hooking and would love to hit a fade

Question
Eddie
I read a email by you about helping someone out with a habit of hooking the ball.  

I am 6"1" with a slightly upright swing.  I golf right handed but am naturally left handed.  I am 46, have golfed since I was six.  In high school and college I got my handicap down to around 2, today I am probably about a 10-12.  In recent years, I have not played as much because of children, etc. in recent years.  I am beginning to play more and can still hit it pretty good, BUT my straight to high draw natural swing is becoming more and more a pull hook.  

At the driving range the other day, I hit a bunch of balls on a similator.  My club head speed with a six iron was 83. my club path was pretty square at impact, if anything it was inside-out.  I tend to close it down about two or three inches past impact

Any advise.

After reading your note, I tried the grip comments but my grip is pretty good and in a nuetral positon.  I do cock my right wrist to the sky and get the club behind my left thumb at the top with the club facing the sky.    

I would love to get rid of this hook and have more confidence in my shot making.  The more I worry about it, the more I seem to pull it.

Answer
Hi Scott:

I have to question your grip.  I am not sure what you mean when you say you get the club behind your left thumb with the club facing the sky.  If the shaft is behind your left thumb and the clubface points towards the sky, the face is closed and you will hit balls left.......aka pulls and hooks.  Plus, if you are coming to much from in to out, that adds to it by imparting right to left spin on it.  If what you said is true, the only thing you must do is to make sure at the top of your backswing that your left thumb is under the shaft (shaft sits on your thumb) and the face is at a 45 degree angle to the sky.  This will put a slight dish in your left wrist which keeps the clubface square better.  And if you have an upright swing, then this position is mandatory to hit a straight ball or even a slight fade.  You mentioned that is what you wanted.  So check your grip again and make sure your left thumb is under the shaft at the top of the backswing.  Hit some balls and watch what happens.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member