50/50 hit ratio

Just taken up golf and i am having some lessons.
My problem is 50% of my shots i either top or take a deep divot!!
Can't seem to strike the ball consistently.
My tutor thinks i may be varying the distance i stand from the ball wrongly.
Other than "getting a feel for what's right" is their any advise or suggestions on measuring where one should stand?
[ probably a dumb question but if you don't ask you don't get]

Many thanks
Andy

hi andy
we have all been there at one time or another
check out the lesson section
try to ingrain a consistent set up at address when you do you will strike the ball more consistently

Hi Andy,

Hitting the ball thick (behind the ball) and topping tend to come from the same swing fault: leaving your weight on the back foot and scooping/flipping at the ball through impact.

You will need to understand more about transferring your weight to the back foot in the back swing and the front foot in the downswing and hitting down at the ball, avoiding something called the "Reverse C" or "Reverse Pivot". Ask your coach about it at your next lesson.

By the way, don't feel isolated, most Golfers do this when they start but the soonest you get out of it the better will be your progress.

Hope this helps.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Thanks Brian,
I'll have a chat at my next lesson.
Sometimes you get frustrated when you hit a few shots sweetly then go back to hacking again!!
best wishes
Andy

Good luck. I am glad you are taking lessons. Until you start to have a reasonable understanding of what your trying to achieve in grip, alignment, posture, rotation, ball position and other aspects of the golf swing, throwing some ideas at you might not help much.

mistaking weight transfer technique can cause thin, topped or chunky shots. this is where you move weight to the right foot on backswing but overly so and cannot get it back in time with downswing/impact. Better to roll the weight off left foot onto big toe going back and onto right instep then simply reverse this for downswing. Its a timing issue.

Will give that a try.
Many thanks
Andy

Andy I had the same problems today! So, I looked at some literature (from a reputable pro – Resident Golf Pro for CNN) and here are a few things you may want to consider:

Thinning or Topping the ball – most common reasons – is the tendency for Golfers to keep their head rigidly down during their swing, preventing proper body rotation.

If you fixate on the ball too much (u can just look at it with one eye) when u try and do the backswing you head does not rotate as it should, and the upper body is prevented from opening up, or making a full turn. To compensate for this you will make a second error –since your head has not rotated u will now force yourself to move down on the ball, which will produce a drop in your spine angle and u will now be closer to the ball and even more problems…

So, try relaxing, and having a proper rotation of your head. Often, I have found that when I read some texts I try and apply that information as rigidly as possible. This can be a mistake. While you want to get the fundamentals correct, you also have to find “your own swing” – I was reading an article by Erni Els regarding the importance of “finding your own swing.”

I have read and been taught that any vertical movement during the swing is murder. Greg posted a site here a short while ago featuring the golf swing of pros, and I was shocked to see how much vertical movement Tiger Woods has. It wasn’t my observation but something pointed out by the narrator of the video.

We have all been where you are – good luck.

James