What Causes Hooking the Golf Ball, and How to Stop it

Source: Golf Digest
By Hank Haney

Eliminate your hook with a simple grip change
If you’re a player who tends to hit a hook, first count yourself fortunate. A hook is the last stop on the road to a good golf swing, and you’re very close to hitting consistent, powerful shots. But it’s still a ball-flight problem you need to take care of to make that next step and become a scratch or near-scratch player.

A strong grip is by far the most common error I see with players who curve the ball too much from right to left. The right hand drifts to the right–away from the target–and moves underneath the club, as shown in the photograph below. With the right hand in this position, it will tend to turn over too much through impact. Because the position of the right palm roughly replicates the clubface, it’s easy to see why this turning over of the right hand causes the clubface to close and the ball to curve left.

To calm that hook down to a manageable draw, adjust your right hand to a more neutral position, as I’m demonstrating above. Turn it toward the target, so you can’t see your left thumb when you’ve made your completed grip. I also like to put my right index finger in a “trigger” position under the handle, which supports the club through the swing. If the finger wraps around the grip too much, the club tends to get loose at the top.

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How much prize money each golfer earned at the 2018 Hero World Challenge

Source: Golf Digest
By Associated Press

It’s not an official PGA Tour event. Still, the money earned at the Hero World Challenge spends nicely … and comes relatively easy in the 18-player, no-cut field. For finishing in last place, Hideki Matsuyama earned a cool $100,000. And he got to spend a week relaxing in the Bahamas at the plush Albany Resort. Nice work if you can get it.

If last place gets you $100,000, then first place has to be a tidy reward. A cool $1 million for Jon Rahm after his four-stroke victory over Tony Finau on Sunday with a closing 65 should help him cover the holiday gifts in the next few week.

“Ball-striking wise [my game] is pretty much where I want it to be,” Rahm said. “It was pretty much as perfect as it could be today. … To win [Tiger’s] event, his foundation’s event … this is really special.”

As if for good measure, Rahm wished everybody happy holidays as he was interviewed just off the green after his victory.

How much cash did the rest of the field in the tournament that benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation? Here’s the prize money earned for every player who made the cut this week.

Win: Jon Rahm, -20, $1,000,000
2: Tony Finau, -16, $400,000
3: Justin Rose, -15, $250,000
4: Henrik Stenson, -14, $175,000
T-5: Patrick Cantlay, -13, $147,500
T-5: Rickie Fowler, -13, $147,500
7: Dustin Johnson, -12, $140,000
T-8: Alex Noren, -11, $126.666.67
T-8: Xander Schauffele, -11, $126.666.67
T-8: Gary Woodland, -11, $126.666.66

11: Patrick Reed, -10, $115,000
T-12: Bryson DeChambeau, -8, $109,000
T-12: Justin Thomas, -8, $109,000
T-12: Bubba Watson, -8, $109,000
15: Keegan Bradley, -6, $107,000
16: Jason Day, -5, $106,000
17: Tiger Woods, -1, $105,000
18: Hideki Matsuyama, E, $100,000

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