I'm not too consistent driving. Normally, my dad drives like 260 right down the center using a crappy driver he got for like $15. But when I drive, I use his sometimes, cause it has a bigger head, and I like using those to drive. I'm getting a new driver this year, but I don't know what I'll get.

But here's my question, since I use a 460cc head, I usually tee it right above the club face, when the club is touching the ground, and then I swing without touching the ground. Is there anything I should try different when I'm at the driving range?

Hi Jesh! Don tees it higher and tries to hit the ball when his clubhead is past the bottom of the arc and starting to rise. Lots of long drive contestants do this to get more distance. The physics of this is posted somewhere on the net. The general rule I'm familiar with for the rest of us is to have 1/3 to 1/2 of the ball sticking out above the driver head when you ground it in front of the ball. I hit better when I tee it lower like this.

Alright, I'll try this method at the range, hopefully tonight before I go to work, and see how it works. Thanks for that tip.

So you put the club head on the ground in front of the ball and tee it around half way above the head? Do you hit the ground at all?

Yes, head on ground in front of ball. I like about half a ball. I use a conventional 460 cc head. I don't have trouble with hitting the ground. If I tee it up higher, I do tend to hit popups. Lower, and the ground becomes an issue. I often see people teeing it up even lower and hitting decent length drives, though.

I'll try half a ball. Thanks.

Not to throw in complication, but it has been my experience that driver over all length is more critical when teeing the ball higher than Laney;s suggestion. I find it harder to make consistent contact with a longer driver, even an inch longer when teeing higher. DOn stated in an earlier post, it just takes practice. I have gone from 2 3/4 in tees to 3 1/2 with the new driver Don built, but the Titleist is 1/2 shorter than my HiBore. This may have some to do with natural swing angle and release point, the rest I am sure is mental. I tend to be that way.

Thanks, Chief, I'll try choking up and teeing higher at the range and see what happens.

By the way, TX is having beautiful weather. I'm stuck at the office, or I'd be out playing or practicing. What's the story for the rest of you?

Jesh, what do you mean you're not too consistent? Goes left? goes right? top it/sky it? We can have lots of suggestions, but it helps to know what the result of your misses are so we can back into some ideas for the cause.

And welcome to the site.

I slice. I think it's my swing speed, but I've never timed it, but I've heard the harder you swing, the more side spin you put on.

Hi Jesh,
What you posted is not what causes a slice. There are several things that do cause a slice, but it wouldn't be in your best interest if any of us start giving you advice before finding out some things about your swing. The best thing would be if you could post a video of your swing.

Ah, I don't own a video camera, but I'll do the best to described what I've been told by my coach and local pro. Apparently when I pull back, I come back and bend my left elbow. (I'm a rightie). So anyway, I've tried to focus on coming back "low and slow" and then driving forward with my hips. I wish I had a video.

I'm playing a 9 hole round, maybe 18 tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.

Jesh, reading your post changes my thoughts a little. It looks like you're on a school golf team, which is really cool. You may, or most likely will, get comments from this forum on your driving question. I would like to see you, not listen to any of them and, for now, pay attention to what your coach and golf pro tell you.
Any comments that come from this forum will be guesses as no one can see your swing. By the time you try to digest and sort out what's correct and what isn't correct about all these suggestions, your golf season will be over and your coach and pro will be shaking their heads.
Let your coach and golf pro guide you along this year. DO NOT go searching for answers about your swing from a lot of people and DO NOT pay attention to suggestions thrown at you from anyone other than your coach and your local pro. Especially from this, or any other forum.
If you stick with golf, the day will come when you will have learned all you can from your coach and local pro. That is the day you get another mentor and go to another plateau.
BTW, good luck this year and win a lot of matches.

Haha, I doubt we'll win too many matches, mainly because our best player is usually around 40 for 9 holes.

I went to the driving range, and found out I pull my hands in relly bad. I could set up so the club heel should be the part hitting, then when I actually make contact I'd hit it straight on. I hit a few perfect 250-260s.

I'd recommend you have a little session with your pro, and have him help you with getting into the correct position at address for all your club. This should help with your problem of pulling in your hands. SETUP 101 is in order is my vote.

WHat do you mean by address? Like where I should position myself according to the ball?

Jesh,

www.pgaprofessional.com/golf_glossary

Jesh; YES. There is an easy way to figure out exactly where your feet need to be in relation to the ball for every standard shot.

If you really don't know what ADDRESS means in golf, I'd have to say you need to talk to your coach or golf pro real soon. They have both failed to teach you 1 of the first 2 thimgs you need to know about playing golf.

I knew what address meant, it's just sometimes I get confused with all the terms.

I think I loosen my hands too early sometimes, and that opens my head up, then I hit slices.

Jesh, one of the things I was doing/do when I hit slices is I slide my body forward and basically get my hands too in front of the clubhead to get it square at contact. So also make sure you're not sliding forward as you downswing.

Jesh, you should "MAINTAIN" a constant, consistant grip pressure for the entire swing. If you are "loosening your hands" during your swing, you need to correct this before you go any further.

Jesh,
Please refer to post #32046 posted in this topic.

BTW, Don't worry about getting confused over the terms. When I first met Don, I told him he needed to learn how to address the ball. He told me he knew how to do address a ball and 2 days later I received a golf ball in the mail with my name and address written on it with a Sharpie.

I think I just spilled my beer, I mean coffee. Oops, I need to watch saying that stuff with Bill around. Hey, by the way guys, so I'm working on keeping the leading elbow straight on the takeaway, low and slow, but am finding I'm not able to get into a full swing position like this. I was thinking about doing some reps on a daily basis with a weighted practice club I have. Think that's a decent idea? Probably has more to do with flexibility than anything.

The correct way to addresss the ball.

Dear Mr. Golf Ball.
Please go straight, and where I'm aiming.

thank you very much,

your friend and humble servant.

Sighed XX

Don...

Your posts are mostly direct and to the point...
This is one super post that I will use tomorrow on the course...
Will certainly get a laugh...