My Driver is now causing me problems

Hi guys,

Don't know whats going on now with my driver and wondering if my driver or swing is the problem. Here is whats happening:

Iron play no problems 70 to 80% straight and hitting the targets I pick. Hence why I dont think its a swing problem

Driver 20- 30 % on target usually I had a slight draw however I am now on a slight fade but the worrying bit is my ball height in flight. It is now going to high and carry distance being effected. My set up hasn't changed as I always do the same routine. I have however started to put the ball back in my stance because of the height issue.

Questions
1) Do you think my driver loft will need to be changed currently I am on 10.5 deg should I go down to 9.5 deg
2) Change my driver grip but I dont want to change my iron grip as I am very happy the way I am hitting these (Even manage to get my 3 iron long and straight now)
3) Could my swing be more consistant and precise compared to before so I am over hitting the driver on the upswing.

I just dont know.
Cheers
Mark

Its always the drivers fault.
Sounds like your opening the clubface causing more loft(hence the higher ball flight) and the fade instead of the draw.
Get the club face square and the Angels will sing . ( I heard Jack say that once )

Hi Mark,

Try the ball a little more forward. Keep your head behind the ball through impact. Make sure your release to the ball is not too steep.

Hi Brain,

Cheers for the reply. I have how ever used to have the ball forward inmy stance with a slight weight bias to my right and my driving was fine until for some reason over the last 5 rounds my ball has been rocketing up in the sky with little carry. I am just wondering though now you mention it that I might be releasing to the ball to steep. How ever will end up paying for a lesson to solve it.

Cheers
Mark.

A few things to check, Mark.

I think to start with most people swing the big stick differently, usually a lot more aggressively and deliberately trying to create a huge arc. This is often overdone. Also, with the bigger attempted wind up, it's easy to move too far off the ball, triggering too big a slide to the left with the hips on the downswing. This will do two things; get you ahead of the ball most of the time (could explain your high ball flight as you'll actually be coming into the ball at too steep and angle and the lack of power) and / or significantly increase you spine tilt if you're consciously trying to keep the head well behind the ball. Either way, you won't hit the ball consistently.

Moving the ball back in the stance isn't a fix - should make the problem worse.

There's no doubt the driver magnifies 'mistakes'. Best advice is to try to keep the whole swing together (i.e. arms, shoulder, body, legs etc working together). The length of the club and the feeling you want to nail the ball disrupts these connections. One thing that I found works for me is to concentrate more on the throughswing - i.e. getting proper extension through the ball. I used to focus far more on backswing thoughts, e.g. full shoulder turn, big arc etc. Basically, I was putting too much thought into the backswing and not enough on the throughswing. Hope something in there helps!

Several other things to check
1) your alignment - may be aimed to far right - particular if the ball is to far back
2) Have someone check the clubface at the top of the swing, if it is open you will unconciously pull down with your shoulders to square up the clubface.
3) You initial tempo - may be too quick
4) Check for a reverse pivot - your weight going to the left leg instead of the right. Try a headcover on the outside of the right leg and feel the pressure on the inside of the right foot on the back swing.
Hope this helps, mike.

Mate, I consider my driver the same as my ex wife......

One day it's all good, everybody's happy...

The next day, it's like world war 2..........

And no valid or logical explanation in sight.

Don't change anything, it used to work, it will work again...

Cheers

Hi Scraggs,

That's good .

I must admit drivers can produce what I call a "Son in Law" shot. Not exactly what I was expecting but it will have to do!