On the mission…..This is my biggest issue on the golf course! Have done this for a while and I actually had a round of golf a couple of weeks ago when I didn
If this slice came back it is you hitting too hard. You thought you had it so you went even harder the next day. You should have realized your wrist were too tight and instantly slowed down and loosened them up. So you need to be doing this drill immediately. Glad you see it. No it is time to work on it.
When you are working on this you are feeling your arms. You have to because you are manually rolling them. I have done tips on this in the past. So feel them as you train this to happen. Once you get it turn them off and it should be happening on its own.
Well I spend 2 hours this morning working on this on the range. It is more difficult than I expected. I am not a slicer but I do get fades. Anyway, I was not successful in accomplishing this. I hit maybe 5-10 hooks, some what I would call draws, but the majority were straight or fades.
I’m trying to start at the top with rolling the wrists and it seems I’m doing it but apparently not. Do I have weak wrists, stiff wrists or just need more practice with the rolling?
You were trying to do this at top speed so you need to slow down. The concept is simple. Right now you are hitting it with the face open so when do you ever square it? ANSWER: Never. So go slow enough that you have time to roll it. If you roll it you are no longer coming through with it open. This means you are no longer a slicer.
At top speed you have 1/4 of a second to roll it. Slowing down gives you more time which allows you to at least do it. Yes, you may not hit the ball far but who cares you need it squaring. Once you get better at it you speed it up. Then once you have sped it up and you are consistently hooking it you then turn the arms off and start to work on your powering the swing with your lower body. Once you do the ball will straighten out and you will be hitting it dead straight.
So, immediately slow down. Constantly and consistently roll it everywhere and anywhere you can and as many times as you can until you are good at it. Stay focused and stick with it. You will get it.
You are correct, Paul. Yes, I was doing this top speed. I will slow down. I thought I needed to swing fast to get them to roll over but you’re saying the opposite is true which does make sense.
My Paul just arrived from Dallas for our Member-Guest here at SHP later this week so won’t get much chance to work on the Drills this week but I’ll try to do some.
Thanks for all your help Paul. You are indeed a most dedicated and knowledgeable instructor of the golf swing.
Just keep doing it as much as you can. If you have a tourney then be careful. I would just stay loose and swing easy on every shot. If you do you will play well.
This is a drill meant to be done on the range. There you set up squarely so you can see if your ball is hooking or not. Plus you need to see the line because once you master the roll over you will be adding lower body rotation to straighten it out.
When you play just roll it a few times before each shot then forget the roll over when you hit your actual shot. Just do your normal swing (powered with legs and hips) and watch your ball. This will tell you if you are getting it or not.
If you feel you are consistently hooking it a little bit then play for it but at this point you kind of have it mastered so you would be adding body rotation to be straightening it out. I would just be very careful doing this roll over on the course. The roll over drill is severely rolling it so some balls won’t even get airborne because you may de-loft the club too much and you may hook it 40 or 50 yards. It is going to be tough to play for it.
Paul,
I played competition today. I had three accidental hooks. I reacted with joy and my playing group was perplexed by my reaction. Results today for me: 3 hooks,1 flubb, 10 dead straight and 4 with fade. I am very pleased with the results today as even the Flubb was in play. It does feel good when the club face hits square.
Many thanks for your help Paul.
Harold
Very good. Now you are seeing the right way to see it. Pretty soon you will have release it so many times and have added the lower body that you don’t hit it too far offline. Once this happens the game becomes a whole lot of fun.
Hi Paul,
Had three weird tee shots today. The ball hit ground 3 to 6 inches in front of my tee position.. It didn’t feel bad just weird result. One in water hazard. Nothing ruins my round because I don’t put that kinda pressure on my self. I just confused about what happened? Did I hit the ball on the top? This means that I didn’t make it to position B , as your instruction. Is the remedy to allow the arms to swing more freely? I think I buckled my arms. What are your thoughts?
Kind regards
Harold
If the ball hit in front of where it was teed you severely topped it. You topped it so bad that it felt like an okay shot. This is you swinging way too hard and looking for the result before you did it. Slow down and watch the ball until you have hit the ball.
Paul,
Yes, when I look back, my tempo had changed. I used my arms. Still along way to go for me. Keeping positive though. My handicap is now 28. One year ago it was 36.
Thanks Paul,
At a 28 handicap you are still going to hit many more shots like this. Everyone went through this when they started playing this game. If you want to make dramatic changes fast do practice swings at home working on my swing positions. Hit some balls if you want but focus on perfect movement developing a great golf swing. The faster you have the look of a better player the faster you will have the right fundamentals which will allow you to hit great shots.
Also, have the understanding that the swing is powered with your legs and hips not your hands and arms. If you are at least thinking like this you can potentially avoid thinking of using the arms to hit the ball. If you are not even thinking about the legs and hips you will use the arms because it is human nature to hit the object sitting in front of you.
Paul,
I appreciate you so much. On Wednesday I hit 230 balls at the range. 225 were airborne or ground running hooks. Saturday was medal day stroke play. First tee i hit a 60 to 80 yard hook. When my playing partner said, that’s in allot of trouble., I replied ” at least the club-face squared”. The look he gave me was classic. I finished the round 97 strokes played for a 69 net. I thank you for your help Paul. I maintain optimism and just have fun. To me, this is not an easy game. But it sure feels great to make some good shots.
