post to solicit in depth answers.
I would really appreciate some tips on how to hit more fairways with my driver. Missed fairways killed me this weekend and killing overall game. I find most drives, but in rough making it hard to hit green/control shot.
Context: Club Championship, 54 holes, cut after 36 to low 9 players
Par: 70
Conditions: Calm sunny both days
Course type: New England Donald Ross with hilly, very fast, smallish greens, not overly long (6,596yds) but need to hit driver to shorten approaches due to tricky greens. Thick rough (wet spring/summer and just held State Open at Course a few weeks back)
Me: hdcp 5, swinger.
Scores: 87, 84= MC

FWYS Hit over 36 holes: 5/26. Hit 8 drives left, 13 drives right. Hit it left on same hole both days but that has OB right which is always in my mind. Tendency is Right. Right misses start right of aim and cut. Lefts are more pulls than hooks.
Greens hit: 8/36
Score breakout over 36 holes:
1 Birdie
14 pars
12 Bogeys
8 Dbl Bogeys
1 Other

HELP!

My 2cents.

1). Ball position: this is critical.

2). Smooth transition: with power fed in gently whilst aiming to achieve max' clubhead speed as late as possible and maintain through impact and beyond.

3). Hands: Imperative to maintain bent right wrist angle throughout the backswing and down to both arms straight, i.e no increasing the bend on the backswing or losing it on the downswing.

Attention to these details will do you no harm and may just help you hit a more reliable shot pattern.

Millrat · Jul 18, 2006

What worked for me,

I can relate to your frustration with the driver.

The last round I played I mashed the ball, several over 300, and found 11 of 14 fairways.

The round previous to this-not one single fairway all day! I sprayed it left and right.

The difference? I feel that my posture was getting out of whack with the number one fault that my spine would straighten up during impact bending the plane line. When I focused on keeping my butt out past my heels (viewed DTL) I had more consistant results with the driver.

That's worked for me anyway.

CW

bcoak · Jul 18, 2006

Wanole,
I definately was geared up and nervous the 1st day, but my expectations were pretty good. It is more of a recurring theme of missing fairways just killing me. The hard part about dropping down to a 3 wood/LI is the distance I give up for approaches. My greens are small, fast , and hilly, Hitting a long iron in vs. a mid/short makes a big difference. My setup could be at fault. i do tend to get the ball too far forward. I try and aim down the right side to play for a cut but it seems that the more right I aim the more out of whack my alignment gets and the further it slices.

Burner,
I think you are correct, its just trying to bring some thoughts from range to course. I did start to hit it further when I concentrated on just holding onto the club with my hands (ala Mike Finney) and using my pivot to power the downswing, but my pivot tends to go forward and up, causing slices.
It just gets frustrating having the same problems and not quite knowing how to fix them. Too bad Brian odesnt come to MA.
I have taken lessons, but have had a hard time incorporating it on the course.
I have read this site for along time and have the Flipper video and have learned a ton. I just wish I could figure out a way to piece together all the great information here to come up with a plan to try and improve instead of bandaids.

wanole · Jul 18, 2006

you may want video your swing on the course and see if you notice anything.

Burner · Jul 18, 2006

bcoak said:
It just gets frustrating having the same problems and not quite knowing how to fix them.

I have taken lessons, but have had a hard time incorporating it on the course.
I just wish I could figure out a way to piece together all the great information here to come up with a plan to try and improve instead of bandaids.

You are NOT alone. I too, and the vast majority of recreational golfers I suspect, have a hard time incorporating our lessons information into on course activity - and therein lies the answer.

Lessons are for the lesson tee and the range. Only golf, not lessons, should be played on course.

I only wish I was as good at following my own advice as I am at giving it because every time I go out on course I am playing "lessons".