Fix my New Hook...

[Ovalevader]

So, I used to have a huge ballooning slice, I'm talking stratosphere high. I had the cause of that as a over the top outside to in swing path, with a little bit of open club face. I hit it pretty far that way, maybe 240-250 when it found fairway, but it was so inconsistent I had to fix it.

So after about 400 balls with my driver trying different things, I had it dialed in with a big hip turn, pretty much shoulders pointing at the ball at the top, with a little bit of lag at the bottom. This resulted in beautiful drives touching 300 on a regular basis, perfectly straight ball flight, it was awesome, until...

About 3 days ago I started hitting balls before a round, first couple sliced a bit, so I made myself concentrate on what I had found before at the range, hit about 5 good ones, and then I duck hooked one into the fence, thinking woah, I guess I mishit that one. Then the next handful of balls had a pretty big hook, pretty much just as big as my slice used to be. The ball starts at the target, then just slides flat left about 50 yards. My short and middle irons were still perfect, So I tried my 3 hybrid...same thing, starts straight, slides left. Then I tried not turning my hips, going back to the way it was before, that just turns into a pretty big push, with about 40 yards loss of distance.

I'm pretty stumped, ever since that day I just can't get rid of it, its resulted in me pulling 5 iron off the tee, which has just a nice quiet little baby draw. Also, if it helps, when it hooks, the ball flight is considerably lower than my straight drives.

Basically I'm asking, what happened? Is it an extreme inside to out swing path, club face angle, or something else? I guess if no one can help me I'd have to borrow a cam for swing vids, but I'd like to see if any of your input can fix it?

Thanks,
Ryan.

[TinCupTampa]

Sounds like you are still coming over the top but now with a closed club face... producing a pull hook.

[GamerJG]

  Ovalevader said:

So, I used to have a huge ballooning slice, I'm talking stratosphere high. I had the cause of that as a over the top outside to in swing path, with a little bit of open club face. I hit it pretty far that way, maybe 240-250 when it found fairway, but it was so inconsistent I had to fix it.

i've had some of the same problems ryan. i used to fade the ball with inconsistent results. some days i hit it like a pro but found it hard to time it and repeat. so i changed my swing completely from outside-in fade to inside-out slight draw. i was hitting it great but sometimes i would have the same slight over the top hook. i saw a tip that i'll share with you that could help. first off your body alignment may be off so constantly check that. second, if you want to hit a slight draw(couldn't tell by your post if you are trying for a draw or fade) focus on hitting the inside quadrant of the ball(left side if you are looking from behind the ball) with a inside-out swing and follow-through with your clubface pointing slightly right of your target. if you have that push high ball to the right, then do the opposite, right quadrant of the ball. i think it could also be that you body alignment is off. maybe your feet and shoulders are lined up to different spots and you are conpensating for that during your swing to fix it subconsciously. try to make sure everything is lined up to the same spot with your feet maybe lining up a slight bit open. try to experiment with this on the range but don't hit to many balls with your driver consecutively because when you get fatigued, your swing will start to go all over the place. try to switch between a high lofted club for some then driver then high loft club, back and forth. then you will start to swing the same with both. let us know if you figure it out, hope it helps.

[Leftygolfer]

Where are you aimed? I would bet you are aiming for a pull and as the poster above said coming over the top hitting a pull hook.

[cirem22]

wow, sounds just like me. Had the horrible slice with all clubs then got everything down well until it get to the 4 iron. The nast nasty hook come in with the 4 iron and both hybrids. 3wood and driver are fine, just the long irons. I too would like to hear some advice on this.

I do think the feet and shoulder alignment have an effect, i am able to adjust them and correct the issue but it only seems to work here and there, i can't get it down consitantly so i think there is another issue.

not sure if you were like me but when i did have my slice the three clubs i can not hit now were the only clubs i DID his strait, now its reversed lol.

[Leftygolfer]

I played some pretty good golf that way. Aiming so far left and just hitting these hard pulls. If you used to slice it, I bet you are still swinging the same just releasing the club and then your subconscious makes you aim to pull.

[topspin4hand]

  Leftygolfer said:

Where are you aimed? I would bet you are aiming for a pull and as the poster above said coming over the top hitting a pull hook.

I'd bet on that too. I used to have a nice draw during my 1st summer of playing. Then I began trying to find my line etc before driving the ball and my previous natural alignment was off and I started hitting alot more hooks instead of the old occasional mistake: push right. I just swinging to the same target but b/c I was conscious of my alignment now, my feet weren't set as before. Yesterday I went out and tried to align with my clubface behind the ball 1st and then stepping into position and bingo, the nice draw returned ...

only took my entire 2nd summer to fix...

[Ovalevader]

So at your guys advice I busted out the old alignment sticks. My aligment was pretty good, stance was a little open, but the thing that really stood out was my stance width. I had my stance marked off on my sticks, and I was standing atleast 7-8 inches wider than before. As i've always played my driver and woods off my front foot, this was causng my ball position to be 8 inches farther forward than usual. I tried playing it right in the middle of the stance, and voilà, nice little draw again.

We'll see how long that lasts, thanks for the help guys!