Out of all of the blunders you can make on a golf course, a hook shot can be one of the most frustrating. Often, players find that they consistently hook their shots off the tees, and no matter what they try, they can’t get past it. Soon, they end up mentally defeating themselves before they even get up to the tee, certain that they are going to hook it. And, nine times out of ten, they will.
So, how do you correct a hook shot? There are actually quite a few techniques that you can use that will impact pulling the ball to the left, but first, you’ve got to get mentally prepared. Golf is 99% mental anyway, so we’ll focus on this step first. Once you’ve got your mental hook shot fixed, you can start working on the physical aspects.
Sit in a quiet place at home, where there are no distractions. Mentally go through everything you would as you go out to the first hole on your favorite course. Now, start thinking that you will have the perfect drive, right down the center. Envision teeing up, and addressing the ball. Bring your club back and watch as the ball goes right down the center line.
Repeat this in your head several times. If you have a problem with certain holes, play them in your head over and over until you are mentally hitting the shot the right way each time. This may take a few tries to get right, but visualization can have a huge impact on your game. In fact, many people that try this technique have found that the next time they go out on the course their hook is cured, without having to work on their stance or swing.
If you’re still having some hook issues however, it’s time to move onto the correct stance and how you swing your club. First, let’s look at how you hold the club. Are you gripping it as though you’d like to strangle it? This can be a major problem and will hurt your swing. The correct grip is actually pretty easy to master. When you hold the club, look at the v that is between your thumb and fingers. Do both v’s point a little towards your right shoulder? If not, this is the cause of your problems.
Work on developing the right grip until it feels like second nature to you. Then, move onto the next step. Stand with your feet facing forward, slightly apart. One should not be in front of the other and they should both be completely parallel. If you have one foot slightly back, it will pull your swing. Your entire body should be following that parallel line, from your head, to your shoulders, to your hips. Again, work on your stance until it becomes second nature.
Swing problems are a little harder to fix, but not impossible. You’ll want to make sure that you’re bringing your club back smoothly and back down with force, but not too much force. You should never break that parallel line. Keep trying and practicing and you’ll be able to put all of these together to end your hook problems for good.
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Golf for Dummies By Gary McCord
The old saying is definitely true. Golf is 99% in your head and as maddening as that is, if you're not getting the right mindset for your game, you may never be able to achieve your goals. If you're ready to get that score to where you want it to be, you've got to start working out your brain as well as your body. Here are some tips to help you get mentally prepared to play golf.
