Follow-Up

Question
Michael:

I just read a previous piece of advice (pasted in below) - I wanted to check if that advice also applies to my problem.

I too hit to the right. Last Sunday I did something that I would bet Tiger Woods has never done. I placed my ball between the tee markers and maybe 1 club back. When I swung and made contact I immediately heard a terrifying "Bang!" My ball had hit the right tee marker, sucked it out of the ground and pushed it maybe 6 feet to the right. The ball took a "favorable" bounce and ended up only 60 yards away, but dead-center in the fairway (it was a 180 yard par 3).

The point is that my hitting to the right occurs before the ball ever has a chance to slice. I suspect that I am hitting off the end of the club but I'm not sure.

Also, this almost never happens on the practice range, so at least some part of it is mental. I feel very unrelaxed and tense in a "real" situation.

From what you read do you think that the grip is a factor and if so does the same advice apply. I am more than willing to read "The Grip" three times if you think it is a significant part of my problem - the book is laying on the desk in front of me as I type this.

Thanks,

Jimmy Pepp

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Question
QUESTION: HI the problem with me is that I am always hitting the golf ball right! IT hardly ever goes straight! SO what am I doing wrong?

ANSWER: Jordan,

I will assume that the ball curves to the right. Your not alone. 85 of all right handed golfers hit the ball to the right. I could go into a myriad of reasons but let's focus on only one. Your grip.

The sole purpose of your hands is to return the club to a square face angle at impact. Simple enough. Unfortunately it is rare to see a good golf grip. Without a good golf grip you have little chance in this game to succeed.

Two suggestions. First go to your local book store and pick up the book, "Five Lessons" by Ben Hogan. Read only the first chapter three times and practice this grip for thirty minutes a day for thirty days. The improvement will be dramatic.

The second suggestion is to go to your local PGA pro and ask for a grip lesson. It'll be well worth the money. If you live in the Houston, TX area contact me and I'll get you corrected.

When I have a new student I spend 1 hour with the student and not on the driving range. I spend the hour teaching the grip and set up. It's tedious, but very effective. My students advance rapidly with this technique.

If you take one of the above suggestions, send me a follow up and let me know how you're doing. If you're still hitting it right, we'll address it at that time.  

Answer
Jimmy,

The first thing that needs to be done is to determine what part of the club is making contact with the ball. Go to your local golf shop and pick up some face tape. Apply the tape to the face of your club. Have the face tape on your clubs while you are on the course to get real live results.


It's one of two things. You're either hitting the ball off the toe or end of the club or you're hitting it off the hosel or inside of the club.

After you do this on the course, write a follow up to me and we'll get you a solution to your problem.

Thanks,

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional