Why My Driver Is Hooking Every Shot?

[cartertheraptor]

I am in high school and have my first golf match tomorrow and I'm pretty nervous. Off the tee, my shots with any wood or driver hook right (I am a lefty) and I can't seem to fix it. I've been trying to fix it for a while now, any tips to stop hooking it.  Thanks

Edited April 2, 2019 by cartertheraptor

[saevel25]

  On 4/2/2019 at 1:56 PM, cartertheraptor said:

I've been trying to fix it for a while now, any tips to stop hooking it. 

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People hook the ball because their swing path is to extreme outward (away from the body) compared to the clubface angle presented at impact (closed to swing path, not necessarily closed to target line).

I guess one thing you could try is just open up the clubface in your grip and play for a big push. It would require you to aim right and trust you are going to push it where you want it to go.

To have a long term fix you'll need to figure out why you are swinging outward so much. There is no one solution for this.

There are a few options to get some specific advice,

1. Start a my swing thread here, https://thesandtrap.com/forums/forum/13-member-swings/

2. Find a local golf instructor. Someone here might know of one close to you that they could recommend.

3. Sign up for Evolvr, https://golfevolution.com/evolvr/

 

[cartertheraptor]

  On 4/2/2019 at 3:28 PM, saevel25 said:

People hook the ball because their swing path is to extreme outward (away from the body) compared to the clubface angle presented at impact (closed to swing path, not necessarily closed to target line).

I guess one thing you could try is just open up the clubface in your grip and play for a big push. It would require you to aim right and trust you are going to push it where you want it to go.

To have a long term fix you'll need to figure out why you are swinging outward so much. There is no one solution for this.

There are a few options to get some specific advice,

1. Start a my swing thread here, https://thesandtrap.com/forums/forum/13-member-swings/

2. Find a local golf instructor. Someone here might know of one close to you that they could recommend.

3. Sign up for Evolvr, https://golfevolution.com/evolvr/

 

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Thanks for the tips I will try right away.

[3jacker]

I fought a mean hook in high school. At the time I was shooting low seventies to 80, depending usually on the severity of the hook and how bad it messed with my head.

Using no more than a 2 iron was the best way to get thru a single round like that.

[lastings]

  On 4/2/2019 at 3:28 PM, saevel25 said:

People hook the ball because their swing path is to extreme outward (away from the body) compared to the clubface angle presented at impact (closed to swing path, not necessarily closed to target line).

I guess one thing you could try is just open up the clubface in your grip and play for a big push. It would require you to aim right and trust you are going to push it where you want it to go.

To have a long term fix you'll need to figure out why you are swinging outward so much. There is no one solution for this.

There are a few options to get some specific advice,

1. Start a my swing thread here, https://thesandtrap.com/forums/forum/13-member-swings/

2. Find a local golf instructor. Someone here might know of one close to you that they could recommend.

3. Sign up for Evolvr, https://golfevolution.com/evolvr/

 

Expand  

To elaborate on this, As someone that has a pretty big in-to-out swing hooking can be a problem if you don't understand why it is happening.   

1. First I'll ask:  do you typically play a draw?  and more specifically, as a lefty are your good shots typically pushed out to the left side of the fairway and drawing back to the right?   

1a. If the answer to the above questions are yes, and yes.   the you are (probably) closing the clubface too early.    This happens to me when I don't have the confidence that the ball is going to draw back to the middle.   (often times if there is a hazard or something if I push the ball).    If you don't have that confidence in your swing and ball flight, then often times you'll try to overcompensate and just try to hit it straight.   The problem with that is usually your club path won't change much and your clubface will, causing a nasty snap hook.    If this is the case, just try not to get too nervous about pushing it out to the left.   hit it over there.  it will come back.   (this is a short term fix to make the most of what you've got.   In the long term, try to straighten out that club path with lessons or Evolvr.)

1b. If the answer to #1 was no, and you typically play a fade, then you have a whole another issue, and definitely disregard everything I said in #2.   

 

2.   As Saevel25 said, get a my swing thread up ASAP.   hard to diagnose without actually seeing.   

  

 

 

[awmgolfer]

Check your grip, make sure your grip isn't too strong. 

[TN94z]

I would create a my swing thread as quickly as possible to get the best advice. The advice above is great to maybe get you through tomorrow..

Edited April 2, 2019 by TN94z

[cartertheraptor]

  On 4/2/2019 at 4:35 PM, lastings said:

To elaborate on this, As someone that has a pretty big in-to-out swing hooking can be a problem if you don't understand why it is happening.   

1. First I'll ask:  do you typically play a draw?  and more specifically, as a lefty are your good shots typically pushed out to the left side of the fairway and drawing back to the right?   

