Hooking your short irons?
Check alignment, and then your equipment
by Tom Harlan, Master Instructor
The Players Academy

Pulling your short irons to the left can be caused by a couple of issues.  First – and always – check and practice proper alignment.  Place two clubs on the ground – parallel to your target line – and hit a small bucket of balls with your short irons.  Be sure to try to follow through toward your target. Between proper aim and focusing on your finish you can fix most basic swing errors.

If it still feels like the club is turning left at impact, then you may have club fitting issues.  At The Players Academy, we believe your short irons should be set at a flatter lie than your middle or long irons.  I – like many tour players – use three, different lie angles in my irons. Short irons – SW, W, 9 and 8 – are one degree flat of standard.  My middle irons – 7, 6 and 5 – are standard lies, and my long irons – 4 and 3 – are one degree upright.

In a shorter iron, at slower speeds, your wrists will stay "lower" and maintain more angle.  With a club that is too upright, you’ll catch the heel of the club first and cause the face to close … which will cause the shot to be pulled left.

So, first make sure your alignment is proper, and if you’re still encountering problems, most golf clubs can be adjusted by a trained club builder to better match the lie angle you need.

Tom Harlan has joined forces with legendary Golf Instructor Jim McLean and Dr. Rob Neal of Golf Biodynamics to offer a once in a lifetime learning expenice.  The Players Academy is located at The Jim McLean Golf Performance Center in Fort Worth, Texas