Driver question

Question
QUESTION: I was at the range today, and a guy was helping me out with my driver. he told me that I was coming across the ball (basically shoulders were turning left at impact) and therefore pulling the ball and hitting it low. He told me to move the ball forward in my stance and feel like I am moving my shoulders and swinging upwards instead of releasing it. He called it a delayed release or something... It was working for me at the range... He also told me to keep your eyes on the back of the ball, until the club reaches the ball. He said that this would get rid any slice. (is this true?)

the thing is, I thought you were supposed to release the club (but he says that it will cause a pull b/c of closed clubhead)... I'm hitting a lot higher now and further so far.

What are your opinions on this? Is it right? Like fundamentally?  Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Jeff:

The more you move the ball forward in your stance, the more your shoulders will open at set up.  The more your shoulders open, the more you'll swing to the left, cutting across the ball.  If the face is square to that path, you'll pull it left.  If the face is open, you'll slice it.  Instead, let's just take care of the fundamentals.  With a driver, the ball position should be forward just inside your left heel (remember the head of your club is pretty big).  Your shoulders, forearms, and feet should be square to the target line. You do need to look at the back of the ball until you strike it.  And yes, you need to release it.  BUT, it all depends on how you define release.  Your hand action should be quiet, but your left forearm will rotate throughout the swing.  Your hands will turn over as well, but it is a continous motion from the start of the forward swing all the way to a finish.  I call that the release of the clubface (squaring the clubface).  Properly releasing the clubface through impact will not cause a pull so don't be afraid to do it.  Stay square, and keep hitting them long and straight.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What do you mean by "you don't need to look at the back of the ball until you strike it"?

So, I'll move the ball back a bit again, but should I keep the feeling of not moving my whole body to the left but instead swing upwards (it made the ball go higher which is good)...

ANSWER: Hi Jeff:  That is not what I said.  It says you NEED to look at the back of the ball until you strike it.  When you set up to the ball, imagine an imaginary line extending from the end of your nose to the back of the ball.  Since you are looking at the ball, that should be easy to understand.  Learn to swing the club past that imaginary line BEFORE allowing your eyes to follow the flight of the ball.  That is what you must do.  

If you are hitting it longer, higher and straighter, keep doing what is working.  What you feel and actually what you do could be two very different things.  Stay square and let it rip.  Sounds like you are getting closer.  

Eddie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, today at the range some of my drives are turning to fade/slices. What can I do to straighten it out now? I don't want it to turn into a low shot again since I am hitting good and high shots most of the time.

Answer
Jeff:

Use your hands and let the "release" happen.  Your left forearm, logo on your glove and the knuckles on the left hand must rotate down and left through the shot.  If the clubface is open slightly at impact, you'll get fades and slices.  You must square up the clubface at impact.  That is your grip and your hands.  Make sure to rotate the clubface through impact.  It happens during the entire forward swing of the club.  Watch the ball.  It won't take much.  It's all in the timing.  Make sure you are square at address to the target line, then work on a little rotation and see what happens.  

Eddie