From pull hoolk to push slide

[steveb]

Hello

,I have a very annoying tendency to either hit my drives with a pull hook, and then, on the next time, hit a push.Are these part of the same fault and, if so, what is that fault and what's a good drill to work on it.

Thanks in advance, Steve

[boogielicious]

They can be.  I have a similar miss pattern.  For me, it is grip pressure and starting the downswing too hard.

I have an in-out swing path using S&T.;  If I start the downswing too hard and don't let the hip slide lead the arms then the swing can come a bit out to in at impact.  With my normal light grip pressure, this becomes a pull hook or a straight draw.

If I swing correctly but have a tight grip pressure, then it can be a push, in-out path with open face.

I have been working on just letting the hands drop at the start of the downswing while the hips slide forward.  Starting the downswing easy and accelerating into impact.  This relaxes my swing and grip pressure.but still allows a strong swing at impact.  I have had very good results using this approach.

Tom Watson has a great tip on grip pressure.  He says to take your normal grip then raise the club vertically.  Relax the hands and let the club drop through.  Regrip, then relax the hands to just before it falls.  Then lower the club.  That is the amount of grip pressure you should have.

[steveb]

Thanks for the advice. I know that grip tightness is something I have a problem with. I'll print your reply out and give it try.

Thanks again!

Steve

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

Something to keep in mind is that if you're swinging on an ideal path (many instructors try to teach a mild in-to-out path), then a slightly closed club face will be a pull-hook, and a slightly open club face will be a straight push.  A club face that's "just right" (very slightly open to the target; very slight closed to the swing path) will produce that mild push-draw you're looking for.  So the pull-hook and the push are two sides of the same coin, and that coin is the club face angle.

Keeping the grip pressure light and the hands "quiet" are the two best swing thoughts for me, when I'm struggling with the face angle at impact.

-Andrew