Joe,
I have lost considerable amount of distance on my shots, particularly the drive. I am only averaging 180 yards on the drive. There was a time that I was getting 220-240. I cannot figure it out.
‘r.dowe
Hello r.dowe,
Is this a sudden thing, how long ago were you hitting 220-240? Are you using the same clubs or a different set? Assuming this is with the same set of clubs, loss of distance can be caused by several things, among them “casting” or hitting from the top, or reverse-pivot instead of proper weight shift on the downswing. Trying a wider swing arc may also help.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Joe,
Perhaps you can help me with this question. Why can I hit my 3 wood
consistently further than my Driver, even when both go fairly straight?
Thanking you
Regards
Lance Evans.
Hello Lance,
If both clubs are not from the same matched set, that might be part of the answer, but let’s assume they are from the same set. Distance is a result of clubhead speed and launch angle. If your driver shots are too low you have less hang time, so the extra loft of the 3-wood will give you more hang time and more distance. Use the driver when you are against the wind and use the 3-wood when you are with the wind. Also consider trying a driver that has more loft.
Joe
(see www.geocities.com/golfwithjoey)
Perhaps you can help me with this question. Why can I hit my 3 wood
consistently further than my Driver, even when both go fairly straight?
Thanking you
Regards
Lance Evans.
Hello Lance,
If both clubs are not from the same matched set, that might be part of the answer, but let’s assume they are from the same set. Distance is a result of clubhead speed and launch angle. If your driver shots are too low you have less hang time, so the extra loft of the 3-wood will give you more hang time and more distance. Use the driver when you are against the wind and use the 3-wood when you are with the wind. Also consider trying a driver that has more loft.
Joe
(see www.geocities.com/golfwithjoey)
Monday, January 19, 2004
Joe,
Here's a topic I would like to see addressed, Ball placement in the stance. I was always taught to move the ball forward from center in my stance for the driver and longer clubs but I've never hit those clubs consistently well. Then I read a book by a teaching pro who suggests hitting all normal shots with the club head in the center of the stance for all clubs. The concept here is that keeping the swing the same for all clubs (just vary the swing plane) eliminates one complexity of the game and simply makes more sense. I tried it and found it to work better for me but when I mention it to most experienced players, they disagree but can't tell me why you should hit a driver off your left foot instead of more in the middle.
Ray Salinas
Hello Ray,
This topic, like many others, will be debated forever. There is such a thing called “conventional” teaching, which is to vary the ball position depending on which club is being used. However, how many of us really have a conventional body, with hundreds of conventional muscles and bones with the same conventional ranges of motions working together to perform a conventional golf swing, and a conventional amount of hand-eye coordination and athleticism? Consider conventional methods as a starting point, and make adjustments from there.
Most instructors will recommend the types of things that work for them personally, of course, because they have first hand proof that it works, and that logic is OK but it is not always conventional. This is why you will always hear different opinions from one instructor to another. However, let’s face it, we are all uniquely built individuals, so what works for any one of us, may not work as well for everyone else. There is no single way that is best for everyone.
If you need a little support, fear not, the Body Golf tapes also recommend the center ball position, just like you, so maybe you are already a step ahead of others. There are many good golfers who use center ball position, and there are many other good golfers who use variable ball positions. You may even be surprised to find that a different set of clubs will perform better or worse with either of these ball position philosophies, depending on how well your clubs have been fitted to your swing.
I prefer to keep it simple. Find out where your natural swing produces a divot. If you are swinging well, that should be a consistent spot, place the ball just behind that spot so that you will strike the ball just before your divot begins. If you are not swinging well, and you cannot find a consistent spot where your divot begins, your lower body weight shift needs to get more consistent. The Body Golf tapes will show you how.
Joe
Here's a topic I would like to see addressed, Ball placement in the stance. I was always taught to move the ball forward from center in my stance for the driver and longer clubs but I've never hit those clubs consistently well. Then I read a book by a teaching pro who suggests hitting all normal shots with the club head in the center of the stance for all clubs. The concept here is that keeping the swing the same for all clubs (just vary the swing plane) eliminates one complexity of the game and simply makes more sense. I tried it and found it to work better for me but when I mention it to most experienced players, they disagree but can't tell me why you should hit a driver off your left foot instead of more in the middle.
Ray Salinas
Hello Ray,
This topic, like many others, will be debated forever. There is such a thing called “conventional” teaching, which is to vary the ball position depending on which club is being used. However, how many of us really have a conventional body, with hundreds of conventional muscles and bones with the same conventional ranges of motions working together to perform a conventional golf swing, and a conventional amount of hand-eye coordination and athleticism? Consider conventional methods as a starting point, and make adjustments from there.
Most instructors will recommend the types of things that work for them personally, of course, because they have first hand proof that it works, and that logic is OK but it is not always conventional. This is why you will always hear different opinions from one instructor to another. However, let’s face it, we are all uniquely built individuals, so what works for any one of us, may not work as well for everyone else. There is no single way that is best for everyone.
If you need a little support, fear not, the Body Golf tapes also recommend the center ball position, just like you, so maybe you are already a step ahead of others. There are many good golfers who use center ball position, and there are many other good golfers who use variable ball positions. You may even be surprised to find that a different set of clubs will perform better or worse with either of these ball position philosophies, depending on how well your clubs have been fitted to your swing.
I prefer to keep it simple. Find out where your natural swing produces a divot. If you are swinging well, that should be a consistent spot, place the ball just behind that spot so that you will strike the ball just before your divot begins. If you are not swinging well, and you cannot find a consistent spot where your divot begins, your lower body weight shift needs to get more consistent. The Body Golf tapes will show you how.
Joe
