MCH Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 As most of you know, I've recently taken up golf again. Been hitting the range two or three times weekly, weather permitting and have been playing every weekend. Back in college, I used to regularly hit the 80's and right now, I'm just beginning to dip back into the 90's. Here's my problem: Back in college, I was always able to hit my irons better than my driver. One of my friends who was a scratch golfer, tried helping me straighten my drive out, but it didn't work. It seemed the further the ball was from my stance, the more likely it was to be sliced. Anyway, fast forward to 3 weeks ago when I went golfing for the first time in 10 years. My drive's were fairly straight and my iron work sucked. So after working on my irons, I am now back to my college days. 8 out of 10 drives slice over 25 yards and my short irons are OK. I've tried all the tricks that I can find on the internet but none have worked. Talked to several golfers around here and have tried tips they've given me, but none have worked. My next step is to videotape my swing and see if I can dissect as to why my ball is slicing so much and so often. Should I go ahead, break down and pay for a lesson??? How did you work out your kinks?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 I took a few lessons. My problem was I brought my driver in way to tight to my body. I had to learn on my take away to make it nice and wide. Kinda like straight back into the catchers mitt. That really helped me. But it probably would have taken me a LONG time to figured that out. Where as the guy I got lessons from pointed it out rather quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 It seemed the further the ball was from my stance, the more likely it was to be sliced. Anyway, fast forward to 3 weeks ago when I went golfing for the first time in 10 years. My drive's were fairly straight and my iron work sucked. I'm actually just getting back into it myself, and have golfed pretty good...surprisingly, I shot a 47 the second I got out in 5 years. But my Dad says if I would just have one lesson with a pro, let him look at my game, it would do wonders. So I'm really thinking about it. My Pops is a pretty good golfer, and he's taken a few lessons to get there. I think it's worth it. I quoted the lines above because they both seem normal to me Kev. I wouldn't be too concerned. The further away you stand, the more you will slice. Try moving closer, and moving the ball back towards the middle of your stance. Just focus on slowing your swing down and picture in your mind, the clubface making good square contact. Follow through out away from your body, not across (like softball/ baseball). As far as your irons sucking, IMO...those take more time to get down. Just give it time and don't over analyze ("paralysis by analysis" is what my Dad calls it). Just keep putting good, smooth swings on the ball. Don't worry about distance, you'll be surprised what you'll get out of a well struck ball, or if you have to...over club a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 My problem was I brought my driver in way to tight to my body. I had to learn on my take away to make it nice and wide. From what I'm hearing right now, that's almost opposite my problem. A lot of the good golfers around here say I'm probably "pitching" the club out. Sort of like a baseball swing. Instead of coming in toward my body. Went out and hit a bucket of balls at lunch today and tried keeping my arms in and it seemed like that caused me to slice more????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Follow through out away from your body, not across (like softball/ baseball). That may be the problem right there. I keep telling Ron that sometimes on a bad slice, I feel like I'm following through like I would in softball? BTW--got my irons down fairly good now. I hit par 3's in regulation fairly often. But then I 3 putt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Just keep putting good, smooth swings on the ball. Don't worry about distance, you'll be surprised what you'll get out of a well struck ball, or if you have to...over club a little bit. good tip right there....i started doing this about 2 years ago and my iron play is great (its my drives that get me) i used to try to overpower every iron in my bag, sometimes i'd hit a great shot, sometimes it'd be an ok shot, others it would be HORRIBLE...then i started to just go through the motions and swing normal with out trying ti kill the ball...i went from where i could think i could kill a 9 iron to get he ball there, to just picking a 7 or 8 and taking a nice easy swing. as for the lessons, if you think it will help go for it, couldn't hurt. if anything you'll find flaws you didn't know you had. me, i wouldn't do it, but i don't get out as much as i should anymore, and i am in it just for the fun, i learned a long time ago that i am not PGA tour material so i might as well have fun with it:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Yeah Lee, especially if you have graphite shafts on your irons. You can generate a lot of head speed with an easy swing (sometimes if you're over swinging the shaft is whipping to much or too soon). I prefer steel shafts on irons, but even those I don't over swing with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 You'd be better off spending more on lessons than clubs when you start back at it Make sure your weight is shifting and you aren't ending with weight on the right side. I can barely fix my own swing and would hate to jack your's up worse than it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 jack your's up worse that it is. :D Looks like the weather is gonna keep me off the course/range for a couple of days. Strong thunderstorms now and forecasted for the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 I can barely fix my own swing and would hate to jack your's up worse that it is. Amen to that. Although, I did have the same problem years ago, changed my hand positioning to a stronger grip (right hand under the club more) and it has worked out very well for me. That is, if you are after 320 yards drives with a slight draw, into the middle of the fairway..... When searching for answers, the grip is a great place to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 That is, if you are after 320 yards drives with a slight draw, into the middle of the fairway..... thanks, Tiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I just want to give you a few tips incase you haven't heard them yet. Stance and grip can fix alot of problems. Not that I am an