Can't Get off the Tee

[jbil8802]

I started out the year hitting my driver well. It was arguably the club I had the most confidence in. Average around 240-250 carry excluding gross mishits.

 

About 3 weeks ago I started not being able to get off the tee. I guess I would refer to it as I'm hooking everything with what seems like no spin and they're just falling out of the sky. My driver is going maybe 200 yards or a little more. When it started I would do it maybe 2-3 times a round. Now it's at the point where 90% of my tee shots are doing it. I'm a lefty, they're all going right. Driver, 3W and hybrids. Strikes are very high and very towards the toe. I've tried working it out at the range a number of ways but can't seem to do it. It might even just be a mental thing, I'm not sure. It's almost like the polar opposite of a shank.

 

My instructor is out of town for a while and I don't have access to a launch monitor so my options are limited. Frustration is fairly high right now.

 

As a disclaimer, I understand that seeing my instructor would be the best option. Just curious to see if anyone has gone through a similar period or experience and has any suggestions.

[hckymeyer]

Without seeing your swing my first thought would be to check your setup position. I've gotten out of whack before and it was just a small issue in my setup that changed without me realizing it.

[Fireinthehole]

Just my $0.02- proceed at your own risk. Back to basics review your set up, ball placement, grip, etc first- but:
Hook occurs when hitting outside portion of the ball- other side of where you are standing; with a closed face from an out-to-in swing path- toe hits usually accompanying. Typically it's a failure to turn the body and arms end up out racing (ahead) the body. Try to turn faster. Seems counter intuitive, but you may have just slowed down your body and gotten more handsy. 
 

 

Proof that other things maybe the culprit.
I recently went from push, to push draw after getting more forearm activation, to pull, to hook, and that was because my head was not looking straight ahead at address. I had my whole face looking at the ball which caused me to go in to out with swing path and hit high toe of the driver. Using my right arm/shoulder (right handed golfer) too much. By keeping my head neutral I unconsciously keep my right shoulder back and avoid it dominating my swing.

[revkev]

Based on your Avatar picture I would say you are standing on the wrong side of the ball.

[sp0rtsfan86]

Just my $0.02- proceed at your own risk. Back to basics review your set up, ball placement, grip, etc first- but:

Hook occurs when hitting outside portion of the ball- other side of where you are standing; with a closed face from an out-to-in swing path- toe hits usually accompanying. Typically it's a failure to turn the body and arms end up out racing (ahead) the body. Try to turn faster. Seems counter intuitive, but you may have just slowed down your body and gotten more handsy. 

 

 

Proof that other things maybe the culprit.

I recently went from push, to push draw after getting more forearm activation, to pull, to hook, and that was because my head was not looking straight ahead at address. I had my whole face looking at the ball which caused me to go in to out with swing path and hit high toe of the driver. Using my right arm/shoulder (right handed golfer) too much. By keeping my head neutral I unconsciously keep my right shoulder back and avoid it dominating my swing.

 

 Whenever I start hooking the ball  that's usually the first culprit is my arms outracing my body. I usually try to remedy it by feeling like I'm hitting the inside (closest to my body )of the ball instead of coming over the top and striking the outside of it. That feel somehow brings everything back into sync about 50 percent of the time. From there if the hooks get worse while I'm hitting the inside of the ball, I know the problem stems from not turning through enough and ending up leaving my weight on my back foot. That's a bit tougher to fix, but I actually take a few happy gilmore style swings where I take a few steps and swing through trying to get the feel of a complete body turn. That feel of power shifting to my left foot fixes some of my issues. If that doesn't work for me, I take a few days off and hope that it doesn't return again.

[Kor.A.Door]

It sounds like you are too quick from the top, I am also a lefty, and when I start to have to tie hook it's because I'm too quick at the transition, and when you get out of line from there your body takes over and makes adjustments, only it can't keep up, so in a way it is about your hands being to fast, slow down going back and make a good transition from the top. If you slow down from the top your body will catch up. That's what I do when I have that issue

[wbealsd]

I started having the same issue last week, so I watched one of the "School of Golf" episodes I have saved on DVR.  Realized I had started teeing up the ball too far foward and not enough weight on my back foot in my setup.

 

Yesterday at the range, it looked like that solved the problem.  I'll see if it carries over on the course this afternoon

 

I also signed up for a series of group lessons, starting next week at the course I'm playing this year.

[ZenGolfer]

Id agree with the others that the first thing to do is to get back to the basics.  Stance, grip, posture, ball placement.  Beyond that, without seeing your swing, its difficult to say.