Golf instruction is always changing, but the best advice is timeless. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we highlight the greatest pieces of advice from teachers and players in the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we look back at our June 1978 issue where Arnold Palmer shared the key to producing high power off the tee.
Hitting the ball long off the tee isn’t just about impressing your teammates. When you have a long ball to control, golf becomes much easier.
So, what is the key to developing a long ball? According to the legend Arnold Palmer, it is important to understand how to make a “hook” swing.
Back in the June 1978 issue of GOLD MagazinePalmer shared with our audience how you can improve this hook swing – and how you can use it to hit long shots. Check it out below.
Palmer’s key to simple power
Some years ago, Jimmy Demaret was answering a question from a Champs’ Clinic student. The golfer asked: ”How do I stop cutting the ball?”
To get a high grade, you must learn how to hook the ball. There is no other way.
You can’t fight city hall. Almost every good golfer I have ever known has started as a ball hook and later learned to control it. Hogan did it, Snead did it and, I might add, I did it, to name just three, but the full list would be endless.
In contrast, most average golfers start out as ball cutters. Some keep cutting all their lives, and some fight the piece successfully enough to hit the ball straight, but still aren’t good long, straight hitters.
Now we’re going to compare piece and hook swings, and what makes them tick. When we’re done, I know you’ll agree with me that you’ll never learn to hit a long, straight ball unless you’ve hooked the ball as your dominant pattern.
Cut out the hook patterns as well
The cutter swing pattern (below, top) is the weakest way to hit the ball. A standard cutter swings back out of the intended flight line. Theirs is an effort on the right which is a lift above the swing. At the top, the club usually points to the left of the line parallel to the target line. Their alignment also prevents full closure. In the downswing, they return to the ball from the outside, and often more outside than the backswing; This is the worst move you can make if you want power. As the club is pulled across the ball with an open clubface, a weak spin is given to the ball.
The hook pattern is important for power generation.
GOLD Magazine
The swing pattern of the hook (above, below) is tight. His swing starts in the middle and his left side leads the swing. The stronger the body, the more the club crosses the line parallel to the target line. In the downswing, they stay on the ground very well and therefore the downswing line is more inside to outside than the backswing, a movement that results in a stronger release and greater power.
Cut and hold the hook
The problems of cutters stem from their grip. Both hands are turned far left on the club, V pointing to his chin. This “weak” grip encourages you to close the clubface back and open it up with the ball. Generally, they hold the club more in the left palm. As a result, the butt of the hand is not in the grip (bottom left). This causes slack in the turn, allowing the right side to dominate.
To learn how to hook the ball, you must start with a very ”strong” grip – both hands turned to the right so that the V points to your right shoulder (upper right). This grip encourages you to open the clubface back and, when you lower down your arms and hands will hit the clubface from opening to closing with the ball, a very powerful movement. The correct left hand grip is to hold the palm with the handle from the bottom of the palm to the first part of the index finger. This grip allows full use of the body. The right grip should be on the fingers. If it is correct, you will feel more pressure on the last three fingers of the left hand and the middle two of the right hand.
Slice and hook setup
A “weak” grip creates what I call a “weak” setup (below, left). It forces the right arm away from the body and forces the shoulders and hips into an open alignment, directed to the left of the line parallel to the target line. The left arm is bent and the ball is often played too far forward. This leaves the hands behind the ball and the shaft back away from the target. All of these features indicate a right-side, outside-in, turn of the piece.
You need to adjust your setup to hit the hook.
GOLD Magazine
The “‘strong” grip gives a strong setup, because it forces you to make, even a little exaggeration, all the power points (right). The “‘strong” grip puts the left side in control, in a position to give the swing a wider area. The left arm is stretched out strongly and the right is made to bend towards the body. At the same time, the left shoulder goes down from the left and the left line is placed lower than one line of the left. Clubhead The shaft is tilted slightly forward with the hands over the ball.
Cut and hook backswings
In the slice backswing, the right side dominates. It’s more of a pick and lift from the right than a throw. The right hand and arm often work independently of the rest of the body so the legs, hips and shoulders are slow and too late. Open alignment and prevent full windup. The result is a tighter, less perfect swing position when the clubface is closed. A weak grip gives you a weak setup and leads to weak recoil.
A firm grip and setup encourages a one-piece reverse, where the hands and entire left side start together. Legs, shoulders and arms all move powerfully to drive the club inside. A square, or slightly off, posture and alignment also affects your ability to fully rotate the hip, shoulder rotation, arm swing and wrist cock. A tight grip also causes you to open the clubface slightly at the top of the swing. Ready for powerful internal movement and release with the ball.
Cut and hook downswings
A weak pullback led to a weak decline. Because the clubface was closed back, there was a premature right swing action from the top, working the clubface from close to open. Because of the incomplete windup, the right shoulder tried to block the lifting action that brings it over the ball, and brings the club even more from the outside to the inside of the ball. The result is a strong-armed, strong-leg pull to cut the ball with an open clubface. Very little clubhead speed is produced, and the chip swing prevents too much roll from the ball.
This is the benefit of a strong grip. Because the clubface is open back, there is a very strong reaction with the ball – the right forehand crossed over to the left, closing the clubface forcefully at impact. Notice how the right shoulder moves under the chin, creating an inward to outward swing. There is maximum use of the body, maximum clubhead speed and maximum distance.
Changing piece and holding patterns
If you start with a weak grip and swing pattern, fixing it will not work. You can adjust your setup, but what you can’t do is change your swing pattern. You try to swing back inside, but because of the swing habits you have done, you still reach the top; your way down will still be outside of your way back. The ball will still fade and your swing will lack the full air and strong body movement that is essential for power.
If you adopt a “hard” grip pattern and swing hook, you should stick with them until the power points – tight setup, take-in, full breath, landing and tight release – are routine. This can take a matter of months until the season is complete. Then you can change the pattern by mixing up your setup and weakening your grip until you hit the ball straight. However, areas of power will still be built in, and you’ll find yourself hitting farther than ever.
;)
