I'm a hooker

I know, when you're a kid you want to be a doctor or a pilot. Well, I wound up a hooker.

This is after a year and a half of being a slicer. I just took up the game last year, and have always had a driver slice and an iron fade (with the occassional shank). Well, as I have come to firmly believe, a small change can make a huge difference.

I have made two changes recently (within the past 3 months) that have completely revolutionized my game. One, I went to a stronger left had grip. Now I see 2 1/2 to 3 knuckles on my iron shots, but have a weeker LH grip for my driver. Secondly, I have employed Harvey Penick's "Magic Move" - returning my right elbow to my right hip during my downswing.

The initial result of these two changes was as immediate as it was drastic. Long, straight drives, crisp ball-striking with my irons. No problem so far.

Now, about 3 weeks ago, I started gripping down an inch on my driver for more control. I started getting the occassional snap-hook. This has now progressed to me being a full-time hooker, both irons and woods. Mind you, I was a SLICER prior to this.

I'm not frustrated, not angry, etc., the things I used to become when I wasn't shooting well. I've learned that all problems in golf can be conquered.

I play mid- and short irons slightly back of center. This allows my hands to come through before the clubface. I try to hit with "dead hands" - no manipulation of the clubface with my hands through impact. I hit ball-first nearly every time, ground second - in other words, real solid contact. Ball striking is very good. Long irons I'll play just forward of center.

Yesterday I started thining that I might be trying to manipulate an already square clubface with my hands through impact, causing it to be closed.

Here's the bottom line: they start off straight, and then at a certain, sudden point, are seemingly shot out of the air, like skeet shooting. A driver will go 180 yards straight, start turning left, and then just nosedive-hook, straight down. A good iron shot will have a 10-yard draw, a bad one will start of straight, begin to hook, and wind up left of Hawaii.

Any suggestions? I have a sound set-up and an excellent grip.

__________________
Mike Ryan
Rhinebeck, NY

TaylorMade R5 N, 8.5*
TaylorMade V-Steel, Aldila NV 65 Stiff, 13*
TaylorMade Rescue Mid, 25*
Mizuno MP-32, 4-PW
Cleveland Tour Action 588 Wedge, 52*, 56* & 60*
Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2
Nike Tour Accuracy TW

"You can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen."
- Lee Trevino

It sounds like you are sliding through impact. Think about whether or not your right heel stays planted until right befor impact. If it doesn't then you might be coming over the top and sliding through impact. Don't go back to hitting the fade because of hooking. Believe me it causes more pain.

I used to slide, which at that point would cause me to chunk 'em. maybe I'm sliding now again, but because the ball has been moved back and b/c of the other changes I'm hooking. That's entirely possible.

And don't worry, I'm not going back to the fade. I want to keep the draw, just lose the duck-hook

My playing partner was saying that I was ligned up a little closed, which I was. I was aiming to the right to compensate for the draw. Is this the same as a slicer aiming to the left and then slicing more?

From the ball flight you are describing, it sounds as if may be hanging back on your right side (assuming your right handed) too much, causing a lot of right hand action to square the club face Don't force it, but make sure the weight naturally transfers to the left side.

Could it be that having my hands way low at the "top" of my backswing could cause the hook? I took a regular swing to the top last night and stopped and checked myself in a mirror, and my hands were basically at shoulder-level behind me (left arm stuck to my body, right elbow/ upper arm pressed against my right side.

It was so drastic that my hands were even with my shoulders at what should have been the "top."

Any thoughts?

That's going to be it. That's what I did last night - didn't look at the mirror, just took a normal backswing and then stopped, then looked in the mirror. This is when I discovered that it was waaaaaaaaaaaay flat. It's just like you described, the under the branches swing. My hands were level with my (right) shoulder, and the back of my left hand was basically pointing straight up (towards the sky).

It's funny, I've noted this in my swing before, but apparently never corrected it. Perhaps switching to the stronger grip exacerbated the situation? Anyhow, I'm willing to bet if I focus on getting my hands up, that's going to cure the hook.

I also noticed, by the way, that if I go from that position - the flat/under the branches position at the top - and then simply lift my hands higher in the air (to where they should be to begin with), my left wrist straightens out and becomes perfectly flat as it should be at the top. The clubface is then perfectly square as well.

I really appreciate your taking the time to help me with this - thank you!

__________________
Mike Ryan
Rhinebeck, NY

TaylorMade R5 N, 8.5*
TaylorMade V-Steel, Aldila NV 65 Stiff, 13*
TaylorMade Rescue Mid, 25*
Mizuno MP-32, 4-PW
Cleveland Tour Action 588 Wedge, 52*, 56* & 60*
Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2
Nike Tour Accuracy TW

"You can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen."
- Lee Trevino