For all you Hookers

In this edition of tips from the pros, I will talk about the reasons golfers hook the ball to the left for right handed players and right for left handed players.  

Hooking the ball is probably one of the best flaws to have as a golfer.  There are a lot of good things that happen in the swing when you hit a hook.  It is usually a lot easier to fix a hook than it is to hit a slice (a ball that curves to the right for right handed players and a ball that curves to the left for left handed players.) The good thing about a hook is that the club has been released and that is very important for all golfers to be able to release the club. 

When fixing a problem, it is important to understand what happens when the problem occurs.  The only way a player can hook the ball is to have a closed club face through impact.  This usually means that the hands are too active on the downswing and not enough body rotation.

I have three drills that you can try to help train you to release the club in a proper manner.

Before you try these drills make sure that you are lined up properly first.  Usually if you play a hook, you tend to line up a little right of the target to compensate for the hook.  For some players, if you line up properly, that may fix your hook.  Your feet should be parallel to the target line.  So when you line up properly, your feet should line up a little left for a right handed player and right for a left handed player.  

The first drill you can try is to close the club at address, this will train your hands to not release as much to try and hit a straight shot.  If you swing the club the same way, you hit a bigger hook.  But I want you to try to not hit a hook with the club face closed.  I want you to try and open the club through impact.

The second drill is designed to get the upper body more active through the downswing and finish.  You would like to try and hit the ball with your body rotation and not your hands.  If you place a head cover or a glove under your front armpit, it should help you to keep turning the upper body through impact, getting the club to swing more to the left instead of down the target line on the through swing. Try to keep the glove or cover under the armpit without letting it drop to the ground. This might feel awful for a while and it should because you are not used to turning your body as much.  Start with small swings first and eventually get longer.

And lastly, if those two drills don't work for you, line up a little more to the left of your target and try to hit a cut or fade.  One good thing about this is, when you try to hit a fade or cut, you tend to take the club back on a better line, getting the club more out in front of you and in a more upright position in the top of the backswing.  When you transition through the ball, you tend to hold the club face open, not allowing your hands to release through impact and letting you upper body turn out of the way.  

Try these drill and see which one helps you the best.  The to all of these drills is to use more of your upper body rotation to release the club instead of your hands.

  Good luck and have fun!