Faults & Fixes 

Hooks, slices, fats, thins, shanks! Learn why they occur and how to fix them. Understand the swing path that can create these shots, their results and their correction.

The golf instruction here will enable you to identify the weaknesses in your game -- and then systematically eliminate them!

Like...Diagnosing the Hook

A hook is the opposite of a slice; the ball curves greatly to the left (for a right-handed golfer). The ball often begins right of the target line (as in the illustration) before sweeping back to the left and winding up well left of the target. 

Grip
Your hand or hands, especially your left hand, may be turned too far to the right. The "V" formed between the knuckle and thumb on both hands should point between your right shoulder and right ear.

Set-up
The shoulders and/or feet are often aligned too far to the right of the target line.

Ball Position
You might have the ball too far back in your stance.

Backswing
You might be talking the club back too far inside, pulling away from the target line too quickly. This often goes along with the club going across the line at the top. Additionally, there can be a counter-clockwise twisting of the club during the backswing.

Downswing
Your right shoulder might be going too much down, often with a sliding of the hips toward the target. This causes the club to swing too much to the right through impact.

Like...Starting the backswing with the left shoulder and hands.

Taking the club away with the left shoulder tends to create poor rotation and a disconnection of the arms. 

Fault: Beginning the swing this way restricts shoulder rotation and causes the club to get “inside” or “behind” your body.

Fix: Start the swing with the right shoulder. This keeps the hands in front of the chest and guarantees a full shoulder turn. By initiating the swing with the right shoulder, the entire body stays connected. Conversely, starting the swing with the left shoulder doesn’t necessarily turn the right shoulder, creating a myriad of potential problems, chief among them, limiting the range of motion.

Drill: Cross your arms in front of you. Lift your elbows and forearms away from you until they’re parallel to the ground. Start with your left shoulder, rotating it to your chin. Return to the beginning and start with your right shoulder. Notice how much easier it is to rotate the upper body.

Or Like... Being A Loser

"Losing" the club at the top of the backswing is one of golf's most common errors, costing the golfer both accuracy and power. The fault generally derives from loosening the fingers of the left hand, thereby allowing the clubhead to flop around like a wet noodle. Such loss of control frequently comes from swinging back so fast that the fingers aren't strong enough to secure the club as it reaches the top.

Try the following if you suspect you're a "loser":

Keep your grip on the club soft while setting up for the swing. Firm up your hands only a millisecond before you begin the backswing. It might help you to think of this firming as your swing trigger, as I do. You might also consider substituting a forward press instead of the firming, as I also do. Next, initiate your swing as smoothly and slowly as you possibly can, even to the point of visualizing a slow-motion start. Be sure, however, not to further tighten your hands as you do so--increasing grip pressure is as destructive as easing it. Finally, don't try to consciously cock your wrists. Simply allow the ever-increasing momentum of the clubhead to hinge them reflexively.