@Tom Saguto That driver swing plane definately feels different when I was use to hitting it steep. I would like to add a question about longer clubs, ie: driver. Sometimes I find myself 'stuck' going into transition from back swing to downswing, what causes this? I would like to guess my front weight coming off the ball. Most of time I'm able to interupt the swing and reset, when things don't feel right.
The longer shaft may make it appear that way, @howard.f.ward, but the angles should remain generally consistent. All other things being equal (and correct), the more in-to-out you swing the more draw spin you will impart on the ball, and that can translate into a big, difficult-to-control sweeper when we get into driver yardages.
@Tom Saguto I had a lesson yesterday with club pro in a Trackman outfitted studio. He wants me to hit up on driver to gain distance and reduce spin. I thought pros hit driver with -1 angle of attack and am I correct that you are not a fan of hitting up as well?
Hi @howard.f.ward - It's really the same swing with every club in your bag. There are just some minor setup differences and naturally occurring shaft plane changes as we graduate up in club length from short irons to woods. For example:
1) With the longer irons and woods it's best to start with a little more weight forward - perhaps 60% instead of the 55% that is prescribed for the short and mid irons.
2) You also have the option of playing the ball progressively more forward with the longer clubs, up to where the ball position is even with the inside of your front heel with the driver.
3) The longer that shaft of the club the more around your body the swing will feel. This is because the shaft plane naturally becomes progressively shallower at address as the clubs get longer, and since there is no independent lifting of the club with the hands and arms in this swing the takeaway path should follow this shallower angle.
4) The increased widening of our stance as we move through the longer clubs necessitates that the hips travel a greater distance laterally in the downswing. If the hips stop their lateral slide towards the target prior to impact their rotation takes over, changing the low point and rerouting the club. This can produce a variety of undesirable results including fat and thin contact, topped shots and popups, straight pulls, and “banana” slices. This is oftentimes the reason some golfers will experience early success with the short irons but struggle a bit with the longer clubs. There are lessons and drills here in the online school that specifically address this.
@Tom Saguto That driver swing plane definately feels different when I was use to hitting it steep. I would like to add a question about longer clubs, ie: driver. Sometimes I find myself 'stuck' going into transition from back swing to downswing, what causes this? I would like to guess my front weight coming off the ball. Most of time I'm able to interupt the swing and reset, when things don't feel right.
Thank you. I was under the impression that the driver swing is more in to out relative to irons.
Hi @howard.f.ward - It's really the same swing with every club in your bag. There are just some minor setup differences and naturally occurring shaft plane changes as we graduate up in club length from short irons to woods. For example:
1) With the longer irons and woods it's best to start with a little more weight forward - perhaps 60% instead of the 55% that is prescribed for the short and mid irons.
2) You also have the option of playing the ball progressively more forward with the longer clubs, up to where the ball position is even with the inside of your front heel with the driver.
3) The longer that shaft of the club the more around your body the swing will feel. This is because the shaft plane naturally becomes progressively shallower at address as the clubs get longer, and since there is no independent lifting of the club with the hands and arms in this swing the takeaway path should follow this shallower angle.
4) The increased widening of our stance as we move through the longer clubs necessitates that the hips travel a greater distance laterally in the downswing. If the hips stop their lateral slide towards the target prior to impact their rotation takes over, changing the low point and rerouting the club. This can produce a variety of undesirable results including fat and thin contact, topped shots and popups, straight pulls, and “banana” slices. This is oftentimes the reason some golfers will experience early success with the short irons but struggle a bit with the longer clubs. There are lessons and drills here in the online school that specifically address this.
I hope this helps!
Tom