Hook

Question
Hey Stanley,

I can hit my short irons, meaning my 7,8,9 irons, and my wedges high and where I want, which I love.  My short game is great, but once I get into a 6 iron or higher, I keep hitting these duck hooks.  When I drive, which is my games biggest weakness, I have hit a few great drives, but it normally just hooks like crazy.  When I try to swing more inside out, I end up hitting a fade that goes way right.  It just doesn't make sense.  What can I do to fix this?

The same thing happens with my hybrid, but with my fairway woods, I just can't get them up in the air, and they will hook too even if I do.  It is just killing me when I can't even keep the ball in play on my tee shot.  Anything I can do?  It isn;t like I am swinging too hard, because I tried swinging smoothly, as I do with my short irons, but that just made it worse.  Just stuff I need help with to reach my goal of breaking 90.

Thanks,
Garrett

Answer
hello garrett and thank you for your question.  i am glad to hear that you are hitting your short irons very well. it sounds like you are having trouble getting the ball airborne.  there are few of the things you can do to fix this.  get a PROPER SET-UP.  to you, it may look and feel like you have the proper set-up, but your alignment might be off by just an inch and it can have a big affect on your swing.  check your grip.  try gripping the club a little weaker and see if you can spot two knockles of your left hand when you grip the club.  also, adjust your tempo...  i know the problem is really strange as you just can't seem to get rid of it.  but the thing is, you have understand that the problem will go away eventually as you keep on hitting the ball out on the range. you have to experiment with different things by yourself and learn from your mistakes.  all it takes is a little time and patience to fix that low ball flight and a hook.  here is my last advice and i think it will be useful....
when you set-up, alighn your shoulders a little to the right of the target.  it may feel awkward but give it a try and hit couple of balls that way.  see if you have a little change in the direction and the ball flight.  if you do this correctly, the ball should go straigher and higher.  good luck and if you have any further questions, just let me know and i will be happy to answer them to the best of my abilities.