Hands positioning for Driver

For many of my short irons, I push my hands forward (resulting in a cupped right wrist) toward my left thigh (I'm right handed), which promotes a downward blow toward the ball. Usually with the ball in the middle of my stance, the club will hit the ball, and then the ground, near the inside of my left heel.

However, when I use the same swing to swing my driver, with the same hand position, the driver hits my tee-ball on a downward blow. If I swing the same as my irons, the driver is doing essentially the same thing -- bottoming out inside my left heel.

Should my driver swing be different? I notice that if I DON'T push the hands forward with the driver (so both hands are pretty much straight, no cupping of the right), the club bottoms out toward the middle of my stance, and then hits the tee-ball on the upward strike.

What is the recommended way?

What you are doing for yuor irons is known as the 'forward press'. When it comes to your woods, some people recommend using the forward press, others recommend NOT using it. It is up to you, and if one works and the other doesn't, go with what works (as long as it doesn't create any further problems).

As for bottoming out inside your left heel, that shouldn't be a result of a forward press. Run through a few swings like that and video tape yourself. I would be willing to bet that you are sliding towards the target instead of hanging back.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

GRIP GRIP GRIP....If you are having problems hitting your driver and are unsure where your hands need to be, go to www.pga.com, click on Improve Your Game, and in that section they have a video (GET A GRIP) you can watch (about 5 minutes), on the correct positioning of your hands on the club in relation to your grip. It's a very good video, and if you pay attention to where your hands should be, and where the V's point to (right shoulder), you should notice a significant improvement. I would direct you to that site, there is a lot of great video there, or find a PGA instructor in your area....

__________________
Matt

Driver - Taylor Made 9.5 R5 Dual (N), Aldila NV 65
Stiff Shaft
Irons - Taylor Made RAC Irons (Stiff)

Wedges - 51 degree Tommy Armour 845 EVO 31
56 Titleist Vokey Spin Milled
60 Titleist Vokey Spin Milled

Putter - Never Compromise Voodoo Daddy
Ball - Bridgestone B330-S Golf Balls