Hooking Iron Shots -( except Pw)

by John Browning
(Fresno, CA)

I am 57 years old and playing golf 14 years. For years I struggled with a slice, then a fade, then straight, which I loved.

Now all of a sudden this season all irons but AW and PW hook. I have been as low as a 7 handicap last year.

I play with Titleist AP-1 s Regular Shaft Dynamic Gold HL and Vokey 54 and 58. I am 6 foot 1 inch and my arms hang low. I have a very flat swing.

Recently I was hooking all of my irons - so went to a Pro and he suggested moving closer to the ball - standing more upright and bringing my left arm closer to my body and having the irons bent 2 1/2 degrees flat.

I hit them on a lie board and achieved perfect center contact. This worked great for one round and I shot a 78 from the Blue/Mid T. I hit every green in regulation.

Yesterday, I went to same course and hooked every mid iron and long iron. Then started hooking the Two hybrids Cobra DWS 24 and 22 degree.

My driver is a Taylormade R7, and I hit it consistently straight, except for a very playable slight draw.

The iron hooks, miss greens by 10 yards and just roll and roll.

What can I do to eliminate the hook and get back to a straight or slight draw?

Louis Answer

Hi John,

May I suggest you first take a look at my hook shot page. I have a few solutions and reasons for hooking the ball.

However, I do have a few concerns about what you have said here. Your 6 foot 1, swing flat and your arms hang low.

This sounds like a recipe for hooking!

It is difficult to give you an accurate answer to your problem without seeing your swing but I will give you a few possible solutions from what you have said here.

You definitely need to focus on your posture. It has a direct influence on your swing plane, swing path, and balance.

It is best to find a good comfortable starting posture first, before making any swing adjustments.

A good posture at address will help to maintain a good posture during the swing, which is so critical for consistency in swing path and swing plane and hence, direction of the ball.

In a correct posture the arms need to hang down from the shoulders with the butt of the club below the middle of your shoulders. Standing in front of a mirror with the mirror looking down the target line you help you check your positions.

When looking at your set up from a down the line view, the butt end of your club should extend through your hips. If the hands are below this line they will encourage the club face to be too closed through impact.

This brings me to the grip. How are your hands placed on the club? Do you have a strong grip? If so, weaken the left hand slightly and the right hand. Find that neutral position for both hands. Your can check the golf grip page for the correct hand positions on the handle.

To recap, work with a better posture at address and weaken your grip. This should help to swing more on a natural swing plane that is best for you.

I am very keen to work closer and offer a better service to my visitors on a long term basis, and in order for me to do this I will need to see your swing on video. Get more details on online golf lessons and about my FREE comprehensive video swing analysis!

If you do not have a video camera ask someone who has one to film your swing. It only takes a few minutes to film, then send me your videos. Its that simple.