By the left

[billyg]

Was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about how to cure this swing problem.

On the range/course I hit about 6 out of 10 irons to the left. It's not a hook or a draw as theres no curve to the flight. Most of these would be acceptable on a wide fairway but I even do it with a PW or 9 iron which is not.

I was once told to make sure my shoulders are square along with hips and feet at address and i'm sure this is good advice but i'm still struggling. It seems slightly open shoulders will push a ball that way.

Any good ideas I might try out?

 

[Gasp]

billyg, The direction the ball starts is dictated by the path the club is swinging on at impact. ie. an out to in path- the ball will start off left. After that any deviation in flight is directed by the face of the club. If it fades, the face is open, if it draws the face is closed, if it goes straight then the face is square. So it sounds like you have an out to in swing path with a square face at impact. There are various reasons for this alignment may be one of them. I'd say a good idea is to video your swing from behind and check for your self. ... Sorry for the long winded answer

 

[madandra]

I am thinking your hands may be lagging behind the clubhead at impact. Try cocking your wrists a little bit sooner.

What do you think folks???

 

[The23rdman]

It's likely you're starting your downswing with the shoulders, Billy. Try working on a transition move from the ground up.

 

[StuartD]

BillyG

Had exactly the same problem two years ago. The23rdman is right

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Line up your target with a point about 3/4 ft in front of you and then square your clubface to that point and ignore your distant target from then on. I was given this advice last year and has improved my accuracy no end.
Hope this helps.

 

[medwayjon]

The best advice I can offer is get a lesson. I did and have top-ups and it is so valuable.

Bad habits are easy to get into, fundamental flaws become routine and once established are very hard to change.

 

[Tommo21]

It's likely you're starting your downswing with the shoulders, Billy. Try working on a transition move from the ground up.

Like the master http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QL_6M_xZvq0

 

[John_Findlay]

I suffered from the same problem all summer, billyg. Pulled most of my irons. My pro had me practice a drill where I put my right hand behind my back and hit the ball left handed only. Try 20 then go both hands. It helps get your hands past your body better.

 

[billyg]

Wise words, thanks folks.

Ive just been reading that "Swing like a pro" by Mann and Griffin and it makes a lot of the importance of the transition. Ive had a go with it on the range and it's a great thing to do. I find I get a lot more 'whip' which translates into distance.

I get a big pull on the left side too the day after which shows theres something different going on.

It's something that I think will need a lot of work because (admittedly with little more that a couple of buckets at it) it's a bit of 'pat your head- rub your stomach' thing to set the body off forward while the shoulders are just reaching maximum coil. Certainly wouldn't take it to the course for a while yet.

I see how the pro's and bit hitters amongst the amateurs manage to get so much sheer power at the ball.


Have to keep at it


Thaks for advice all. How about that Hogan swing eh? poetry.

 

[AliB]

It's likely you're starting your downswing with the shoulders, Billy. Try working on a transition move from the ground up.

I agree. Bringing your shoulders and arms through before yuor body will take it left. Even worse if you don't get a full shoulder turn on the back swing. Aim to get your back towards your target on the back swing, but then do like 23rd man says.

AliB

 

[golfcitydweller]

sounds to me like ur not clearing ur left side so ur body is stopping and ur flippin ur hands over ...if ur practising at the range -take it to the top of ur backswing,as u start ur downswing try and imagine ur pulling ur left shoulderround towards the booth behind u.that i`ll help stop u throwing ur right shoulder at it as well ..and u`ll clear ur left side and u`ll have all the time in the world to hit it !!best o luck..euan

 

[Tommo21]

Thaks for advice all. How about that Hogan swing eh? poetry.

More Hogan stuff http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsl7aozegEM

 

[CentralScot]

The best advice I can offer is get a lesson. I did and have top-ups and it is so valuable.

Bad habits are easy to get into, fundamental flaws become routine and once established are very hard to change.

Hear! Hear!

I had a few lessons together at the start of last year now I have an odd one and spend the time in between trying to master what I was last taught.

 

[RGuk]

Seriously, you have 3 options.

1) go for a lesson, a pro will give you a good drill and see if there is something way out of shape
2) listen to the guys on here and get messed up with mumbo jumbo (albeit accurate)
or
3) do what I do when this happens. if you want to try it, read on

There is a simple explanation for what is going on, and it only requires a simple fix. You are pulling the ball a tad, and unless you have a terrible swing, you can train yourself out of it in 100 balls or so.
Find a range, get your balls and find a mat! (shouldn't be too hard) and place three clubs on the ground. no.1 runs along the line of your feet (long iron). no.2 runs from the hole in the matt for a left hander to meet club no.1.
You have made a "T", the most underrated alignment aid (even more so on a grass area).

