golfrewind.com

Hello,
I have a major issue still. I go to the driving range a couple times a month, and play golf regularly (usually, havent played much lately). Anyway, I am just pretty discouraged because I cannot strike the ball well. I am not going to get lessons this year I dont think, I will just work on my game. Last year, I played better and was decent at just below 50 on a 9, pretty good for me. Right now, I don't want to even score. I hit the ground before the ball EVERY time. Out of a bucket of balls, I hit ONE deeeecent shot, and that was it. I seem to hit anywhere from right behind the ball, to way beind. And I do not think putting the ball further back in my stance will make a huge difference because I hit the ground so hard. I cant seem to correct it, when I try, I top it. My shots either go dead right and very short, or a hard hook. I dont think I have hit a drive over 200 yards this year while last year I had a handful over 250. Right now, I doubt I could hit over 150 with anything. I would really appreciate some advice.
-thanks

FINISH!

Hold your finish and identify these things.

1. Balanced on your front foot.
2. Front foot is FLAT on the ground.
3. Right shoulder is level or lower than your left.
4. Elbows are in front of your chest.
5. Right hip and knee are over the toe of your front foot.
6. Club is pointing back to where the ball was.

See if it helps to try to hit the front of the ball (the side facing the target). Worked wonders for me when I was hitting them behind the ball.

I know someome is about to post this so i will go ahead and reccomend getting a lesson. If you are going to invest the time in golf I think it would be a wise choice to have a PGA proff. look at your swing. It will make golf a lot more fun and you will be actually working on something postive when you invest the time to hit balls instead of further practicing bad habits. Good luck!

I think you might be trying too hard. Sometimes it's best to take a step back and have a look at where your going wrong rather than trying to hit out the problem at the range. If you dont want to take a lesson as mentioned then firstly go to work on the fundementals,- grip, posture, alingment etc.....Golf is a game of confidence, confidence will be found by good ball striking, good ball striking will be found by having a positive attitude and taking really easy half swings with a light grip.
Work on the above and let us know how you get on, remember- really smooth, lazy half swings.

Sounds like your coming in too shallow and trying to lift the ball...try hitting down on the ball more, even with the woods, and see if it doesn't get crisper. Hit the ball down and forward, not up.

Shade

It sounds like you definitely need some good instruction.

Since you are not going to take lessons, all I can tell you is what works for me. It's called "The Golf Swing And It's Master Key Explained" by Noel Thomas. I think it is available only on the web.

I do not know if it will work for everyone, so pay your 6 bucks at your own risk.

Watch golf. Tivo it. Watch it in slow motion. Watch, watch, watch. They won't talk to you and tell you what to do, but they'll show ya over and over for free! Many different ways to get the same result. Watch their mechanics from address to finish. Get it clearly embedded in your mind's eye then go do it. Feel what your mind sees. It might sound silly but it's called "mind-muscle connection." (Don't watch lefties unless you're a lefty or Jim Furyk). It won't happen overnight, but if you can envision yourself striking ball first and ripping a perfect divot in your mind, your body will follow.

Start with half to 3/4 backswing till you start making solid contact. I'm no pro, I only shoot low 80's but I'm completely 100% self taught.

I have a book called "Breaking 90" by Johnny Miller which is a good read. Check it out. Heck I'll send it to you if you want it. Might help, can't hurt.

Don't get discouraged. One of these days you'll feel it. "It" being the swing you've been searching for. Then you beat the darn thing repeatedly till it is all you know...wearing out gloves and grips like tires on a big block Chevelle...and lovin' it the whole time!!!

Yuk! I feel your pain. I wish we could see a video of your swing. It's the only way we could probably be of any practical help. The next avenue I would suggest is at least one lesson. Our faults usually encompass multiple flaws in our swings but there is probably one major thing you are doing that a trained eye could pick out. Obviously your spine angle or the level at which you start you swing changes between setup and your swing back down to the ball. Mostly one lifts the club up meaning one has to reach back down to the ball a move that is difficult to time. Could be that you are straightening your right leg going back. You could also be straightening your spine, lifting up, when you take the club back. You then may be over adjusting coming back down making the club hit behind the ball.

You should have a flex or bend in your right knee at set up. Concentrate on not letting the bend in your right knee change from address through impact. Keeping the flex in that knee, keeping at the same level, is fundamental.

Nothing worse than leaving the range totally devastated.
I know I have been there.
I went thru a whole year of that and lessons made it worse because the walk thru drills they were teaching me made me lunge. I finally had to teach myself how to rotate and not sway and it has gotten much better this time around.
Keep your chin up there are better days ahead.

I was doing the same thing for a while. In my case I was getting way too much body turn and lean in the back swing, then when I came down on the swing I wasn't fully turning back to center. Try staying centered on top of the ball, it may feel like you are only taking a short backswing, but in reality you are not.

Thanks for all the tips. I will work on them.
-thanks