All the best Paul
Harold
Too funny. You see most people cannot think outside the box. This is why they never get better.
Keep your eye on hooking it. I would think since you hooked the first shot of the day the next time you play put the focus on the legs. Hopefully, the face qill still square and you will hit it down the middle. Give it a try.
When you are working on purposely hooking it you are either rolling your right hand over the left or you can feel like you are pointing your left thumb at the target in the downswing. Either will get the face closing.
I drove the ball well in Saturday’s comp on the whole using your full swing technique (before seeing this video). However, I hit one hook and two slices which cost me shots. The advice I have had recently from a PGA pro is that when I slice it my head is moving forward during impact, hence pushing the ball. Is there any truth in this? What would your advice be?
Why would your head move forward in the downswing? If you slice it you are swinging over the top with the face open relative to the path. When you hit with your arms your whole body will lean left in the downswing. The harder you hit, the tighter your wrists, the more open the face. So yes, he is right. He is just not telling you why the head is moving ahead of the ball.
In reading your description you were playing well. Because of that you started to hit the ball harder and harder instead of repeating what was making you hit the ball well. Hitting harder is human nature. This hitting hard brought your arms into the swing and disaster struck. So the next time this occurs (which it will) slow down. Swing easier once you start getting excited. Then you will eliminate swinging too hard.
Am I right in saying that if I swing too hard with my arms and don’t switch them off I will slice it and if I don’t rotate my bottom half quick enough I will pull it. I am aiming for rolling the hands from the top but keeping them relaxed and initiating the downswing with my legs.
Yes, when you swing too hard with your arms you tighten the wrists which stops the face from squaring.
If you start down with your arms you will come over the top thus pulling the ball. If the face squares to this path you will pull it. If it is closed it is a pull hook. If it is open it is a pull slice. If it is severely open it is a push slice (rare).
I just wish I had come across this tip/drill sooner. This, by far, is the best drill for anyone who has slicing tendencies. It drives right to the core of almost everything that is wrong with my swing right now. In my humble opinion, this should be the first thing people should learn after the setup.
I get exactly what you are saying and it works. I was making very little progress as my wrists would simply not unlock. I kept thinking powerless arms and my wrists will be forced to relax. Just not true in my case. I am now consciously rolling my wrists over very early and , wow, what a difference!
I have been doing this for a week hitting 4 to 5 large buckets a day. About 30% of my shots are still either going straight or slicing but I have made tremendous progress since day one. On day one I don’t think I hooked even a single ball. Now, I can tell very easily when my wrists don’t fully unlock…my ball slices, I can feel that I am swinging with my arms, and I hear that awful ‘clunk’ sound when the club strikes the ball instead of that sweet ‘smack’ sound when I fully release my wrist through the impact area. Oh, and the ‘woosh’ sound right before the ‘smack.’ It is very cool.
I must tell you and your readers of my swing thought that ‘put me over the top.’ (Pun not intended) This worked so well for me. I visualize trying to strike the ball with the toe end of the club head. I don’t mean the toe on the face of the club but the actual toe end of the club head. The face of the club would be pointing toward me at impact. With that one single thought in my head I will hit a beautiful hook (if there is such a thing) every time.
Finally, I have discovered this full release has positive by-products as well. The club will now automatically finish touching my head and splitting my ears. I don’t have to think about putting it there if I fully release and re-hinge through impact. Also, my weight transfer seems to happen a little more naturally.
Hopefully, the light has finally come on.
I am going to continue working until I don’t hit any slices at all. Have to tell you I did make one attempt on the range to incorporate my new wrist release into a full swing with body turn and powerless arms with my driver. I hit a beautiful drive right down the pipe with a very slight draw. I immediately went back to the ‘hook drill.’ I didn’t want to start thinking ‘OK, I’ve got this.’ Still have work to do with the ‘hook drill.’
Paul, I can’t thank you enough. This is the most progress I’ve seen with my swing. It’s worth every penny of my membership. Hopefully, this will help some of your other students.
It sounds like the light is coming on. Just keep doing the roll over however it works best for you and allows you to do it. Remember, hitting hard tightens the arms and wrists. So keep doing it at an easy pace. Get good at it then in the future speed up the body rotation to hit it farther. I think it won’t be long until you are hitting it straight.
When working on this drill, I find that I almost always hit straight pulls to the left, not hooks that curve to the left. So, my clubface is closed relative to its position at address, but since the shots are going straight left, the clubface is actually square to an outside-in path. I know from watching your videos and reading your book that an over-the-top swing, that produces the out-to-in path, is caused from hitting with your arms. Since the whole point of this drill is to consciously think of your arms rolling, and hit with your arms rolling, how can I remedy this, for the sake of having this drill work the way it should – hitting hooks, not pulls?
You will pull it because you are hitting it with your arms. The problem is you are just pulling it. You need to get it hooking so you get the face to stop coming through open. Right now it is not enough closed so when you move on to the legs you will still slice it. Slow down. Roll it way earlier. Get it (pull) hooking. You are not trying to hit great shots doing this. It is a drill to get you to stop leaving the face open. Roll it daily, slowly until you feel it rolling. Hit some easy shots looking for the curvature. Once you can consistently hook it you are no longer a slicer. At this point you turn the arms back off and focus on the body rotation to straighten it out.
