Hook - Seriously? Where Did It Come From?

[Fairway_CY]

So... for the vast majority of my first 10 or so years playing golf... I played with a pretty wicked slice that I dialed down to a large fade after awhile. In about 2004... I reworked my grip and was finally able to hit the ball straight.

On certain shots, I still go back to my fade... but it's intentional. At one point last season, my fade was replaced with a slight draw off the tee... but my clubs from the fairway were still straight or a slight fade. I LOVED watching the draw off the tee... it's just a pretty shot.

Just over two weeks ago... the week after having the best round of my life off the tee (10 of 13 fairways with the 3 I missed being by only a few feet)... I had what was arguably the WORST round of my life off the tee (1 of 14 fairways with none of the misses even being close).

That day, I suddenly developed a severe hook off the tee. Not a snap hook... but the ball would go about 200 yards and then make a left turn. If I played down the right side of the fairway, it would inevitably end up to the left of the fairway... and I hit 3 balls OB or in a hazard off the tee with my driver.

I figured it had to be a grip issue, so I worked for the next two weeks at the range trying to figure it out. I went as far as to hold the club with the face pretty severely opened... and it resulted in a bunch of straight shots... some pretty ugly slices... but only a few hooks. I eventually tweaked that so the clubface wasn't open anymore, but my grip had my left thumb well on the left side of the shaft and it just didn't feel right. Still... it seemed to result in decent shots.

That worked until Saturday evening when I had one final range session. Suddenly, the hook was back on about 25% of my swings with the driver. Sunday morning warming up... same thing. On the course... I put 5 balls OB off the tee with the driver (2 on a single hole)... 3 right (aiming out there and the ball stayed out there) and 2 hooked left. Many of the swings I took with my driver that DIDN'T put the ball OB were hooked as well.

Eventually (should have done it earlier) I put my driver in the bag and kept it there in favor of my 3 wood. I lose about 25-35 yards of distance... but the ball was always in play.

Now - I've got only 5 days until my next club round and I'd REALLY like to figure out what I'm doing. I don't have any video of it... but I'll try and post some maybe tomorrow or Thursday.

In the mean time... does anybody have any ideas of what could POSSIBLY have changed and what I could maybe do to help myself here? Also... if I go to a professional and explain the issue, will they work with me for a lesson fee on THAT SPECIFIC issue or... does it have to be a 'from the beginning' type deal (which I'm not ready for right now)?

Thanks for any help you guys could provide.

CY

[senorchipotle]

follow through and don't turn your wrists over. go back to your two knuckle grip and just hit down at it, not trying to rotate your forearms to spin the ball. you're probably ''releasing'' the club before or at the ball, when in fact your right arm should still be slightly bent at impact.

[colin007]

the ball doesnt lie. if the ball is starting at the target then its pretty much square to the target at impact. the hook is coming from swinging to far in to out. if you open the face slightly at address you may be able to start the ball right of the target and have it draw back. or fix the issue of the swing too far in to out.

a drill i have seen is to put a small cardboard box between your feet (right foot) and the back side of the ball that prevents you from coming too much from the inside. its in the S&T book on page 162.

[Fairway_CY]

follow through and don't turn your wrists over. go back to your two knuckle grip and just hit down at it, not trying to rotate your forearms to spin the ball. you're probably ''releasing'' the club before or at the ball, when in fact your right arm should still be slightly bent at impact.

Hmmm... I don't actually have conscious thoughts of rotating my forearms. I'll have to see if maybe that's what is doing it. I did have an issue with casting and releasing the club too early... but I never hooked the ball. And what you say kind of makes sense because when I move the ball back in my stance... it doesn't hook... instead, it stays out right and sometimes fades even further to the right.

the ball doesnt lie. if the ball is starting at the target then its pretty much square to the target at impact. the hook is coming from swinging to far in to out. if you open the face slightly at address you may be able to start the ball right of the target and have it draw back. or fix the issue of the swing too far in to out.

I'll have to check out that drill. It sounds like it COULD be an in to out swing because it is something I worked on doing rather than coming across the ball, which was resulting in the fade I USED to play. It's just odd because it's ONLY with my driver off the tee. I don't have the same issue with my 3 wood off the tee or any of my irons through the green.

Thanks for the tips guys... CY

[iacas]

To be clear, Fairway, these are push over-draws, yes? They're still starting out right?

If so, then you know it's a path issue - too much from the inside.

[Fairway_CY]

To be clear, Fairway, these are push over-draws, yes? They're still starting out right?

Pretty much, yes. Not so much right as where I'm aiming, though. I HAVE been playing that push-draw with my 3 wood... but it's a very slight draw. It seems to make a lot of sense that it's my swing path.... I've just got to find a way to fix that.

Thanks for your input! CY