83. A "Perfect" straight shot, even for the top players, just happens. It is not predictable and because it is not predictable, the smart golfer does not entertain the idea of attempting it               

The late Great Ben Hogan was once quoted as saying “If you see me hit a straight shot, I have just mis-hit it." Because Hogan is remembered by most as a superlative ball striker with fantastic control, his quote may seem a little strange. What a lot do not know however is that in his early career, he suffered with a terrible hook that plagued him under pressure. What baffled me years ago upon first hearing this is that his remedy for the hook was to quite simply learn how to slice.

A lot of the difficulty arises in the game when a player expects the "Cure" for the wayward shot to leave a "Perfect" straight shot in its place, not replacing it with its opposite number. As I have stated before, a "Perfect" straight shot, even with the top players, just happens. It is not predictable and because it is not predictable, the smart golfer does not entertain the idea of attempting it. Hogan, like many others, knew this, so instead, he set about making himself a truly complete player by learning the whole gamut of shots from one extreme (hook) to the other (slice) knowing that if he could become familiar with these experiences, somewhere between the two he would have the ability to embrace a predictable long game that is not reliant upon good fortune.

A hook and a slice are at opposite extremes and both can be equally disastrous but if you become familiar with the mechanics that produce these shots, then with a bit of application and experiment, you can refine them into very effective "Draws" and "Fades". If you are a "Hooker" (pardon the term) or a "Slicer", you would be wise if, instead of trying to wipe your memory clean and eradicate the shot, use the experience and find out exactly what the clubface actually does through impact to cause it. Most players know that a slice is caused by the club swinging across the target line to the left with the clubface open which results in a clockwise spin being imparted on the aerodynamic ball. A hook is caused by the exact opposite, with the club face closing as the swing is to the right of target. Forget for the time being what you have to do, just think of what the clubface needs to do. If you get a strong enough impression in your mind of the clubface at work, the body action that is needed should become an instinctive response to that clubface action.

When you hear the T.V. commentators talk of the players "working the ball", this is what they are doing. One of the more famous examples of the principle at work was several years back now in the U.S.P.G.A Championship when a certain Spaniard by the name of Sergio Garcia pulled off what was “the shot” of that year. It was reminiscent of Ballesteros in his prime who week in, week out, use to amaze the crowds with his skills of escapology.

It is a long time since one shot created such a buzz and it was all made possible because Garcia had not neglected the art of "working the ball”. This is why he is such an exciting player because he plays with imagination brought about by his embracing and experimentation with ball flight control.