Fade drive, hook irons

[miffin]

I am having problems with hitting a straight drive or even a slight fade but then I tend to pull or even hook my irons. Is it something to do with the weight or length of the club please? Any tips appreciated.
Brian

[oldwease]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

From that, we know that you have a tendency to keep the club face slightly open through impact with the driver. I think the likelihood is that you're getting a little ahead of the ball with the driver. That would be OK with the irons as you tend to hit down and the clubface is offset anyway. So, try to really stay behind the ball with the driver.

That said, I've come to the view that the driver is the one club where you really benefit from custom fitting (not that I've had that done yet!).

[miffin]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

Thanks for that it sounds a possibility. However I am not really good at golf terms yet. Does that mean that my arms are ahead of my body?

[oldwease]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

It really means that part of your left side is getting ahead of the ball, which is what you want for the irons as this will help to promote the correct attack into the ball. Check this out by taking a practice swing in front of a mirror with an iron and pausing at impact.

When I hit driver, I try to feel as if all of my body stays behind the ball through impact (aided by playing the ball further forward in the stance).

[takinitdeep]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

Thanks for that it sounds a possibility. However I am not really good at golf terms yet. Does that mean that my arms are ahead of my body?

I would check shaft length by chocking up an inch or two with driver to see if this helps. If it does, you may consider cutting the shaft down if it is a 45" shaft. Most on tour use 43 1/2 length so why do we think we can use 45" and hit it straight.
Also, with driver you want ascending path at impact.
Swing path should change from irons to driver but you may be trying to hit all the same.
Finally, you may have an over the top swing which would pull irons and slice driver; check whether you are jerking the club down versus just making the downswing transition easily.

[slater170]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

I would check shaft length by chocking up an inch or two with driver to see if this helps. If it does, you may consider cutting the shaft down if it is a 45" shaft. Most on tour use 43 1/2 length so why do we think we can use 45" and hit it straight.
Also, with driver you want ascending path at impact.
Swing path should change from irons to driver but you may be trying to hit all the same.
Finally, you may have an over the top swing which would pull irons and slice driver; check whether you are jerking the club down versus just making the downswing transition easily.

HI TID
you have saved me starting a new thread!
im currently using a cobra hs9 driver and the specs say it is 45.5" long.
i used an impact face pad last night at the range and no matter how i set up all the marks on the pad were on the heel side of centre.
would i benefit from shortening the shaft or could ther be another problem.
i am striking every other club well with a straight or slight draw shape

[BrianW]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

HI TID
you have saved me starting a new thread!
im currently using a cobra hs9 driver and the specs say it is 45.5" long.
i used an impact face pad last night at the range and no matter how i set up all the marks on the pad were on the heel side of centre.
would i benefit from shortening the shaft or could ther be another problem.
i am striking every other club well with a straight or slight draw shape

Hi Slats,

I find a slightly shorter driver shaft creates more confidence at address and more consistent good impact. The loss of swing arc can be made up in distance by better contact.

Regarding your varying impact position, check your balance, you may be letting your weight get onto your toes, try and keep your weight even between the balls and heel of your feet.

[msklar92]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

I'm confused - are your fading your driver and pulling or hooking your irons? or are you hitting your drives straight?

[miffin]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

Drives are mostly straight but if I do get a fault it tends to fade. Irons I tend to pull a bit most of the time. It's an ace shot if I get one straight.
Brian

[msklar92]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

really doesn't sound like too much of a problem. sounds as if you have a slight out to in path - on the drive clubface maybe slightly open and on the irons slightly close. I would correct the path 1st if you don't want to live with what you have.

[RandomHero1090]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

really doesn't sound like too much of a problem. sounds as if you have a slight out to in path - on the drive clubface maybe slightly open and on the irons slightly close. I would correct the path 1st if you don't want to live with what you have.

O-64.......O-64.......
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nicely said msklar! This is a VERY common thing to see, heck, I do this all the time because I tend to be a little outside-in at times. Here are my ways to cure...

1) For short irons, make sure I am all squared up (heels, knees, hips and shoulders all parallel to the target line). I also make sure that my club face is pointed at my target, not to the left of it.
2) For the driver, I might SLIGHTLY close my stance, hips and shoulders. Just slightly. I will also take a little stronger grip, so I can see 3 knuckles on my left hand.
3) I focus on starting the downswing with a lower body movement. For me, I start rotating my left hip left and UP. Look at my avatar pic to get an idea.

Very common problem that can be fixed pretty simply. It can creep back into your game, just catch it early and remember how to correct.

[slater170]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

Hi Slats,

I find a slightly shorter driver shaft creates more confidence at address and more consistent good impact. The loss of swing arc can be made up in distance by better contact.

Regarding your varying impact position, check your balance, you may be letting your weight get onto your toes, try and keep your weight even between the balls and heel of your feet.

hi brian.
ive got to face facts....... i cant hit a driver consistently
will have to get some tuition or get custom fitted
today i gripped down the club,closed the stance,moved the ball position about and had a strong grip and swung on plane ....all to no avail
still fading and slicing

[miffin]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

Many thanks to everyone. I have tried today and what random hero has said seems to be my problem. I could not fit it all in today but the strenghening of the grip cured the driver fade. Will try the rest over the weekend and report back.
Brian

[Samson72]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

hi brian.
ive got to face facts....... i cant hit a driver consistently
will have to get some tuition or get custom fitted
today i gripped down the club,closed the stance,moved the ball position about and had a strong grip and swung on plane ....all to no avail
still fading and slicing

Hi Slater!
These are the things that helpes me to hit the driver with out slicing the ball...
I hold the club with a light grip pressure and loose wrists...
I focus on a calm swing with an even tempo, no more than 80% of my power....
I adress the club a few inches behind the ball..
At adress I'm not just having my head behind the ball I even turn it slightly to the right....
I try to get the feeling that i'm standing on a slight uphill slope...
the key word in the back swing is slow and low...
And for those extra yards I inhale through my nose in the back swing and exhale through my mouth during the down swing.
/Samson

[miffin]

Re: Fade drive, hook irons

From that, we know that you have a tendency to keep the club face slightly open through impact with the driver. I think the likelihood is that you're getting a little ahead of the ball with the driver. That would be OK with the irons as you tend to hit down and the clubface is offset anyway. So, try to really stay behind the ball with the driver.

That said, I've come to the view that the driver is the one club where you really benefit from custom fitting (not that I've had that done yet!).

I have put this to the test today. I lagged my body behind the ball and I have drove great. So can you tell me what I need to do different to make sure the irons go OK please.
Brian