Jump to content

EL HOSEL!


TTLam

Recommended Posts

I have a problem. After I changed my swing plane which was too flat, now to more upright but I don't see as too upright, I occasionally hit the dreaded "el hosel". I look at the irons after hitting a few balls and the ball marks are all on the inner part (closer to the shaft end). I tried standing further away and that seemed to fix it. However, maybe there's something else that I can do. Perhaps my swing plane coming back is wrong.

Please help me get rid of my "el hosel"! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ouch :D the dreaded 'S' word. Please do not use that word, they are known as, "El Hosels" from Tin Cup's caddy. Okay? Great.

El Hosels are easily fixed, you have to think this way! It is quite simple really, you're hitting it off the neck or hosel of the iron. IMO....you may be opening/rolling the clubface open on takeaway.

Then your downswing path is too inside. You are coming down, leading with the hosel and the hands are behind impact. Dink, dink, dink.

The club face will mimic it's position on the downswing for what it looked like on the backswing. Do not roll it open on the first two stages of the backswing! Then make sure your downswing is yes, inside that backswing plane, but returns to square!

Go to El Hosel 101 School. No more full shots! GO...Grab the 8 iron or wedge and do the little 5 yard or ten yard chips. Okay? Little baby chips. Feel what you are doing. This is the cough medicine drill to cure El Hosel Flu.

Then, after 100 baby chips, go swing on a side hill lie where your feet are BELOW the ball. That'll help the plane.

Still the wedge or 8 iron baby chip is THE DRILL.

Nothing else will cure it.

If it does not work, go to the bar, Happy Hour and get snotted.

Good luck and never, ever use the 'S' word!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Changing your swing from flat to a more upright position has caused you to lose some power due to feeling that you are taking the club to far to the outside on takeaway. This results in some people at takeaway swinging inside opening the clubface and rerouting the club at the top of the swing to place the club in the proper position for the down swing to gain back the power they thought they had lost. End result is you cannot square the clubface at impact an a hostel hit results. This can happen with long irons as well as short half shots. Stick with your changes and good results will follow down the road. I have seen top instructor change students swings and it take up to a year to see noticable good results. All the students had this problem I identifed above the swinging inside rerouting the club. Get in front of a mirror or have a friend watch you to see if this is the problem. Good luck this can be very frustrating to correct. :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

TT,

There's an article in Golf Digest or Golf Magazine this month about this. Someone was teaching Allen Funt's son (you know the guy from candid camera?)

Anyway, hosel shots are caused by an out to in clubpath, not in to out. Therefore, your 'too upright' hunch makes sense. Try addressing the ball and moving the ball out on the toe of the club. Hit some shots this way to help w/confidence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As I had mentioned (and I agree with the other gentlemen) your downswing path it stuck on the inside. It is simple in this sense.

ANOTHER great drill is the 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock drill. First no golf ball, then golf balls. It reminds your brain, "Hey you, dummy ( I say this to myself)....THIS is where your hands and club belong a THESE specific positions." I don 't need to explain this drill right? Everyone knows it. It reminds you to roll your right forearm AFTER impact, another great thing.

1). Baby 5 yard chips...then....

2). Swing on a lie where your feet are below the ball...then...

3). Try to hit hooks! My pro has asked me when I went through the whole swing re-build...(I too hit el hosels one day). I was too upright on takeaway, too inside coming down. "HIT ME SOME HOOKS" he urged.

Fix it. Fix the cancer now. :sad: and let us know it is cured :smile1:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the tips guys, and after thinking it through, I know what I'm going to try and my ball striking should actually be alot better with the changes. I appreciate all the knowledge spilled on this, and will let you guys know how I do!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

heard Jack once say that a cure is to set up to a ball in your normal stance and put another ball 4 inches inside (closer to your body). Take your normal takeaway but hit the ball that is 4 inches closer. If you practice that for a while i don't think it would be possible to ever sh__k another ball again.

matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Orite guys, I want to thank you all for your input. I have taken the advice and drills and put together a swing change that helps my ball striking. The last 2 times at the range have been very different for me. I hit the "beep" 1nce the last time, which is pretty good and I was just getting lazy, but most importantly I was hitting it very solid. I hit the ball with my hands leading and not behind the ball, and the distance, target control I received was much more consistent. Makes sense since I used to hit it fat alot and the clubface gets twisted or opened or I could rotate too much before I hit the ball and cause hooks. Hopefull I'll get a chance to play on the course soon, damn Cali rain! Next thing to fix... inconsistencies off the tee... hm... that's for another topic. Thanks guys and happy golfing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The best advice for u is dont listen to people on message boards. The SHANKS are caused by many different things. U need for someone who has CLUE to look at your swing. These bandaids will NOT work. when u are sick u dont come to a message board and ask how do i get better. You goto the doctors office for a checkup.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

that's true, but I was able to figure some things out myself. I'm looking forward to getting a swing coach to help tidy up my swing thought, when I have time.. :whistle: Good point though!

On a second note, the VAS irons, where can I get one of those? or I can get those face forward wedges, and not have to worry about my swing once and for all.

Good thing though is I really have fixed my "dilemma del hosel", and hopefully I haven't created other problems!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...