My newest problem

**c4m** · May 13, 2009

Alright, so since I started playing golf, i started with the nasty beginners slice, but over time got rid of it, and there for awhile was hitting straight for the most part, I then started to develop a slight, but very manageable hook, and during this time my handicap was going lower and lower... but as of this week I seem to have developed a massive hook that goes nowhere but OB and is as bad as my slice was when I first started playing. IDK if its just been a bad couple of days or if I really need to reconstruct my swing.. But this problem is mostly off the tee but also with my longer irons. I will try to post a video of my swing if I can figure out how, but in the meantime, any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

**Marinemike** · May 13, 2009

Same exact scenario happened to me. I would suggest getting a lesson. It's the only way you're going to be able to pick your swing apart. If you don't want to do that, take a few days off and then go to the range, and see what happens.

**Shindig** · May 13, 2009

Speculation: Has your swing speed improved significantly? Maybe you finally have a too-whippy shaft?

**c4m** · May 13, 2009

that's a possibility, I do have a regular flex shaft on my driver.. but that doesnt explain my irons which are stiff steel shafted

**Williamevanl** · May 13, 2009

I'm a broken record If I had to bet money on it I'd say you probably started making easy compensations to counter your slice. I have meticulously watched hundreds of golfers over the last three years of playing golf and generally you will start to see slicers either start lining up left and playing their slice or fighting it by lining up right of the target and closing the clubface to straighten their shots out. In general the first group still slices but somehow make it playable by aiming left, the second group hits pull hooks that fly really low and run out forever O.B unless they time it just right and end up with a straight shot that draws a bit making for a great shot.

Or you could have *pro problems* where your swingplane gets underplane and you rescue it with a shut club face resulting in a beautiful shot that starts right of the fareway and turns and runs down the middle but is inconsistent. *with a straight aligned stance* I have yet to see this so I think it's rare and would guess that you are in the second group listed above. I could be wrong though so post your driver swing with the camera lined up behind you.

Actually forgot, I just recently played with a stranger that had the underplane thing going where he sometimes lost the ball dead right, older guy mid 40's pretty much par/birdie on everything though. It was a pretty cool ball flight to watch when he nailed it.

**Eeryck** · May 13, 2009

Alright, so since I started playing golf, i started with the nasty beginners slice, but over time got rid of it, and there for awhile was hitting straight for the most part, I then started to develop a slight, but very manageable hook, and during this time my handicap was going lower and lower... but as of this week I seem to have developed a massive hook that goes nowhere but OB and is as bad as my slice was when I first started playing. IDK if its just been a bad couple of days or if I really need to reconstruct my swing.. But this problem is mostly off the tee but also with my longer irons. I will try to post a video of my swing if I can figure out how, but in the meantime, any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

A slice is typically a sign of an outside - in swing path with an open club face at impact.

The common beginner fix for this is to strengthen the right hand grip (ie. rotate the right hand clockwise on the grip.) This solution can be too much of a good thing. Overly strong right hand grip can lead to a pull hooking (ie. start left and turn left) the ball. On the other hand if you fixed your swing path to fix your slice, and now your hook is a ball flight that starts right before taking a major left turn, perhaps it is grip, or overactive hands. Just some thoughts. -E

**Williamevanl** · May 13, 2009

Thats what I said, you're probably still over the top but with a much stronger grip and possibly a closed stance.

**c4m** · May 13, 2009

On the other hand if you fixed your swing path to fix your slice, and now your hook is a ball flight that starts right before taking a major left turn, perhaps it is grip, or overactive hands.

This is most likely my problem, I didnt change my grip or stance, and I fixed the swingplane and was doing fine until 2 days ago and now I'm getting the shots you described that start right and take a huuuuuge turn and go maybe 170... really frustrating.. just last week I played my best round and was hitting them great. oh well, I guess thats golf for ya

**Eeryck** · May 13, 2009

This is most likely my problem, I didnt change my grip or stance, and I fixed the swingplane and was doing fine until 2 days ago and now I'm getting the shots you described that start right and take a huuuuuge turn and go maybe 170... really frustrating.. just last week I played my best round and was hitting them great. oh well, I guess thats golf for ya

The second common problem with being a former over-the-top swinger is the follow through. If you slide through the ball and bring the club to the inside too soon after impact you can get a severe case of the hooks.

The fix: make sure you swing out to the target, shake hands with the target, have your right arm and club in a straight line out to the target during your follow through. All the same thing just trying to find the right words that give you a good image. The drill: Address the ball, and put a smash bag or ball bucket under your club between the ball and your feet. Now move the bucket toward the target about 3 feet and move it about 1/2 inch toward your feet to give you a small margin for error. When you swing if you hit the bucket / smash bag in your follow through you are not extending out to the target and are pulling the club to the inside, a swing that could result in a hook. Regards, -E

**JetFan1983** · May 13, 2009

I'm going to guess you have too much of an armsy swing. You probably aren't turning through enough on the downswing with your body. I would also imagine your grip needs to be better.

**c4m** · May 13, 2009

Here is my swing:

from behind:

facing me:

ps. sorry for the shitty quality
pss. i can tell I am dipping my back shoulder like crazy, could this be part of the problem>?

**golfaddiction** · May 13, 2009

Looks like you're starting on a low plane (which is preferred by pros), but then lifting the club and coming over the top and out-to-in. I would try to keep your hands down in the swing and swing out towards the target, that has been suggested before.

**c4m** · May 13, 2009

thanks for all the advice.. I think I'm going to have to get a lesson or something. I went and played a round today and started off fine with a pretty deep drive down the pipe, I went par, par to open up but by the 4th hole its like I forgot how to swing a damn club I was hooking so badly I lost probably 10 balls, didnt even bother keeping score because it was just ridiculously bad. and Ive never been so frustrated in my life. I was making SURE I was swinging inside out and every practice swing I took looked and felt great. I think I have Charles Barkley syndrome with my mental game or something. Its just so damn frustrating to go from last week shooting only 21 over to this week not even being able to finish half of the holes.

**bjw181** · May 14, 2009

I think you are hooking because you are opening the clubface a whole lot in the backswing (watch your face on at around 7 sec. and you can see your left arm completely cover your right). you have to have perfect timing to square the face coming through and more often than not you will end up duck hooking it. Also, this rotation of your arm causes you to be off plane in the backswing, requiring alot of adjustment in the downswing, and hence, your inconsistencies. Work on a one piece takeaway!

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