From: admiral@m-5.Eng.Sun.COM (Michael Limprecht @Sun Micro Mt View. )
Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf
Subject: Re: Help me straighten my drive
Date: 28 Sep 1992 21:08:25 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: admiral@m-5.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: m-5

In article 1488@ennews.eas.asu.edu, collier@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Ken Collier) writes:
>In article <BuyA25.523@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> mkohlhaa@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (mike) writes:
>>I have also been struggling with a life-long slice.  I have found something
>>to help, although it is just a crutch rather than a swing improvement which
>>I really should do.  I tee-off with a 3 wood rather than a 1 wood, regardless
>>of how long the hole is.  I find that I lose only a few yards in distance,
>>but the steeper angle of the 3 wood dramatically reduces the slice.
>>
>>I'd rather hit 250 yds into the fairway than 270 yds into the right hand
>>tree line.
>>
>>Again, though, using a 3 wood is a crutch; there is no substitute to healing
>>
>
>Some time ago I read an article in Golf Digest (I can't  remember
>the  issue)  that  said  that  the  average  golfer hits a 3 wood
>straighter and farther than a driver.  This is consistently  true
>for  me.  The article was trying to make the point that your club
>choice is a very major part of your game strategy (this is a  new
>thought,  eh?) and that you should not get taken in by the notion
>that a driver is the only club to hit of the tee on a long  hole.
>I  don't consider this a crutch.  On the other hand I do consider
>lining up hard to the left to compensate for a banana slice to be
>a crutch.

While I agree with not using a club on the course your not happy with
is just good common sense. I have to say that this is a crutch to your
long term improvement in the game.

The driver is there for a reason. It is the club for distance off the
tee. Not having this club in your bag is a huge handicap on those long
courses where a shot 20 to 30 yards shorter puts you out of reach of
greens in regulation. Yes I know you would rather be short and in the 
fairway that long and out but if you can put a 3 wood 250 yards and
straight you can put a driver 270 and straight. I just takes some more
work.

I have a friend with this exact problem. He hits his 3 wood off the tee
a long way but due to the 3 woods loft it's not very consistant with
cross or head winds. Another friend of mine and I can routinely keep up
or out drive him with our drivers. And when we really connect he's left
behind making him easy prey for those skins on long holes. This guy's
a big hitter and if he would work on using his driver he would be dusting
the rest of us regularly. But he hasn't, so his game has not improved.

Having said that, what you need to do is work on getting that club
back on your selection list. The driver due to it's length and small
loft will show flaws in your swing more than any other club. Next to
show this pattern are the long irons. Most golfers I meet who can't 
hit the driver also cannot hit the long irons very well either.

I think you'll find that if it was your swing that was bad and you
correct it to hit the driver the rest of your fairway game improves
too. You hit the ball straighter with the rest of the clubs.


- Go to the range and work with the club. This is best done with a pro
  or someone who is hitting there driver well. (Better with a pro)
  Someone with a camcorder can help to. I've caught and corrected many
  a flaw this way if you know what to look for. When your at the range,
  pick a target to shoot at or imagine a fairway you like to play.  For
  myself I imagine a bedsheet at the 230 yd. range (California King
  Size right now.) to land the ball on or over. Relax and have fun.
  Forget about the negitive perception you have built up about your
  driver.

- Find a new driver. Maybe your driver doesn't have enough loft for you.
  A new shaft with a different kick point could help. The point here is that
  maybe your just not fit well with your present club. It worth checking
  out if your serious.

- Don't give up. The problem can be solved in 99% of the cases. 


Fairways and Greens,

Mick
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