Question:
Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from 240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
Response:
Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from
240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. Boy, this sounds terrible. An accurate 250 yard shot off the tee. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
Hit the 3 wood on "narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d" par 4’s? If you were using the big dog effectively before, I’m sure it will come back. The key word being ‘effectively’, not just the remembered good shots, but the average of all of them. — Golfing in Arizona.
Response:
Hell yes that happens to me! You must be my long lost twin brother. 
Sorry, I don’t have any suggestions, but I’m going to play close attention to this thread.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from 240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
Response:
Boy, this sounds terrible. An accurate 250 yard shot off the tee.
Obviously I’m not complaining about that. Having to use the long irons extensively the past month has really helped me, however, on days when my timing is not the best, I’m more at ease standing over the ball for an approach shot holding a 7/8/9 iron instead of a 3/4/5 iron. Hit the 3 wood on "narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d" par 4’s?
Don’t have a 3 wood I trust. Never really used a 3-wood, always used long irons. Maybe now is the time to use/try one? If you were using the big dog effectively before, I’m sure it will come back. The key word being ‘effectively’, not just the remembered good shots, but the average of all of them.
Yes, I was effectively hitting the driver, not just 1 shot in 5 attempts. I’m feeling a catch 22 situation, I want to take a break from it, maybe I’ll get it back cause I’m over thinking it now, but then I don’t want to break cause I’ll feel like I lose my groove with the irons, and the club championship is labor day weekend, arrgh! No, I’m not losing sleep over this, just wondering about what others have gone through,etc. I’ll manage this way for now, I just wouldn’t mind getting back to reaching some par 5’s, hitting driver /sand wedge into some greens.
Response:
I am not an expert by any means. However, in my swing – I notice that my errors happen when I speed up my swing, or mess up my tempo. So – when things go south, I concentrate on slowing down, and getting my rythm back. When I slice, I am going too fast. When I Hook – I am going too slow. That’s what I look at first. When I get REALLY lost, I start doing 1/4 swings, and checking things. Then 1/2’s, then 3/4’s, then full swings. That’s what works for me. Strangely enough, I would say that my best club in the bag is my 5 wood off the fairway – and then my 3 wood or driver off the tee. the rest of my game just plain don’t work yet. But – I am going to a 3 day golf school to see what I can learn. Should be intersting.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from 240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
Response:
this is exactly wehre my swing sits.. tempo is sooooo much of it… i have found that my takeaway is pretty consistant.. and i hve to make myself feel that slight pause before i start coming back… that is my one and only swing q that i feel for.. the pause.. other stuff. i pretty much can feel around for.. a hook pretty much tells me i have happy hands.. (feelign pretty good and ready to pounce on the ball) a slice pretty much tells me i am either getting tired or get lazy hands… all pretty obvious.. but all in all i think i have a pretty sound swing.. its the matter of getting some use out of it… golfing 6 times a year is not going to get me shooting in the 70’s consistantly. i can shoot a 82 or a 88 but i just sit in that range with hardly any practice and no frequency… i guess i have to WANT to get it down lower and head otu more.. work work work
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from 240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
Sounds like what I am just coming out of. I figured out with the help of a simulator and an observer that I was swinging flat and around my body instead of following through to a nice high finish. Bingo. That was it. I had been messing with grip and stance to no avail. Squared things back up, went with a neutral grip, and slammed a few 260-280 yarders right down the middle with a very slight draw. Mike Warren
Response:
I suspect its related to your spine angle. Try to keep your spine angle constant, and at address maybe tilt over a bit more with the driver.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from 240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, over a month ago I lost any ability to hit driver, or any woods for that matter. I carry a 4.8 h.index and feel like a 25 hcp when holding a wood in my hand since I have no clue what is going to happen anymore. I’m using 2-iron off the tee these days and end up with a tee shot anywhere from 240-260, and pretty accurate, but that takes me out of my normal game. On a long par 4, I’m getting tired of hitting 2-iron, 5-iron, or sometimes 3 or 4-iron depending on the tee shot. Anyway, I took a lesson and the instructor said I was getting way to flat on my backswing. He said work it more upright. I’m working on that, I can hit my irons no problem (Thank God!), it’s just the stinking driver. I get that closed, hooded club face at impact and the ball carries maybe 200 yards, mostly left and rolls with a ground hook, which kills my chances of scoring well on my clubs narrow/tight fairways and heavily tree’d course. So, has this happened to anyone else? I know this has to be mostly mental, since I used to hit my driver fairly long/slight draw. Any mind tricks to jolt this slump? Any drills (other than the dozens I’ve spent time on thus far) that might help? TIA.
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