Still hooking bad.

[charles_brumagem]

Hello Bobby,
I'm still having problems with hooking my driver. I'm try what you said the DVD about showing no knuckles my left hand, holding it twice as tight in my left hand and aim to the left as well as teeing it low. I can't tell if maybe I have a flip going or what can you help me on this?:confused:

[Patrick A]

It helps if you have someone watch you while you swing. Sometimes it may FEEL like you are "doing" something when you really are not. The most common mistake of this type is aligment; you may think you are aligned perfectly (where and how you want) when you are really out of whack...The best feedback of what you are doing wrong (or right!) is the ball flight. Ball flight never lies. Don't fight what the ball flight tells you, even if you think you are not doing what the ball flight says.

Addressing your concern, Bobby also mentions in the DRAW DVD that if you delay the turn of your hips, it may lead to a hook.

Its just my opinion.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

I want you to go try this for the next couple of round...I want you to tee the driver half as high as you normally do. Make sure you feel the grass with your knuckles when you put the tee in the ground. Get back with me with the FADE results.

[charles_brumagem]

Hey Bobby,
I do tee it up now with my knuckles touching the ground, I have even kick up some dirt to use as a tee and still hook. I'm lost at this point. I really can't understand how the face is closing so fast.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

Do you think you are turning the left hip out of the way as soon as you start the downswing?

[charles_brumagem]

Yes I do think I'am do to the fact that when I move the hip I pull it left.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

I want you to try this drill and tell me what the ball does. Tee the ball up one inch behind the center of your stance and tell me exactly what the ball does after impact. Push-no hook, straight-no hook, hook. Let me know

[charles_brumagem]

the ball goes right down the middle some times and some times it starts down the middle and then hangs a left had turn.. I think we may be getting closer to the answer.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

What is the loft of your driver and what shaft flex is in it?

[charles_brumagem]

stiff flex 9 degree loft

[Bobby_Eldridge]

Do you have access to a practice facility where you can hit some balls BELOW your feet. Not a super steep angle, just a SLIGHT BELOW YOUR FEET LIE...if so go hit 50 balls and let me know what the flight is. Do not give up, I will get you out of this.

[charles_brumagem]

Bobby,
did you want me to hit the irons or the driver from the slightly below my feet. I don't know if I can find a range that has some where I can hit shots like that. Can I stand on a board or some thing to get the same results?

[Bobby_Eldridge]

You probably won't find something very stable. Try this, go find a slope and make 10 swings and then walk over to your pile of balls and hit 5 shots, then go back and take 10 swing from the slope and then back to the pile of balls etc.

[charles_brumagem]

Okay this looks like the best way for me. I have a little mound in my yard with a hitting net. I will hit balls below my feet and use my vector launch monitor to so me the ball flight and then I will get back with the results. Will that work okay for you?

[Bobby_Eldridge]

perfect, let me know

[charles_brumagem]

Hello Bobby,
Okay here are the results of my lauch monitor testing:
I hit 40 shots total 11 were pulled left with a slight hook not a lot.
22 of them started out down the middle then turned right which is new for me.
7 went right of the center line and then went right.
What does this tell you besides telling you I should take up fishing.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

This is great information. I want you to go to the practice facility and after you address the golf ball, I want you to step 1 or 2 inches closer to the golf ball.

It will feel odd for the first 100 shots. If you still hook the ball, move one inch closer still.

One more thing, before you go to the practice facility, I want you to hit 20 shots from your BALL BELOW THE FEET area.

Get back with me and let me know if this helped.

[charles_brumagem]

Thanks Bobby,
It does seem weird to hit being so close but I hit about 90 balls at the range today and the good new I pulled a few but most went down the middle. No Hooks that is good. I have a outing tomorrow and I hope I can carry it over to the course. I will let you know again how I do. I want to see how the new setup will help with the irons I would hook them a little so I'm sure you just fixed two for one. I can't figure out why the others (so called PGA pros) could not fix it you have fixed it in less then a week? I looks like the only other problem I will have is the pulling but I'm sure I can get that fixed the hook was the problem. Thanks for all your help.

[charles_brumagem]

Well all did not go so well at the outing, I sliced a few and hook a few more, I don't know what happen from the range to the 1st tee.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

keep going back to your ball below and make sure you stay closer to the ball...most importantly, stay in touch and we can get through it.

[charles_brumagem]

Bobby,
I have been for this past week just swing with the ball below my feet(not hitting any balls just want to feel this swing) and I still have the hooks. I'm gong to see if changing the club will help. I got a 2 degree open driver head to see how this will help. My next step is going to a weaker shaft, my thinking is that the lag will be longer and I won't close it, what are your thoughts on this?

[Bobby_Eldridge]

I like the idea of practicing from downhill, I am in the other corner with the shaft, you should go to a stiff or X-stiff. The stiffer the shaft the more difficult it will be to release the toe.

[charles_brumagem]

Okay, I'm sticking with you on the ball below my feet, also I had a 3x shaft from when I was in the long drive stuff so I will use it. I need to get a new head on it because it is a 4 degree lofted one. I watched the full swing video and I worked on getting the right arm to un hing from the top and it seem to help a lot. so those are the things I will be working on. you have help trust me and you videos explain things the I thought I knew but had the wrong view on it. Keep up the good work on the lessons and I will let you know how things work out for me. My question if the right arm unfolds right, what role do the legs work for the power, I was always told to hit it farther to use the legs. Please explain.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

For someone who hooks the ball, you HAVE to make sure the left hip starts the downswing. Make sure it turns out of the way as quick as you can.

[charles_brumagem]

I guess I get a little lost on the hip getting out of the way, when I turn my hip first and fast I go dead left. Can you give me a good thought that I can use to understand. I will try the garbage can drill to see if that can help me. I going to go over the dvd again I'm sure you cover it there on the full swing?

[Bobby_Eldridge]

I am a little confused w/the left hip turning and then you go straight left...that is not suppose to happen. Have you tried as a drill to hit some 7 irons with the ball across from your right foot........great drill, hit some and let me know what the ball did.

[charles_brumagem]

okay Bobby, I have done my home work and I can see what is the cause of my hooks and pulls (I think). I used V1 software and a video of my swing and I analyzed the heck out of it. I see that I'm flipping my hands just before impact. I even do it when I play the ball off my right foot(with the driver) I also see that my divots point left, and are the shape of a pie (wide in the back and come to a point in the front of the divot). I also see this action on the launch monitor which takes a snap shot of my driver at impact and I see the toe closing. so I need some thing to stop the flip any help?

[Bobby_Eldridge]

#1Grip the club in your left hand WAY up under the thumb #2Aim way LEFT for two weeks.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

any update on this?