Whats the Cause of this

Bobby Uchida · February 11, 2009

And how do I fix it

(mods please feel free to move this if it is in the wrong forum)

I had posted a topic on here when I first joined on how to lower my launch angle from nearly 16-17 degrees (ballspeed 150-155). I have since been able to get it into a more acceptable range of about 14 degrees. However, I have been experiencing a problem which I believe is causing me to lose out on some major yardage. The majority of my drives have been stopping quicker in the fairway than some of my wedge shots do on the green. I am often able to find my drive's pitch mark in the fairway about anywhere from 5 behind to 5 feet in front of my ball. I understand that conditions currently would warrant for this to happen, this has been an ongoing problem for a little over a year now, even during summer and spring on drier courses. The ball will carry anywhere between 260-265 and literally hit and stop. Does anyone have any insight as to what is causing this, whether its spin or launch angle, and what would be the best way to go about fixing the problem, swing change or shaft or different head with less loft? I had thought it would be too much spin from hitting down on the ball as I am a digger with the irons and wedges, but how can that be possible to be hitting down with a driver if I get 14 degree launch angle form a 9.5 head. Any input is great. Driver is ft5 tour neutral 9.5 grafalloy blue (not prolaunch) stiff

herbygolf21 · February 11, 2009

I used to have the same problem back when I played in high school. (That was a few years ago now ) Anyhow, this is most likely caused by your angle of descent into the golf ball. I am guessing that the bottom of your arc is somewhere in front of the golf ball. The other problem associated with this is the likely early release of your angle between your hands and the shaft. Your left wrist is probably broken down at impact and causing the additional loft. This problem is common with people who have a descending blow on the golf ball. I would not recommend an equipment change until you have the swing looked at. If you can post some video I can analyze it for you. A good training aide to assist in keeping the impact angle is the Pure Ball Striker. It can be purchased at PBstriker.com.

No, I do not work for the company nor do I know the inventor of this product. I just feel it is a good training aide that is simple, affordable, and it just plain works. By the way, and impact bag also does wonders for improving your impact position.

Good luck in fixing this problem.

im a doughball · April 25, 2009

^^^^Isnt Lake Almanor a 9 holer? Like 2900 from the tips?

From your description, the problem is SPIN, SPIN, SPIN, and too much of it. Try going to a heavier weight shaft, heavier shaft = less spin. If that does not work try a lower lofter club lower loft = less spin. Check out Titleists Dynamic fitting suggestions, it lays out cause and effect of equiptment on ball flight.

herbygolf21 · April 25, 2009

Very good, Lake Almanor Country Club is a nine hole golf course. It has 2 sets of tee boxes for men, so there is not "Tips" yardage available. The yardage for the golf course (9 holes) is 2919, so it is 5838 for 18 holes. Course rating (9 holes) is 36.2, so for 18 you can figure it at 72.4. Par is 35 or 70. It is a very tight golf course with OB on every hole. The old course record was from 1978 and it was a 63. So, before you knock the golf course or the person who holds the course record, I recommend you play the course and post your best score there. My best score in relation to par is 9 under. Shot this a few times at a few different golf courses. I also have a share of the course record at Bailey Creek. 7000+ yards, par 72. That score is a 65. Shot that twice. By the way, what is your best score???

Thanks for your reply.

im a doughball · April 25, 2009

^^^^ So wouldn't -9 be your career round then????? I wasn't really looking for a pissing contest, I was more curious how you got an 18 hole score from a 9 hole track, thanks for the explaination. Thats a great number to put up. Best fun score (non tourney/non cash game)65 (35-30)Canyon Lakes Par 72(6800/6900? 73.8/129), Tri Cities, WA, best Tourney (Central WA PGA Pro Am) score 66(35-31) Moses Lake Country Club, Moses Lake, WA( par 71?, not that long either 6500/6600?71.7/117). But at least I haven't shot 86 in the last month, or 10 years.:o Just teasing, bet all that snow is no good for your game all winter.

herbygolf21 · April 26, 2009

62 is posted as my best round because it is the lowest score overall on a par 70 or better course. I have a few 59's, but those are on a par 66 course. As far as teh 86 goes, well I see you have found my GHIN number. Yeah, that was on March 29th at Butte Creek Country Club. First round of the year in about 25-30 mph winds. Needless to say it was a tough scoring day. The good news is I was playing with 2 very good players and my 86 beat both of them. It was a day when the PGA would have suspended play because of high winds. The balls were moving on the greens. I have no problem admitting to the occasional very high round. I was just happy I kept it out of the 90's that day. The other 2 players did not.

By the way, my best tournament round was a 63 at Pueblo Del Sol Country Club. Shot this in the final round and moved from 23rd to T2 to finish the tournament.

im a doughball · April 26, 2009

Hey, just bustin your chops a little. Your obviously a decent stick. I love playing golf down in that neck of the woods, its always fun to get to go play with some elevation. I am just a little skeptical of all the golf claims that guys make on the intrawebz, ( every other guy here hits it 4hundo and missed the USAM Qual by 1 shot becaues his 7 iron shaft wasn't freguency matched to his set) . Windy, huh?

herbygolf21 · April 26, 2009

Yeah, very windy. I missed the US Am Qual by a hell of a lot more than 1 last year...and it had nothing to do with my 7 iron. It was my horrible play that caused me to miss. I shot 79-79. In the pub links I shot 79-74. It is hard to believe how difficult it is to get your mind back into a competitive place after a couple of years away from tournament golf. I am encouraged by the start of this year. Where do you play out of?

im a doughball · April 26, 2009

Yeah, I played Bandon 10 or 12 years ago in a wind like that. Ball is always oscillating or getting blown off the green...impossible. It was so bad, the first day I hit 3 wood pin high on 16/17?(285ish), the second day in the wind I hit D, 3i, 9i, same hole.

I am in a similar position, just started playing after a 3 year layoff, played my first round last week (for money, probably a bad idea) opened up double, double ( both from the middle of the fairway, with wedge in my hand, yeah thats real good), cold topped two balls on the back side to cruise around in 79 (+7 no birdies :( ). All in all an ok preformance, grinded pretty hard all day, hit it better than I expected, really felt good, despite the rust.

Dude, looks like you got parts of 3 course records,

"Two years ago, Ben Weir entered the Sierra Vista Open and fell under the false rumor that he was the cousin of Mike Weir, who is probably Canada’s most famous golfer. Weir went on to shoot a Pueblo del Sol course record 63 in round one, and on Saturday, Weir was enjoying himself under a giant Canadian flag."

Sorce Matt Hickman Hearld/Review

Oh yeah, Canyon Lakes

herbygolf21 · April 27, 2009

The course record at Peublo Del Sol was 62 the way it used to be set up. The course has changed since then and has been re-rated. I think they added some distance to #1 and turned #10 into a par 5. Been a few years since I have been there.