cmcm789

Just started taking up golf last year and i am not very good at it (playing off 26). Like most people starting out i have a mix of clubs from different sources (friends, bought second hand etc)

I tend to push all my iron shots to the right, and slice my woods (severely). My 4 wood has a stiff graphite shaft which i can control, but my driver has a more flexible shaft which exagerates my slice with the easiest of swings.

The driver is a srixon X10 which i am happy with, but i want to replace the shaft to help illiminate or reduce my slice.

I have been told to get a stiff shaft by a workmate who plays of 6, but i saw this on an internet site:

In most cases if you slice the ball you need more flex in the shaft.

In most cases if you hook the ball you need a firmer flex.

What is right??? All advice welcomed.

JD

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Mr Grumpy

My advice would be, please don't take this the wrong way, but, pack it in!
Just be a caddy and enjoy the walk, the scenery, and the ridiculous trouserage!

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lozgti

I've only played for a short while.Don't understand a game where you can play brilliant drives one week then totally lose it the next.

My stepfather has bought a warehouse full of clubs searching for the Holy Grail.I think it is all a great big fib.Hasn't helped

Best advice,just have ONE swing thought.Mine is keep your eye on the ball.Works most of the time! Don't be swinging thinking about clubs,shafts,balls,lucky pants,the instructor said this and that.

Good luck.******* of a game

walkie

Flexible shaft clubs are for women imo. Thats not being sexist but the male has a stronger swing, thats a fact.

If your using a flexible shaft with a strong swing the club head at impact is going to be cocking one way or another resulting in hooks or slices.

If I were you, I would book yourself 10 lessons with a PGA golf pro. He will tell you EXACTLY what your doing wrong and recommend what kind of shaft you should be playing with. I gaurantee he will get rid of your hooking and slicing problem.

If you want cut your handicap some more, practice your pitching and putting, this is where the game is won

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Having a little break, concentrate on the more important things in life, swmbo and my training.

See you soon folks, take care - James

cmcm789

My pitching and putting isn't too bad (it's all relative), but i don't see the point in putting up with hitting poor drives all the time if i can pay to have the shaft replaced and improve my play.

I used to use a friend's dad's old clubs when i started. These had a steel shafted driver, which i could hit dead straight, but quite short. The graphite driver i have now can hit the ball very far.......... into the trees!!

I have read that the right shaft can improve your game considerably. I have taken 4 or 5 basic lessons, but really don't have the cash or the commitment to make it worthwhile to take anymore. I am only an occasional golfer at the moment.

JD

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Octy Elegance TDI (110bhp)

heresmo

FWIW On the one hand, it's no bad thing having mix and match clubs at the outset IMO, since it's a second mortgage and a third if they're not right...

Perhaps get lessons with your own clubs on hand for comments to determine whether it's better technique or different clubs that are needed? Our local one is very helpful, though lessons are costed by the hour of course.

Is it a pastime as an ambling precursor to a Sunday lunchtime pint or a more serious thing as to who buys the first round

Best
Mo

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postmanpat

Highly flexible shafts 'whippy' clubs are for 'better' players and tend to give greater distance but accuracy is harder to achieve/ controll. You are probably better going for a less technical cheaper old fashioned option, ie steel. Most modern clubs are at least heal toe weighted to give a larger 'sweet spot' but if your clubs are centrally weighted this will also increase your chances of miss-hitting the ball. If your club as a pro shop then they should allow you to take a new set out for a round before buying and find out what suites. Personally I prefer old woooden woods 3,4,5 with steel shafts and a metal driver with a more flexible shaft (ie easier to controll off a tee than on the deck, I would also avoid the oversize clubs with heads the size of saucers, too cumbersome IMO. Remember its all in the wrist!

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KentStu

Sorry but I would also would advocate a lesson or two. From your description of the shots that you are playing I would say you are tending to get your body through the ball too early (i.e. before the clubhead) thus leading to either a push or slice - this explains the fact that it becomes a more pronounced slice with the longer club. There are "corrective" clubs but one small change in our swing could dramatically improve your game, save you loads of money and not wreck your game by grooving a poor swing.

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Stu

Yellow Octy RS & '58 Morris Minor Tourer Owner .......... not a hairdresser

walkie

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Having a little break, concentrate on the more important things in life, swmbo and my training.

See you soon folks, take care - James

jaymd

I played a few years ago(got to a good astandard - 8).If i was you don't use your driver until you have lowered your handicapp.I started off with half set of irons and just a 5 wood(was only 15 at the time).Practise using say 3/5 wood and forget about your driver until you have got your handicap down to something in the mid teens.
Golf is all about consistency.If you can hit a ball straight ish with a 3/5 wood or even a low iron most of the time your game will improve no-end.
Also don't try and hit the ball to hard.
As 'walkie' said your short game is where shots can be saved.
Go to a driving range if possible.This will help get rid of your slice and also hand with your swing.
Your blocking or pushing the ball to your left could be a number of things.
Start with making sure you grip the club properly,it may feel easier to hit the ball gripping it incorrectly,butyou will get used to it and in the long run it will improve your game.
You also sound as if your not getting your weight through and pushing it left.
Getting the basics right when you start is alot easier then changes things when you have got into bad habits.

