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Ok here is my question. I've came back after golfing good as a kid, now being 24 I have a horrible time driving the ball straight. If I lay off My swing it goes straight but I'm barely hitting 170 or 180 yds. Recently I tried raising my tee and making sure my posture and stance was right with a little more power, I get the ball to fly around 240 or so but it's very hit and miss and if its a miss it's as worse slice as I have ever had. Yet if I hit with a hybrid or iron its a very manageable slice. Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly.

Have patience with yourself, Grasshopper. Then true enlightenment will come to you. I mention this because every time I have an injury or other circumstance that takes me away from golf for a while, I have to learn patience all over again. I also refer to my first book of golf instruction, "How To Play Your best Golf All the Time," by Tommy Armour, Sr. These two things together usually get me back on the right track.

Yep. I imagine after being away for so long you've lost some of that muscle memory, the thing that made your once-sweet swing feel automatic...

No doubt if you put in some work on the range (since you've played before and already have a good idea as to what you're supposed to be doing), you'll get it back....

Recently I took a video camera to the range to film a few side views and back views of my swing. Then I uploaded onto my computer and used the slow-mo in a movie-making app. to see what my body's up to when I'm hitting driver.

The things I saw/learned were very, very, very helpful.

Note: I also tried this exercise by just looking at the video on the LCD display on the camera and it was not in any way the same. The larger screen on the computer and the slow-mo made everything crystal clear...

Good Luck!

Something I like to recommend and have many times here is to find a small rectangular box at least 30"s long and 6"s high. Place the box on your target line and make 70% swings with your driver starting with the tee about four inches from the box. Of course the idea is to not do damage to the box. Vary the distance from the box a bit based on your success or how mammoth your driver is.

I used to recommend a 2x4 or 4x4 but smarter forum members than I convinced me that it could be injurious. For me, the "University of Hard Knocks" gives you a memorable lesson. The cool thing is the box will most likely get you on path and plane, which is what we all strive for, even if you don't know how.

Let us know how it goes!
Bob

Thanks, Bob. Is that with the box centered and about four inches farther than the tee at address?

GH the tee would be at the middle of the box, 4 in with a driver; 3 or 21/2 with an iron depending on how well you are hitting them. The tee is on a parallel line to your target, perpendicular to the box.


Cheers,
Bob

Just a quick note about what I was told by my gf's brother-in-law who's been teaching me the basics. He told me this when I was wishing for longer distances with my drives & long clubs.

It's not how far they go, but how straight they go. Example: When he was first starting out, he was bombing it off the tee, but not exactly the straightest shots in the world. He regularly played with 3 other older gents who weren't hitting it anywhere near as far, but they were always straight & in the fairway. Their scores were more often than not lower than his simply because they knew where the ball was going to be every time so they could basically plan 2 shots at a time...the one they were hitting & the follow up shot.

Here's what I took out of that story. 1. Consistency no matter how far the ball goes. 2. Mediocre distances & accuracy outgun long & wild every time. 3. Something others have already mentioned in this thread -- patience. With practice & patience, the consistency & accuracy will come.

Thanks again, Bob!

Yep. You could also relate that stuff to course management. You play one shot to set up the next, not to see how far you can take it....

Your problem is undoubtedly balance.

Swing as quickly as you can without loosing it. You will know when you've swung outside of yourself.

I would recommend trying to swing with your eyes closed some times. It will help you tremendously. But make sure you do so in FULL FORCE. Don't just half it to try and stay upright. Give it a good strong swing and see how good you can keep your balance steady.

Yeah, I've decided until I can get some considerable time in I will not try to blast the ball. Maybe with time, good balance, and repetition it will just get better. I don't like not being able to launch the ball but I'm starting to see you have to start somewhere, Can't be on the tour after a month . Thanks for the input guys I appreciate the help.