BALL FLIGHT AND YOUR SWING -- PART 2

In the past it was commonly believed that path is related to the direction the ball starts in while the clubface position at impact determines the curve of the ball, but the newest research shows that clubface has a much greater influence on overall ball flight than does path by a 85%/15% ratio.  Even with this departure from accepted belief, the flight of the ball is most helpful as a general diagnostic tool since it requires no special equipment and is present in every shot, except the whiff. The ball flight under analysis here is the push hook where the ball starts to the right of target [left for left-handers] and somewhere in the last third of its flight it bends toward the target.

The fact that your ball is going to the right then hooking suggests that you have two problems: your clubface is closed to the path, and the path is to the right of target. It is my recommendation that you fix the path first because the brain "understands" path better than it does face. It is my experience that sometimes when you fix the path so that the ball starts at the target and then hooks to the left, the face will fix itself after a few swings. You can live with a push hook because the ball eventually moves toward the target but since you can't live with a ball that hooks away from the target, you brain tries to find a way to fix it.

Where To Begin

First fix the path as described last week: turn your hips later which will delay impact giving your clubhead the time it needs to get out from behind you and onto the target line. The best way to do this is to make a setup change by increasing the flare in both feet. The more flare, the more hip turn and more hip turn will make your hips "effectively" slower because they have to travel farther. And make sure to check your ball position – you may have to move the ball forward to stop it from starting to the right.

Next focus on the clubface. The closed face problem could be caused by several factors. To cut down on the hook make sure you have enough flare in your front foot. Then check your grip: if your top hand is too strong [three knuckles showing at address] you'll hook it; if both hands are too strong, you'll push hook it, so weaken both hands.  The other common cause of a closed face occurs when you lose your posture at the top of the swing by straightening your spine. This flattens your shoulder turn and shuts the clubface.  The answer to this one is to keep the spine angle you started with at address all the way to impact.