Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

[muttonbuster]

Nice forum you have here.

I got back into the game about a year ago, and was making some progress until three months ago when it all went to hell. I started messing with about everything imaginable, and now my swing is definitely not right.

For a few weeks I was digging to China, and even broke the head off an old seven iron. (Fortunately I've held off hitting the nice used set of Pings I got a few months back until I get my swing semi decent).

Anyway, not sure how I corrected the digging the club into the ground although I think I was straightening my right leg and lifting up.

At least I am hitting somewhat consistently again, but the problem now is that my high irons are high slices, some even almost landing at a 90 degree angle. I think it's a combination of both the club face being open and the coming outside in, because the ball will start out off target out of the gate and then curve off target even more. I'm not sure if I'm trying to overcompensate to try to get the club behind my back with the two, but those are hitting low or even on the ground and hooking.

I was reading my divots today and they were actually pretty straight so I couldn't figure that one out. I tried the method of drawing my right arm back into my body at the beggining of the downswing with no effect.

Needless to say, it's aggrivating when I used to play much much better at 15 years old than I do at 33. Of course I would play every day for weeks then when I went to Palm Springs, but somehow, the game just isn't coming back.

Another thing (sorry if this is going all over the place), is that I used to have this sensation of almost sliding through the ball where I would feel right at impact or even before "oh, I'm going to catch all of this one". It would just feel right. It seems the arc is much narrower than it used to be, IE the club face isn't as flush with the ball for as long a period of time.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[biggaryT78]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

Man. Hang in there big guy there is always that one shot!.!

I cannot say without seeing your swing, but if you are coming from the outside on your downswing and slashing sidways at the ball with the club face, it is the only way to get a 7 iron to land at near 90*.
So I suggest trying to take the club back, really low and inside and hit some practice swings.... try to return the club to the ball and travel the same path, just to feel a truly inside out or even perfect, head path on one (the other) extreme.
Just stay in balance and turn OVER your CENTER not Through... I think most golfers slide there hips forward in there downswings trying for more power via baseball. You can do it, just dont go crazy and or reverse pivot. All problems are related to someother adjustment.

IN general.. the less you fiddle right now early in your return to the game.. the better... begin back as a feel player and then get technical. ENjoy the view!!

Gary.
+9.6 ghin 2005

[Andrew.shepherd]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

ensure you are transfering your weight correctly

[pnearn]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

I would suggest going back to hitting half swings for a while until you groove the feeling of a one piece takeaway and a 'swing' through the ball to a good finish

Most people should for example be able to hit a 7i 140-150 with a half swing with a feeling of effortless power with a smooth, syrupy tempo, arm/body connection and good balance. If you cant do that with a half swing you sure wont be able to with a longer one

If im off i always go back to hitting 100 balls with a half swing, then build up to 3/4 and so on

Have a look at some of the drill suggestions in Kenisus divot thread. They may be useful too

[30yearlayoff]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

Read my post titled Leadbetter Interactive. If you do nothing else, video tape your swing and upload it here. I'm telling you, video is the most profound thing I have come across for improvement.

Once you see what your're doing, it is so clear. You'll have 95% of your swing correct and find those couple things (for me it was posture, hands too far away from body, angle of shaft on take-away) that put you in position to do what you do wrong.

I thought it was my transition from the top. Once I corrected the things that got me to the top wrong, the top down fell into place.

There are a lot of good people here that can view your swing and tell you what is wrong. At least do that or try the Leadbetter Interactive DVD (instant feedback with drills on how to correct).

[blehar]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

I am by no means a pro, but your problem sounds similar to mine. The problem is not neccessarily an outside in path. It is likely that you are the opposite. If you swing inside to out and then your body gets ahead of your hands you will leave the face open (blocked) and the ball will start out right of target (because thats the way you're swinging) and then go further right because the club face is open.

A sliced shot from a true over the top swing will start the ball left of target and then spin it back right.

Now, the hook. So if you start to think that the problem is the club face is open and so strive to flip your hands over at impact to close the face, now you'll be swinging inside to out with a closed face and create a nasty hook. Not every shot that goes right is a slice, and not every shot that goes right is caused by an outside in path. Its easy to start to think that way because everything on TV would lead you to believe so.

I don't usually post here but your problem sounds similar to my struggles. To solve the problem, I do two things. One, I try to focus on having everything square at impact. For me, because I tend to slide my lower body through impact ahead of my hands, I have to make a conscious effort to quite the lower body. After impact, I think about maintaining a square face as long as possible. The best image I have found is to picture where the club face is as the club is pointed down the line just after impact. The toe of the club should be up, not closed over.

As someone else said, its hard to say without seeing your swing. You may have other problems that aren't apparant just by your description. But you can give those things a shot for what its worth.

Good luck

Dave

[MPLAVLEGL]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

First tip put the 2 iron in the attic.
The divots should be shallow and square.
You are over swinging is my guess.
Nice slow takeaway and dont take the club back to far.
Turn the body through the shot and LET THE CLUB do the work.
Let gravity get the club to the ball dont force it.
Good Luck.

[msklar92]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

if your 8 iron is going very high you left wrist may be collapsing in the follow through adding loft to the club. as pnream said try 1/2 swings. also try stopping at the ball and making sure the left wrist is straight your right wrist is bent - left wrist should be inline with the shaft at impact

[muttonbuster]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

Wow, lot's of responses. I think I will start with half swings. I might be getting a lesson at the country club my uncle belongs to for my birthday which is a few weeks away, but I think filming it would be a great idea and they do have that for lessons at the range here that I hit at all the time. I'll have to ask if they will put it on a cd or a disc for you, but I'm pretty sure that they do.

Yeah, it's kind of hilarious. I was trying to get a bit more consistency a more distance a few months back. I had a slight slice, a few hooks at times but it was much better than how I have gotten. I tweaked everything. Kicking the right knee in a little in my stance when I set up, dragging the club head, focusing on cocking the wrists earlier, focusing on the extension at the top of my swing, you name it. And now I don't think I have golfed so poorly in my life.

The groove is gone, but I'm sure I can get it back. I think the main thing is that after all that tweaking all the elements of my swing are working far from seemlessly.

But yup, it's time for a lesson. I love that two iron though. My grandfather who was an avid golfer used to say to me, you really don't hit that on the course these days, but if you can hit that at the range, you can hit any club.

So I guess in the meantime (I'll get a lesson within two weeks, and post the video if I get it), I'll start with the half swings. Are you supposed to kick through on those though, as in being on your right toe at the end of the swing?

[pnearn]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

I tweaked everything. Kicking the right knee in a little in my stance when I set up, dragging the club head, focusing on cocking the wrists earlier, focusing on the extension at the top of my swing, you name it. And now I don't think I have golfed so poorly in my life.

I think youve answered why in your quote. Youve become so mechanics bound that you cant swing. Try forgetting mechanics and the ball, focus on the target and swing the clubhead through the ball to a good finish. No-one can ever hit good golf shots when they are trying to conciously perform 6 things in a motion that lasts less than 2 seconds

[peter3]

Re: Help, my 8 irons are high slices while 2 irons are low hooks

I'll start with the half swings. Are you supposed to kick through on those though, as in being on your right toe at the end of the swing?

You should finish at least as high as you went in the backswing, i.e if you went back with club to 1/2, you follow through with club to (at least) 1/2 etc.

Same as when pitching.