Tip From the Archives

Shaft Flex Causes Hooking

Problem

You hook the ball almost every time you use your driver. The clubhead is whipping towards the ball too quickly before your hands can follow and your bodyweight can shift onto your forward foot. This closes the clubface too much, thus causing a hook.

Cure

If you have become a stronger player but for no known reason, you have noticed that you have developed a duck hook. This is one of the few times in your life that you can actually blame it on the driver and not yourself! You may have outgrown the shaft flex of your driver.

Therapy

You have to ask yourself, are you a better player now than when you bought your last driver? Does the shaft appear to bend during your forward swing so that the clubhead moves too quickly towards the ball while your hands are still trying to catch up? Do you swing faster? Swinging faster is not likely to be the actual problem with your hook; it is more likely that the flexibility in your shaft is causing the problem. Look and see what the shaft of your driver says. Is it senior, regular, stiff or extra stiff flex? Is there room to move up to a stiffer flex? It might be time to visit your local pro or sporting goods store to test out drivers with different flexes. They can help by either replacing the shaft to a stiffer flex or help you select a new club better suited for your swing.

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14 votes

 
Kevin | 5 years ago, at the end of March

I went to Dick's Sporting Goods last week and tried a few drivers. They have a computer there that measures swing speed and the like. She took one look at the numbers and said, "He needs a stiff flex." I wasn't so sure, but I figured I'd try it. I could not believe the difference it made. My first swing was eye opening. I could actually control the ball incredibly easier than with a regular flex that I have now. If you haven't tried stiff flex and can swing above 100 mph, you owe it to yourself to at least test it. I couldn't believe the difference.

jerry | 5 years ago, at the end of March

I went to Harvey Penick golf school where they measured my swing speed at 88mph just a bit above aveage for regular golfers I was told and they recommended a stiffer shaft. Turned out that stiff was too stiff and produced the opposite effect - big fades. Callaway's firm shaft dramatically reduced, almost eliminated my awful duck-hooks. I also got a firmer shafts for my 5 wood and hybrid, it helped with these but not as much improvement as with my driver.



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