Well I hit drivers today and I need help...

[progolf4life]

The last time I went to GolfSmith was 3 months ago and I hit an average of 230 and I used a stiff shaft with a swing speed of high 90's. Now I went today to compare the Cleveland Launcher Ti460 and the Nike SasQuatch. My average drive was 183...... In the past 6 months I have been lifting weights and building muscle and growing a lot and today my swing speed was 85 on a an average.. Also today I hit the 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. With both I couldn't get the ball up... before just last month I was hitting the a 10.5 pretty high.... I also pulled almost all of my balls. Does anyone know why the dramatic distance change?

I also tried the stock SasQuatch shaft the stock Cleveland shaft and the Aldila NV65 Stiff shafts. Now mind you with the swing speed I had today I needed an R shaft so I also hit all of those in that. Today with each shaft I didn't even feel a difference except the Aldila had a nicer setup I though but dampened feel. Why didn't I see much of a difference? Was it because I couldn't even get the ball up?

Even though I didn't hit the ball well I thought the SasQuatch had kind of a dull feel and the Launcher Ti460 had a hotter face. On the monitior I hit the Launcher Ti a little farther but not much. They both set up nice in my opinion also. I'll probably get the Launcher but I need some opinions on the loft and why I couldn't get the ball up and I pulled it. The guy there said he saw my left foot move open during my swing so does anyone know why this happens? My grips today just didn't feel comfortable either can someone give me a link to a page that will help me with a PROPER grip.


Please read this guys and give me opinions on all my questions.


P.S. I am not a scratch golfer so please don't bring that up

[equipmentjunkie]

I think you did not see a big difference in the two clubs because there simply isn't a big difference. As for your swing I'm not much help in that category. I would definitely wait until my swing was sorted out until I made a decision on a driver. For some reason I go through this everytime I hit on a simulator, I'll be playing good and go in to hit some clubs and I hit it everywhere. I would get a weighted club like the momentus that has a grip aid on it. These really help me in the off season.

[straightshooter]

Your left foot opened because you stopped your lower body movement during the swing, which means that it had to absorb the swing movement of the upper body swing. It explains the poor clubhead speed also (or at least it contributed to it). It is pretty clear that your swing needs work now. Or you may simply have been too tense during that session. I wouldn't base any club-purchase on that session: Sort out your swing, and then buy a club that you actually hit well, not one that you think you may be able to hit well with further practice.

[deronsizemore]

I don't know why there would be a 50 yard distance gap, but I can tell you that the shaft you choose has a lot more to do with ball flight than does the loft degree on the bottom of the club. You also cannot trust the "R" or "S" or "X" or whatever is on the shaft. Every companies shafts have different specifications for what is a regular, stiff, or extra stiff. Best thing I can tell you is to go to a reputable pro and have them professionally fit you for the right driver head/shaft combo.

[tmtp]

As you have grown and added muscle, some flexibility may have been lost, if you aren't getting as much of a shoulder turn, that could cause a distance loss. It is hard to tell without actually seeing you swing. Ball position could be an issue for the low left shot, if you have the ball too far forward, you may be catching it low on the face to cause a lower flight, if you are too close to it, that could produce the left. A pulled shot is a result of an outside to inside approach to the ball, the club face is square so that is a good thing, the upper and lower body may have been out of synch. Just throwing some things out there since I can't see the actual swing.

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by progolf4life

The last time I went to GolfSmith was 3 months ago and I hit an average of 230 and I used a stiff shaft with a swing speed of high 90's. Now I went today to compare the Cleveland Launcher Ti460 and the Nike SasQuatch. My average drive was 183...... In the past 6 months I have been lifting weights and building muscle and growing a lot and today my swing speed was 85 on a an average..

Seeing that swing speed, I would look at a regular flex shaft. I use regular flex - my SS is 97 MPH and the SQ went 235 to 245. I didn't try a Stiff.

Did you actually see what direction the clubface was pointing when it made contact (i.e. on the Analysis)?

[progolf4life]

As far as flexibility the guy said I made too much of a turn which he called wasted movement but I only took the club and made it parallel to the ground which he didn't want me to do... Sharpshooter can you please explain how I can fix that? and My grip has felt horrible over the past couple of months and I don't think I know the proper way so can someone help with that?

[Nikeguy07]

Grap one of those weighted clubs with the pre formed grip, and see how that feels......It seems to me you dont need a driver right now, you need lessons!

[progolf4life]

I got lessons but the guy said we would start in April. It is a 6-series of lessons.

[straightshooter]

Originally Posted by progolf4life

As far as flexibility the guy said I made too much of a turn which he called wasted movement but I only took the club and made it parallel to the ground which he didn't want me to do... Sharpshooter can you please explain how I can fix that? and My grip has felt horrible over the past couple of months and I don't think I know the proper way so can someone help with that?

To fix the grip, take a lesson. It is too hard to fix you up on a discussion board! It is also pretty hard to get a good grip from looking at pictures of the correct grip, and trying to imitate it, though it is worth a try.

To fix the left foot opening, you could try some posing exercises, in front of a mirror. With pictures of a pro swing sequence to refer to, imitate the setup position(1), top of the backswing position (2), impact position (3), and finish position (4) photographs, and run through the 1,2,3,4 sequence 10 or 20 times, holding each position for a few seconds. After that make a few practice swings, and see if that did anything for you.

[progolf4life]

I just remembered that the guys said I was swinging at the ball and not threw it, how do I fix this?? He said I also put side spin on the ball and it could be from me playing baseball is what he said but also could that have just been because my swing was bad that day?

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by progolf4life

I just remembered that the guys said I was swinging at the ball and not threw it, how do I fix this?? He said I also put side spin on the ball and it could be from me playing baseball is what he said but also could that have just been because my swing was bad that day?

Basic fundamental problem...the walk through drill will help, fixing you grip will really help, lessons that get you swinging vs hitting (which is pretty much the whole issue that lessons address) will straighten you out...

[progolf4life]

Thanks guys I found a grip thats comfortable to me and I started doing the walk through drill.

[pepto]

It's mentioned previously and I'll mention it again. It's sounds like you've bulked up and lost a lot of flexibility. That happened to a pitcher on my son's college team. During the off-season he decided to lift for more strength so he could increase his velocity, but it back-fired on him.
Durring all that time my son ran 3 miles a day and did a lot of aerobics and stretching exercises. He also did some lifting but with lighter weights and high reps.
His workout routine resulted in more velocity and control.
I suppose you can develop a swing for your new shape, but it will take some time to do that.

[Stuart S]

I wouldnt even consider chosing a new driver until you start hitting the ball consistantly well.

[progolf4life]

this is an old thread.....

[pgonza2723]

If he says you are swinging at it, it sounds like you are casting the club. If you have been working out and have gained muscle mass, it could be the fact that you are too tense or that your need to work on your "fast-twitch" muscle groups.