What Is A Double Cross In Golf (And How To Quickly Fix It)

• A double cross occurs in golf when your ball moves in the opposite direction of where you originally intended.
• This can be caused by incorrect feet position, body rotation, or clubface position.
• To fix a double cross, work on developing a consistent club path and club-face relationship.
• Correct your feet position by doing the drill of balancing your body weight at impact.
• Work on body rotation by moving your lower body to the maximum.
• Make corrections in the position of your clubface at impact.
• Avoid a double cross by maintaining proper wrist angles.

My dad and I have always been close. We bonded over golf from a young age, and even today we love to go out on the green and play together. Golf is a game that takes a lot of skill and patience, and my dad has always been a master of it.

There was one time, however, when my dad really messed up on the golf course. He had been playing a round with one of his buddies, and things were going well until he got to the last hole. His opponent was putting for par, and my dad had an opportunity to make a birdie and win the match. But instead, he hit a terrible double cross that ended up costing him the game.

Needless to say, he was pretty upset after that shot. But I could tell he was also determined never to let that happen again. My dad is a very competitive person, and he doesn’t like to lose. So we spent the rest of our round talking about what went wrong and how he could fix it.

It turns out double-crossing is actually a pretty common mistake in golf. It’s when you try to hit the ball too hard instead of taking your time and making a smooth stroke. And it’s easy to fix – all you need to do is slow down your swing and focus on making good contact with the ball.

My dad was able to apply what he learned on the course that day, and ever since then, he’s been much more successful at avoiding the double cross. We still love to play golf together, and I’m proud of him for overcoming that mistake and becoming even better at the game he loves.

A double cross in golf is when a golfer aims down one side intending to curve the shot back toward the target, but instead, it turns in the opposite direction. An example is when a tree sits on your lane to the greens, and your only choice is to make a fade.

Causes Of A Double Cross

Ball position

Where you place your ball in your stance will affect the direction in the ball curves. If you want to prompt a draw, it would be best to position the ball slightly back. This position will help close the angle of your clubface at impact to start a right-to-left curve.

On the contrary, if you want to fade the ball, it would be wise to place the ball front center in your stance.

The wrong positioning of the ball makes it hard to get your clubface at the right angle for impact. Hence instead of drawing, you might end up slicing the ball.

Rotation

A lower rotation speed often causes a double cross. The lower rotation speed leads to your hand moving ahead of the ball, prompting your clubface to close.

As a result, your ball remains hooked to the left side of the course, putting you on the back foot for the remainder of the hole. For maximum power and accuracy, you must turn your hips through impact.

Weight

Suppose you slice your shots consistently. Then, there are chances that you will lose balance at impact and fall back. This is because you struggle to move your weight forward while leaving your body and clubface open at impact.

On the other hand, suppose your shots draw overly. In that case, you may move your weightiness in advance on your downswing. Closing your physique and clubface, making your ball hook.

Swing Path

Your swing path can lead your golf ball to travel on the opposite side of the course. For example, suppose your golf swing moves inside out. In that case, you are more likely to prompt a draw than a slice.

On the other hand, an outside-in swing is likely to cause a slice or a fade. Additionally, if you intend to get a fade by aiming left of your mark but produce an inside-out swing, you are more likely to hook up your ball.

Clubface At Impact

While the above insights may affect the outcome of your shot, the clubface at impact is the ultimate determinant. Leaving the clubface open at impact results in a left-right spin that eventually leads to a fade.

Contrarywise closed clubface at contact results in increased right-left sidespin that is likely to lead to a hook or a draw.

Swing Easy

It’s advisable to take it easy and not force anything, as rapid swings lead to a bad shot.

Tips For Fixing A Double Cross

As any self-respecting golf aficionado knows, the ‘double cross’ isn’t a shady move in a film noir or a scandalous twist in a spy novel. Oh no, it’s something much more haunting. It’s when you line up to fade the ball, only to have it draw, or when you set up to draw and it ends up fading. It’s like you’ve been invited to a salsa party, only to discover you’ve been doing the waltz all night. It’s a ‘Lost in Translation’ moment on the golf course, and believe me, it’s as frustrating as trying to follow the plot of ‘Inception’ after a couple of beers.

Know Thy Enemy: Understanding the Double Cross

The first step to fixing a double cross is understanding why it happens in the first place. The double cross is a miscommunication, a crossed wire between your golf club and the ball. It happens when your clubface angle doesn’t match up with your swing path – like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It’s like LeBron James shooting a three-pointer only for the ball to do a full-on U-turn mid-air and fly in the opposite direction.

The Fix: Path and Face Alignment

1. Clubface Control: The first secret to overcoming a double cross is learning to control your clubface. Picture your clubface like the steering wheel of a car. If you want to avoid driving into oncoming traffic (or in this case, a double cross), you need to make sure your steering wheel is turning in the right direction.
2. Swing Path Adjustment: Once you’ve got your steering wheel pointing the right way, you need to make sure you’re driving on the right side of the road. This is where your swing path comes in. A good drill to help improve this is the ‘gate drill’. Set up two tees in the ground just wider than your clubhead. Practice hitting balls without the clubhead touching the tees to encourage a straighter swing path.
3. Visualization and Practice: There’s a reason every sports movie from ‘Rocky’ to ‘The Karate Kid’ emphasizes the importance of visualization and practice. Visualize the correct swing path and clubface position, and then practice until it feels natural. It’s like learning a new dance move. Awkward at first, but soon you’ll be doing the Cha-Cha slide without even thinking about it.

Conclusion

The double cross might seem like a curveball that’s hell-bent on ruining your day on the course, but with understanding, patience, and a little grit, you can turn it around. Remember, even Tiger Woods had to start somewhere, and I’m pretty sure he faced a few double crosses in his day. But like any pro golfer (or die-hard ‘Game of Thrones’ fan), he knew that when you play the game of golf, you win or you learn. There’s no middle ground.

So grab your clubs, channel your inner Rory McIlroy, and show that double cross who’s boss. After all, you’re not just playing a game; you’re taming a beast. And who knows? With these tips under your belt, you might just become the next master of the golfing realm.

Golf has many rules, yet, the better you get at it, the more complicated the sport becomes. Here are a few tips to help you up your game and rid yourself of double-cross scenarios.