Wrote to let you know that I shot my first single digit score (9), I think in my life. I only play once a week maximum so this is a big deal to me. This lesson of curing slice by hooking and the lesson of leaning the body away from the ball at impact were instrumental lessons (or revelations) in this improvement.
I thought I was going to be a 18 handicapper for life before I found you. Now I think I have a chance at being a “good” golfer. Proud of myself. Thanks.
I think I mentioned that I thought you were close to a huge breakthrough. Now, you just have to guard against losing it. Playing well is exciting and you will want to go harder and harder at it because you will think you are invincible plus your expectation levels are quite high. Go out next time and not care about your score. You cannot think you are going do play this well or better the next time out. If you do, it will be a complete disaster.
The tell tale sign you are losing it are thin, topped and pushed/push faded shots. If you see these shots immediate slow down to 50%. I would start off with 50% as the thought the next time you play so you are aware of what many happen plus you are not going to swing out of control.
Hi Paul,
I’ve been following your method with practice swings through the winter and felt like I was getting it. Weather is finally breaking and at the range I am trying to practice hooking the ball. When I manually roll the club over early I find that I drop kick the ball with my driver consistently. I’m getting to the touch the knees, touch the head position and checking my body angles, grip & setup which all seem correct.
I’ve always tended to hit the ball high and short, if that helps.
Help!
Thank you,
Ray
If you are drop kicking it you are attacking it to much from the inside. This is bottoming out the club too early. This would also mean you are too tilted (behind the ball) in the downswing. I could guaranteed you are flat footed at impact then you are moving to the touch the legs position. This would be from you rolling instead of moving your lower body. You need to immediately start lifting this back heel as you come down. In doing so you won’t be over tilted and you will stop drop kicking it. This would also explain the high shots because you are adding too much loft to the club as you stay behind it too much. So I would thing your ball flight will lower too as you get this heel lifting. Just make sure you have rolling it enough that you are no longer slicing it.
Thanks for putting these together as they’ve been a great help and resource.
I’ve been trying the roll-over early drill, but the problem I have is when I try to roll over early, I top the ball and smack it into the ground. I’m trying to do this slow for now to get used to it, but there’s obviously something I’m doing wrong that causes the topping only when I try to early execute the roll. Else the majority of the time I’m hitting it in the heel and getting the pull-fade motion. I’m guessing it means I still have too much arms in the swing, but I’m trying my best to keep the arms loose and out of it (as you point out in your other videos, I’ve been doing great with the irons so far :).
You are trying to do the roll over as hard as you can. It is a drill to get you to roll the wrist over and teach you how to hook it. Slow down. Tee up a 7 iron and just do it with that for a while until you are good at it. Once you can hook numerous ball in a row you turn the arms off and move to powering the swing with the legs and hips. This will straighten it out.
Why would you close this face on the Driver? This is a band aid. Just do my roll over drill then add body to straighten it out. You know what happens if you roll it over and hook it? Answer: You are not longer a slicer. Then you add body to straighten it out. After you develop a great swing and want to adjust it 1 degree open or closed that’s fine but get the swing first.
There is no drill. A divot is taken because you have the right fundamentals. Right now you are hitting with your arms. This buckles them through impact pulling the club off of the ground plus you don’t get the backward tilt at impact lower your body as you hit the ball. I have a bunch of tips on a divot here:
Thanks Paul for the above videos. I had been doing most of the things in these videos as you teach. However, I am struggling with trying to combine keeping the left arm straight on back swing, hands grade 2 on grip, and arms loose. If I try keeping my left are extended (straight) then I create too much tension in the arms and hit thin shots, no divot. If I increase upper shoulder muscle tension slightly, my arms stay mostly straight and I get back to the back and create a divot most of the time. If I relax the arms with no shoulder tension, I top to ball, no divot. Where should the muscle tension be and how much to keep the left arm straight on back swing and follow through? I was not able to find any videos on your website for this question.
You also need to know what powerless arms is. It is you not hitting or helping the shot. I get the feeling you are trying to o floppy arms which is not the same. Watch:
So pick one of these (grip) and work on it. Then extend the arm. Build the rest of the swing positions so they are looking good then as a final step turn the arms off. You cannot work on too much or you will not get anything.
Firrst of all I want to say that your tips and instructions are outstanding. I’ve dropped 5 strokes with your advice. Huge improvement in short game I’ve adopted powerless arms and loose wrists. Works great with pitching and irons. Just this week I’ve finally got my coiling working and uncoiling..really letting my shoulders pull my hips back. Instead of over rotating my hips. Works great with all irons, but started slicing my woods again. If I do this rollover action, how can I keep powerless arms and loose wrists with woods? Thanks!
Thank you very much. I appreciate it and love hearing about improvement. It never gets old.
You do the roll over as a drill to train them to roll over early and hook it. Once you can do this you still feel it but you switch your thought to lower body to straighten it back out. IF you are working on certain positions etc. you do need to think about your arms. Once you master the position etc. you turn them back off.
I adjusted my club face to square at address also. The driver face may have been slightly open. Now have a very slight pull but in the fairway. But not yet hooking or drawing . Will keep on working on coiling and uncoiling to fix that. Need some more practice time to relax he arms again also.
