Help Me With the Hooks

[LIgolfer]

Hey Everyone,

Lately i've been having many problems with my driver and hitting very bad low running hooks that start out very low(5-10 yrds. of the ground) slighty right of my target and after about 100-150 yards they take a huge left turn and roll for what seems another 150 yards. Ive taken a few lessons with just my driver and my pro tells me to try and swing to right field while releasing the clubhead by turning my hands over but this just seems to make it worse. Is this the right way to fix a hook or is my pro wrong about the swing path and trying to get me to release the club head.

P.S. My shot shape with my irons is a draw and I always have a left to right divot. The driver is the club holding me back and preventing me from scoring since im usually hitting three from where I should be hitting two.

All Help would be very much appreciated

[Rexx]

IMO, the advice your pro gave you is probably why you're hitting a hook (or at least not getting rid of it). It MIGHT be good advice for someone that usually comes over the top and slices the ball, but it's just ingraining what you are already doing. Without a video it's difficult to say, but your description of your ball flight means you have the club face slightly open at impact, but the club path is quite a bit inside-to-out. You need less of that, and the solution could be as simple as moving the ball up in your stance (if you have a tendency to play it back), thereby catching it slightly later in your swing arc. The fact that it is coming out so low is what leads me to believe you have it back in your stance. But, a video would probably be more helpful.

[redranger]

I actually have the same problem with my driver and hybrid. I used to hit my driver straight/slight draw about 275-300 yards for about a year and then suddenly lost that swing and it's been about 2 weeks now. Same with you, my irons are fine with a slight draw.

I had a lesson a few days ago from my pro and he told me I was coming in too inside on my downswing and recommended that I exaggerate going outside on my backswing/downswing. He also said to try and hold the face open and try to slice the ball. Once you slice the ball, you're supposed to relax and swing. Holding the face open helps me get the ball more up in the air, as well. This seems like the opposite of what your pro told you...

So far, the result have been mixed, but my ball is starting to fly higher and not hook as severely. I try and control my tempo a little better as well.

Let me know if that helps at all. Good luck!

[ks8829]

Two things going on with your driver.

1) Low shots
a) teeing up too low

2) hooking your driver
a) club face is closing too much at impact
b) try playing the ball further back in your stance
c) try to keep the club face from closing at and after impact
d) watch your backswing and make sure it's not too much inside
e) check your grip and make sure its neutral to weak
f) check the distance of your hands from your body and slowly move further out

[Rexx]

  ks8829 said:

Two things going on with your driver.

Hmmm.... this is a bit odd, but I pretty much disagree with every point you made. Might have to put this up for a vote:

1a. Possible, but I would've hoped that was already tried. 2a. He said the shot is starting slightly right of the target, so his club face would be slightly open if anything (which is fine). 2b. Playing the ball back is only going to impact the ball sooner on his in-to-out swing path, causing an even bigger hook and more delofted club. The stock advice in this case (without video) is to move the ball more forward in the stance and maybe kill 2 birds with 1 stone. 2c. Intentionally manipulating the hands/clubface through impact is shaky at best (and almost never repeatable for very long). Besides, as stated above, the problem isn't that the clubface is too closed (or even closed at all) relative to the target line. 2d. Most golfers that take the club "too inside" tend to be slicers. They whip the clubhead to the inside and then come over the top. Although, it's not unheard of to be the opposite. 2e. Grip changes are usually the recommendation of clubface issues, not swing path issues. 2f. Usually, being further away from the ball at setup helps to create a more in-to-out swing path.

[KEEPITSIMPLE]

First thing. Fire your pro. He is giving you a draw tip to a guy who is hooking.That tip is for someone who doesn't know how to realease,besides IMO,anyone who tells you to manipulate with your arm or hands shouldn't be teaching anyways.

Hook happens when you first start your swing inside out but than you don't extend through the ball. Focus on finishing your swing,basically it entails that you stay inside out and more level with your body and accelerate through and I always add in this one ,no hands. IF you manipulate with your hands only god would know what is going on.

[Jay-Bird]

I'd bet you're choking the life out of the grip. Ease up on the hands.

[kpallday]

I am having the same problem. My clube face is closed at top of my backswing due to Bowed wrist. SOMEONE please view my video and help. I can't seem to create flat or arched wrist at the top of backswing...

take a look at my ugly closed CLUB face

[MikeLowry5]

I am having the same issues, actually thought I wrote the original post for you when I was reading it.

Mine have been of the toe hook variety which lead me to believe that my hands are over active. To further substantiate that thought, my ball flight has been lower which also would lead me to believe the hands are way too active in closing the face.

From my limited experience there are a few different things that cause hooks:

1. Too strong of a grip which leads to a closed club face at top and at step 6 in McLean's 8-step swing (sorry best way to describe which position).

2. A swing path that is too far inside out with a club face that is closed to this outward path putting a ton of hook spin on the ball. This same swing gives you a severe two way miss as if you do not close the club face you just blocked it 100yards in the opposite of your target.

3. Flipping the wrists during the downswing that closes the clubface off to the path which can lead to push or pull hooks.

4. Not enough rotation of the lower half when coming into impact (poor impact postion with closed off hips).

swings at home for a few days then go hit balls and see if you make an progress.

[KEEPITSIMPLE]

holy, that is a lot of swaying.A bow left wrist at top is not a death sentence,I have it too and I am sure plenty of of guys do it on tour.It is just a bi- product of a strong grip and elbows being too far apart.Keep your right and left elbows closer together on the backswing and voila!! Bigger problem,I don't know any guy on tour that sways that much,pretty hard to time,but just as I thought you are not getting your body level ,you are leaning slightly backward on an inside out plane and that produce a hook.Not getting through the ball and extending that is why you can't maintain a finish . Quick and dirty- stay more level with your hip and make sure you get through the ball.

[Joeyvee]

  ks8829 said:

Two things going on with your driver.

That seems contrary to everything I've been reading about swing paths and true ball flight laws as well.

1) Low shots a) You could be swinging on too much of a descending angle. Great for irons, not great for woods-drivers. I would try moving the ball up a half an inch to an inch closer to my front foot. I do the opposite (high slices) and when I move the ball back I stop slicing and draw.