How do I fix the straight draw?

[davbrucas]

My misses are always left. Most of the time I hit a straight draw but often times I hit a pull hook...based on what I have been reading on Eriks posting, my clubface is always closed to my swingpath...and sometimes I close it relative to my target and others I do not...depending on which of the two above shots I hit. I know when I dont get to my left side and come over the top and yank the ball left with a closed face...and this is what is causing the pull hook. With that thinking, should I just open the face more at address...or adjust my grip? I have a pretty strong grip...with 3 knuckles visible on my left hand (right handed). It feels awkward to me to weaken the grip...since I have been playing with the same grip since I started playing 15yrs ago. But, I have recently changed my swing to where I come more from the inside on my downswing. My backswing is shorter than most and I tend to get quick and cant catch up with my lower body...but I still generate 118-120mph clubhead speeds. So you can imagine what happens to my golf balls when I hit the above shots. I appreciate the advice. I plan on getting some video of me at the range when the weather here in south Texas improves.

[davbrucas]

Is what this instructor in this video saying correct? Based on what I have learned from Eriks stuff he is wrong...fastforward to 1:18 to how he says the pull hook happens.

[lcfd42]

I did'nt watch the video on the post, but I have always been told that when you hit a hard hook, that your timing is off. That you turn your left hip turns out left (for a righty) too fast and this causes your hands roll over too soon creating the hook.

[James_Black]

I did'nt watch the video on the post, but I have always been told that when you hit a hard hook, that your timing is off. That you turn your left hip turns out left (for a righty) too fast and this causes your hands roll over too soon creating the hook.

Also the grip doesn't help either, could mean that your de-lofting the clubface at address.

Is the hook with all clubs or with the lower loft clubs?

[davbrucas]

Just the longer clubs...but mainly with the driver and 3W when I tee it up.

[davbrucas]

I am pretty sure that I am not clearing my left hip...actually shifting my weight forward without clearing the left hip(hip goes toward target and not back and out of the way) and when I swing through the ball I hook it.

[tacs9888]

I agree with you davbrucas, I previously played a straight draw, or a pull draw (closer to a hook) for some time, thinking that all i needed to do to fix the problem was to push my arms out, or away from my body to give the draw a nice push. After a lesson from a very reputable coach, he noted: in summary, that my arms were beating my hips and shoulders through. What I have done to improve this was a combination of two things.

First: bring your club to its peak backswing, pause, and than yank the leading hip back, as if someone grabbed that pocked and pulled very hard from behind you, you'll notice your arms will begin to drop as well. Make not of this feeling as it is how your downswing should always start. Something to think about is that to start your downswing you are squashing a bug with your leading heel. A good drill for this is to put a medicine ball between a wall and your butt ox, than do an easy swing, the medicine ball should not fall to the ground until about three quarters or more into your follow through, this insures your butt ox isn's shooting forward before impact (in other words your standing up early to compensate for going off swing plane because of the arms taking over).

Second: This is in addition to the firing of your left hip backward. As stated before you'll feel your arms drop when your left hip begins its rotation, at this point you will want to take your back shoulder and push that through the ball while keeping your leading arm straight, do this without breaking your wrists. Note your head should not be moving in front of the golf ball until 3 quarters up your follow through, and your right shoulder is rotating with the grip of your club going from the rear side of your body to the front (the follow through side). Its is as if your grip is in a race with the club head, and you need to make sure than while only using your shoulders (again I cant enforce enough that your head needs to remain behind the ball while doing this) the grip wins this race.

In summary: squash a bug with your leading heal at the beginning of your downswing, keep your butt from shooting forward. And than to ensure you get the torque and not block the shot push your rear shoulder around, like your trying to hit the ball with this right shoulder. Then when you made a normal swing your arms will be in tune with your hips and shoulders without thought.

