Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

[BrianW]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Clubface is only half the story though my friend.

Thats absolutely correct Ringer the other half is the ball. When you strip away everything but the basic elements golf is about the clubface striking the ball. The ball understands nothing about setup, grip, swingpath, psychology, et al. It understands only the six millisecond moment of impact from the clubface

[Knackers]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Thanks BrianW.I,m going for practice Friday.I will see how I go.

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

My understanding is that ball direction is imparted 80% by clubface direction an 20% by swing path. Spin is imparted by effective loft, backspin by clubface loft and side spin by how far the clubface is open or closed. A hook comes from a closing clubface which reduces clubface loft thus creating a lower ball flight, a slice from an opening clubface which creates a higher ball flight.

FYI, the clubface is ALWAYS closing.

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Ringer - getting back to that pull hook.I'm pretty sure thats what I am doing.I went back to my old shafts (graphite firm) on the weekend,and did the same thing,left all the time.What would you recommend I do?Should I get my lie angle checked on my new steel stiff shafts and see how I go?Or is it a swing issue?I know it is hard to give an opinion without seeing swing.

When you say left all the time do you mean straight left, starts straight then goes left, or starts left and goes more to the left?

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

I know you addressed this to Ringer but just a little advice. A pull hook is often caused by not making a full shoulder turn and allowing the arms to turn back in advance of the shoulders. This can make you swing abruptly outside to in on the downswing and cut over the ball creating a nasty duck hook.

Hey Brian, this is precisely why it's important to really think through the "new laws". How would he hook it if his path is outside in?

[BrianW]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Hey Brian, this is precisely why it's important to really think through the "new laws". How would he hook it if his path is outside in?

Outside in with a closed clubface = a big hook. Not sure about "New Laws"? The laws of physics have always been the same to me.

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Outside in with a closed clubface = a big hook. Not sure about "New Laws"? The laws of physics have always been the same to me.

Closed clubface relative to what?

Closed relative to the target but open of the path leads to a fade.

Honestly, people who have an outside-in path with a clubface that's aimed even further left than the path are usually OB.

You usually hit a pull hook with an inside out path. Hence why "Pull" hook is a deceiving and outdated term.

[Knackers]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

G'Day Guys - When l say left all the time,I mean 8 out of 10 will either start at the target and then go more left or start left of the target and go more left,generally the latter.2 out of ten will go at the target with a bit of draw(good shots).It feels like when l play a shot,l am fighting to hit it straight.

[BrianW]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Closed clubface relative to what?

Closed relative to the target but open of the path leads to a fade.

Honestly, people who have an outside-in path with a clubface that's aimed even further left than the path are usually OB.

You usually hit a pull hook with an inside out path. Hence why "Pull" hook is a deceiving and outdated term.

An outside in swing with a clubface that is closing through impact will hook severly, the more severe the path and closing face the more severe the hook will be.

If the clubface is square to the swing path then out to in will pull the ball. Inside to out will push it.

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

G'Day Guys - When l say left all the time,I mean 8 out of 10 will either start at the target and then go more left or start left of the target and go more left,generally the latter.2 out of ten will go at the target with a bit of draw(good shots).It feels like when l play a shot,l am fighting to hit it straight.

Ok, this precise observation helps a lot. Since the ball is starting at your target then we know your clubface is actually pretty square at impact. However if you are hooking it away from the target that means your path is INSIDE-OUT too much. Hence why it really isn't a true "pull" hook. You aren't pulling your path at all.

In fact you need to swing more LEFT. I know it sounds counter to everything you've ever heard, but try it and see what happens.

[Knackers]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Thanks - l'm going out today,so l will give it a go and get back to you.I will also keep an eye on my divit direction.

[Knackers]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Hit heaps of balls on course today(3,4,5 irons) - to swing more left I adjusted my swing to be more upright,as in more over my right shoulder.(hopefully this was right thing to do)?It felt like I wasn't as much inside/out.l normally have a low swing.By making this adjustment I certainly hit a lot more balls that started straight and stayed straight or slight draw.Some even had a little accidental fade which I wasn't able to do.Still hit the odd one left.Obviously if this is more the way to go,then l will just have to practice,but I can now play tomorrow knowing that l can hit them straight more often than previously.THANKS.

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Hit heaps of balls on course today(3,4,5 irons) - to swing more left I adjusted my swing to be more upright,as in more over my right shoulder.(hopefully this was right thing to do)?It felt like I wasn't as much inside/out.l normally have a low swing.By making this adjustment I certainly hit a lot more balls that started straight and stayed straight or slight draw.Some even had a little accidental fade which I wasn't able to do.Still hit the odd one left.Obviously if this is more the way to go,then l will just have to practice,but I can now play tomorrow knowing that l can hit them straight more often than previously.THANKS.

Glad to hear it. Just remember that face equals direction, path equals spin. Just because the ball ends up left doesn't mean you need to swing right.

[Knackers]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Ringer - Can l ask you something else.Now that l have slightly adjusted my swing for my irons,do l adjust the same/use the same swing for my Driver,3Wood etc.

[Ringer]

Re: Always Hitting my Stiff Shafts left

Ringer - Can l ask you something else.Now that l have slightly adjusted my swing for my irons,do l adjust the same/use the same swing for my Driver,3Wood etc.

Depends, what is your ball flight with the woods now?