You need to slow it down so you have more time to roll it. When people cannot do this they are trying to hit good shots. In doing so they swing fast. The faster you swing the less time you have to roll it. You are not trying to hit good shots. You are trying to hook it so go slow and roll it right from the top. This will give you time. Get used to the feeling of the hands crossing and memorize it. You need to still do it in the future without thinking about doing it. Also, do this everynight:
Thanks. When to use arms clarifies a lot. I adjusted my club face to square at address also. The driver face may have been slightly open. Now have a very slight pull but in the fairway. But not yet hooking or drawing . Will keep on working on coiling and uncoiling to fix that. Need some more practice time to relax he arms again also.
That was a great video, your roll over drill is explained perfectly. Just questioning why it wasn’t in the lessons I purchased, or did I miss a download?
I have had a problem slicing the ball for over 35 years. I took your advice and tried hitting a hook. Using my 7 iron, I was pretty successful at hinging my right hand ahead of my left before impact. I hit a number of hooks with this club. As I used my hybrid, 3 wood, and driver I was less successful at hooking, but had a beautiful draw on the ball. We’re talking about a person who, at best, hit the ball straight with a little tailing fade.
To see the ball draw consistently draw was remarkable. I’m very excited.
This could be the best advice you give for slicers. I am using this to help my grandson avoid those shots where he lets his wrists open through impact and the ball goes right. He understands when I tell him to hook it. Great advice! this is why I will keep coming to this site!
Mike
Like much of your teaching, it is pretty simple, but effective. Teach a slicer to hook the ball, and he will probably stop cutting across it to try and make it go left. It is also great for seniors who have to rely more on their hands when the body is not as limber!
61 Responses to “Please Learn How to Hook It”
October 13, 2013
JAMESHUNTTimely advice. Coincidence or not following my off line commentary yesterday. In any event, it pertains. Thanks!
October 14, 2013
Paul WilsonJames,
Just coincidence. Glad you can use it.
October 13, 2013
jasonstanleyChill!!! Lol. No , seriously, I love Paul’s passion, I genuinely believes he just want people to be better. Keep up the great work
October 14, 2013
Paul WilsonJason,
Thanks. If I don’t say it who will?
October 14, 2013
LottaLiljegrenOn the mission…..This is my biggest issue on the golf course! Have done this for a while and I actually had a round of golf a couple of weeks ago when I didn
October 14, 2013
Paul WilsonLotta,
If this slice came back it is you hitting too hard. You thought you had it so you went even harder the next day. You should have realized your wrist were too tight and instantly slowed down and loosened them up. So you need to be doing this drill immediately. Glad you see it. No it is time to work on it.
October 14, 2013
NielsTruelsenHi Paul.
Even if you didn’t say it “powerless arms”, how can you start to “roll over” from the top without using your arms?
Niels
October 14, 2013
TIMADAMSNiels
By using your wrists NOT your arms
October 14, 2013
Paul WilsonNiels,
When you are working on this you are feeling your arms. You have to because you are manually rolling them. I have done tips on this in the past. So feel them as you train this to happen. Once you get it turn them off and it should be happening on its own.
October 14, 2013
DAVESHAFFERHi Paul –
Well I spend 2 hours this morning working on this on the range. It is more difficult than I expected. I am not a slicer but I do get fades. Anyway, I was not successful in accomplishing this. I hit maybe 5-10 hooks, some what I would call draws, but the majority were straight or fades.
I’m trying to start at the top with rolling the wrists and it seems I’m doing it but apparently not. Do I have weak wrists, stiff wrists or just need more practice with the rolling?
Thanks Paul.
Dave
October 14, 2013
Paul WilsonDave,
You were trying to do this at top speed so you need to slow down. The concept is simple. Right now you are hitting it with the face open so when do you ever square it? ANSWER: Never. So go slow enough that you have time to roll it. If you roll it you are no longer coming through with it open. This means you are no longer a slicer.
At top speed you have 1/4 of a second to roll it. Slowing down gives you more time which allows you to at least do it. Yes, you may not hit the ball far but who cares you need it squaring. Once you get better at it you speed it up. Then once you have sped it up and you are consistently hooking it you then turn the arms off and start to work on your powering the swing with your lower body. Once you do the ball will straighten out and you will be hitting it dead straight.
So, immediately slow down. Constantly and consistently roll it everywhere and anywhere you can and as many times as you can until you are good at it. Stay focused and stick with it. You will get it.
October 15, 2013
DAVESHAFFERYou are correct, Paul. Yes, I was doing this top speed. I will slow down. I thought I needed to swing fast to get them to roll over but you’re saying the opposite is true which does make sense.
My Paul just arrived from Dallas for our Member-Guest here at SHP later this week so won’t get much chance to work on the Drills this week but I’ll try to do some.
Thanks for all your help Paul. You are indeed a most dedicated and knowledgeable instructor of the golf swing.
Dave
October 16, 2013
Paul WilsonDave,
Thanks for the kind words.
Just keep doing it as much as you can. If you have a tourney then be careful. I would just stay loose and swing easy on every shot. If you do you will play well.
October 16, 2013
HaroldBaldockI have slice spin. Left hander. When playing for the hook could I change alignment to allow the hook to stay in play?
