Sweeping hook

Question
Hello,

I've been fighting a hook for a far back as I can remember now.  Recently I've noticed that on shots where I take a divot they are point left of my target.  NOTE:  I am a left-handed golfer.  This would seem to make sense with my results. My question is, what can I do to work on this problem?

thanks!
greg

Answer
Greg:

Exactly.  Question is, what would you do if you had to slice it around trees?  For most of us who come to far from in to out, we simply aim way right (in your case), open up the clubface a lot and push the ball back to the left.  But that is not a true slice or cut shot.  You cannot hit a cut or a slice coming from the inside.  Simply Greg, let's examine the club against the ball and why the ball does what it does.  If the divot is pointing to the left, then your approach (path of the club) into the ball is too far from the inside.  You are swinging out towards 10 or 11 o'clock (example of a clock) instead of towards 12 noon (your target).  The clubface is then closing (that is your grip and your hands) as the club hits the ball which imparts a lot of left to right spin on your golf ball, producing a big hook.  So, what would the club tell the ball to do if you made your forward swing towards 1 o'clock instead of 10 o'clock and you did not rotate your hands so much?  Get the picture?  Practice making some swings towards 1 or 2 o'clock and try not to let the clubface turn over.  Watch what the ball does.  You won't curve the ball very much, the path will start the ball more at your target instead of to the left and then hooking back, and you'll hit it much straighter.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member