/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/2/dan-carraher/Z82_2943A.jpgJD CubanUnlike the average golfer who struggles with a slice, most better players can’t stand missing to the left. They despise the hook because a hard right-to-left shot often plays more out of control than a left-to-right one and, as a result, tends to inflict serious damage on the scorecard. If you frequently hook your tee shots or conditions warrant that you absolutely can’t go left, try this anti-hook method.
tee the ball down, more like you would with your 3-wood, which encourages a steeper angle of attack into the ball–the shape of a fade swing make sure to keep your arms in front of you on the backswing and downswing (above) You don’t want the club getting too far behind you as that promotes more of an in-to-out, shallow path into impact, which tends to produce a hook./content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/2/dan-carraher/Z82_2965A.jpgJD CubanAs a drill, wedge a lightweight dodgeball or similar-sized beach ball between your arms, just above both elbows.
Make a few slow practice swings, squeezing the ball between your lead arm and trail shoulder as you swing back and down. This puts a limit on how far the arms can swing behind you, especially on the backswing (above). Provided you maintain pressure on the ball with your upper arms, the arms will stay in front of your chest the entire time.
Lose the dodgeball and try and maintain this feeling on your real swing. As long as your keep your arms in front of you and tee the ball down, it’s nearly impossible for the ball to go hard left. Dan Carraher, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, is based at the Golf Club at South Hampton in St. Augustine, Fla.
