reducing driver backspin

[goetzn]

I just purchased the "Full Swing" and "Driver" dvds. I was very impressed
by their easy to follow instructions and straight-forward organization. It
tied together a number of separate and seemingly disjoint focal points that
I had collected over the years into one consistent swing process.
Immediately, I am benefiting from a more consistent swing. Thank you!

One question I hoped would be addressed in the "Driver" dvd is how to reduce
backspin. I purchased a new set of clubs last year. I had them fit to my
swing speed and height (7 iron about 95 mph, 5-11 athletic build, so not
much adjustment). And I am very happy with the clubs (except the driver).
I spent about 6 hours over three days trying different equipment before I
made the purchase. One consistent "problem" that showed up (regardless of
which demo driver I used) was that my backspin with the driver was almost
*DOUBLE* the target 2500 range. I attribute that to using the same swing as
my irons (somewhat descending at contact). While I don't typically see a
divot with the driver, I suspect that there must still be a descending
action as the ball is being hit. This driver problem has plagued my game
forever. I'll hit was seemed to be a crushing drive only to see that there
was no roll yardage. It is almost as if I was hitting into the wind - but
no wind... The only counsel I have received from instructors and friends is
to flatten the swing near contact, or try to sweep the ball, or try to
bottom out the arc about 6 inches behind the ball to get the club hitting
the ball on the upswing.

I seem to be doing all the right things: setup: parallel lines (for feet
shoulders, hips, clubface), ball moved forward towards left foot - back
about an inch of inside foot). Backswing: right arm tucked, left arm
extended, wrist not bowed/bent. Downswing: drop hands, extend right arm
hold off on releasing wrist break, usually rotating hips (probably not as
soon as I should. Contact with slight inside/out line. Ball flight
typically is straight, somewhat lower trajectory (using 10.5 loft on
taylormade quad 425 driver w/stiff shaft).

Thoughts?

[Bobby_Eldridge]

I owe you BIG time. This slipped thru the cracks and I am sorry. We will get to the bottom of this.

#1 Do you hit the ball straight or a slight fade?

#2 Do yo knock the tee out of the ground after impact?

#3 I PROMISE TO ANSWER THE SAME DAY
#4 Again, I am sorry for the late response.

Bobby

[goetzn]

Hi Bobby - thanks for getting back to me...

1) I tend to hit the ball straight, or with a slight push right (about 50/50 here).

2) The tee rarely stays in the ground. When looking at the face of the driver, most of the impacts seem to be near the middle part of the clubface (or slightly above). I would expect the tee to be pulled out of the ground as it too is being caught by the club.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

One more question for you, how far do you hit your 7 iron? Level ground with normal green situation, no wind. Smooth 7 iron. Can you hit it to the middle of the green from the 150 marker? Or do you hit the 6 or 8 iron from the 150 marker?

Do you live where you don't get any roll or do you live in Arizona? How far do you hit your tee shot?

[goetzn]

Typically use my 7 iron for shots 150 to 165. As far as the 150 yard shot, I'm in between. I'm pretty comformable with an 8 up to 150. I'm not sure I have a smooth shot in my bag (unless I'm pitching or putting).

I was taped during one of my lessons, where it was noted that my hands were lagging the club at impact (it required video proof, because I was certain my hands were not lagging). This was when my longest hit with a 7 iron was about 145. But since then, I have focussed a lot on keeping my hands ahead of the club at impact. With that change, I have been able to go down about a club and half on my shorter irons.

The only club that has not improved is the driver. Typically, I am hitting the driver about 225-250. Which is weird as I am hitting my 5 wood about 200-220, and 3 wood about 220-240. I get a some roll with the fairway woods, but as I mentioned in the first post, I get virtually no roll with the driver. The fairway conditions are not too hard / not too soft. I am playing in Ohio, not Arizona (we do get a mix of rain and sun).

My next goal is to try not to kill each shot, but rather to allow the club to do the work. This should help my accuracy.

Obviously, I would like to see improvement on both accuracy and distance with the driver...

[Bobby_Eldridge]

One last question, what is the shape of your 5 and 7 iron shots and what is the shape of your 3 wood and driver shots?

[goetzn]

The 5/7 irons typically are mostly straight with a standard trajectory. Not a low boring shot, and not a high hanging shot. They typcially give me the distance I am looking for, without any extras. The 7 is my favorite club - good distance (150/160) and very reliable. The slice/hooks on the irons are not that noticeable, more of a push or pull. The 7 has less roll (as expected), but there is nothing in regards to its shape that is out of the ordinary. I never see any backspin when/if it hits the green. I do like the distance and I typically do not venture to the 4 iron unless I have to (190-200 yd shot - only once a round - thank God).

