Frustrated beyond all human belief

[athos]

Irons vs. Woods -- why can't I hit a wood?

So I played 18 holes today and had one of my better rounds. But it was all because I'm playing my irons so flipping well. As a test on one of our par 5's, I teed off as I regularly do with my driver and landed where I regularly do in the fairway. I then said "okay, let's try it" and teed up another ball and hit my 3i. It flew with a perfect draw (unlike the fade of the wood) and landed 5 yards past my driver.

That's just sick -- my 3i goes farther than my driver.

I then went down to the range just to see what was going on and I took a 5 wood with me. I get the path just fine, I come from the inside, but I cannot for the life of me get released in time and the ball takes off beautifully and they fades like crazy. And when I really try to hook it, I just essentially get a fade that is only a slight fade. It never turns for me.

Put an iron in my hand though, and I can do it.

I'm at a loss, but it's really starting to mess with my head.

[athos]

Anyone?

[MBuckler]

get a lesson

[taylormadefan]

A lot of people swing their woods and irons differently. Some people (like yourself) naturally hit down on the ball steeply and can hit their irons beautifully. Others are natural sweepers and pound their woods for miles, but can't strike an iron to save their life. The key is finding a swing that lets you do both and use ball position and clublength to vary wether you're hitting the ball on the upswing or downswing and steeply or shallowly.

 

Have you taken any lessons yet?

 

Also, get some video up of your swing both down the line and face on. There are some VERY knowledgeable people on the board like slicefixer who can help you out and get you started in the right direction.

[athos]

yes, I am currently taking lessons and get video every time. I'm starting to form the opinion that it's the graphite vs. the steel. My swing with graphite is just all over the place and with the heavier irons, I can "feel" where the club is at better. I don't know if that's common or if I'm a freak, but you can see my wood swing is VASTLY different than the iron one. Over the top, loose, casting, you name it...

[DiscountDansGolf.com]

The first thing that you should look at is where you are placing the ball in your stance with irons vs woods.

 

Play the ball in close to the same position in relation to your left heel, but drop your right foot back away from the target to get yourself more time for the longer club to come around.

 

If this doesn't work, get a lesson.

[Pole_Position]

yes, I am currently taking lessons and get video every time. I'm starting to form the opinion that it's the graphite vs. the steel. My swing with graphite is just all over the place and with the heavier irons, I can "feel" where the club is at better. I don't know if that's common or if I'm a freak, but you can see my wood swing is VASTLY different than the iron one. Over the top, loose, casting, you name it...

 

Sounds like to me that you're "overswinging" with your woods. Take a look at your video and see if your arms continue moving back in the backswing for several frames after your shoulders stop rotating back. If so, your arm swing is probably getting too far out of synch from your body turn which can lead to all kinds of problems (OTT, loose, casting are right at the top of the list). Give this drill a try (a slicefixer reply to a hitting it off the toe post):

 

99.9% (well maybe NOT THAT high wink.gif) of all toe shots come from the club attacking the ball from too far OUTSIDE the target line......MANY different reasons can cause this......

 

Most common in my experience are the following......

 

Average player.......taking the club too far inside on the backswing and re-routing it "over the top"/casting......

 

Good Player.......getting the club too far inside and BEHIND the body........arms and club are "out of synch" with the trunk and as a result when the BODY is in position to strike the ball the arms are NOT there.......by the time the arms are in position and the clubhead is striking the ball the body is "too far gone"/too far left (in a right hander).........(The good player will EVENTUALLY figure out that IF they slow their torso and "release" their arms they can hit it out of the center of the face........one error compensates for another)

 

EASY fix though.......I use the "9 to 3" drill.......the left arm is like the hour hand on a clock and you TURN until the left arm is @ 9 o'clock and the wrist are fully set......then simply turn through the shot until the right arm is pointed @ 3 (it will actually be LEFT OF 3, BUT, at 3 o'clock HIGH/waist high).....Once you are able to strike the ball solidly out of the center of the face you take it to 2 o'clock.....then 1.......then "midnight"........MOST people are SHOCKED how FAR they can hit a golf ball from such a short backswing/armswing......I can hit drivers 250 in the air like this......at least 90% of my normal distance.....thats the "secret".......the armswing is SO short that the ONLY way to create "power" is to "pivot" the torso properly........works like a charm, but, does take a lil' while for SOME to "master"........wink.gif

 

BTW, this IS one of the most valuable "shots" you'll EVER learn..........I even use it as my "chip driver"......meaning on a hole where it might call for a BIG 3 wood, but, a driver MIGHT well put me through the fairway, I hit the "chip driver"..........VERY easy to hit it DEAD straight or with a very slightl fade.......for me at least, its an easier shot than a full out 3 wood........MUCH more consistent..........same for "chip" iron shots.......take 1 club more and "chip it in there".........great shot in the wind as the ball doesn't have TONS of backspin to "balloon" the shot.......ball has a tendency to fly more consistently shot for shot.......I teach this shot to ALL of my good player students as its a GREAT way to strike your "scoring irons".......especially the wedges.........

 

I probably hit 1000 balls a week into my net in the garage using this drill. Fantastic for promoting arm/body synchronization and solid contact, IMO.