expert but I've always fought the slice and this is what I have found. First at stance, make sure the ball is forward of center, and then I have to make sure my right arm is locked...so it kind of looks like I am leaning a little forward with my right arm. Also I am willing to bet you are breaking and/or bending your wrist some weird way thats causing the club head to be at a weird angle at impact. When you are hitting balls at the range, and you start slicing them step away and take a few practice swings. Dont change anything but stop your swing as it comes across the area where your ball would be. See if the clubface is square or not. If its not, you need to adjust your grip. Just doing that alone makes a tremendous difference. Now the other problem I see alot of people have is firing their body through the shot before their arms causing them to slice (also my problem). First thing I always do when slicing is shorten my swing. Say your 120 yards from the green, and you need to hit a 3/4 9 nine iron in there. Take that swing and apply to your driving. Nice and simple. Just make sure your whole body is rotating and you are not just swinging with your arms. Again if you do the practice swings and stop your swing at the bottom, and your hands are in front of the clubface you need to either shorten the swing up a bit or you arent rotating your hips/shoulders enough. If your hands are behind it, your rotating and/or firing through to much. As for the lesson.....I've never taken one. I wonder what it would do though. I like to try and fix my swing myself, which I rarely have to do because it is so perfect:eek:, but it might be worth a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I like to try and fix my swing myself, which I rarely have to do because it is so perfect You had me believing you up until that statement. You've heard the statement "one rotten apple will destroy the bunch"? Well that one sentence discredited your whole monologue. :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Just an update. Played 18 at our local golf course and shot a 96. Was very pleased seeing as how it was only my 4th time out in 10 years. Didn't manage a birdie but I shot 3 pars. They had the driving range closed so we didn't get to warm up at all. Went out and shot 2 eight's on my first 3 holes. Calmed down and shot pretty good. My irons were great all day. My drives were a different story. Think I may have hit 3 fairways all day. Can't seem to work my slice out. Did have my neighbor come up to me last night on the driving range and give me a few free lessons. Before the country club got the new golf pro, my neighbor was responsible for giving the lessons. He told me exactly what I was doing wrong and what to work on. I'm coming out over the ball and he's got me trying to come in along my body. I'm trying to drop my hands down before breaking my wrist cock. Also, trying to initiate my downswing with my hips. I imagine I look pretty funny trying to get everything right because sometimes my shots are pretty horrible. I can tell it will take a while but I'm gonna keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 I'm thinking about having someone look at my swing too. First few times out a was swinging free and smooth and really getting good yardage out of my clubs. Now, I'm swining tight and even have pulled my head up on tee shots. I bought a Cleveland Launcher Comp last night and it's a beast of a driver. I sliced it bad at first but started hitting it OK towards the end of my round. Good to hear your irons are on...mine aren't anymore either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 It was amazing. I would slice my drive into the woods on a par 4, hit a runner out into the fairway and then lob a perfect 3rd shot on the green or within chipping distance. I bet this was the scenario on almost all my par 4's. I did manage to hit 4 green's in regulation, but 4 putted on one of them. I kept track of all my shots and I was really pleased with my putting as well. On 18 holes, I only 3+ putted on 3 holes. The rest were 2's and an occasional 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Putting is huge! I can't tell you how many strokes my putting saves me when I'm putting good. And when I'm putting bad.... Last week I had one of the worst rounds of my life. Main reason, I 3-putted 4 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 What I've found that helped was to only practice from 150 yards and in. I hit a couple drivers on the range, but not more than 5. Your scoring is not made up on the tee box. If you're solid from 150 yards and in, chances are your driving will come along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 If you swing a club anything like you shoot a bow, yep, you better get some lessons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 If you swing a club anything like you shoot a bow, yep, you better get some lessons Coming from someone who took lessons from me, I'll take that as a compliment.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted May 18, 2007 Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 Drive for show putt for doe:D (since its a hunting forum I like that spelling of doe better. ) Finn is right about with having good game within 150 yards. When I was in school playing on the golf team I would always get out drove off the tee box. But then we got to that 150 yards and thats when my game really shined. Then I got the last laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted May 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 I realize that the drive is just one shot, but when you're slicing it out of bounds or into the woods, it becomes a little bit more. Saturday when I shot the 96, there's no doubt in my mind that if I would've been able to drive semi-straight, I would've shot in the 80's. Once I got within 150 yards like you said, the majority of the time I was 3 shots from finishing the hole. It was the 3 shots that it took to get to under 150 that killed me.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted May 18, 2007 Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 More than you know, I understand. Last year I shot an 89 and counted 8 drives where I had to chip out from behind obstacles of some kind. Just saying that I worked extensively on the 7 iron thru wedges and my driver came around, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okbowman Posted May 18, 2007 Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 Definitely pay for lessons! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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