Hi again :]

Question
QUESTION: Hey, it's me again :D

I've been having lessons from this one pro for about 2 years now off and on, and recently I've been having hooking issues.

He's having me go to a more vertical swing line, since I was really flat on the backswing, as well as rotating the chest through the ball with the hips. He told me that this would also help me with the low shot to the right as well, since I wouldn't be leaning back at impact.

I was at the range today, and my iron shots were pretty good, with a slight draw... However some shots are still going severely off to the left with a chunky feeling as well....

Are there more drills I can practice to make sure I get a straight shot? My shots are 80 percent good (slight draw or straight), but the other 20 percent is chunky and pulled with irons... or should I just continue working on getting a more vertical swing plane and rotating my chest through.

Thanks a lot!

ANSWER: Jeffrey:

What is the explanation from the Pro as to why you should go to a more vertical swing plane?  Is the chunky feeling a result of a swing that is too flat, or a swing that is too steep?  How does the chest rotate your hips?  I want you to answer me these questions Jeffrey, then I can better help you and give you some simple drills to practice on.  Please explain as best you can.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He wants me to go to a more vertical swing plane because when I had a flat swing plane I was trying to rotate my hands through the ball whenever I hit it off to the right, and whenever I pulled it, I would start slicing it to the right. With a more vertical swing plane, I would get rid of the hook (although sometimes I still early release with my hands)...

As with the chest rotating and hips, he wanted me to have them both rotate at the same time, without just my hips moving through but not my chest...

Answer
Jeffrey:

Got it.  No problem with a more vertical swing path.  He is correct in the theory behind it.  If your hands are too active on a more rounded swing shape, your will hook it alot, leave it out to the right, hit it thin, hit it fat and pull shorter irons.  That sounds like you.  If the shape of the swing is more upright, the clubface should not rotate as much, thus reducing the side spin applied to the ball.  As far as your chest goes, I too will tell you to sync them up better through the ball.  That just is common sense and helps with your timing. The bigges thing I would check is your grip.  Make sure your grip is neutral, not strong.  The last thing you want is for the clubface to be turning over through impact.  Get your grip checked, make it more neutral to weaker, hit some balls and see what happens.  See if the clubface doesn't slow down a bit, and see if you don't hit it straighter.  With a more vertical swing plane and a slightly weaker grip, you are set up to better control your hook.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member