Hooking with Short Irons

[VanillaEps]

A couple of days ago, I started to tinker with my grip. Don't know why, I suppose I was bored. In hindsight, don't fix what ain't broken. I take a trip over to the range on Sunday night and last night and a hook was completely and utterly destroyed everything that I had success with the past couple of weeks!

Is it my grip? Would an overly strong grip create a hook in my iron game? I've decided to stay away from the range for at least a week to ensure I forget about the past two nights and hopefully forget the bad habit that I exhibited the past two nights.

Any feedback would really help.

[$2 Nassau]

Yes, an overly strong grip would create a low hook.

[VanillaEps]

Yes, an overly strong grip would create a low hook.

My hooks aren't necessarily lower than my straight shots were. If I were to describe the trajectory of the ball, it would do as such:

-Upon impact the ball shoots straight left of my intended target -At times the shot will either shoot straight left or bend left of the target My educated guess has got to be the grip as I was messing with it the day before. I got out of my comfort zone with the grip. I was trying something new. I should have just left well enough alone. Even PGA Tour players lack fundamentally/textbook grips.

[$2 Nassau]

My hooks aren't necessarily lower than my straight shots were. If I were to describe the trajectory of the ball, it would do as such:

That must be it, assuming you didn't change anything else. I always had a very strong grip, basically just looking for extra distance and had the same problem. I switched to a neutral grip this year and it has made a huge difference.

Go to YouTube and do a search under the username "RingerDaMan" he's a teaching pro and has some great videos, including one on the grip. He's also a member of this forum and posts from time to time under the name "Ringer."

[VanillaEps]

That must be it, assuming you didn't change anything else. I always had a very strong grip, basically just looking for extra distance and had the same problem. I switched to a neutral grip this year and it has made a huge difference.

Same here. I employ a strong grip to begin with because I tend to slice the ball. I think now, I am overly strengthening my grip for some odd reason. I felt such a disconnect because I could feel my right hand over powering my left AND my right hand just felt in the wrong place at impact.

[Diggitydog]

It's alright to experiment. You are a 21 handicap so it's not like you're going to break a perfect swing. I think it takes a lot of time to really get comfortable with a golf club. You get comfortable by playing and trying things. Quite probably your grip got too strong and you may just want to put it back to a neutral grip. There are so many variables it may be wise to seek advice from a good local teaching pro.

[VanillaEps]

It's alright to experiment. You are a 21 handicap so it's not like you're going to break a perfect swing. I think it takes a lot of time to really get comfortable with a golf club. You get comfortable by playing and trying things. Quite probably your grip got too strong and you may just want to put it back to a neutral grip. There are so many variables it may be wise to seek advice from a good local teaching pro.

Your absolutely right. I'm not great and have yet to break 100 on the course. However, considering that I started playing in August of this year, I felt like I had made a really nice progression towards hitting ball straight and being able to know the distance at which I was carrying my short irons.

That progression was evident in the last round I played and I was VERY happy with my results. I had such great confidence with my short irons, that I made those shots with least amount of tension. However, now I feel like I need to start all over again. It's not a great feeling whatsoever. Maybe I am over reacting and its a simple grip issue that I can fix at my next range session. Its just frustrating and I've learned my lesson - don't mess with something that works unless under supervision of a licensed professional.

[Diggitydog]

I wouldn't go that far, you're going to have to make changes in order to get better, the key line in your last post was "tension free". Right now you're concerned about hitting bad iron shots so you will make that come true. It's a tough thing to do but you need to forget about the crappy shots and go back to your basic fundamentals. Honestly when I make a bad swing now, I work to forget about it as quickly as possible.
I made a par on a par 5 last week that I hit a good drive, a topped 3 wood and a good approach from 150 with my 8 iron. 2 putted for par. I could have worried about the topped 3 wood but I had erased it from memory by the time I reached my 8 iron shot. It was a fluke bad swing and I knew it. If I had dwelled upon the miss who knows what kind of number I would have put up on that hole.

[silliwilli]

Sounds like your coming over the top (or outside to in) with a closed clubface due to the strong grip

that would explain the ball starting left i guess

[Logie]

Sounds like your coming over the top (or outside to in) with a closed clubface due to the strong grip

My thoughts aswell, also done it myself in the past. When it happens to me, on my next short with a short iron i try and focus on my practice swing comming from the inside. Seems to sort it out most of the time

[VanillaEps]

My thoughts aswell, also done it myself in the past. When it happens to me, on my next short with a short iron i try and focus on my practice swing comming from the inside. Seems to sort it out most of the time

Next time I'm out there I'm going to take it slow and try and pin point the problem. I'm pretty sure that if I neutralize my grip, the hook will disappear.

[Harold]

I have the same issue from time to time creep into my short iron game. The primary cause for me doing it though is I'm subtlely losing feel because of grip wear and loss of tackiness. To make up for it I tend to start working a stronger grip and clamp down on the club as well. Once I replace the grips on the clubs my hook (I'm a fade/slice player) goes away. Never discount grip wear. If they look beat up, shiny or you are trying to strangle the golf club the grips might need replacing.

[wachesawgolfer]

Sounds like your coming over the top (or outside to in) with a closed clubface due to the strong grip

Right on the money. I bet your long clubs tend to slice which would confirm the diagnosis.

[CurtisBen]

I had this problem last fall and I found out through a teaching pro that I was actually standing too far from the ball and reaching out for it and making the face close down. But, I find myself all summer this year standing almost too close and everyting going right on me. But hey that's why we love the game. uh

[VanillaEps]

Right on the money. I bet your long clubs tend to slice which would confirm the diagnosis.

Ha. Yes the long clubs slice - specifically the driver. Although the 3-wood and 5-wood does not slice anymore. I've really worked on it and it has a natural fade to it. However, the ball does not get a lot of air time. Very low trajectory.

[beung]

Your absolutely right. I'm not great and have yet to break 100 on the course. However, considering that I started playing in August of this year, I felt like I had made a really nice progression towards hitting ball straight and being able to know the distance at which I was carrying my short irons.

Actually one teaching technique is to teach someone how to draw the ball and then take it away. Since drawing or even hooking the ball consistantly is the minority and generally harder to do then slicing, if you can teach someone how to hit the ball left, you can slow tweak your grip/setup/swing to reduce that draw. Try your top hands at different degrees of weak/strong and take mental note of where your thumb is when the ball draws or fades. Then you can dial in the fall flight better when a shot calls for you to play a certain direction.

[silliwilli]

I had this problem last fall and I found out through a teaching pro that I was actually standing too far from the ball and reaching out for it and making the face close down. But, I find myself all summer this year standing almost too close and everyting going right on me. But hey that's why we love the game. uh

Reminds me of the youtube of Tiger were he says he stands too clos to his driver on purpose to hit a heel cut to get it in play

[VanillaEps]

Reminds me of the youtube of Tiger were he says he stands too clos to his driver on purpose to hit a heel cut to get it in play

Heel cut to get it in play??