Have been following (my take) on a ‘basic hitting’ pattern with a ten finger grip for about two months now with really good results – particularly in driving, wedges, and chipping.

But, as ever, there are always problems, and thought I’d see what the clever TGM people make of a few of the issues I’ve run into.

1) Stance width: as I applied the hitting ideas, I gradually and not really consciously began to increase the width of my stance – shallowing out my plane at the bottom.

I think it may have caused one or two problems with, say, 7-iron striking. Is stance width a likely problem area for the beginner? I am also aware that I am probably more bent over than before – again, how much is too much?

2) Getting It On Target – I’m hitting a lot of good, flush contact shots, but aiming has become a problem – sometimes seems like I’d need a very open stance to get the ball online. (Could be that this is related to problem 1?

3) Lifting up – as I get a little tired during a round, I find that I ‘lift up’ – at least I think that’s what I think I do – with driver, I catch the ball a bit of a glancing blow that leads to left to right ball-flight, with short Irons, I lose about 10 yards and maybe go a little off line right – not a good feeling strike.

It doesn’t feel like an OTT slice, and does not feel or play half as out of control as a genuine slashing hit from the top, but it probably shares a few similarities with it – not sure though.

Anyone had/seen this problem?

Is there anything in the set-up that promotes/minimises this?

Thanks for any contributions.

Edit: Now that I think of it, I would like to say that a lot of these problems creep in with tiredness/mental fatigue. Not as bad ‘under the gun’ or with a bit of adrenaline going.

Good questions.

1) Stance does not need to widen until you are picking up a wood..and only then a tad.

Balance on the front part of your heels no matter which club.

2) Hitting can be done slightly open. Trevino did pretty good with it.

3) Balance issue and trying to use powerful effort.

Remember a hitters ‘swing’ is more in to out, across the line of the flight line. If you start ‘swinging’ down the line you are steering a hit.

Beezneeds,

Congratulations having a go at a great way to learn the big thing in a golf shot. I hope people learn a lot from your experience.

My only addition to The Guru is shorten the backswing – long is a killer for hitters with long clubs especially when you are tired, you just can’t keep it up – the club head lag that is.