Padraig Harrington hits a tee shot last month at the BMW PGA Championship.
Getty Images
Say you’re playing a par-3, Padraig Harrington says, and there is wind from the right, or a hole has remained water, and you are prone to once in a while straight to the left.
Based on your panic, it anticipates your question.
What now?
“All of a sudden you’re standing in a strong par-3 wind, and there’s just nowhere to aim,” he said. “Are you going to aim 25 yards to the right of the green?”
The three-time major winner was speaking in a video recently released by SuperSpeed Golf – which you can do watch in full here – and the thread was advice for a low handicap player who played a draw but was trying to incorporate a little fade into his game. But about four minutes in, Harrington scaled back, setting up scenarios where a potential shot by anyone would cause fear — and he offered a Band-Aid.
Here’s his quick tip to “lead:”
He takes about three practice swings, he said, and deliberately finds the ground in front of him.
“So I’m not going back to do that; I’m actually swinging on a plane that’s left almost 45 degrees,” Harrington said in the video. “So I’m swinging through the ball, landing the club here (about a foot in front of it).
What is the benefit of repeating that movement during three practice swings?
“Now, if I get used to swinging 45 degrees to the left—and I’m talking, I can do three of these quick, little swings; I’m doing it by hitting the base of the club, the foot off the ground, keeping the face open, three of them — and then I go into my setup and I don’t think about it,” Harrington said in the video.
“And sure enough, if I’ve made three or four little swings 45 degrees to the left, when I go to swing neutral, I’m actually probably going to have a little bit of down and I’m going to get stuck in my swing, which is going to cause that cut so natural, without me trying.
“So this is a great solution on the golf course. Hit the ground forward, it’s going to be steeper, it’s going to be across, you’re going to keep it open and then you just go and hit it.”
As a matter of disclosure, the author also plays a draw from right to left, and he also crawls from the breeze from the right and the water from the left. So I tried Harrington’s tip. It takes a while to hit the point Harrington noted, but you can feel the force of the movement to do so.
Let’s take a closer look at hook prevention. The following is text from an article published by GOLF.com last November and written by Top 100 Teacher Kellie Stenzelwith the title: “10 ways to fix your disappointing hook once and for all”:
***
While a good majority of golfers tend to miss the ball with a slicefor those who hook the ball, it can be just as frustrating. Anyone who has had a case of the hooks knows how demoralizing they can be – and can lead to many unnecessary shots during a round.
Hooks are airborne and often lead to quick trouble, so here are 10 ways to fix them once and for all.
1. Thumb position
If your clubface is locked at impact and throughout your golf swing, chances are it’s coming from the way you hold the club.
To avoid closing the clubface too much, check the position of the thumb on the club at address. Try to place the thumb of your lead hand squarely in the center of the club grip. On your track hand, make sure your thumb is on the target side of the handle.
Swinging one hand too far from the target at address will cause the face to close – likely producing a stroke.
2. Don’t catch it again
Many golfers who catch the ball tend to re-grip and change their hands immediately before starting their swing – many of whom are unaware that they are even doing this. This is where it’s important to have the same pre-shot routine, sticking to the good habit of positioning your hands correctly (and keeping them in that position) before you swing.
3. Position the club correctly to start
Most golfers know that they need to get the club on the ground behind the ball at address before hitting – but it sounds easier than it really is.
This is because each club has a different loft, so the club face may look different when you place it on the ground. Many golfers who struggle with chronic hooking struggle with improper clubface closure at address, meaning their grip is twisted toward the target.
To fix this, look for markings on the grip of your club. These are there to help you place the club correctly, making sure it is centered.
4. Allow the lead arm to retract
If your grip is correct and your club is positioned properly at address, you can avoid hitting a shot by making your forehand feel like it’s pulling forward. The more dominant arm of the bullet will prevent the face from closing, allowing for a squarer face at impact.
5. Rotate your body
You need to add forward spin to avoid catching the ball. By doing this, you will prevent both hands and arms from winning the race with the ball – which can cause a stroke.
6. Keep your leg up
In your forward motion, notice that your trailing heel begins to rise as you move forward. If your weight is on your back foot for too long, it can cause your body to fall back – causing the face to lock.
7. Square your trail leg
Although it may feel restrictive if you’re not used to it, you can turn your foot so it’s square and straight. With a square foot, it will help you with your descent path, making sure it’s not too in-out.
8. Less depth in your backswing
Be mindful of the backswing, making sure it isn’t so curved that the club goes too far, eventually creating a link path. The goal is to make your backswing straighter, which will allow for a more out-to-in motion path.
9. Use an open attitude
A more open stance will limit your ability to carry the club too much around your body on the backswing, making it easier to transition into the forward swing.
10. Practice using a shooting clip
If you place your hands on a palm, the flat top of the glove provides a great place for your thumbs. With both thumbs straight down, the arm piece tends to be a bit more open. Try to replicate the same feeling in your other clubs.