October 16, 2013
Paul WilsonHarold,
This is a drill meant to be done on the range. There you set up squarely so you can see if your ball is hooking or not. Plus you need to see the line because once you master the roll over you will be adding lower body rotation to straighten it out.
When you play just roll it a few times before each shot then forget the roll over when you hit your actual shot. Just do your normal swing (powered with legs and hips) and watch your ball. This will tell you if you are getting it or not.
If you feel you are consistently hooking it a little bit then play for it but at this point you kind of have it mastered so you would be adding body rotation to be straightening it out. I would just be very careful doing this roll over on the course. The roll over drill is severely rolling it so some balls won’t even get airborne because you may de-loft the club too much and you may hook it 40 or 50 yards. It is going to be tough to play for it.
October 17, 2013
HaroldBaldockOkay,I will keep working on this roll over. Thanks for the help.Harold
October 17, 2013
Paul WilsonHarold,
Yes, you need to be rolling it so you don’t keep leaving the face open. If you keep leaving it open at what point do you become a better player?
October 19, 2013
HaroldBaldockPaul,
I played competition today. I had three accidental hooks. I reacted with joy and my playing group was perplexed by my reaction. Results today for me: 3 hooks,1 flubb, 10 dead straight and 4 with fade. I am very pleased with the results today as even the Flubb was in play. It does feel good when the club face hits square.
Many thanks for your help Paul.
Harold
October 20, 2013
Paul WilsonHarold,
Very good. Now you are seeing the right way to see it. Pretty soon you will have release it so many times and have added the lower body that you don’t hit it too far offline. Once this happens the game becomes a whole lot of fun.
October 23, 2013
HaroldBaldockHi Paul,
Had three weird tee shots today. The ball hit ground 3 to 6 inches in front of my tee position.. It didn’t feel bad just weird result. One in water hazard. Nothing ruins my round because I don’t put that kinda pressure on my self. I just confused about what happened? Did I hit the ball on the top? This means that I didn’t make it to position B , as your instruction. Is the remedy to allow the arms to swing more freely? I think I buckled my arms. What are your thoughts?
Kind regards
Harold
October 23, 2013
Paul WilsonHarold,
If the ball hit in front of where it was teed you severely topped it. You topped it so bad that it felt like an okay shot. This is you swinging way too hard and looking for the result before you did it. Slow down and watch the ball until you have hit the ball.
October 23, 2013
HaroldBaldockPaul,
Yes, when I look back, my tempo had changed. I used my arms. Still along way to go for me. Keeping positive though. My handicap is now 28. One year ago it was 36.
Thanks Paul,
Harold
October 24, 2013
Paul WilsonHarold,
At a 28 handicap you are still going to hit many more shots like this. Everyone went through this when they started playing this game. If you want to make dramatic changes fast do practice swings at home working on my swing positions. Hit some balls if you want but focus on perfect movement developing a great golf swing. The faster you have the look of a better player the faster you will have the right fundamentals which will allow you to hit great shots.
Also, have the understanding that the swing is powered with your legs and hips not your hands and arms. If you are at least thinking like this you can potentially avoid thinking of using the arms to hit the ball. If you are not even thinking about the legs and hips you will use the arms because it is human nature to hit the object sitting in front of you.
October 28, 2013
HaroldBaldockPaul,
I appreciate you so much. On Wednesday I hit 230 balls at the range. 225 were airborne or ground running hooks. Saturday was medal day stroke play. First tee i hit a 60 to 80 yard hook. When my playing partner said, that’s in allot of trouble., I replied ” at least the club-face squared”. The look he gave me was classic. I finished the round 97 strokes played for a 69 net. I thank you for your help Paul. I maintain optimism and just have fun. To me, this is not an easy game. But it sure feels great to make some good shots.
All the best Paul
Harold
October 28, 2013
Paul WilsonHarold,
Too funny. You see most people cannot think outside the box. This is why they never get better.
Keep your eye on hooking it. I would think since you hooked the first shot of the day the next time you play put the focus on the legs. Hopefully, the face qill still square and you will hit it down the middle. Give it a try.
November 14, 2013
aijazgundrooHi Paul my question to you is , which hand initiates the roll in the downswing Right hand or Left hand.Kindly clear my mind on this.
November 15, 2013
Paul WilsonAijaz,
When you are working on purposely hooking it you are either rolling your right hand over the left or you can feel like you are pointing your left thumb at the target in the downswing. Either will get the face closing.
December 15, 2013
PaulBrettPaul,
I drove the ball well in Saturday’s comp on the whole using your full swing technique (before seeing this video). However, I hit one hook and two slices which cost me shots. The advice I have had recently from a PGA pro is that when I slice it my head is moving forward during impact, hence pushing the ball. Is there any truth in this? What would your advice be?
Many thanks,
Paul
December 17, 2013
Paul WilsonPaul,
Why would your head move forward in the downswing? If you slice it you are swinging over the top with the face open relative to the path. When you hit with your arms your whole body will lean left in the downswing. The harder you hit, the tighter your wrists, the more open the face. So yes, he is right. He is just not telling you why the head is moving ahead of the ball.
