I’m starting to shoot 40 or lower for 9 holes on a semi-regular basis now. My last three 9 hole rounds I’ve shot 38, 40, 39. The main issue I’ve got is still losing the driver way right at times when I don’t get my right shoulder through.
The other problem I’ve been having is due to the distance I’ve added this year with my irons. Last year I hit my pitching wedge 140-145; this year, I hit it 150-155 (remember, this is at altitude). If I really kill my 52 degree wedge, I get it about 130-135. Often I come up in the 125 range. I really don’t have a 140-145 yard club right now, and I’m hitting approach shots from that yardage a lot.
I’m considering replacing my 52 degree wedge with a 50 degree wedge – I can muscle up on the 56 degree wedge to cover the 115-12o yard distance, but I need something that can cover 135-145. Hopefully I’ll get some time with one of the pros at the club this week and talk it over.
The clubs in the bag right now: Driver, 3-wood, Utility wood, 4 iron-pitching wedge, 52-56-60 degree wedges, putter. If I put the 50 degree wedge in the bag, I’d need to pull the 52, and perhaps replace the 56 with a 54.
While golfers seem to accept absolute distances for their irons (in particular their short irons) most (and probably you) do not accept an absolute distance for your driver. This is also evidenced by the fact you seem to have no shot but a “full one”. So, without ever seeing you hit a ball, work on tempering your swing speed and a smooth, rythmic swing especially at the transition from the backswing to the downswing. This likely ties directly or indirectly into your misses right.
On that subject–if the ball starts left, then cuts right, your swing path needs needs to change. If your feet (and especially your shoulders) are aimed to the left of the target line, you’re likely swinging along your shoulder line, thereby cutting across the ball. OR…if you line up square and your swing path comes outside the target line, you may also be pulling the ball or cutting across it creating a slice.
But, if you are blocking it dead right, it likely has less to do with your self diagnosed “right shoulder not getting through” and more to do with sliding your hips instead of clearing them. Remember, the right shoulder swings just fine unless something interferes with it like NOT CLEARING YOUR HIP.
Save yourself some time and see a qualifed teaching professional. I’m available for $50.00 per half hour.
Also, next time you record your scores, play the ball down, don’t take mulligans, and putt out EVERTHING. If you can still shoot those scores (and I doubt you will be able to for awhile) you can then maybe think about moving to the back tees where we play.
My last bit of adice is simply this: I’ve seen guys like you for 30 years. At 50, I can hit the ball as far or farther than you, but I choose not to. Do you really want to be a player? Put your ego in the bag and accept that 65 percent of the golf game occures within 100 yards of the green. Want to really get better? Maybe you should start there instead of overswinging your driver.
Damn, I must really be bored to have spend this much free time coaching you. Best of luck!!!
You’re making a lot of wrong assumptions, and I don’t appreciate the “stop cheating” advice.
Since I’ve gotten fit for my irons and now have a set that is +.5 inches and 4 degrees upright I no longer lose shots to the right.
Ive been hitting the ball on the in side of my club face and no matter if I move back alittle or not im stiil doing so ? im thinking its because I tend to drop my head forward at the top of the back swing ? help me if you can thanks butch