I hope this helps, I tried to be as clear as possible, its a little tough to explain

[DBeane]

A pulled hook can be anything from the ball being to far foreword in your stance, closed stance, simply coming over the top of a shot, to bad posture, to not getting out of the way (clearing the left side), taking the club back with the face shut, to clubs that are too upright for you. When you get a chance, post a video.

-Beane

[vokeyprince]

i would change the grip it is defo the clubface being closed to the swing path that causes the pull hook so address your grip and clubface and dont try to clear your hips worst thing you could do if coming over the top. hit against a hard left side and make sure yiou drive thru the ball with your legs . this should stop you coming over the top also if your ahead of your body feel as though your body is moving and turning back to the ball before you have completed your backswing but of course u wont be as golf is all about feelings

[Yukari]

Usually, at least for me, pull hook happens if I don't SHIFT my weight to the left. That is, if I stay back too much I get a wicked duck hook. This is especially true when you have a longer club because to shift weight, you have to "travel" further left--due to a wider stance.

You might want to check to make sure that you are shifting your weight completely to the left with your driver and 3W.

[davbrucas]

I agree with you davbrucas, I previously played a straight draw, or a pull draw (closer to a hook) for some time, thinking that all i needed to do to fix the problem was to push my arms out, or away from my body to give the draw a nice push. After a lesson from a very reputable coach, he noted: in summary, that my arms were beating my hips and shoulders through. What I have done to improve this was a combination of two things.

This all makes sense and is what I normally do...up until I somehow went from a straight up, straight through swing to a more flat plane swing. I didnt consciously switch swings...I guess me getting older I cannot get the club in that position anymore. But I will try the things you have stated. Thanks.

A pulled hook can be anything from the ball being to far foreword in your stance, closed stance, simply coming over the top of a shot, to bad posture, to not getting out of the way (clearing the left side), taking the club back with the face shut, to clubs that are too upright for you. When you get a chance, post a video.

Actually, its a combo of all of the above. My grip is very strong, I play the ball way forward (worked very well with my old swing) and teed up high, I noticed that I have started to close my stance subconsciously for some reason...I try to correct it when I notice it, I often times notice the clubface being closed when I take the club back (grip issue?), I know I sometimes come over the top and dont clear my left hip all the time, etc...I sucks because I am used to shooting mid 70s and now I am fighting to break 80. Its hard to shoot in the 70s when you hit a 300yd hooker 2 fairways over...maybe I should bring her to my fairway? :) I will get the swing video this weekend. Thanks.

i would change the grip it is defo the clubface being closed to the swing path that causes the pull hook so address your grip and clubface and dont try to clear your hips worst thing you could do if coming over the top. hit against a hard left side and make sure yiou drive thru the ball with your legs . this should stop you coming over the top also if your ahead of your body feel as though your body is moving and turning back to the ball before you have completed your backswing but of course u wont be as golf is all about feelings

I have tried to weaken my grip and it feels very awkward...like the club is gonna fly out of my hands! Whats crazy is, with the weaker grip I fade the crap out of the ball. Probably still have the over the top swing with the face open...should result in pull fade, but doesnt always. I am coming over the top because my backswing is short and I get quick and dont clear my left hip before firing the club through the ball. When I do clear my hips the ball goes relatively straight...but once I have learned that over the top swing, its hard to get rid of it...I just quit playing for a couple weeks and it goes away for a while. Thanks for the help.

[davbrucas]

Usually, at least for me, pull hook happens if I don't SHIFT my weight to the left. That is, if I stay back too much I get a wicked duck hook. This is especially true when you have a longer club because to shift weight, you have to "travel" further left--due to a wider stance.

Yep...I know I do this. Have any drills to burn this into my head?

[Zeph]

Didn't read all of this, but if you mostly hit a straight draw, ie. the ball starts straight and then spins to the left, your clubface is close to square and your swing path is in-to-out. With a square swing path, the ball would go straight.

A pull hook is of course closed clubface, but it could be related to the in-to-out swing path if you subconciously are trying to flip the clubface to get the ball back on track.