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BODY / TOUR TECHNIQUE
TAKE THE LEFT SIDE OUT OF PLAY Try Si Woo Kim’s bold fix for eliminating hooks By Ron Kaspriske
Kim plays with a “weak” grip, meaning his hands are more on top of the handle than off to its side. Looking down at address, he sees one or two knuckles on his gloved hand, and the crease between his thumb and forefinger points towards his chin. This orientation, Como says, enables Kim to rotate his body as aggressively as he wants in the downswing without fear that the clubface will be closed relative to his swing path at impact – which is how you hook it. For most amateurs, the body stops rotating on the downswing prematurely while the arms and club keep going, and that shuts the face and curves the ball way off line as a result.
W This is si woo kim. A four- time PGA Tour winner, Kim is best known for capturing the 2017 Players Championship. What separates him from many golfers is that he’s able to swing aggressively through impact, letting the clubface close noticeably without fear of hooking the ball. He and his coach, Chris Como, will explain why. First, let’s talk about you. You may have found that you’ve developed a ball flight that curves sharply left of your target (for right- handers). Now you’re looking for a fast fix, and that’s where Kim and Como, No 2 on Golf Digest’s list of the 50 Best Teachers in America, can assist.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JD CUBAN
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 95
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
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