Problema

Question
Hi Eddie, thanks in advance for your help!
I begin playing golf just 10 months ago. I have G5 ping set of irons, a 10.5 driver an hybrid and a 5 wood. All of these where bought with the specific fitting specifications.

My problem is that for me is very easy to hit ball with my driver (always straight and about 180-200 yards), and the short irons 9, SW & PW. With these short irons I can get 0 to 120 yards and with straight shots.
The thing is that when I try to use my 7,6,5 Hybrid and 5 wood, the problem gets bigger and in that order. It has been not possible for me to take out divots, probably because I am afraid to hit the ground and/or because I don't know with how much of grip/effort I have to take the club. When I hit the earth I feel the club stays back and doesn磘 advance. The most difficult is to hit the 5 wood, I got terrible slices all the time, and with the 5 iron I hook the ball. Strange, but with the driver I have always very good shots. I try to make always a very slow and pace swing with the driver.
If you can give me some advice with this little information I磍l appreciate that very much.

Best regards
Bernardo Hernandez - Colombia,Bogota

Answer
Hi Bernardo:
Good question, common problem.  I want to mention a couple of things for you.  First, you say you make a slow swing (pace) with your driver.  I bet you also do that with your 9, PW and SW.  The reason is that you know those clubs are not designed for distance, so you don't try to hit them too far.  So you make a nice, easy swing with those clubs too.  But from the 7 iron down to your hybrids, I bet you increase the pace of the swing to make sure you "hit the ball as far as you can with that club".  Instead, you should make a conscious effort to swing at the same pace with each club.  It helps you make better contact.  Secondly, if you are concerned about hitting the ground, here is a tip and a drill to help.  First of all, the leading edge of the clubface (along the bottom of the clubface) MUST BRUSH THE GRASS TO HIT A GOLF BALL SOLID.  That doesn't mean you have to take a big divot or pound down into the ground, it means to simply brush the grass with the leading edge.  If you can scrape the grass consistently, you will hit the ball more solidly, in the center of the face.  Your distance will improve as well.  The drill is to take your 7 or 6 iron.  Tee up a ball like you are on a par 3 (tee it up a little bit, barely off the ground).  Now, take another tee and place it in the ground at the same height as the other one, about 3 inches in front of the ball on the target line (where you will be swinging).  Now, make some three quarter swings and the goal is to hit BOTH tees with the leading edge.  Once you can take out both tees, you will feel what it is like to brush the grass.  Contact will improve instantly.  And as far as the slice goes, you MUST FIX YOUR GRIP (how you hold your club in your hands) so that the clubface starts squaring up at impact.  A slice is caused because the clubface is open (pointing to the right) at impact.  The clubface must be rotating back to square when it strikes the ball.  Make some small practice swings with the club in just your right hand.  As the club swings back away from the ball, let the clubface rotate open.  Your right hand will control that motion.  Now, as you swing the club to the other side, allow the clubface to rotate closed.  Watch what you hand does.  That is the motion needed to stop a slice.  Your grip is responsible for that action.  So you may want to get a lesson from a PGA professional on how to grip the club correctly and take advantage of "correct hand action" through the ball.  Good luck.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member