Now, put another club well outside of the rubber tee peg, aimed 20 yards right of target at 150 yards. You now have a "T" and a club shaft that "shows" the line of the path you need to be ingraining.

Practice your normal backswing (regardless of whether you feel like a drunk octopus or a golf hero) and on the downswing, bring your right elbow in to your side, avoid opening your torso through the swing, and swing along the line of the club aimed well right. Once you have the feel for it, practice hitting the tee peg (still sending your club out right) 3 times (without a mistake) then tee the ball up and bosh it right. Do this lots 3 reps followed by 1 ball, until you feel you have really got it going, then take the outside club away and practice as normal.

Absolute child's play......

Cured my own pull this way and learned to draw the ball in 500 balls. If a pull re-appears, include this drill in your warm up every time. You don't need to worry about all the rest.

Gasp is correct, 23rd man is correct (if your shoulder are opening up too fast, you'll pull it). J_F has a good drill (only-left arm swinging will slow down the opening up of your torso) The rest is mostly tosh....sorry guys....

Dave

 

[billyg]

Once again thanks for the replies- I really appreciate it. For a novice I'm quite happy with my progress other than this persistant glitch.

It's funny but as i'm reading back over what all of you have said it occurs that you're all more or less singing from the same hymn sheet which is very encouraging. I suppose ive spent so much time trying to keep my left shoulder promoted at address in order to fight a natural open stance that i'm keeping it closed though the swing and not letting my body turn throughwhich leads to a bit of a stunted/inhibited release.

I will take all of what you have kindly said on board and crush it out, with the drills mentioned, at the range and report back on how it goes.

When I first got interested in the game Freddy Couples was at the height of his powers. I used to sit round a friends house and watch him slide out these wonderful arcs on those crisp if slightly antiseptic american tracks. Who wouldn't like a swing like that?

Thank you once again,

bill

 

[The23rdman]

Seriously, you have 3 options.

1) go for a lesson, a pro will give you a good drill and see if there is something way out of shape
2) listen to the guys on here and get messed up with mumbo jumbo (albeit accurate)
or
3) do what I do when this happens. if you want to try it, read on

There is a simple explanation for what is going on, and it only requires a simple fix. You are pulling the ball a tad, and unless you have a terrible swing, you can train yourself out of it in 100 balls or so.
Find a range, get your balls and find a mat! (shouldn't be too hard) and place three clubs on the ground. no.1 runs along the line of your feet (long iron). no.2 runs from the hole in the matt for a left hander to meet club no.1.
You have made a "T", the most underrated alignment aid (even more so on a grass area).

Now, put another club well outside of the rubber tee peg, aimed 20 yards right of target at 150 yards. You now have a "T" and a club shaft that "shows" the line of the path you need to be ingraining.

Practice your normal backswing (regardless of whether you feel like a drunk octopus or a golf hero) and on the downswing, bring your right elbow in to your side, avoid opening your torso through the swing, and swing along the line of the club aimed well right. Once you have the feel for it, practice hitting the tee peg (still sending your club out right) 3 times (without a mistake) then tee the ball up and bosh it right. Do this lots 3 reps followed by 1 ball, until you feel you have really got it going, then take the outside club away and practice as normal.

Absolute child's play......

Cured my own pull this way and learned to draw the ball in 500 balls. If a pull re-appears, include this drill in your warm up every time. You don't need to worry about all the rest.

Gasp is correct, 23rd man is correct (if your shoulder are opening up too fast, you'll pull it). J_F has a good drill (only-left arm swinging will slow down the opening up of your torso) The rest is mostly tosh....sorry guys....

Dave

That's an excellent drill, Dave. Very much the kind of feel drill that woeks well if you're not a hugely technical kinda player, or don't have masses of time to work on dynamics.

 

[RGuk]

Thanks 23rd, It's hard to explain (i could have done better), but most of the time, a simple drill that "forces" one to change something without thinking is a good drill in my book.

billy, try to forget about what your shoulders are doing.
If you were keeping your shoulders closed during the swing, chances are you be hitting a proper hook....keep swinging it down and towards the right for a while and your body will adapt. double check your grip also, a near perfect path (a degree or two from out-in) with an overly strong grip could look mightily like a straight pull, which is what you have been struggling with.

Dave

 

[golfcitydweller]

go for the 23rd`s first option .....get a lesson