correcting sliced drives

Question
QUESTION: Could you please advise on why I hit my irons and 3-4-5 hybrids with control, straight or with a slight draw, while I consistently slice my drives?  I am 6'5" tall, 195 lbs. I use a Nicklaus Air Max 360 Driver (10.5 degrees,  fantastic balance), Ping 5 irons (steel shafts),  Cobra 3-4-5 hybrids (graphite) . All clubs except the driver were fitted by a pro including oversize grips for my long fingers. I can drive around 300 without trying to kill the ball (PW up to 130 yds).  I've played golf on an off my whole life and now I am taking it seriously, studying and practicing as much as I can.  I think that if I could control my drives I could lower my score to low 80s or high 70s. But my drives make me scramble so much that I give up 8-10 strokes per round - and I tense up from fear of mishits. I should also say that I am a squash professional, trained to hit a ball with a swing that is very different from a golf swing. I work a lot on technique.  My drive swing feels as if I am hitting the ball late after my hips and shoulders turn, which is what you do in a proper squash swing. I haven't found much reading material for tall golfers but I have seen Sam Snead's swing on video and think I should try to swing the way he did (steep, not as flat as the much shorter Ben Hogan for example). Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Hunt:
Sounds like you need to go back to the Pro that fit you and get fit for the driver.  If you hit shots straight or with a draw with every club in the bag except your driver, then it's your driver.  The swing is no different, the motion is the same, the mechanics are the same, etc.  Just because a club is longer and has less loft, you still should be able to square the face.  If you slice your driver, the face of the club is open at impact.  Now if your hips and shoulders are spun out too much in front of the club arriving at impact, then yes, you probably would impart left to right spin on the ball.  But my bet lays in shaft, but that is where clubfitting comes in.  Go get fit by the Pro who fit you and if he is not available, then find a reputable one and go see what is said.  But if you find the club is good and the shaft is fine, then you'll need to do some drills, check your grip and start squaring the face up again to hit it straighter.  I would think your swing being a little more upright would match your size, but if you hit all your clubs straight or with a draw, then I'd have it checked out.  Once you find the answer to that question and you are still slicing, then I can give you drills to fix it.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

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

QUESTION: Thanks Eddie. I'd hate to give up that club! But I will ask the pro. When I stand upright my fingers hand 32.5 inches from the ground (proportionally longer legs than arms).  Do you think I might require an extra long driver?  I wonder if PGA tour pros use extreme-length drivers.  Tall ones such as  Vijay and Ernie don't seem to bend over as much as I do and al lthe pros' clubs look really long compared to mine.

A co-worker is a card-carrying PGA pro.  He hasn't seen me play but he says this is a common issue for amateurs and thinks I may need to choke down on my driver to limit shaft flex. Regardless I will talk to the pro who fitted me. Thank you.

Answer
Hunt:  You don't have to give up that driver.  Maybe just reshafted and regripped.  That is a lot cheaper than a new club.  Tour Pros don't necessarily use longer drivers.  In fact, the more length, the harder to control.  I would check with your Pro, get fit correctly, then you might need to make a set up or posture change.  Study both Vijay and Ernie's swing and set up positions.  The best thing you can do is see him and if you need help from there, take some lessons to develop better balance.  At 6'5", you will have balance issues that I will never have to entertain.  Good luck Hunt.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member