There’s nothing wrong with a driver that’s scarier than one fixate on the left. While the right miss lacks power and floats in the air, a quick shot is the opposite. It has a lot of speed and will run until it hits something. When it comes out, there’s not much you can do to control it.
I have been fortunate enough for most of my golf career to avoid the premature stroke (most of the time). But when it comes out, I feel helpless. No amount of pace changes I try seem to make a difference.
Part of the reason for that is that I didn’t get it what caused these snapping hooks. Fortunately, during a “Precision Driving Bootcamp” with GOLF Top 100 Teachers Jason Baile, I learned what causes these hooks – and how to fix it.
“>
Fix a light stroke
When you hit a shot that causes a straight line to leave the tee box, it’s because the wing is closed relative to the fairway when you make impact. There are many reasons this could be the case, but one of the simplest explanations is a manipulation of the clubface through impact. When you do this, the trail arm rotates on top of the lead arm and the arm piece turns down and to the left after impact.
To combat this, you need to feel like the club face is facing OVER and to the left immediately after impact. By doing this, you will ensure that you do not manipulate the clubface and close it, which causes the hook.
“Every time it hits the ball and spins, the sweet spot points down and away,” Jason said. “As it passes, the sweet spot has to be faced and left because there was no twist in it.”
An easy way to visualize this when you’re practicing is to look at the logo on top of your glove. If you’re twisting the clubface, that logo also rotates and points more to the left. But if you drop the clubhead and hold the clubface square (feeling it pointing up and to the left), the logo will stay on top of the grip.
If you ever start to feel yourself losing the ball to your left, keep that feeling in mind. When you can drive the clubface up and to the left, you’ll never miss the ball left and hit those awkward hooks.
Sign up for GOLF Schools Today
Improve your game with the top 100 GOLF teachers.
