Position at 9 o'clock relative to the hook: Van de Velde
"A hook is worse than a slice," explains Jean Van de Velde: "The ball curves to the left and keeps rolling." He's struggled with it himself, and here he shows the cue that helped him: the position of the clubface when the club reaches the 9 o'clock position.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Jean Van de Velde, the The `hook` is more destructive than the `slice`. A slice results from a right-to-left swing path, often with an open clubface: the ball rises and stops quickly as it comes down. A hook results from a the side facing left of the path, usually closed: the ball curves to the left and, once it hits the ground, keeps rolling and won't stop. He noticed that amateur golfers who hook the ball have one thing in common: they start the backswing with a very closed face, by trying to get the club up and running from the very start, without any rotation.
Her landmark: stop the club at 9 a.m., with the left hand roughly in line with the right leg, at hip level. For the hooker, the front and back of the left hand and the right palm (fingers spread) face the ground. This is what he wants—and what he has been working on for years against his own hook—at the 9 o’clock position, Your face, the back of your left hand, and your right palm should be facing forward, toward someone standing across from you. From there, you finish the backswing without touching the wall.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Raise the club to 9 o'clock, with your left hand roughly in line with your right leg.
- Stop and look at the face: is it pointing toward the ground?
- Spread the fingers of your right hand to see which way your palm is facing.
- Adjust your position so that your face, the back of your left hand, and your right palm are facing forward.
- Repeat this initial part of the backswing, letting the rotation happen naturally.
- Complete the backswing without changing the face's orientation.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Set up the online club without worrying about rotation.
- A face pointing toward the ground at 9 o'clock.
- The back of the left hand facing the floor at the start of the backswing.
- Adjust the top face to compensate.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Stop at 9 o'clock in front of a mirror or a partner standing facing you
- Check with your right palm, fingers spread, at each stop
- Full swings while maintaining this starting position, then balls
Your Questions
Why is a hook worse than a slice?
According to Jean Van de Velde, a slice rises and stops quickly as it comes down, while a hook curves to the left and keeps rolling indefinitely once it hits the ground.
Where should the 9 o'clock position face?
In front of you, toward someone standing facing you—such as the back of your left hand and the palm of your right hand. For a hooker, these three reference points often face the floor.
Why do hookers close their faces at the start of the backswing?
Because they want to get the club perfectly aligned in the first few centimeters and forget that some rotation is necessary. As a result, the clubface closes more and more.
Should we open the face higher to compensate?
No. The whole point of this anchor is to be able to finish the backswing without having to adjust the rope.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean Van de Velde). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.