Steven Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 I just got home form the driving range and for the past week or so I've been hitting my 3 wood (from the tee) about 25 yards farther than my driver. Granted, it's not crazy long (about 200 or so), so I know I'm doing something wrong with my driver. It doesn't slice or hook, it goes high and straight, so I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I lost about 40 yards or so from the tee seemingly inexplicably. I'm almost hitting longer with my 5 wood than my driver. I can't feel any differences in the swing or anything, everything feels good, so I'm lost. Does this sound like anything you guys have dealt with, and, if so, what did you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Do I remember you saying your driver is a 9 degree? If so, I'd say that's your problem. Tough for a beginner to hit a 9 degree (generally speaking) Try hitting a 10 or 10.5, or try teeing your driver a little higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 No, it's a 10 degree. I also tee it as high as I can without it toppling over. I tee it so high that today I actually knocked the tee out from under the ball with my 5 wood and the ball dropped straight down to the ground while the tee went flying. Kinda cool in hindsight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Hmmm, well, a 10 is kind of tough for a beginner too. Now that you mention your tee height, you might be teeing too high. You need to hit a driver "on the screws" (old persimmon term) in order to get the max out of your drives. A 10 degree is tough to hit on the screws consistently. Might be a shaft issue too. Do you know the flex rating on your driver? If you're hitting it straight, that's probably not the problem though. Just trying to think of explanations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 The shaft says low torque. Is that what you're asking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Yep, 10 degree can be tough to hit as well. It sounds like that may be the problem. If you don't hit it right in the sweet spot, the ball won't get enough backspin to carry through the air as far as it should be going. You've gotta have a good and consistant swing in order to hit it well with a low degree driver consistantly. An 11 or 12 may be better for you. It was the same way for me when I bought my Callaway driver this year, it's a 9 degree and I didn't realize the amount of difference it was in difficulty to hit that vs my 10.5, it took a long time to get it down pat, but once you get onto them they'll go a mile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 but once you get onto them they'll go a mile. True dat, true dat. When I do get hooked up the ball simply flies, it's just all the shots in between the hook ups that are frustrating me. I guess, for now, I'll use my 3 off the tee whenever I can and really work the driver on the range. I don't really want to have to buy a new driver right now. At this early point in my golfing life, I'm fairly happy with 190-200 off the tee. I still haven't taken any lessons, I plan on doing that now that I'm finally going back to work. Thanks guyeeeees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 True dat, true dat. When I do get hooked up the ball simply flies, it's just all the shots in between the hook ups that are frustrating me. I guess, for now, I'll use my 3 off the tee whenever I can and really work the driver on the range. I don't really want to have to buy a new driver right now. At this early point in my golfing life, I'm fairly happy with 190-200 off the tee. I still haven't taken any lessons, I plan on doing that now that I'm finally going back to work. Thanks guyeeeees. That's what I'd do, just use the 3 wood. It doesn't matter how far they go, it's where they land. 190 to 200 yards is just fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 I'm thinking you may be teeing your ball up to high..... I have a 8.5 degree driver. When I first got it I was doing about the same as you. Hitting it very high and not a lot of distance. Once I started to tee the ball down some I got the distance I was expecting. Might try and teeing the ball down and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 The shorter shaft and higher loft of the 3 wood make it alot easier to hit. Keep hitting the 3 wood and you'll progress where you can hit the driver in time. The driver is the toughest club to hit, but far.....because it's the longest and least forgiving with little loft. I didn't have a driver for many years, and only used the 3 wood off the tee. Got plenty of distance from it and kept it in play most of the time. I would recommend teeing the ball so it's "equator" is equal to the top of your driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABuckSlayer Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 I would recommend teeing the ball so it's "equator" is equal to the top of your driver. That's what I do. I have a Callaway Hawkeye that's 9 degree. It's my favorite club in my bag! It's all in the shaft though when it comes to the driver. You get the proper shaft that's tuned to your swing and you will get max distance. It sounds like your teeing it up too high to me too. Don't give up on the driver... you just need to work it out at the range. Have someone who know what their doing watch you that can help you out. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgyverit Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 clean your driver face really well, then hit the ball, see where the ball is hitting the face. most oversized drivers should be hitting just above the horizontal center of the face but not up near the top. Second thing I would look at is to check the club and make sure the head or the shaft of the club isnt cracked. You might want to let someone else hit it and see what they think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vagobbln Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Just my two cents, but if you're serious about continueing to play golf (even if you're a high handicapper): go get fitted for a driver. It sounds to me like the head/shaft combination you have now doesn't fit your swing. That one ball you hit good every now and then is probably when you've swung with exactly the right speed and tempo for your shaft. But, you shouldn't have to swing to fit your club - your club should fit your swing. I would almost bet you that if you were put on a swing monitor and properly fitted for a driver you could easily pick up 20-30 yards (if not more). Heck nowadays they can even fit you with the right ball too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 If you're hitting the ball high and straight but lack distance, you're probably hitting up slightly on the ball. Just like with your irons, you should be hitting ever so slightly down (or maybe even level) when you make contact with the ball. Either that, or you're off balance and it's causing you to swing all arms and no lower body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Heck nowadays they can even fit you with the right ball too. Yeah, good point. Balls have a lot to do with it too, if your swing is good. I go to the range and I can drive 260-270 with the range balls. When I'm golfing I use either Titelist Pro-V1 or TaylorMade TP Black balls, I can easily hit 300-320. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 My ball is definitely teed higher than Finn said, and I didn't really put 2 & 2 together that I lost distance when I raised the tee higher, so I'm thinking that very well may be my problem. If so, good deal. Thanks guys. (imagine a thumbs up emoticon here.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 (imagine a thumbs up emoticon here.) (ok, if i must) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 <--------like this (imagine a thumbs up emoticon here.) (ok, if i must) LMBO!!!:D:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 (ok, if i must) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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