High trajectory on Orlimar Trimetal 11 deg driver

Question
QUESTION: I was the one that emailed you about ball position,etc.

It turns out that my "unforgiving vintage" Wilson X/31 irons work great because I hit them better off a hard lie.  I am very consistent with all the irons now (I don't swing so hard but I am perfectly straight and a good 8 iron goes about 140 and a good 6 iron about 160). I did something yesterday that I rarely do, and that is I parred all the par 3s (was about 10 yards short of the green, but dropped my chip shots to 2 feet from the hole in both cases). I got one tip from watching SI On Demand about leaving the wrists cocked on the downswing until the weight shifts off the right foot (and they uncock and square the clubface at impact) and now I am very consistent in hitting all the clubs and I have a decent amount of power with all the clubs. I can just about hit the 8 iron blindfolded now.

I have an 11 degree Orlimar Trimetal wood that I hit pretty consistent (it goes right down the pipe and is a solid hit)but the trajectory is very high even teeing the ball about 1/4 inch with ball position about 4" off the left heel (where I play all my clubs).  I get 180 yards out of it but I think if I had a "normal" driver trajectory it would go about 250 yards + .

I also have a standard driver and a hybrid one iron but am still very inconsistent with both but do manage to hammer them 250+.  Today I just picked up a standard one iron CHEAP and may even think about putting my two iron back in the bag.  20 years ago when I played a lot of golf, I used to use a blade 1 iron and could consistently whack it about 230-250 yards.  I still like that Orlimar driver because I can launch it off the grass, but I want to lower the trajectory.


ANSWER: Lou:

I think your Orlimar is too small.  It was designed with a shallow face to make it easier to hit it higher.  11 degrees of loft is too much.  If you are using it as your driver and you are actually playing the ball 4 inches off your left heel, you are playing the ball too far back for a wood, thus hitting down on the ball which puts backspin on it and kicks it higher.  Move your ball 2 balls closer to your left heel and see what happens.  You need more of a sweeping arc, not a descending blow with that club.  I would try new drivers out with different lofts and stiffer shafts to see what combo of those two produces the flight you want.  What you are after is the highest possible launch angle AND the ball to tumble forward when it hits.  Try different combos of heads, lofts and shafts to see what works best for you.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Professional

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

QUESTION: I just acquired this training device (a whole $29 at Big 5 Sports) called a "Swing Groover," which has a tethered ball that tells whether you are slicing, hooking or hitting straight.  It has helped a bit.

Before all of this started, I had a driver that felt good (Tour Edge 10.5 with a draw face and a firm shaft) but I sliced it most of the time (I seldom topped it).  When I did hit it totally straight, I have hit it 300 on a couple occasions. I also could consistently hit the 3 wood 250 or so STRAIGHT.  At that time, my short game and iron play was the pits.  At this time, I have a tendency to top the ball with the driver (standard type as opposed to Orlimar) and 3 wood and I think I see why (the club is coming up too much and my wrists want to break too soon on the follow through, i.e. before both arms are straight - and I see that with the Groover) so I am working a bit on it and trying to keep the arc low (I am putting the ball off the left heel while practicing with the woods).  Getting back to that particular driver, the head broke off about a month ago.

Right now my iron play and short game (well.... still have to work on certain trap shots) are good.  Even with the Orlimar driver I was playing bogey golf up till the 9th hole on Sunday.  I just lost it on the last hole and got a fricking 9 (long par 5) and ended up with a 49.  I also did something I rarely do and that is to par all the par 3s (although I hit 10 yards short of the green, I dropped my lob wedge 2 feet from the hole in both cases).  

Answer
Lou:
Good job.  Keep working on the basic things that give you success.  As for the driver and 3 wood, make sure you picture the clubhead moving level at and through the ball into the follow through.  If the clubhead is moving up at impact at all, you top it or hit it real thin.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member