Blocking/Hooking

[John Oller]

I am a former slicer who developed a nice consistent draw a couple years ago by going to a more inside-out swing. Lately, though, the draw has become less and less frequent, replaced at times by a severe block or hook. Sometimes the hook is very low, at other times extremely high-flying -- starts straight (not right) and veers left. My guess is I may be flipping the hands over when I feel a block coming on. Another odd phenomemon: I can often play an entire front nine or so with no problems at all, then the blocking starts up later in the round. Fatigue-induced? Or mental?

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[pgmetcalf]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

My thought is if you're blocking and hooking you'll probably have a closed stance and swinging along the line of the stance rather than swinging towards the target ( you're not clearing the hips and making room for the club to pass the body) - probably developed as a counter measure to your slice a couple of years ago.

I would suggest next time you pactice set up with 2 clubs laid on the floor, one along the target line and one along the line of your toes, maybe a third laying across the toe-line club to help ball position. Hit a few balls - it doesn't matter way they go so much, just concentrate on swinging right through and getting the body as far round as you can on the follow through.

Paul

[John Oller]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

Thanks, will try it. I do tend to get closed on the stance, often subconsciously.

[rpawly]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

I had the same problem, and ahd a simple fix coach told me feet were getting too far apart thus not making correct hip turn thus hips stop and arms keep going.

Made the stance smaller and wala back to normal.

[John Oller]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

thanks, will try narrowing the stance a bit, see if that does anything.

[chessbum]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

Dear John,

I have had similiar problems this whole season. I have been to three PGA instructors with limited results. I take golf seriously and have studied my swing closely. I came upon a revelation several days ago that might help you, it has helped me and practically eliminated all the problems you describe.

The key to your problems, in my opinion, is not one problem or the other but the inconsistency, in other words, blocking, then hooking. I would also guess there is some bad ball striking too.

Here's what I have found out and my help you too:

When I start having these problems, it is because I start turning my hips WAY too much. When this starts it is almost impossible to square the clubface up. If you notice Tiger Woods or any other Pro, their hips do not turn as much as you would think. Probaby none more that 45 degrees.

Here's my suggestion: Go to the driving range, warm up and then just try hitting some balls while you consciously QUIET the hips way down. Feel the resistance when you go back and hit but don't let them rotate for their sake, but only in response to what the arms are doing. Then compare your shots with what you have been doing. I predict you will see a much better ball flight. Remember to keep the arms and hands tension free.

I also had these problems pop up out of the blue like you describe. Here is my theory on that. After you play a while, you body gets loosened up and moves much more freely. Once you are loosened up, it is much easier to rotate the hips way too far and that is when the wayward shots creep in. In the first part of the round, you are a little more stiff and the hips don't rotate so much, therefore less wayward shots.

Let me know how it works out.

Chessbum....

[The Golf Bandit]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

I agree with Chessbum. I think your problems may be in your hips.

The problem I found with my hips was that I was swivelling them way too much. This caused both a slice and a block hook.

Now I concentrate more on my weight transfer. Keeping my head still, I ensure that I transfer my weight onto my right side at takeaway and then transfer back onto the left at the start of the downswing.

Hope this helps

The Golf Bandit

[marstone]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

Chessbum you have changed my game considerably. Not only has quieting my hips stoppped me hooking the ball it has eliminated me sh***ing the ball from taking to much of inside-out swing path. Thankyou kindly.

[chessbum]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

Your welcome

Chessbum

[John Oller]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

The various suggestions about the hips seem to be the key, thanks to all. Though I find the concept of quieting the hips on the backswing hard to implement as such, I find that if I take the club back a little straighter, instead of whipping it immediately to the inside, then the hips resist turning a bit longer and I'm in better position at the top. On the downswing, after dropping the arms, I try to unwind the hips toward the target, clearing the arms to swing fully through the ball. So far it shows promise.


thanks again

[pinyo8]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

I have to agree with chessbum on this as well. I used to have the EXACT same problem (and still do from time to time).

Here are my analysis of the three main results:

Block (with perhaps a slight slice) - Hips being too active causing the hands to have to play catch up but couldnt release.

big looping hooks that starts out right - Again, hips being too active but the hand does catch up but release at a rapid rate. If your club starts shut, then you will hit those lower hooks.

Pull Hooks - Hip stays too passive and then hand just fires through with a closed club face.

My solution to this is pay attention to your timing, especially with the hips and the arms once you starting do those shots. As for keeping your hips quite on the backswing, I focused more on the downswing to correct my problem.

Also, you mentioned that you some time have a closed stance. I used to do this too and shots that I thought were blocks werent but was due to bad alignment as I was aiming to the right in the first place.

[The Golf Bandit]

Re: Blocking/Hooking

An exercise that I have found to be really useful in quieting down the hips is this.

Go the the golf range and try hitting some balls standing on your left leg only. When you do this you can hardly rotate your hips at all.

Then try hitting some balls with both of your feet together.

Both of these exercises demand that you have good balance. They stop you from using force to strike the ball and make you swing the club.

Of course you won't be able to hit the ball 300 yards doing this, but you will be able to develop an accurate swing.