Forum > Technique, Tips & Tuition

Patrick Moore

Alright fellas,

just after a bit of advice really, I currently suffer from the syndrome of "Good drive, bad 2nd (fairway) shot, good 3rd (fairway shot)". This happens on so many holes where I hit a cracking drive, and end up with a 2nd shot which looks like a nice iron into the green from xxx yards. The amount of times I do this and then my initial fairway iron shot duffs and goes like I am using a cricket bat bobbling along the ground is unreal. I then tend to lose my head a bit, regain composure, walk xx feet to the ball, and hit a nice high/long/straight shot.

I lose so many shots like this, my scores could be so much better and it really irritates me.

Is it that I swing too hard, try thump the hell out of it? My playing partners often say "jeez did you try and murder that golf ball?" and normally its them I mess up. When I hit a more casual shot it tends to be better.

Annoying though as it not only affects score but makes me more frustrated as I go round.

/semi rant over lol. Any advice would be appreciated

Steve Cowle

Better course management is required. If you feel you cannot reach the green in reg, don't try. Try to play each hole as a bogey. If that means you have to hit 2 7 irons after your tee shot then thats fine, you'll be playing off 18 in no time.

With a little more practice at your long irons or fairway woods you will then gain confidence to go for more risky shots, but if you're looking to make a score and reduce your handicap try to plot you're way around better.

Hope this helps!

Patrick Moore

Cheers, thats what one of my 4ball group says, instead of trying to hit all the GIRs, play to the number of stokes you have per hole, anything else is a bonus.

More practice is definitely required, thanks for the reply

Loud Mouth b.a.

Patrick,

You appear to have power hitting on the brain so let's consider it. The expert golfers here can discuss the more relevant stuff.

I'm no irons' expert but I do know a little about  sourcing power and how to effectively release it. And, what I will tell you relates equally well to both woods and irons:

First of all power totally relies on  sound technique, not on simply lashing as hard as one can with one's arms.  Such is negative, pointless, and negates any serious level of power.

Fast swing speed follows of its own accord from sound technique. Observe the seemingly effortless swings of tour players playing their irons, and the enormous distances they hit with them. Try to force power and muscles tighten and become inefficient. And, very often technique collapses. 

I hit my irons just as far with what feels like 80% effort as I would do if I consciously really tried to rip the ball. If I want another 20 yards out of my 8 iron (I may be on the practice ground with just that club and falling short of the pin) it is simple. I continue to swing at the same SS, but push the head further away from my body at takeaway (just as though I were driving) and keep the weight on my right side longer as I swing into the ball. Putting half driver technique into an iron swing will rip the ball unbelievable distances, but such is normally totally unnecessary with irons.  

Good golf and good Longdrive  power release  is about complete relaxation, a light grip, and excellent technique. Ripping at the ball causes loss of power, inconsistency, and occasionally a cry for help to a golf forum.  

The above may read as patronising nonsense but truly - less effort / better technique really will significantly increase both accuracy, yardage, and decrease possible full round fatigue.

Bob Freeman

If you read Steves reply he is spot on. You can think of it in a different way, use your handicap effectivly. Don't try do do the impossible. Remember on 10 holes you get 2 shots, so every one of those that you don't use is shot in the bank.

This is how a typical high handicapper will try to play a par 5 or long par 4. Drive followed by a risky long iron fairway wood or rescue which will most likely if hit OK ish will leavr some half wedge type shot of an unknown lie. Here is the same hole played by a thinking golfer. Drive 5 6 or 7 iron to leave a full shot with a short iron to the green, you may single putt but as you stand over that putt you have a shot in your pocket. A bit long winde I know but easy to understand. This season my competetive mate has started to keep all sorts of stats this make very interesting reading, and, identifies any weak areas. Happy golfing.

Patrick Moore

Well I had a round this morning at Tydd St Giles and shot 116, had 2 10s. Hit some cracking drives, and a few good irons from the fairway. Again this aspect crept in though several times when attempting to hit the ball towards the green off the deck, 1 of which I hit the top of the ball and most other bad shots were complete scuffs.

 Maybe i'm subconciously standing more up or something when I am on the backswing I don't know, but it is so frustrating. I know I can shoot under 100 as I have before. They do say practice makes perfect though, so i'll keep going.

Thanks for the replies above, yes on long par 4s or par 5s I normally try and get a good drive, it its a good line to the green I normally take a 6 as I tend to hit that a good distance when I do, and normally end up with a pendulum swing pitch onto the green

Loud Mouth b.a.

Patrick,

Good luck with the work which you are putting in. You omitted to inform us how you liked (or otherwise) the course!  

I could not help but notice your avatar. Does it really represent who you are / your attitude to life? I personally formed an image of a disciplined respectful young man.

But, it's your choice.   

Patrick Moore

The course I thought was great, and I am pretty sure I will be joining the club soon.

Nope reason being for some reason all the pics I wanted to use as a display picture it wouldn't upload so i spam clicked in my pics folder and that worked lol.

Thanks I hope the luck rubs off on me

David Lythgoe

Patrick,

One question. When you hit these fairway shots are you trying to swing the club through the ball, or hit the back of the ball?

TheLyth

Patrick Moore

Loud Mouth b.a.

David,

Sorry to interrupt!

It could obviously be that Patrick's swing is not yet 'grooved' (or 1001 other things) but I will mentioned that my erratic driving over the last two years - right; left; high; low (so hard to figure) was attributable to one facet of my swing - my takeaway. It really is so so important - the foundation for everything that follows on.

When one practises a lot a tendency to cut corners can creep in. I had got lazy and was simply carelessly 'lifting' my driver into the backswing.

A slight variation in takeaway tends to magnify and can cause absolutely any type of subsequent mistake, more so the longer the club in one's hands.

Please continue.....  

David Lythgoe

Patrick,

OK here is the reason I asked that question.

A lot of people when they start are told 'swing the club and let the ball get in the way'. This is fine for most shots but it can also cause problems like you describe when trying to hit Long Irons off the fairway.

I think your problem may be that you are attempting to hit a shot that is at your limit and so you are out of Sync. A good way to see if this is the case, choose a longer Club than you think and make sure you stay down through the shot and don't look for the result until you can see that the ball has gone. Hope that makes sense to you.

TheLyth

Patrick Moore

Colin Coote

Steve Cowle

Hi Patrick,

You said you try to get "good height & distance", this could be where you are coming unstuck. Whenever you try to lift the ball in the air you're spine angle tends to straighten or your arms buckle.

You need to work on impact by driving your lower half towards the target and finishing with your weight mainly on the front foot and in perfect balance. The pros dont do that fancy posing stuff just to look good, it works!

Hope this helps

Patrick Moore

Patrick Moore

Had a round today at Tydd St Giles and again 75% of my mid-game shots were poor, took a few divots, well more than a few. I did hit some sweet irons though which made me think why the hell wasn't I doing that before. I must be stooping too low or something.

Anyone who coaches situated in the East lol?