In reading your description you were playing well. Because of that you started to hit the ball harder and harder instead of repeating what was making you hit the ball well. Hitting harder is human nature. This hitting hard brought your arms into the swing and disaster struck. So the next time this occurs (which it will) slow down. Swing easier once you start getting excited. Then you will eliminate swinging too hard.
December 17, 2013
PaulBrettPaul,
Am I right in saying that if I swing too hard with my arms and don’t switch them off I will slice it and if I don’t rotate my bottom half quick enough I will pull it. I am aiming for rolling the hands from the top but keeping them relaxed and initiating the downswing with my legs.
Thanks for your advice,
Paul
December 18, 2013
Paul WilsonPaul,
Yes, when you swing too hard with your arms you tighten the wrists which stops the face from squaring.
If you start down with your arms you will come over the top thus pulling the ball. If the face squares to this path you will pull it. If it is closed it is a pull hook. If it is open it is a pull slice. If it is severely open it is a push slice (rare).
January 19, 2014
BarryReederPaul,
I just wish I had come across this tip/drill sooner. This, by far, is the best drill for anyone who has slicing tendencies. It drives right to the core of almost everything that is wrong with my swing right now. In my humble opinion, this should be the first thing people should learn after the setup.
I get exactly what you are saying and it works. I was making very little progress as my wrists would simply not unlock. I kept thinking powerless arms and my wrists will be forced to relax. Just not true in my case. I am now consciously rolling my wrists over very early and , wow, what a difference!
I have been doing this for a week hitting 4 to 5 large buckets a day. About 30% of my shots are still either going straight or slicing but I have made tremendous progress since day one. On day one I don’t think I hooked even a single ball. Now, I can tell very easily when my wrists don’t fully unlock…my ball slices, I can feel that I am swinging with my arms, and I hear that awful ‘clunk’ sound when the club strikes the ball instead of that sweet ‘smack’ sound when I fully release my wrist through the impact area. Oh, and the ‘woosh’ sound right before the ‘smack.’ It is very cool.
I must tell you and your readers of my swing thought that ‘put me over the top.’ (Pun not intended) This worked so well for me. I visualize trying to strike the ball with the toe end of the club head. I don’t mean the toe on the face of the club but the actual toe end of the club head. The face of the club would be pointing toward me at impact. With that one single thought in my head I will hit a beautiful hook (if there is such a thing) every time.
Finally, I have discovered this full release has positive by-products as well. The club will now automatically finish touching my head and splitting my ears. I don’t have to think about putting it there if I fully release and re-hinge through impact. Also, my weight transfer seems to happen a little more naturally.
Hopefully, the light has finally come on.
I am going to continue working until I don’t hit any slices at all. Have to tell you I did make one attempt on the range to incorporate my new wrist release into a full swing with body turn and powerless arms with my driver. I hit a beautiful drive right down the pipe with a very slight draw. I immediately went back to the ‘hook drill.’ I didn’t want to start thinking ‘OK, I’ve got this.’ Still have work to do with the ‘hook drill.’
Paul, I can’t thank you enough. This is the most progress I’ve seen with my swing. It’s worth every penny of my membership. Hopefully, this will help some of your other students.
Barry
January 20, 2014
Paul WilsonBarry,
It sounds like the light is coming on. Just keep doing the roll over however it works best for you and allows you to do it. Remember, hitting hard tightens the arms and wrists. So keep doing it at an easy pace. Get good at it then in the future speed up the body rotation to hit it farther. I think it won’t be long until you are hitting it straight.
April 9, 2014
Michael SaucermanPaul,
When working on this drill, I find that I almost always hit straight pulls to the left, not hooks that curve to the left. So, my clubface is closed relative to its position at address, but since the shots are going straight left, the clubface is actually square to an outside-in path. I know from watching your videos and reading your book that an over-the-top swing, that produces the out-to-in path, is caused from hitting with your arms. Since the whole point of this drill is to consciously think of your arms rolling, and hit with your arms rolling, how can I remedy this, for the sake of having this drill work the way it should – hitting hooks, not pulls?
Thank you,
Mike
April 10, 2014
Paul WilsonMichael,
You will pull it because you are hitting it with your arms. The problem is you are just pulling it. You need to get it hooking so you get the face to stop coming through open. Right now it is not enough closed so when you move on to the legs you will still slice it. Slow down. Roll it way earlier. Get it (pull) hooking. You are not trying to hit great shots doing this. It is a drill to get you to stop leaving the face open. Roll it daily, slowly until you feel it rolling. Hit some easy shots looking for the curvature. Once you can consistently hook it you are no longer a slicer. At this point you turn the arms back off and focus on the body rotation to straighten it out.
January 23, 2015
PaulKwonHi Paul,
Wrote to let you know that I shot my first single digit score (9), I think in my life. I only play once a week maximum so this is a big deal to me. This lesson of curing slice by hooking and the lesson of leaning the body away from the ball at impact were instrumental lessons (or revelations) in this improvement.
I thought I was going to be a 18 handicapper for life before I found you. Now I think I have a chance at being a “good” golfer. Proud of myself. Thanks.
January 23, 2015
Paul WilsonPaul,
I think I mentioned that I thought you were close to a huge breakthrough. Now, you just have to guard against losing it. Playing well is exciting and you will want to go harder and harder at it because you will think you are invincible plus your expectation levels are quite high. Go out next time and not care about your score. You cannot think you are going do play this well or better the next time out. If you do, it will be a complete disaster.
