Heel/Toe shots

Question
Recently I decided to try out my old titleist DCI oversized clubs that I got way back in high school 95ish maybe?

Boy did a make a big mistake. These clubs are about a 1/2inch shorter than my Nike Slingshots and prob had the worst round of golf in my life.

So I moved back to the Nikes after one round of golf and now I can't hit a ball to save my life. I went from an average of prob low 90s to 110+

I'd say 90% of my shots are shot out to the extreme right....I wouldn't even call this a slice, more of a miss hit off the Toe or Heel.

Better yet I can't fix it. I've always had trouble with my short chips doing this same exact thing but I compensated by lining the ball on the toe of the club and it fixed the issue.

Do you have any suggestions whatsoever on how I can fix this?

Answer
Dave:
Sounds like you are shanking the ball.  Shanking the ball is when the hosel (neck) hits the ball first before the clubface can.  If the round neck of the shaft hits a round ball, the result is a shot that squirts straight right.  We laughingly call it a Pitch Out.  But on the course, it's disaster.  IF THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING, let's check the obvious things first.  #1:  Are you too close to the ball?  You said you line up chips now on the toe and it has helped.  Do the same thing on your longer swings.  Try it...back up about an inch or two and see if your contact gets more center faced.  #2:  Balance.  Check your finish position on your feet.  When you are finished with your swing, your weight should be on the left foot, outside of the foot, enough air under your left toe of shoe to see a couple of spikes, and the weight should be felt from the heel to the center of your left foot.  If you have any weight on the toe or towards the toe, you could shank it that way.  #3:  Too much hand action.  If you use your hands incorrectly in an effort to square the face, the club could approach the ball from outside moving around the ball.  If that is done, the hosel would strike the ball first, shanking it.  And finally #4:  If you swing the club back too far to the inside on the takeaway, the club usually will swing too far out away from you in the return swing to the ball.  So check the obvious things first.  Back up a bit, check your balance, quiet your hand action and swing the club back a little straighter instead of way inside.  Then a great drill is simply to place two tees on the ground with just enough room for the clubhead to swing through them.  Give yourself about an inch on either side of the toe and the heel.  You should be able to make a swing and have the club pass right between them without contact.  Get back to fundamentals Dave.  If you have never learned them, seek out a PGA Professional who can show you them.  They are the simple key to success.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member