Kentish

Also agree with the lessons idea. Do you have a nearby driving range, or course with a range? Lessons can be found there. I used to pay £16.50 for half hour lessons complete with bucket of balls and all with a video camera to help see where I was going wrong. (that as up until 2 weeks ago when my teaching pro left my local course to go to another..lessons will now be slightly dearer but still not excessive)

Anyway, your clubs.
Mix and matching makes it harder as there is no consistancy among the clubs. Whippy/flexible shafts are for slower swings, stiff shafts for faster swings.
That is why ladies and older person shafts are a lot more whippy than a regular mans, and way more whippy than a stiff mans.

Also graphite shafts are more whippy anyway, but the important thing with them is the "kick" point, ie the point when the bend back the opposite way to flick the head up and through.

Oversized clubs are great for making things easier, both irons and woods.
I play with Mizuno cavity back irons, regular steel flex,graphite regular flex 3 and 7 woods (Adams) and a stiff shafted Ping G2 driver, that is so big it should be on a football pitch. However, it is easy to hit and works for me.

New clubs do not have to be expensive, as like everything else the Chinese have manufacturing down to peanuts. A cheapish full set of game improvement clubs will cost not much more than 1 or 2 tyres for your car.

Any tips I would suggest?..Slow down and don't try to muller the ball. Swing through the ball, don't try to hit it.

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Andy

Owner of a sense of humour.

ric04vrs

i've recently completed 10 , 2 hour lessons with a PGA pro which cost me just £30 they were run through the chester college , i can definetly recommend lessons , they will go through all the things you need to do before you even hit the ball i.e. aim , grip , posture .then start you on half swings and build up to 3/4 and full swings etc also go through pitching ,putting and course ettiquette , having said all this i still struggle hitting a wood shot straight but now i know exactly what i've got to do to correct it , if you go to the driving range just work on hitting the short irons first 6,7,8 and 9 , but you've really got to persevere if you want to play well

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Kentish

They reckon the 7 iron is the most natural club to use, and therefore easist

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Andy

Owner of a sense of humour.

postmanpat

I agree don't try to hit the ball too hard, so long as your swing is smooth and flowing and you 'snap' ypour wrist at the right point the ball will travell further than swinging at it like a cricket ball. When I am off my game with the 'whippy' driver ie 300 yds in the wrong direction I tend to go back to using a 2 iron with a steel shaft off the tee (all my clubs are steel shafts except metal mickey the driver, I have also got a Big Ben a 35 year old wooden headed steel shafted driver with a slighttly oversized head but this as a sweet spot so small it makes the wifes g-spot the size of australia

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Kentish

You want to try a Ping driver, the sweet spot is huge...just like my wifes....

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Andy

Owner of a sense of humour.

mickeyg33uk

Go talk to your local pro. A stiff shaft is ok for low handicappers but not for 26. you need to be able to swing true and hard. I suggest a lesson or two will be much cheaper remedy. I used to play off 6 and still use stiff shafts in woods but not in irons (age caught up with me ). I have had 30 years of good golfing and wish you well Walkie is talking sense, well done

billychin

IMHO ......BIN THE DRIVER, 15yards of the drive is better than an xtra 15yards in the trees/trouble.....

the best advice i was giving , was stand up and let your arms hang down in a relaxed state and have a look and see how your hands are i.e are they turned out , are they straight and then try and grip the club how your hands hang in there natural state.....

hope this makes sense....and good luck ,also go and see a pro

Tiptronic

Some golf clubs offer packages of lessons at a good price. Suggest to family/friends for the present list perhaps?

SWMBO bought me some lessons, and just adjusting some simple stuff (stance etc) really made a difference to the shots I would achieve..

Like you I am only an occasional player at the mo, so I havn't had chance to put too much into practice. Never enough time!

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bugman

the best thing you can possibly do is spend some cash on a few lessons ,before blaming clubs, you will be amazed at the difference it will make

cmcm789

Thanks all

Think i will book in for one lesson to start. Will make the most of it and ask a stack of questions. With any luck, the pro at the range may have a few different club/ shaft combinations i can try out.

I think the "put the driver away" advice is the best, but it's just so tempting when lining up on the tee box, faced with a long straight fairway on a par 4/5.

I am out for a round on Wednesday through work, and i will try to leave the driver at home, and use my trusty 4 wood in it's place.

JD

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Octy Elegance TDI (110bhp)