1a. If the answer to the above questions are yes, and yes.   the you are (probably) closing the clubface too early.    This happens to me when I don't have the confidence that the ball is going to draw back to the middle.   (often times if there is a hazard or something if I push the ball).    If you don't have that confidence in your swing and ball flight, then often times you'll try to overcompensate and just try to hit it straight.   The problem with that is usually your club path won't change much and your clubface will, causing a nasty snap hook.    If this is the case, just try not to get too nervous about pushing it out to the left.   hit it over there.  it will come back.   (this is a short term fix to make the most of what you've got.   In the long term, try to straighten out that club path with lessons or Evolvr.)

1b. If the answer to #1 was no, and you typically play a fade, then you have a whole another issue, and definitely disregard everything I said in #2.   

 

2.   As Saevel25 said, get a my swing thread up ASAP.   hard to diagnose without actually seeing.   

  

 

 

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I just try to hit the ball straight and far. I sometimes play a draw in high winds. The weird thing is, at the driving range I hit it fine, but at the course, I hit a hook. 

  On 4/2/2019 at 4:36 PM, awmgolfer said:

Check your grip, make sure your grip isn't too strong. 

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I'll check that today as well.

[3jacker]

  On 4/2/2019 at 5:50 PM, cartertheraptor said:

I just try to hit the ball straight and far. I sometimes play a draw in high winds. The weird thing is, at the driving range I hit it fine, but at the course, I hit a hook. 

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When it's me doing something like this, it's a lack of commitment and acceleration thru the swing.  Result is lack of extension thru and around. 

But I can't really tell you what's going on without seeing it.  But tentative or guarded swings can allow the club to get past you thru impact.

[NZ Golfer]

  On 4/2/2019 at 5:50 PM, cartertheraptor said:

I just try to hit the ball straight and far. I sometimes play a draw in high winds. The weird thing is, at the driving range I hit it fine, but at the course, I hit a hook. 

I'll check that today as well.

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Yes, I have that issue at the moment I go to the driving range and many of my drives with D + 3w have a nice draw to straight go out on the course and say have a strong crosswind and really want to play a draw and I bloody slice it as I overcompensate the swing path ... mental block I'm dealing with currently 

Some reason the worse I drive on the driving range generally the better I drive on the course and the opposite if I'm hitting it sweetly on the range go out and make stupid swings... 

[cartertheraptor]

  On 4/2/2019 at 3:28 PM, saevel25 said:

People hook the ball because their swing path is to extreme outward (away from the body) compared to the clubface angle presented at impact (closed to swing path, not necessarily closed to target line).

I guess one thing you could try is just open up the clubface in your grip and play for a big push. It would require you to aim right and trust you are going to push it where you want it to go.

To have a long term fix you'll need to figure out why you are swinging outward so much. There is no one solution for this.

There are a few options to get some specific advice,

1. Start a my swing thread here, https://thesandtrap.com/forums/forum/13-member-swings/

2. Find a local golf instructor. Someone here might know of one close to you that they could recommend.

3. Sign up for Evolvr, https://golfevolution.com/evolvr/

 

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I ended up shooting a 42 on a par 36 because of my putting.

[dennyjones]

  On 4/3/2019 at 12:09 PM, cartertheraptor said:

I ended up shooting a 42 on a par 36 because of my putting.

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That's great but it looks like you solved your hook...yes?

[cartertheraptor]

  On 4/3/2019 at 12:26 PM, dennyjones said:

That's great but it looks like you solved your hook...yes?

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I only hit 1 hook out of the 6 holes I used driver, I just need to work on my putting now. My putting is where I'm losing a lot of strokes. 

[Bucki1968]

  On 4/2/2019 at 1:56 PM, cartertheraptor said:

I am in high school and have my first golf match tomorrow and I'm pretty nervous. Off the tee, my shots with any wood or driver hook right (I am a lefty) and I can't seem to fix it. I've been trying to fix it for a while now, any tips to stop hooking it.  Thanks

Expand  

When I start hitting the dreaded hook...I make sure I'm making a full turn. Getting my belt buckle facing the target, completing my swing. 95% of the time...that fixes it. 

[saevel25]

  On 4/3/2019 at 12:27 PM, cartertheraptor said:

I only hit 1 hook out of the 6 holes I used driver, I just need to work on my putting now. My putting is where I'm losing a lot of strokes. 

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What length of putts are you missing? Do you three putt often?

[cartertheraptor]

My score is on the bottom.

[klineka]

  On 4/3/2019 at 1:10 PM, cartertheraptor said:

My score is on the bottom.

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The bottom score is a 45 but you said you shot a 42? Did you mean the bottom of the two 42 scores?

Also like others have asked, what about your putting was bad? Speed, read, start lines, etc. 

Do you know how many GIR you hit and how many putts you had for each hole?

[cartertheraptor]

  On 4/3/2019 at 1:20 PM, klineka said:

The bottom score is a 45 but you said you shot a 42? Did you mean the bottom of the two 42 scores?

Also like others have asked, what about your putting was bad? Speed, read, start lines, etc. 

Do you know how many GIR you hit and how many putts you had for each hole?

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This is from another round, but we can focus on this round. My putting is bad because of speed control. I either hit the ball too light or too fast. I also don't know how to read greens.