This is brutal !!

[buteman]

Before I go screaming off into the sunset looking for professional help there may be some of you in this forum that may have some constructive advice. I played a superb new course last week on opening day, a course that you really had to think your way around. Using my good course management ( and many a well struck shot ) I shot a three over 75, highly satisfying indeed. I played the same course a couple of days ago and if it had not been for my short game ( which was nothing short of brilliant ) I would have been lucky not to be in the 90's. It's the dreaded hook again, I have not the slightest idea why it appears, I have no clue in spite of my ability what causes it and most of all how to eliminate it. It's on the tee shots, regardless whether I have the driver, three wood or hybrid, once it starts it's there for the round. First of all there are two particular things that are NOT causing it, my grip is sound, no problem there at all and I am NOT taking the club on an inside path on my takeaway. So guys' that's it, I'm at a complete loss and I would be most interested to read any of your ideas, maybe some of you out there have had a similar afflicton and have dealt with it, my brain is starting to fry trying to find the answer.

[GregJWillis]

Re: This is brutal !!

When that happens on the course, I usually do anything I can to shape a shot left to right...make it slice, fade, anything other then the hook. I take it way outside and pull it in hard, open the face up at setup, even slide forward a bit and not stay behind the ball into impact...

So changing the "what seems normal" into the "this HAS to fade" usually fixes the shape. It will start to fade, or at least start going straight.

Then limp around the course and get to the range as quick as possible to see what "really when wrong". Getting a separate pair of eyes always helps. I start with simple drills reinforcing the swing over again and that will usually discover the little bugger.

[pnearn]

Re: This is brutal !!

Before I go screaming off into the sunset looking for professional help there may be some of you in this forum that may have some constructive advice. I played a superb new course last week on opening day, a course that you really had to think your way around. Using my good course management ( and many a well struck shot ) I shot a three over 75, highly satisfying indeed. I played the same course a couple of days ago and if it had not been for my short game ( which was nothing short of brilliant ) I would have been lucky not to be in the 90's. It's the dreaded hook again, I have not the slightest idea why it appears, I have no clue in spite of my ability what causes it and most of all how to eliminate it. It's on the tee shots, regardless whether I have the driver, three wood or hybrid, once it starts it's there for the round. First of all there are two particular things that are NOT causing it, my grip is sound, no problem there at all and I am NOT taking the club on an inside path on my takeaway. So guys' that's it, I'm at a complete loss and I would be most interested to read any of your ideas, maybe some of you out there have had a similar afflicton and have dealt with it, my brain is starting to fry trying to find the answer.

I find this happens to me when I start turning my hands/forearms over through impact - something I desperately try and avoid. To get me out of I try and feel like I hold my left wrist firm through impact?

[BrianW]

Re: This is brutal !!

Keeping my left wrist firm is important but the club face must still be released in a manner that does not keep it open or prematurely closed.

My hooks appear when I am hitting in to in and allowing the clubface to turn over too early. The way I combat this is to ensure I am hitting more in to out and allowing the toe of the club to turn through the release, I make an attempt to hit through at the 2:00 o clock line with a positive release of the forearms (Note! this means keeping the left wrist flat while supinating the left wrist as Hogan Suggested)

[Stillhacken]

Re: This is brutal !!

Just watch my swing. You will be slicing in no time.

Could you just open the clubface at address to limp through the round ?

[buteman]

Re: This is brutal !!

Keeping my left wrist firm is important but the club face must still be released in a manner that does not keep it open or prematurely closed.

My hooks appear when I am hitting in to in and allowing the clubface to turn over too early. The way I combat this is to ensure I am hitting more in to out and allowing the toe of the club to turn through the release, I make an attempt to hit through at the 2:00 o clock line with a positive release of the forearms (Note! this means keeping the left wrist flat while supinating the left wrist as Hogan Suggested)

Just a wee bit of a follow up, a buddy took a video of my golf swing yesterday, strange set up indeed. Feet, knees and hips on a nice square line but my shoulders were pointing well left of the target. I hit about a dozen pull hooks with the driver, although I thought I was taking the club away low and slow straight back from the ball I was actually taking it on a slightly outside path. I made an adjustment, re. shoulders and followed your tip about a more in to out swing and firing the clubhead to two o'clock. The next dozen balls with the driver showed a tremendous improvement, with the exception of a big push shot eleven balls were well struck with a slight draw. I'm teeing off in a couple of hours, we shall see what results I have today, thanks for the input.