Golf Tip by
Director of Instruction
Mark Heartfield
Fixing Hooks and Slices
Golf is a game of creating patterns. The better the player the tighter the pattern. As a Golf Instructor/Coach we are constantly fixing slices and hooks and trying to turn hooks into tight draws and slices into tiny fades.
The easiest way to do this is by what I call counterbalancing.
If a player comes to me and is slicing his shots, I will work on teaching this player to hook the ball. Once the student learns how to hook it, they have a better chance of finding the center. I need to change the players pattern and bad habits. The average player over slices their shots due to a swing path that is cutting across the ball. Generally the face of the club is open as well. So to learn how to hook the ball the player must work on the club path swinging from inside the target line to outside the target line.(Opposite of cutting across it). The face needs to be closed to this path in order to make the ball hook. Then it becomes a tweaking of the degrees to be able to soften the curvature and create that tighter pattern.
So….. if you slice it, learn to hook it. If you hook it, learn to slice it. Please let me know if our staff can help you tighten up your shot pattern.
Players such as Jon Rahm, Jack Nicklaus and Colin Morikawa all fade the ball. Adam Scott, Zach Johnson and Rory McIlroy (most of his career) all draw the ball.
What shape is best for you? Let us help you determine that, and find that center of the fairway!
Own your Shot Shape
By Mark Heartfield
Director of Instruction
When I ask my students what kind of shot shape their ball flight is I often get a blank look. They often say ”I don’t have one, I just aim straight and swing”.
Well everyone has a shot shape based on their swing type. Golf balls spin and therefore they curve. The beauty of having a predictable shot shape is you can play it, and give yourself a bigger landing area to hit your ball into. For example the player below can aim at the left edge of the fairway cut line, and hit this same slice and end up in the middle of the fairway. If he aims down the center he has lost the entire left half of the fairway. His slice would most likely put him in the very right side of the fairway or into the right rough. manage your game! I kiddingly say “dance with the person you brought to the party that day”. When we warm up before the round you’ll get a good understanding of the shot shape you have that day.
Generally speaking the slice comes from a club path swinging too far to the left (across the ball and target line) and most likely with an open club-face.
As an instructor and coach I want to reduce the amount of curve on the ball, so I would try to get the player to swing more to the right with a more neutral to closed club-face. I play a draw (a slight right to left curvature). When I hit an iron into a green I aim at the right edge of the green and try to hit my normal shot. This brings the ball slightly from right to left back into the middle of the green. If I happen to hit it straight, it’s on the right edge of the putting surface. If I over curve it, it’s on the left edge of the putting surface. Understanding my curvature is going to allow me to hit more fairways and greens in regulation.
Jon Rahm, current #1 in the world, hits all fades (a soft left to right pattern). Watch his shot tracer on TV. He’s extremely predictable!
If you’re not sure about how to find your personal shot pattern let me take a look at you. In 30 minutes I’ll tell you all about your shot patterns and tendencies.
Hope this tip helps you find more fairways and greens.
In good golf,
Mark Heartfield
Director of Instruction
The Ridge Club