The tell tale sign you are losing it are thin, topped and pushed/push faded shots. If you see these shots immediate slow down to 50%. I would start off with 50% as the thought the next time you play so you are aware of what many happen plus you are not going to swing out of control.
I did a tip on this here:
You Will Top It: https://ignitiongolf.com/you-will-top-it/
Glad you are getting it. Keep at it and you will be in the 70’s in no time.
April 6, 2015
RaymondHare JrHi Paul,
I’ve been following your method with practice swings through the winter and felt like I was getting it. Weather is finally breaking and at the range I am trying to practice hooking the ball. When I manually roll the club over early I find that I drop kick the ball with my driver consistently. I’m getting to the touch the knees, touch the head position and checking my body angles, grip & setup which all seem correct.
I’ve always tended to hit the ball high and short, if that helps.
Help!
Thank you,
Ray
April 6, 2015
Paul WilsonRaymond,
If you are drop kicking it you are attacking it to much from the inside. This is bottoming out the club too early. This would also mean you are too tilted (behind the ball) in the downswing. I could guaranteed you are flat footed at impact then you are moving to the touch the legs position. This would be from you rolling instead of moving your lower body. You need to immediately start lifting this back heel as you come down. In doing so you won’t be over tilted and you will stop drop kicking it. This would also explain the high shots because you are adding too much loft to the club as you stay behind it too much. So I would thing your ball flight will lower too as you get this heel lifting. Just make sure you have rolling it enough that you are no longer slicing it.
Here you go:
Drop Kick: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-drop-kick/
Also:
Impact Back Heel Off Ground: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-back-foot/
And:
DRILL Lift Then Hit: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-lift-hit/
September 24, 2015
BensonRussellHi there,
Thanks for putting these together as they’ve been a great help and resource.
I’ve been trying the roll-over early drill, but the problem I have is when I try to roll over early, I top the ball and smack it into the ground. I’m trying to do this slow for now to get used to it, but there’s obviously something I’m doing wrong that causes the topping only when I try to early execute the roll. Else the majority of the time I’m hitting it in the heel and getting the pull-fade motion. I’m guessing it means I still have too much arms in the swing, but I’m trying my best to keep the arms loose and out of it (as you point out in your other videos, I’ve been doing great with the irons so far :).
Any ideas? 🙂
Benson
September 25, 2015
Paul WilsonBeson,
You are trying to do the roll over as hard as you can. It is a drill to get you to roll the wrist over and teach you how to hook it. Slow down. Tee up a 7 iron and just do it with that for a while until you are good at it. Once you can hook numerous ball in a row you turn the arms off and move to powering the swing with the legs and hips. This will straighten it out.
September 28, 2015
BensonRussellSounds good, I’ll try that at the range tonight 🙂
October 29, 2015
AruldossNesarajanI am buying a new driver with adjustable blade angle also with draw adjustment.Will it help my slice?
October 29, 2015
Paul WilsonAruldoss,
Why would you close this face on the Driver? This is a band aid. Just do my roll over drill then add body to straighten it out. You know what happens if you roll it over and hook it? Answer: You are not longer a slicer. Then you add body to straighten it out. After you develop a great swing and want to adjust it 1 degree open or closed that’s fine but get the swing first.
Please Learn How to Hook It: https://ignitiongolf.com/please-learn-hook/
How to Release the Golf Club: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-wrist-release
DRILL: 3 Ways To Roll It Over: https://ignitiongolf.com/3-ways-to-roll/
Still Slicing Even After Rolling?: https://ignitiongolf.com/slicing-after-rolling/
Everyone Needs To Hook It: https://ignitiongolf.com/everyone-needs-to-hook-it/
Driving Hips Harder But Hook It First: https://ignitiongolf.com/driving-hips-hook-first/
Here you go:
April 2, 2017
DennisBenedictI am not taking any divot on my iron shots, what drill do you suggest?
April 3, 2017
Paul WilsonDennis,
There is no drill. A divot is taken because you have the right fundamentals. Right now you are hitting with your arms. This buckles them through impact pulling the club off of the ground plus you don’t get the backward tilt at impact lower your body as you hit the ball. I have a bunch of tips on a divot here:
Illustrating Why A Divot Is Taken: https://ignitiongolf.com/illustrating-divot/
How To Take A Divot: https://ignitiongolf.com/how-to-take-a-divot/
Never Purposely Hit Down On The Ball: https://ignitiongolf.com/never-hit-down/
Why You Do Not Take Divots: https://ignitiongolf.com/not-take-divots/
Cause and Effect – Trying To Take A Divot: https://ignitiongolf.com/cause-and-effect-divot/
Divot Pointing: https://ignitiongolf.com/divot-pointing/
Divot Path?: https://ignitiongolf.com/divot-path/
April 6, 2017
DennisBenedictThanks Paul for the above videos. I had been doing most of the things in these videos as you teach. However, I am struggling with trying to combine keeping the left arm straight on back swing, hands grade 2 on grip, and arms loose. If I try keeping my left are extended (straight) then I create too much tension in the arms and hit thin shots, no divot. If I increase upper shoulder muscle tension slightly, my arms stay mostly straight and I get back to the back and create a divot most of the time. If I relax the arms with no shoulder tension, I top to ball, no divot. Where should the muscle tension be and how much to keep the left arm straight on back swing and follow through? I was not able to find any videos on your website for this question.
