The driver swing and the iron swing are, in fact two different swings. With the irons your body is positioned so that both ends of your spine are on top of each other (called being stacked) and usually with the ball positioned in line with your spine or slightly forward/slightly back for different irons or different shot shapes. The important thing is that the spine is stacked and your hands reach the ball well ahead of the clubhead coming into impact. This gives you a descending blow and compression into the ground. With the driver, the spine is not stacked. The top of your spine should be slightly tilted to the trail-side of your body and away from the target. The ball is placed inside your lead heel, well forward of where you would play an iron and by keeping your spine tilt well behind the ball this lets you hit the ball on the upswing of the swing arc. The driver itself being so much longer than your irons will also demand that you make a flatter swing coming into the ball and your hands will barely be in front of the clubhead at impact unlike the iron swing. And thats about as short as i can explain the difference between the two swings. The way you practice to keep this straight in your head is first understanding the differences and then hitting irons feeling "stacked" and hitting down on the ball and then setting up to the driver feeling "spine tilt" away from the target and swinging up and through the ball. Hope this helps.

Great explanation !

I run into a similar problem from time to time. My iron swing is quite steep and the proper divot works. Occasionally, I start coming in way too steep with the driver and take divots off the tee. It's a struggle to mentally keep the two swings different. With time and practice, it works. I don't know how I fix this other than make the effort to hit the range.

Yes two different swings driver hit up on the ball I just recently got fit for TSr driver ended up with a TSr1 heavier weight in the back. Love it but did mention to my fitter was working on trying to hit up on the ball he had me place a head cover in front of the ball maybe 8 to 10 inches first couple of swings smashed the cover then started missing it wow big difference. Went from I don't remember exact number but it was negative maybe 2.5 to a plus 1.5 carry and distance and carry went up right now. Love my driver will keep it but I do need new fairway metal so will get fit for the GT when they come back around to my home course again.

Driver off a tee up thru the ball. Iron down and thru the ball. Some take divots, some are sweepers. With both swings it is all about alignment, timing and tempo.

Setup plays a huge role as mentioned earlier. I have been hitting the ball as well as I can remember off the tee this year, but had been struggling with irons. I played with an instructor from TPC Wisconsin by random chance at my home course last week, and he noticed and commented that I was setting up with the same spine tilt for my irons as I was with my driver. I leveled my shoulders out and made much better contact, and then last night putting that setup change into play in my league I hit some great iron shots.

So always make sure to check setup.

Thats the same reason why a lot of players chunk there wedge shots from green-side. They press all their weight forward with their hips but leave their head and sternum (center of rotation) behind the ball. This set-up position inherently puts their left shoulder way above the right and causes a chunk. I tell people to stand on their left foot only and set-up over the ball. Keep the right toe on the ground but push the right leg behind your left foot. To stay in balance your spine will stay stacked automatically and your weight and spine will stay over the left foot and your shoulders will remain level. Thats how you should set-up for a greenside chip/pitch.