flying low

Question
Hi Paul, why my many t-shuts flying low?

Answer
Hi Esther!

I need to watch your swing to know for sure why your tee shots are flying low.  I will give you a number of reasons why tee shots fly low and maybe you can find your answer among them.

1. If you are making contact low on the driver clubface it could be that you need to tee the ball a little higher.  Today's 460cc clubheads have very deep faces.  If you are only teeing the ball an inch or so off the ground, the clubhead will make contact low on the face and your ball will likely fly too low.  Tee the ball higher so that the ball makes contact above the halfway line in your clubface.

2. If you are hitting low shots that are also hooking or drawing a little your problem might come from a ball position that is too far back in your stance.  Experiment on the practice tee by moving the ball forward in your stance a little bit at a time until you see a better ball flight.

3. It's possible that your grip is too strong and that you are shutting the clubface at impact.  This might also cause you to hook or draw the ball a little.

4. If you were having a problem hitting the ball far, hitting the ball low would be a bigger concern.  But I understand that you hit your drives 200 yard or more and usually pretty straight...I don't know how much change you should make.  Not every tour player chooses to hit their drives high.  Many prefer a lower, driving ball flight.  If you played a lot of golf in Florida, for instance, you would find that hitting your drives lower would be a big advantage since it keeps the ball out of the wind.

5. You could also experiment with a different driver.  If the loft on your driver is 9 degrees, for instance, try one that has 10 degrees or even 12 degrees.  Many better players who hit the ball a long distance have gone to more lofted drivers in order to gain more consistency and control.

6. Finally, be sure you are not gripping the club too tightly and always follow through to a nice, high, balanced finish position.

I hope I've answered your question in a way that you'll find helpful.  Perhaps someday I will get the chance to see your swing in person.

Best regards,

Paul Dolman
PGA Golf Professional