Hitting left

All my shots from the tee with either irons or woods go left. What am I doing wrong ?

Hi Peter,

You really need to be a bit more specific.

Ian.

Peter,

Do they hook left, Duck hook left, draw left or go straight left??

Without knowing this all the advice I can give is check your alignment.

Let me know further what happens and I'll try my best to help.

They just curve away to the left. I take care to check alignment and neutral grip but it still happens. I am a tall senior if mthat is any help. Thanks for the come-back.

If they curve away left, ball flight laws tell me, you are starting of reasonably straight but draw spin is curving the ball from right to left like a strong draw or a hook.

Understand that the direction the ball starts off at is the the direction of your swing path. The way the ball curves is caused by face angle at impact. If you golf starts reasonably straight your swing path is in-square-in, which is the correct swing path.

If it starts left and goes further left, then you are swinging from the outside-in and again of it starts right you are swinging inside to out.

So identify the the swing path and correct to an in-square-in (I will give you drills if you need them).

Next, if your golf balls curves right to left, that means your club face is closed at impact. The degree varies too - if it curves severely left, you know the club face is closed way too much.

If you need more help with drills post again.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)

Thanks Graham. I think I am starting reasonably straight and then the draw spin ( or duck hook ? ) takes over. I would appreciate your drill tips.

Peter

Hi Peter,

At my golf club we have a large senior section over 60% now on half subs may I add, suits me though weekends are quiet.

My point is Peter I see alot of seniors with exactly the same swing problem. It is flat footed with the right foot (right handed player) as they hit the ball, using your arms more with type of swing will always cause draw spin as you flip your arm over through impact.

Some of the better seniors have very unorthadox swings this involves taking the club back on the inside or very flat with a short backswing and comming back to the ball on the same line from the inside, a short punch type shot.

As I am sure you are aware as we age flexability leaves us and so does the full swing, unless you are able to take the club to the top and throw your lower body away first to put your shaft on plane then have a go at this simply no fuss short back and through.

Hope this helps

Ian.

Thanks Ian. I am still fairly active and flexible despite my senior years and would like to pursue the full swing approach rather than the punch flat shot. Any more ideas ?.

Peter

Peter, let's have a look at your swing. That is the only way we can pinpoint the source of your problem. E-mail it to me at graham@kelrosagolf.com

But, how far left does the ball go? Do you not want a slight draw?

you can also post your videos on the photo gallery for all to see and get some of the others' opinions....

Sorry, but I don't have pictures or videos. After further reading on ths site I am pretty sure that my problem is pulling the shot well to the left. I don't know how to fix this yet so I guess I will try to read more.

Thanks,
Peter

To fix a pull shot, you need to correct your swing path. A pull shot is caused by a swing path that approaches impact from the outside-to-inside. The ball can either go straight left (with a square club face) or it could draw/hook further left (with a closed club face).

I have a good drill for you, which is not radical and isn't going require lots of new things.

Tee the ball up a bit and then place another tee 5 inches in front of the ball, but just outside the circumference of the golf ball. The idea is to hit the ball and the forward tee.

When you swing down:
Keep your shoulders back facing the target for a fraction longer than normal. Feel like you are dropping your arms straight down pulling the club inside of the target line. Now focus on hitting the ball and then the forward tee - purposefully hitting the ball right of target.

The ball should go right of target to start ... if it does, your have changed your swing path. Once you that consistently without having to force the movement, you are on your way to a better swing.

When you have the swing path corrected, work on the club face angle to stop the ball's horizontal movement in flight.

On the golf course do the same thing, but instead of putting a forward tee in the ground (it is not allowed in the rules), pick a 'something' out a few inches in front othe ball and repeat the drill.

Try the drill, work on it and post again if you need something more radical to fix the problem.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)

Thank you Graham for the drill notes. Sounds simple and I shall try it out. It's the rainy season of winter here so practice opportunities are limited. I will let you know the results.

Peter