good practice bad round

Lately I have fixed up my big hook and can hit straight all the time but I still have one annoying problem that I hope someone can help me with. I was hitting the ball great at the practice range perfectly straight with all my clubs on grass which is slightly thicker than a fairway. I then went to the course and had a decent round that could have been excellent if I didn't often top many shots sending them rolling along the ground. What might be the cause of this "topping the ball" that didn't occur on the range. Otherwise this site has given me lots of help on how the fix up mny other problems.

Naz

Hi Naz 089,

It could be that because the grass is slightly thicker on your practice ground the ball sits up a little better than it would do on a fairway on the course. If you are practcing a lot from this sort of lie then you will become used to hitting the ball slightly higher up off the ground. This will not help you when you are hitting off a tight fairway lie on the course as you will likely hit halfway up the ball or above resulting in a topped or thinned shot.

Try practicing off a slightly tighter lie (shorter grass) and you will notice the differenec on the course. Basically you have become used to hitiing the ball off longer grass.

Good Luck & let me know how you get on...

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Thanks

Greg Hutton
Head P.G.A. Professional
golftuitiononline.com

Hi Naz,

Topped shots, I knew them well. Someone told me one time. On a tight fairway, snuggle the leading edge of the club head under the ball at address. If you can see the leading edge of your clubhead it is too far back. A good way to do this and know where it is. Take a natural setup and hover the club above the ball. It should be just slightly more toward the target than center. Then put the clubhead behind the ball. If it returns to the hoover spot under the ball, you will get a high, soft lander with a lot of spin. This is the pinch.
Another reason could be, if you practice alot on the range, and don't play as much, you want to see where the ball is going. Keep your head still through the shot and let your release bring you into a finish. If you come out of your through swing even a split second before the release you will top it. Wait to hear the click then the ball is gone.

Golfbald

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The guy in the white hat!

When I first started playing golf I played with clubs that were too long for me so I choked down on the handle. That was 4 years ago and I still use clubs of the same size (standard mens size) On the 1st August I was talking with my local pro and he said I am reasonably tall for my age ( 5ft 6 14 years old) and choking down on the handle will cause me to have to stretch down to much on my through swing making me unable to get under the ball. Do you think this is right because my stance feels a bit more in control when I choke down and am closer to the ball but getting the ball into the air is my main priority.

Any comments and opinions will be appreciated.

Naz,

If you are choking down, you are correct you will be closer to the ball. The results will be your swing plane will be steeper. Your distance will not be the best your can produce choking down decreases distance.

Just a suggestion, the cheapest way to fix your issue is: Take your clibs to a club maker and let him measure you properly. Have your clubs cut to the correct distance. Put new grips on them. As you start to grow more, have your clubs checked and put extensions on them and new grips.

Playing with properly measured clubs ensures you have less compensiations in your swing.

GolfBald

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The guy in the white hat!