HSS vs. Mike Austin method

Question
Paul, I like HSS except for the tendency to hook. Are you familiar with Mike Austin's method of throwing the hands at the ball? Can I use your strong grip with his method? I like the idea of a flatter plane(seems to be more comfortable for me).

Answer
Hi Dave,

While it's difficult to diagnose without seeing your swing, my first inclination is to suggest that you not try to mix the two methods.  Choose one and go with it.

Hooking the ball comes partly from allowing the club to release too soon.  When you adopt the strong grip recommended in the HSS and then throw your hands as Mr. Austin's method prescribe, you are asking for an even nastier hook.

To keep from hooking the ball you must arrive at impact with your hands ahead of or at least even with...the clubhead.  Read those words carefully.  The handle of the club needs to be even with or slightly ahead of the clubhead at impact...more so with irons hit from the ground but even a little bit with the driver hit from a tee.

If the hands "flip" prematurely, you will hook the ball wildly.  This is true with a fairly neutral grip but it's doubly true if you have used the HSS grip style.  Also, I might add that part of the thought behind the HSS grip is that it reduces the need for timing the release of the hands in the downswing (when things are moving so fast anyway).  You take that strong grip so you don't have to rotate during the backswing.  Not rotating your forearms during the backswing means you don't have to account for that during the downswing.  If you throw your hands at the ball during the downswing...I think you will most likely flip before or at impact.  That means your clubface will be very closed.

Since I can't see your action this is just my guess.  Hope it helps you decide.

Best regards,

Paul