Below Plane Syndrome/Open faced drivers

[jdswets8822]

Mike,

Do you think there's any merit to a habitual underplaner using a driver with an open face?

I fight the two way miss consistently and am looking for any help I can get. Would a driver with a 2 degree+ open face help out?

Any thoughts on the R11 with the adjustable soleplate?

I want to seek out some instructional help for this as well (I was registered for the Jacobs/Manzella school last summer but had to bail because I got sick) but am looking for any help I can get with the driver.

Thanks

[sharkey35]

There is no question that a slightly open faced driver (Titleist 909D) helped me with going left. I constantly struggle with a face that is closed to the path. Many of the new drivers are geared towards helping slicers. Problem is that if you hook or draw, those drivers can be death. I bet Mike can fit you up with a driver that helps immediately.

[trickyric]

work on your plane and try to get zero'd out, BPS will result in a flatter approach and can lead to fat iron shots and snap hooks. I fight BPS and work very hard to get more carry to increase my VSP. More VSP=less left!

[Michael Jacobs]

Great questions in this thread and great responses from the gallery. No doubt an Open Face driver gives the better player an advantage. For example, my Explosive Designs driver sits 1 degree open.

Not only does swing direction and path issues effect the direction, the shaft deflection also plays a huge role in the orientation of your club face for impact. Your driver will experience a 'LEAD' deflection at the contact which will give you a DYNAMIC CLOSE of the club face .... so the flexibility of the shaft contributes to club face closing as well. This phenomenon is for more serious for a driver

This is an introduction obviously to my research studies, some diagrams would be a huge help for you to see this. I am on the road studying and consulting with one of the most revered golf engineers in the history of the game. When I return to my office I will draw some pictures

With that said, the first step to improving the straightness of the shots is to make sure the club face direction and the swing path are matching up {with center face contact of course} toe strikes are something to watch for as well. Coloring In the face of your driver with dry erase marker will allow you to see where your contacts are.

Hope that helps!