Learn to drive

[kermitm]

Guys,

I have recently started a quest to become a better driver of the golf ball. I have a handicap that hovers anywhere from 0 to 3 depending on the year and how much I practice. I have a tendency to swing to far to the right and hit violent hooks and need some advice. Do you focus on the inside part of the ball? Are there any ways to help me learn to swing left (I worry about gettiing to steep on the downswing)? Any other advice that will help me learn to drive it straighter and take out my miss to the left will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. kermitm

 

[wanole]

Get the never hook again video.

 

[birdie_man]

You at least need to open the clubface more in the backswing prolly.

That's #1....as Brian always stresses.....get the thumb more under the shaft at the top.

Axis Tilt would help too....so you can hit the inside of the ball more.....and you could possibly use more Lag.

But really....you prolly need to rotate the face open more.

...

Never Hook Again will cure what ails ya for sure.

 

[Burner]

quote:Originally posted by kermitm

Guys,

I have recently started a quest to become a better driver of the golf ball. I have a handicap that hovers anywhere from 0 to 3 depending on the year and how much I practice. I have a tendency to swing to far to the right and hit violent hooks and need some advice. Do you focus on the inside part of the ball? Are there any ways to help me learn to swing left (I worry about gettiing to steep on the downswing)? Any other advice that will help me learn to drive it straighter and take out my miss to the left will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. kermitm

kermit,

The more inside you hit the ball the more your self-defense mechanism kicks in causing you to both close the clubface and bring the clubhead back in from "right field" too quickly in an attempt to steer the ball straight down the target line. You may also have a leaning towards toe hits now and again.

Hitting on the inside aft quadrant means no more than about one dimple in from the rear. So, if 3 is the rear and 9 is the front (clockface orientation) then you need to be hitting the ball at around 3.17, your time.

Having got this part right you can then allow the clubhead to follow its natural down and out path without the sub-conscious need to ensure that you are not going to block the thing - fore-right!

 

[shortgamer]

quote:Originally posted by birdie_man

You at least need to open the clubface more in the backswing prolly.

That's #1....as Brian always stresses.....get the thumb more under the shaft at the top.

Axis Tilt would help too....so you can hit the inside of the ball more.....and you could possibly use more Lag.

But really....you prolly need to rotate the face open more.

...

Never Hook Again will cure what ails ya for sure.

I'm kinda lost here, why would he want more axis tilt to hit further inside the ball when he wants to get rid of the hooks?

 

[birdie_man]

I'm no golf instructor but it helped me.....and helps me if I make a stroke with a clubface that's less open.

He prolly needs a more open clubface....but if you hit the outside of the ball with a closed clubface....i.e. no Axis Tilt i.e. you are "more on top of the ball" (with your body).....that's even worse....you'll brutally hook it/pull hook it.

Dunno, Axis Tilt works for me with a less open clubface....not really my thing to "hold it off" so much tho.....I'd rather Roll the face open more.

But it works for Trevino.

....and Axis Tilt worked for him too.

 

[oztrainee]

quote:Originally posted by kermitm

Guys,

I have recently started a quest to become a better driver of the golf ball. I have a handicap that hovers anywhere from 0 to 3 depending on the year and how much I practice. I have a tendency to swing to far to the right and hit violent hooks and need some advice. Do you focus on the inside part of the ball? Are there any ways to help me learn to swing left (I worry about gettiing to steep on the downswing)? Any other advice that will help me learn to drive it straighter and take out my miss to the left will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. kermitm

Just wondering whether you are a TGMer? If you are playing of 0, then I presume your swing mechanics will be quite good. Just wondering what is your practise habit. Apart from your Chip and Putt, how do you normally work on your long game?
If you have your book with you, i think the best thing is to keep reading Chapter 12 and work the way through it. Particular if you are a Swinger, it might not be a bad idea to start working on the non-automatic stuff. Work on your hand action as well as your wrist action in different variation.
It is all good to drive an automatic car, but it is good to be able to learn better skill in driving manual car (American call it "Stick shift"), we must have to master the non-auto stuff. IMO, by keep working on hook and fade by changing the timing as well as the length of "Start" to "End" point. It is good to SNAP everything, but SWEEP AND RANDOM will work just as good, if you can master it well too.