Doubts rush in

I began to doubt my newly adopted flat left wrist theory (for right-handers) when I recently started to hit duck hooks - probably one of the most destructive shots in the game next to sh…s and duffs. So, as usual, I hit the internet seeking some advice.

The simplest and best suggestion I found related to a grip change, as I will explain. It was suggested in a very thoughtful article that one of the main causes for duck hooks is a right hand (for right-handers) that creeps too far under the shaft (into a super strong position) during the swing. This causes the club face to close excessively and creates a shot that starts straight but dives left.

Various other causes for duck hooks were suggested, mainly around alignment and posture and attempts to steer the ball, but I don't think these issues are nearly as important in my case. As mentioned, I try to keep my left wrist flat throughout the swing, which keeps the club face in a relatively closed position throughout the swing - but slightly less closed at impact due to body rotation with the hope of promoting a slight draw. So, I think hands and wrists are the critical factors in my case.

By the way, research has shown that the club face must be approximately 7 degrees closed at impact with a driver for the ball to fly straight. This relates to my comment above.

Anyway, the duck hook solution for me, which I've tried with qualified success so far, has been to rotate my right hand counter-clockwise (to a weaker position) on the grip prior to playing all shots. This, theoretically and partially successfully so far, helps to prevent the right hand under position that has been promoting my somewhat too frequent duck hooks. Note that the left hand stays in a neutral two knuckle position.

The feeling of this new grip is slightly awkward, it seems to restrict the backswing slightly and also seems to encourage the odd push shot (not slice) especially with driver. This, I hope, is just an adjustment phase, while I get used to the slight weakening of my grip and restriction of the backswing. It has, however, virtually eliminated the possibility of hitting the type of duck hooks I was hitting all too regularly.

Tomorrow is another day of testing. I hope the new grip starts to feel more comfortable. I hope I will be able to go back to a freer release of the club so I can eliminate those push shots that have crept into my game with my 'anti-duck hook' grip. I feel fairly confident that I am on the right track. But of course, if I'm wrong, further doubts will creep in and I might need to re-visit the new grip.

A postscript: slicers who think they can fix a slice by swinging in to out, aiming differently, releasing more aggressively, taking a stronger grip, closing the club face at address, etc. etc. are generally doomed to failure. I stand by the need for all golfers to develop club face awareness and, so far, only flat left wrist theory has provided me with any hope of doing that.