I use the 3 wood a lot as a second shot on the par 5's. It typcially gives me about 220-230 yrds and is straight, but the direction is not as reliable. It is probably my favorite fairway wood. Mostly dependable, lower in trajectory and long in length. I feel that since I am hitting it mostly from the fairway, or from the not-too-rough (only once as a tee shot on a par long 3 at my course), that I am swinging more relaxed and flatter with it. The goal for that second shot is to get within a 7 iron (150+), so there is not too much pressure. Of course, sometimes I get a bit competitive with my 7 handicap partner (I am a 20), so I end up choking with with a topped second shot...

The driver just seems to take on a different personality. It is used on every non-par 3. Always tee'd up and swung at with a terrific effort (John Daly school of golf). And typically, it follows a nice trajectory that displays a slight rise, but then drops like a rock with little roll. Of course with the extra effort/force, comes the inconsistent results (hook, slice, short) and, of course, that one faily descent shot down the middle on 18 to bring me back to suffer another round again...

So, there is a nutshell is my golf life. More accurate and consistent with the middle irons, ok with the fairway woods, and all over the place, but never long, with the driver. The initial question that was posed was: what can I do about the backspin on the driver, so I can increase its distance?

I do recognize that the grip-it-and-rip-it mode is not right. And at my parner's request, am trying to slow it down a bit. I understand that I can generate more clubhead speed with better mechanics than with more effort. I am now working on the fundamentals. The (seemingly) only issue that I don't have addressed is the backspin on the driver. Can you help?

[Ant]

The 5/7 irons typically are mostly straight with a standard trajectory. Not a low boring shot, and not a high hanging shot. They typcially give me the distance I am looking for, without any extras. The 7 is my favorite club - good distance (150/160) and very reliable. The slice/hooks on the irons are not that noticeable, more of a push or pull. The 7 has less roll (as expected), but there is nothing in regards to its shape that is out of the ordinary. I never see any backspin when/if it hits the green. I do like the distance and I typically do not venture to the 4 iron unless I have to (190-200 yd shot - only once a round - thank God).

I use the 3 wood a lot as a second shot on the par 5's. It typcially gives me about 220-230 yrds and is straight, but the direction is not as reliable. It is probably my favorite fairway wood. Mostly dependable, lower in trajectory and long in length. I feel that since I am hitting it mostly from the fairway, or from the not-too-rough (only once as a tee shot on a par long 3 at my course), that I am swinging more relaxed and flatter with it. The goal for that second shot is to get within a 7 iron (150+), so there is not too much pressure. Of course, sometimes I get a bit competitive with my 7 handicap partner (I am a 20), so I end up choking with with a topped second shot...

The driver just seems to take on a different personality. It is used on every non-par 3. Always tee'd up and swung at with a terrific effort (John Daly school of golf). And typically, it follows a nice trajectory that displays a slight rise, but then drops like a rock with little roll. Of course with the extra effort/force, comes the inconsistent results (hook, slice, short) and, of course, that one faily descent shot down the middle on 18 to bring me back to suffer another round again...

So, there is a nutshell is my golf life. More accurate and consistent with the middle irons, ok with the fairway woods, and all over the place, but never long, with the driver. The initial question that was posed was: what can I do about the backspin on the driver, so I can increase its distance?

I do recognize that the grip-it-and-rip-it mode is not right. And at my parner's request, am trying to slow it down a bit. I understand that I can generate more clubhead speed with better mechanics than with more effort. I am now working on the fundamentals. The (seemingly) only issue that I don't have addressed is the backspin on the driver. Can you help?

Hi, I have the same problem but I have not seen any answer or reply. Is there one? Tks

[Bobby_Eldridge]

1. The first thing that comes to mind is, have you ever teed off with the 3 wood?

2. What is the brand, shaft and loft of the 3 wood?

3. The next time out I want you to hit your driver but make sure you leave the tee IN the ground after the hit.

Bobby

[Jim Wilson]

I spent quite some time a year or so back practicing "How to Hit a Draw" In my experience there were a few specific things that helped. Ball placement off the front heel, not inside; tee a bit higher; assume the K position in setup (trunk/spine tilted away from the target). These all contribute to the club head being on the upswing at impact. Add to this a LIGHT GRIP at impact so the release happens, imparting topspin. This worked for me in generating greater distance and roll.

[OZ_Srixon]

My two cents worth -

Go down to the range and swing some quarter - half driver shots. Swing the club back until your thumbs point up to the sky, and then complete your downswing. Swing SLOWLY - Think of it as almost like a little chip shot, but using your driver, and driver adrress position. You should get very clean centre hits, off course the ball won't go as far, but it will be completely effortless. You will be surpeised at the distance and role you will get from this shot. Be sure to focus on the release of the club head at impact to impart top spin on the ball. Do this religiously for as long as it takes, could be a few weeks depending on how often you get down to the paractice range. Slowly but surely, increase the length of the backswing, before you know it you will be hitting full swing drives, with a long ball flight and a lot of roll. When doing this drill, when the ball lands, you should see it just about kick/leap forward due to the topspin on the ball. It works wonders.