April 6, 2017
Paul WilsonDennis,
Sounds like you are trying everything at once instead of getting one thing then another and so on.
First, you need your arm extended but not locked.
Next, the grip is 2 our of 10 at address increasing to 8 out of 10 by the time you hit the top but your wrists are loose.
Extended But Not Locked: https://ignitiongolf.com/extended-but-not-locked/
You also need to know what powerless arms is. It is you not hitting or helping the shot. I get the feeling you are trying to o floppy arms which is not the same. Watch:
What Is Powerless Arms?: https://ignitiongolf.com/what-is-powerless-arms/
Powerless Arms vs Floppy Arms: https://ignitiongolf.com/powerless-arms-vs-floppy-arms/
And:
Secure Grip Loose Wrists: https://ignitiongolf.com/secure-grip-loose-wrists/
So pick one of these (grip) and work on it. Then extend the arm. Build the rest of the swing positions so they are looking good then as a final step turn the arms off. You cannot work on too much or you will not get anything.
August 23, 2017
JimBremhorstFirrst of all I want to say that your tips and instructions are outstanding. I’ve dropped 5 strokes with your advice. Huge improvement in short game I’ve adopted powerless arms and loose wrists. Works great with pitching and irons. Just this week I’ve finally got my coiling working and uncoiling..really letting my shoulders pull my hips back. Instead of over rotating my hips. Works great with all irons, but started slicing my woods again. If I do this rollover action, how can I keep powerless arms and loose wrists with woods? Thanks!
August 23, 2017
Paul WilsonJim,
Thank you very much. I appreciate it and love hearing about improvement. It never gets old.
You do the roll over as a drill to train them to roll over early and hook it. Once you can do this you still feel it but you switch your thought to lower body to straighten it back out. IF you are working on certain positions etc. you do need to think about your arms. Once you master the position etc. you turn them back off.
When To Use Your Arms: https://ignitiongolf.com/when-to-use-arms/
Keep up the good work.
August 26, 2017
JimBremhorstThanks. “When to use arms” clarifies a lot.
I adjusted my club face to square at address also. The driver face may have been slightly open. Now have a very slight pull but in the fairway. But not yet hooking or drawing . Will keep on working on coiling and uncoiling to fix that. Need some more practice time to relax he arms again also.
August 27, 2017
Paul WilsonJim,
You need to slow it down so you have more time to roll it. When people cannot do this they are trying to hit good shots. In doing so they swing fast. The faster you swing the less time you have to roll it. You are not trying to hit good shots. You are trying to hook it so go slow and roll it right from the top. This will give you time. Get used to the feeling of the hands crossing and memorize it. You need to still do it in the future without thinking about doing it. Also, do this everynight:
Drill – Smooth Wrist Release: https://ignitiongolf.com/smooth-wrist-release/
And:
DRILL – Watch Your Release: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-watch-release/
August 26, 2017
JimBremhorstThanks. When to use arms clarifies a lot. I adjusted my club face to square at address also. The driver face may have been slightly open. Now have a very slight pull but in the fairway. But not yet hooking or drawing . Will keep on working on coiling and uncoiling to fix that. Need some more practice time to relax he arms again also.
January 30, 2018
DonHeatonThat was a great video, your roll over drill is explained perfectly. Just questioning why it wasn’t in the lessons I purchased, or did I miss a download?
January 30, 2018
Paul WilsonDon,
It a huge part of the body swing. It is in the book and videos.
Book page: 162 and 176
Videos – More Distance Section and Fix Your Own Swing Section
So look again. It is in there.
July 30, 2018
RickVertolliPaul – “Dude”,
I have had a problem slicing the ball for over 35 years. I took your advice and tried hitting a hook. Using my 7 iron, I was pretty successful at hinging my right hand ahead of my left before impact. I hit a number of hooks with this club. As I used my hybrid, 3 wood, and driver I was less successful at hooking, but had a beautiful draw on the ball. We’re talking about a person who, at best, hit the ball straight with a little tailing fade.
To see the ball draw consistently draw was remarkable. I’m very excited.
Thanks for the tip.
-Rick
July 31, 2018
Paul WilsonRick,
Good job. It is so easy to fix yet so many people out there struggle. So glad you are doing well.
March 13, 2019
mikeschickThis could be the best advice you give for slicers. I am using this to help my grandson avoid those shots where he lets his wrists open through impact and the ball goes right. He understands when I tell him to hook it. Great advice! this is why I will keep coming to this site!
Mike
March 17, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
Very good. Your grandson should pick this up pretty quick. The younger they are the faster they get it.
If he can do that at an early age he will never be a slicer.
March 17, 2019
mikeschickLike much of your teaching, it is pretty simple, but effective. Teach a slicer to hook the ball, and he will probably stop cutting across it to try and make it go left. It is also great for seniors who have to rely more on their hands when the body is not as limber!
March 23, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
Thanks, glad you like the tips.
Teach a slice to hook and they are no longer a slicer. They are just on the wrong direction. Work on body to fix the over the top. Simple.
Get the face closing you de-loft the club adding distance so yes, great for seniors.