It's just not fair

[SiberianDVM]

Yesterday evening I went to the range to work on my fairway woods and driver, which I have been hitting erratically, that is to say, FAT.

So to warm up I start with the short irons: now I can't hit them straight! I have this huge, sweeping hook with the wedges through the 5 iron. It's not much of a pull, but the ball will hook almost as far as it goes downrange.

The long irons were OK and of course the woods were perfect. Duh. Damn game.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the heck I was doing wrong?

 

[Loop]

Either you're closing the clubface too much, or you're coming over the top.
Don't know if this tip can work for you, but try swinging your hands in a straight line.

 

[DaveE]

When this happens to me it's almost always because I've let my grip get too strong. If a pull is involved then it's probably an over the top problem like loop said. On my really good days I can do both.

You might check your grip or just try to hold the club face open a little longer on the short irons.

 

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Where's the ball in your stance? The short irons should be moved back from your long irons, and if the ball is too far forward with your short irons, and especially in conjunction with an over the top move, you're going to get that clubface closed with a pull and hook.

At least, those are things I would be thinking on if I began hitting like that.

 

[SiberianDVM]

Grip: looks OK to me, will have pro check

Clubface alignment: looks square to target, will have pro check

Coming over the top: will have pro check, try swing hands in stright line..huh?
You mean on backswing, downswing, or both?

Ball in stance: in middle for short and middle irons, long irons and woods in forward part of stance.

Check.

Of course, by the time I get to the range again, I will have developed a slice with my 9 iron.

 

[DaveE]

Of course, by the time I get to the range again, I will have developed a slice with my 9 iron.

Well I guess there is no problem, looks like you understand the game of golf completely.

 

[WelshGolfer]

I have been known to hook a few. (I prefer the term "Not-quite-Controlled-Draw").
In my case, the problem was diagnosed as a weight-shift error in my swing.
I was not making a good shift to the right leg and this was causing the leg to straighten.
This position at the top caused a "casting" of the club outside the line and a head shift that got ahead of the ball. With my rather strong grip the result was a "left-going lefter" ball flight.
Now I try to work on making a shift to a slightly flexed right leg as I set the club at the top. I feel I can better "launch" the down-swing from here.
From here I try to feel that my head is behind the ball as I start down to impact.
This seems to keep the club on a more desirable path through the hitting area.
Anyway, something else to think about.....or I'll get my coat!!

 

[VtDivot]

If it's a pull hook then I think loop is right... you're coming over the top. Since the shorter irons are easier to square at impact you are getting the hook, along with the yank, as opposed to the banana you'd get with the driver.

If it's a sweeping hook, your plane is probably fine, but you might have a little too much right arm and wrist going on causing you to turn it over.

What the heck do I know tho... If you can't figure it out, I'd check with your pro.

When I start hooking the ball, I imagine that I am trying to hit the ball around Pesky Pole... that usually helps

 

[Loop]

When I start hooking the ball, I imagine that I am trying to hit the ball around Pesky Pole... that usually helps

Pesky Pole... Is that a fishing rod?

 

[SiberianDVM]

Flipping through David Leadbetter's Faults and Fixes yesterday, I found at least 5 things I'm doing wrong: including having a hole in the palm of my left hand glove, and a reverse hip tilt.

Sigh..... I'm hopeless. I'll never win the Masters at this rate.

 

[SiberianDVM]

Did better with the irons today; no huge hooks. I weakened my grip a little, watched for reverse hip tilt, and that seemed to help.

Hit the fairway woods well. Couldn't hit the driver if my life depended on it.