Golf Tips
Golf Tips: Hooking
By Staff
Jul 2, 2006, 14:01

Costa Rica Golf Tips

PROBLEM: Hitting the ball with a closed clubface, causing shots to curve to the left.

The first thing you should do is check your grip.  The Vs in each hand should point over your right shoulder.  If they point farther right, your grip is too “strong” and could produce a closed face and a hook at impact – when the hands return to their normal position.   

If your grip is proper and you are still hooking, try weakening your grip by gradually moving both hands to the left.

Check your stance to make sure that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are parallel to your target line.

One cause could be the ball location.  If it is too far back, it could produce an excessive in-to-out swingpath.

Grip club more in the palm of your hands, rather than the fingers, to reduce wrist action and premature closing of the clubface.

Make sure that your left wrist is not too relaxed at impact.  If it is, your right wrist will take over and close the clubface too early.

On the downswing, make sure that the action begins with your legs and body to guard against wrists unhinging and closing the clubface too soon.

If you watch a game, it's fun.  If you play it, it's recreation.  If you work at it, it's golf -- Bob Hope