hooking the driver

[patriot07]

I am about an 8 handicap. I play my irons more like a 4 handicap, but I drive the ball like a 12. I can work the ball left and right consistenly with my irons, which are Titleist DCI 981 (just thought i would add that in case anyone is looking for a GREAT set at a good price). However, I often hit really low duck hooks with my driver. When I have an occasional good drive, it is pretty straight, with hardly any draw, and I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong to come over the ball so badly with just this one club, and it happens probably 60% of the time. I'm 20, and I've played baseball since I was 4, but only golf seriously for the past 2 years, and I'm just looking for ANY help to fix this terrible driver situation. I usually feel like it is my right hand just turning the club over at impact, but I can't fix it to save my life. Please help!!

[gord962]

Re: hooking the driver

This sounds like it could be a few things.

First thing that comes to mind is that you have the wrong shaft for your swing in the driver. What shafts do you have in your irons? Are they steel/graphite with reg/stiff/xstiff flex? What shaft is in your driver? Is it steel/graphite with reg/stiff/xstiff flex?

The second problem that I am thinking of is a mechanical difference in your swing. Because the driver is the longest club in your bag, you are trying to swing faster. You speed your swing up with your upper body, but you haven't increased the speed equally with your lower body. This causes a downward blow to the ball creating a lower ball flight as well as a closed face at impact, creating a hook.

[patriot07]

Re: hooking the driver

In my irons, I have the dynamic gold s300 stiff shafts. In my driver, which is a taylormade r5, I have the speeder 757 stiff shaft. I think you may be right about the lower half coming through slow. My baseball swing was always like that: hands fast, legs slow. I have been studying Hogan's "Five Lessons" book and my setup and posture are both good, and my position at the top of the swing is fairly good, so I know it is something between the start of the downswing and impact. Do you have any tips as to what I should be thinking at the top of the backswing to get my lower half going and fix the problem. Thanks Gord

[gord962]

Re: hooking the driver

One drill that may work is this one which requires a helper:
Get to the top of your backswing and have someone grab the head of your club. Now, start your downswing. This will get you starting your downswing with your lower body and your club will be left at the top. Do this drill at the range. Go through it 3 times and then have your buddy step away and hit 3 balls. Have your buddy step back in and go through the drill again. Alternate back and forth about 5 times and you should notice a difference.

[patriot07]

Re: hooking the driver

Thanks that sounds like it will help. I'll probably be able to try it out tomorrow.

[ph_kingston]

Re: hooking the driver

I hit a low hook when I'm trying to hit the driver too hard. Unlike irons the driver needs to be hit with a sweeping, upwards motion and that requires less active hands. Getting too aggressive with the driver can cause the right hand to turn the clubface over resulting in the low hook you encounter.

Another key is to make sure that you swing on and inside to inside swing path. It's easy with a driver to get outside the line on the downswing resulting in an out to in path which causes pulls and hooks.

A good drill is to splay the back foot outwards a little at address and hit a few balls. This encourages hip rotation and a more inside arc to the backswing. You'll lose power as the hips have rotated more but it will give you the right feeling for the backswing.

[Mizunoman]

Re: hooking the driver

mmmm Titleist 981's sweeeeeeeeeeet.....

Check your clubhead at the top of the swing, Patriot, I will bet you your 981's against my Pro II's that its pointing left of target. Have a friend watch you and get them to make sure that your clubhead is pointing to target and your hands are nice and high. You will find that the nasty pull hook soon vanishes. A couple of other fixes: Make sure your swing isnt getting flat with the longer stick (and the fact you are used to a baseball swing which is virtually flat horizontal) and remember, attack the ball from the inside.

Good Luck.

D.

[patriot07]

Re: hooking the driver

Thanks all, I'll try them out soon. I know my hip starting the downswing has already helped a ton.

[henry101]

Re: hooking the driver

the most likely reason is that the lie angle in your irons is too flat. Consequently you get the fade with the irons but you most probably use your hands a lot through impact. Because the driver has little loft , when you do the same with it you will smother hook it as described. get the lie angles checked out on your irons

[kiwi]

Re: hooking the driver

A tip in Tigers book is to chase the right hand throu to the target as if your trying to shake someones hand so as to not roll your hands to quickly.So at waist height after impact your in a hand shake position. Hopes this makes sense.

Kiwi