3 Wood OK - Driver Apalling!

Hi

I'm left handed and I've been playing just over a year. I'm pretty consistent on the fairway, and short game not too bad. My driving however is inconsistent at best.

With a 3 wood off the tee, I'm just about getting to 160 yards, and even then only one in three. I tend to slice the other shots or hit the turf before the ball.

I've tried practising with my driver, over and over, but I don't seem to gain any further ground than with the 3 wood, but hit low and with a big slice (and miss more shots!!).

Consequently I've never actually taken my driver out on the course.

Any tips to gain that extra 60 yards plus? Any way of curing the driver slice?

Mozzap

Not without seeing your swing. From what you mention and only getting 160 yds driver or 3 wood, it sounds as if there are a great many things going wrong in your swing. I might suggest you find a local course pro and take a few lessons and at least get the basics down.

hi mozzap
gonavy is correct!
without seeing your swing it is hard to identify your faults.
i was the same as you and so i took a couple of lessons where the pro strengthened my grip, straightened out my alignment and told me to swing easier.
i can hit my driver now but i tend to tee off with my 3 wood where 230/240 yds is the norm
take some lessons and stick at it

These guys are right. If you try to build your own swing, you'll only end up having more and more difficulty getting rid of the flaws. You need to get the basics down right away. If you don't, then you're in for quite a treat.

Cheers!

it takes most people a long time to get decent at golf. if you are only playing one year, and making decent contact you are ahead of most!! The golf swing is very hard to master, and the driver is the hardest of all clubs to hit! (some would say the putter!!). You would be better off leaving the driver in the bag and hitting the 3 wood off the tee anyway. Most people would say they barely get 20 yds more from the driver (plus some roll). work on hitting a 7 iron consistently, the rest will follow...the longer the club, the longer the arc you swing it through, and the more magnified is any swing imperfection....for most people, when they hit the ground behind the ball, its because their weight is on their right foot (for a right hander)., so the swing bottoms out behind the ball. Try taking a few practic swings with your weight on your left foot and your right foot up on your toes. This will give you the feeling of where your weight should be when you finish . Remember that these adjustments though, are typically subtle, not a huge swaying way out to your left.

Don't worry about distance, work on a good swing...check grip stance...tempo back and through the ball, get a good shoulder turn... focus on releasing the club and making good contact...the ball wants to fly down the fairway

I've been playing about 3 yrs, and I don't use my driver. 240 yds with a 3 wood is good enough for our local courses, and I find I have much more accuracy with the 3. Use the other poster's advice, and get some help. You can make corrections easier before any bad habits you may have take root.