What is a Double Cross in Golf?

Casual golf fans watching TV have probably heard the term double cross used by the announcers to describe a bad shot. But, what is a double cross in golf?

Most of the time, and I admit I was guilty of this, we brush off the term and think, ‘Yeah, that was just a garbage shot.’

Not to be confused with the shanks, a double cross in golf is a shot that starts with the intent of hitting a particular shot type, let's say, a nice fade into the green (or your target). 

Instead of that nice fade, the ball has a mind of its own and does the opposite of what you wanted. It turns into a big draw (worse than a hook) that goes way further away from the target and probably into terrible territory, or even worse, out of bounds/hazard.

What are the Swing Mechanics That Lead to a Double Cross?

Swing Path and Clubface Alignment

These are the two big ones.

The swing path is the direction your clubhead travels during your swing, and it is amazing to see this when using Trackman because you don’t think your tendencies are as pronounced as they are.

The clubface alignment is the angle relative to the target line when it contacts the ball.

When the clubface is closed at impact relative to the target and the swing path, it imparts a counter-clockwise spin on the ball. This causes the ball to move left to right for right-handed golfers.

This terrible shot outcome is known as the double cross.

Common Causes of a Double Cross

• Misaligned Swing Path: A swing path not aligned with the target line can cause the clubface to contact the ball from an incorrect angle, resulting in a double cross.

• Poor Rotation: Inadequate rotation through impact can cause your hands to lead the clubhead, often prompting a closed clubface position. This can cause the big hook that characterizes a double cross. 

• Incorrect Grip: An improper grip can also contribute to a double cross. If you hold that club way too strongly, it may close the clubface too much, and if you have it too weakly, the clubface is prone to flaring open. Both scenarios cause more frustration on the course.

How Can I Stop Hitting a Double Cross in Golf?

Adjusting Your Grip

A proper grip helps maintain control and supports a consistent swing plane. 

As mentioned, a proper grip helps maintain control and supports a consistent swing plane.

A grip that is too tight feels too tense in the hands and forearms, leading to a loss of control and, big-time, closure of the club face.

Is your grip too loose? The club can slip during the swing or cause the face to be wide open, also leading to inconsistency.

Alignment and Stance Tweaks

Proper body alignment ensures that your clubface is on the correct path for the shot you are trying to hit. 

Here are some tips to help improve your alignment and stance:

• Check your target line: Have your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line. When at the range, use clubs or alignment sticks to create a visual aid on the ground, where one club or alignment stick represents the target line and another at a right angle represents your foot alignment. Get comfortable visualizing the shot while lined up correctly.

• Widen your stance: A wider stance can help prevent a double cross by providing more stability during the swing.

• Adjust clubface angle: Focus on the angle of your clubface at impact. You have to pay attention to how your face is contacting the ball and at what angle. Closing the clubface might lead to a hook, and opening it can cause a slice. 

I can’t stress enough how worth it it is to hit on a simulator with Trackman to fully understand your club path and face angle during your swing. I have learned a lot about my swing, particularly my driver swing, and improved my swing path and face angle immensely. 

It is way more enjoyable hitting 250-270 yard drives now, rather than worrying too much about slicing and losing so much distance.

The immediate feedback with the data almost exponentially helps you to adjust as required to ensure your face and club path are aligned for better contact and accuracy. 

Psychological Impact of Hitting Double Cross Shots

I don’t want to make light of this section’s title, but I wrote it to sound painstakingly serious, even though we are just talking about playing a sport. 

In reality, though, there is a psychological impact if you are hitting poor shot after poor shot, double-crossing, and spending half your round looking for your ball. 

Not only is it not fun if you’re doing it, but if you’re with friends and one of them is playing poorly, hitting double crosses, and not handling it well mentally, it ruins the mood and takes all the fun away. 

The following can all happen if you are hitting double crosses or just poor shots often in general:

• Loss of confidence: This lack of confidence may make it challenging to execute shots effectively and ultimately hinder your overall performance.

• Overemphasis on swing mechanics: You might find yourself overly focused on swing mechanics to correct the issue. This added pressure you put on yourself can frustrate you, make you lose touch with your natural swing rhythm, and intensify the problem.

• Inability to trust one's instincts: The fear of hitting a double cross can cause you to second-guess your instincts on the course. It feels like a rabbit hole of fear and poor shots, only crushing your confidence more. 

How Can a You Recognize a Double Cross During Your Swing?

Pay attention to your club path and clubface positioning to recognize a double cross during the swing. 

If you often have to flip your wrists or change your swing path at the last moment to try to correct your shot, it may result in a double cross.

If you're a little more seasoned and actually try to hit a fade and end up with a big time hook, it's recognizable. 

Can a Particular Grip Lead to a Double Cross in a Golfer's Swing?

Yes, an improper grip can contribute to a double cross. I know that when I have a grip that is too strong or too weak, it either leaves the clubface too closed or open at impact and sends the ball on a ball flight I was not looking for. 

To minimize the risk of a double cross, maintain a consistent grip pressure and check your hand positioning throughout the swing.

What Drills Can Help Prevent Double Crossing in Golf?

Some useful drills include:

• Alignment stick drill - Place an alignment stick on the ground parallel to your target line. Practice swinging along the correct path, ensuring your clubface is square at impact.

• Tee drill - Set up a few tees at various heights and try to hit them with a square clubface. This drill helps train your clubface control.

• Grip pressure - Practice maintaining consistent grip pressure throughout your swing to avoid unwanted changes in clubface orientation.

Conclusion

Thanks for checking out the Golfer Performance breakdown of a double cross in golf. 

Even if you are not to the point in your game where shot shaping is something you are purposely attempting to do (i.e., hitting draws or fades by design) but are experiencing big slices or hooks in your shots, I highly recommend you hit up a golf simulator and see what the numbers show on Trackman.

You don’t even have to initially pay for a coach or instructor to come in and break it down for you. Just go hit balls for 30 minutes by yourself and pay attention to the club path and face to path numbers. 

If you are hitting a driver and want to hit straighter with a lot of power, those numbers should generally be close together (e.g., in my last range session, I hit a 275-yard drive straight, and my face-to-path was -0.9, and my club-path was 0.5 degrees, resulting in fantastic contact).

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