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I've been playing on and off for 20 years. I'm very athletic and in all honestly should play much better. I'm 6'0 230 lbs and in pretty good shape. For some reason I can't seem to play consistantly. I generally shoot in the low 100's (100-106).

My problems include but are not limited to:
Slicing (70% of my drives and longer clubs 6-Driver)
I usually take a deep divot with my short irons (8-PW)
I feel more comfortable hitting out of the rough in the deeper grass - kind of feels like the ball is tee'd up a little.
I dead pull my 7 iron 80% of the time
I either miss the ground or take a divot on practice swings.
I tend to rotate my back shoulder around my swing causing me to come over the top.
I was told this weekend that the club head does not start my swing but rather my body does and the club head follows.
Many times I wish I used my practice swing over the ball.
I tend to over swing.
I will put 3 or 4 good holes together so I know it's in there somewhere.
I'm a very short hitter for my size, strength and weight.
I've played with ball placement, grip (to some extent), trying to slow down my backswing etc.
I tend to stand over the ball, once set, for about 5-10 seconds before starting the swing (I know I'm a mental patient).


I just traded in my Titleist DCI OS for the Taylor Made RAC OS2's. I think they'll take some getting used to.

Now I know without seeing my swing it will be tough to make any suggestions. I tend to over think things (not just in golf but in life in general). Sometimes when I try to just go up there and hit, it's a mess.
I've taken lessons a few years ago. They helped a bit but not as much on the course. The big thing then was my slice. The pro told me I was taking the club back too straight and then looping around and coming over the top. He had me take back to about 9:00 at my right hip. That helped the most but I still can't seem to be consistant.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Steve

Just looking at your post, I'd have to say the problem is that you live in Jersey!

I'm just kidding Steve. I have family in Jersey, and I love it back there.

How often do you play? How much time do you spend practicing?

I have the same problems in Myrtle Beach and Orlando so NJ is not necessarily the problem.

I play about 10-15 rounds per year, including 5 on our annual golf trip. Even when I would play every week for 3-4 months, I never got to where I felt I should be (in the low to mid 90's at least). I used to go through 2 jumbo buckets at the range.

Since you are very athletic why don't you tell us step by step how you shoot a basketball or hit a baseball. Step by step please.

Anyhow, I say your problem is that your thinking to hard and "hitting" the ball. The idea is not to hit the ball but to send it to its target. To do that just swing the dang club!

I know that this is going to sound like a cop-out, but you should really go see a local professional and get a few more lessons. It sounds like your head is getting in the way of you progressing and hitting the ball better on a regular basis. You probably just need to get back to some basics; good stance, proper grip and grip pressure, and a tweak here and there on your swing.

The key is to, once you get some instruction, keep getting out there and practice the new ideas you have been taught, so they become second nature. Then you'll see the results on the course. Like I said, I don't want you to think this is me giving you the "easy" answer, but it's probably the correct one. Cheers. Good luck.

Sounds like you're saying "just do it". As far as shooting a basketbal, yes, I just line it up and let it fly. Hitting a softball (in my case), I have to concentrate more, hands inside, turn the hips, head on the ball. I hit the softball real well (one of the best on my team), I can usually hit it pretty far but always hit it hard.

Here I go thinking again but... Hitting a baseball doesn't necessarily require you to hit it to particular spot so whacking away with the proper mechanics is generally fine. Basketball on the other hand requires you to shoot to a definite spot and the ball is coming right out of your hand as oposed to something in your hand hitting or throwing it.

I definitely tend to over think my golf swing. But even when I just get up to the tee, look for a spot and swing, the ball can go anywhere. Of course I can hit the ball perfectly straight but towards the left, say about 10:30. So trying to conpensate wouldn't do me any good.

Having time to play a round of golf is hard enough let alone getting lessons. BUT I may have no choice. It just seems to me that this game should be this difficult to play well.

You could try hitting half swings. You don't have to crush the ball. I would suggest taking 1 club you want to work on. See if you can hit it stright for 20 yds. If you can then try 40 yds, then 60 yds etc.. till you find out where your limit for theat club is.

First, stop hitting the jumbo buckets at the range. You're probably just ingraining bad habits. Just as a doctor wouldn't perform surgery on himself, a golfer really does need someone else to help identify and correct troubles in their swing. Even the best players in the world, including Tiger, get help when they know something isn't right. It doesn't have to be a pro, although that's probably best. Do you have golfing buddy that plays at a higher level than you do? Do you trust his observations? My best friend and I have probably shaved more strokes off each other's games than any lessons we've had. We notice stuff like how we tee the ball, where we place it in our stance, swing plane, etc. There are some things that we don't try to fix, as we know we aren't qualified. But those little things that really add the strokes, like lining up wrong for an approach shot, or lifting the head, dropping the shoulder, trying to "kill" the ball, etc. we tend to notice and tell each other.

Actually, you'll find the softball/baseball swing is very similar to the golf swing. The hip turn and wrist action generate bat/club speed. And swinging harder doesn't always equate to hitting it farther. You'll get more distance AND accuracy hitting a golf ball with 80% of your power than with 100%.

You may be athletic, but as you have already noticed this doesn't necessarily mean anything for golf. The only way to get better is to work more often on the game (say 3-4 times a week), play more often (at least once a week), and you will almost certainly benefit from a series of lessons. From your description you are no worse than the average golfer. The game is just that hard.

first have a pro look at your setup. try to duplicate that setup evertime out. Next work on the short game. Most amateurs including myself dont hit 18/18 greens (altho it seems like alot of the amateurs here have posted drives of 300 yard+ average) I thought the national average was 250 for men! anyways
setup short game chipping especially then putting . you can shave off 10 or more strokes just by the short game.

The average drive is around 200 yards for men!

I think youre right ^ But in most golf forums is 300 yards!

you've described me...

are you putting your self in that group 300yard+