Hi - I think i have a good handle on the fundamentals of the swing. I’m hitting my irons well (great on the range). I’m hitting my 7 wood and 3 wood really great. (I never used my woods much in the past). My issue is driver off the tee.
Yesterday, i was perfect at the range, first two holes banged 2 nice straight drives then I top my next 3 drives before switching to the 3 wood, where i hit high straight and nice shots from the tee, So after about 10 holes using the 3 wood, i go back to the driver, hit a nice shot, next hole i top it again.
On the range I’m not doing that. Am i swinging the driver too hard? If i can get off the tee I’m ok. From 120 in I’m fine. But the driver I can’t seem to stop topping. It also feels like i lose the feeling after a few holes.
There has been quite a bit of dialogue in the Forum on the topic of how to transport "Ranger Rick" to the golf course. We all experience that! All I can tell you is that it is part of the process, and if your practice mode is delivering consistently solid results then it's just a function of time in terms of when/how that will translate itself to the course. As confidence in your swing grows you should find more and more that you are playing "golf" instead of "golf swing" on the course, at which point your mechanical thoughts will be reduced to one or two at the most, and you will be nearly entirely focused on your target and not your swing. An excellent book that may help you with this is "Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game" by Dr. Gio Valiante. A number of members have purchased it and are speaking very highly of its benefits.
That’s me too bro
@firebird0402 - Topped shots are typically the result of a ball position that creeps too far forward or not getting enough weight moving onto the front side in the downswing. Check your ball position first because it does not necessitate any swing modifications. With the driver your ball position should be even with or just behind the inside of your lead heel, with your hands being even with the inside of your lead thigh at address.
If that does not resolve the issue, then your lateral hip slide might be prematurely stopping in the downswing. You need to keep those hips moving forward all the way into impact while the upper torso remains in place to keep the swing center and low point intact. When properly executed this motion should have your weight 80% on the front side halfway down, 90% at impact, and 95% in the finish. If it quits too soon the hip rotation takes over, moving the low point back and rerouting the club across the ball. It seems to me that you may be doing this correctly for a few shots, and then perhaps the "kill it" instinct kicks in, relinquishing control to the upper body and stymying the hip slide and forward weight load.
This is a common issue that I am regularly asked to fix, so if yours doesn't relate to any of the above causes - or if it does and you are experiencing difficulty resolving it - we can always arrange for a V1 swing video analysis to pinpoint the culprit and offer an appropriate solution.