Jump to content
IGNORED

Why am I be hooking irons with regular flex, need help


Note: This thread is 3931 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Hi all, I'm in a bit of a odd situation lately and request some help to resolve it.  I've been using Taylor Made 320 irons with S90 rifle shafts for about ten years now and absolutely love them.  I recently started reading internet content and found out that I may be using the wrong stiffness of shaft.  I've been told I have a smooth swing and I hit my 5 iron about 150 yards so I bought a used set of regular shaft 320's for a good price.  Additionally, I also bought a Tour Preferred CB 6i and also RBZ Max 6 iron both in regular graphite shaft.  I've hit with all clubs with regular shafts and haven't been able to get any distance on the clubs (now it seems I'm hitting the six iron 125 yards or about twenty yards shorter than my normal swing), additionally, I have also established a nasty hook on most of the shots I've taken.  Normally, I hit my irons dead staight with very accurate shots and now I can't do anything.  I don't want to abandon the regular shafts yet but I'm really confused as to why the clubs would hook instead of slice, as I would have expected if they were too flexible for me.  I've sold my old set in stiff flex so I'm in a little bit of a bind right now but I'm hoping that there's something that I'm not thinking about for this problem.  I was thinking of trying the CB's or RBZ max in stiff but would prefer to figure out this current problem.  I'm hoping it could be in my mechanics but I haven't changed my swing any since buying the new clubs.  One more thing I haven't talked about, I'm overseas and probably won't be able to get a professional fit right now so that's not in my thinking at the moment.  When I return home, this will be an option.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Too "flexible" would be hook prone and too stiff would be push prone. Having stated that, I am not a certified instructor so my advice on swing mechanics may or may not be exact. My thought is your lower body is not leading the swing toward the target. Instead your lower body is stopping (no weight transfer to your front side) and your hands are "flipping" through the shot creating two separate shot patterns; either a hooded hook or an open faced cut. Whenever I have these problems it usually was created by trying to over hit/swing. My way of correcting this is to go to the range and hit a pw and seven iron with a half swing and feet close together. My focus is fundamental and tempo driven with no concern for distance. That is what works for me and may not be your best approach, but you may want to give it a try. Its always best to have a knowledgeable person exam your swing. in person, but video seems to be a widely accepted alternative.

As far as shaft advice I am GCA certified and spent several years as the head clubmaker at a local Golfsmith. However, the most accurate shaft advice is done in person by knowledgeable people.  Im not a fan of Dicks or GG or other such places, but there appears to be some highly qualified members of this board who could profile your shaft needs. Hopefully one lives in your area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Thanks a lot for the help, I really appreciate it.  I'll have to give feet together technique a try and see what happens.  I'm also really looking forward to having somebody analyze my swing to determine what is going on with it.  I'm going to try to get to the range this week so thanks again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


When I was in high school and early college, I played R-flex irons. Then, I went into the military and put on about 20 pounds, and got into pretty good shape.

I started hooking the ball on my misses. So, I switched to stiff shafts, and my hook problems were solved.

Fast-forward ahead 30+ years, and I'm suddenly losing distance and starting to leave the ball out to the right. Solution: move back to Regular shafts.

As waldo suggested, have someone check out your swing, and then get a fitting.

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking AcademyFitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48°, 54°... MD4: 58° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3931 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • I've played Bali Hai, Bear's Best and Painted Desert. I enjoyed Bali Hai the most--course was in great shape, friendly staff and got paired in a great group. Bear's Best greens were very fast, didn't hold the ball well (I normally have enough spin to stop the ball after 1-2 hops).  The sand was different on many holes. Some were even dark sand (recreation of holes from Hawaii). Unfortunately I was single and paired with a local "member" who only played the front 9.  We were stuck behind a slow 4-some who wouldn't let me through even when the local left. Painted Desert was decent, just a bit far from the Strip where we were staying.
    • Wordle 1,035 3/6 ⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜ 🟨🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Just lipped out that Eagle putt, easy tab-in Birdie
    • Day 106 - Worked on chipping/pitching. Focus was feeling the club fall to the ground as my body rotated through. 
    • Honestly, unless there's something about that rough there that makes it abnormally penal or a lost ball likely, this might be the play. I don't know how the mystrategy cone works, but per LSW, you don't use every shot for your shot zones. In that scatter plot, you have no balls in the bunker, and 1 in the penalty area. The median outcome seems to be a 50 yard pitch. Even if you aren't great from 50 yards, you're better off there than in a fairway bunker or the penalty area on the right of the fairway. It could also be a strategy you keep in your back pocket if you need to make up ground. Maybe this is a higher average score with driver, but better chance at a birdie. Maybe you are hitting your driver well and feel comfortable with letting one rip.  I get not wanting to wait and not wanting to endanger people on the tee, but in a tournament, I think I value playing for score more than waiting. I don't value that over hurting people, but you can always yell fore 😆 Only thing I would say is I'm not sure whether that cone is the best representation of the strategy (see my comment above about LSW's shot zones). To me, it looks like a 4 iron where you're aiming closer to the bunker might be the play. You have a lot of shots out to the right and only a few to the left. Obviously, I don't know where you are aiming (and this is a limitation of MyStrategy), but it seems like most of your 4 iron shots are right. You have 2 in the bunker but aiming a bit closer to the bunker won't bring more of your shots into the bunker. It does bring a few away from the penalty area on the right.  This could also depend on how severe the penalties are for missing the green. Do you need to be closer to avoid issues around the green?  It's not a bad strategy to hit 6 iron off the tee, be in the fairway, and have 150ish in. I'm probably overthinking this.
    • Day 283: Putted on my mat for a while watching an NLU video. Worked on keeping my head still primarily, and then making sure my bead is okay.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...