If you are a golfer, you may have experienced hitting a hook at some point in your game. A hook can be intentional or unintentional, and it can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the situation.
In this blog post, we will explain what causes a hook, how to fix it if you don’t want it, and how to play it if you do. We will also share some tips and drills to help you improve your swing and avoid the dreaded duck hook or snap hook, which is extreme versions of the hook that can ruin your score.
What is a Hook in Golf, and What Causes It?
A hook is a shot that curves dramatically from right to left (for right-handed golfers) or left to right (for left-handed golfers).
A hook is caused by an over-rotation of the hands and wrists during the swing, leading to a closed clubface at impact, which imparts a counter-clockwise spin on the ball (for right-handed players). The closed clubface means that the clubface is pointing left of the swing path, creating a gap between them. The bigger the gap, the more the ball will hook.
There are several factors that can contribute to a closed clubface, such as:
- A strong grip: A strong grip is when you rotate your hands too far to the right (for right-handed players) on the club so that your left hand is more on top of the grip and your right hand is more underneath. This makes it easier for your hands to turn over and close the clubface.
- A closed stance: A closed stance is when you align your feet, hips, and shoulders too far to the right of the target (for right-handed players), which can cause your swing path to be too much from inside to out, and your clubface to be too closed relative to the target.
- A flat or inside-out swing plane: A flat or inside-out swing plane is when you swing the club too low and too much behind you on the backswing and then too much from inside to out on the downswing. This can also cause your clubface to be too closed at impact.
- An early release or flipping of the wrists: An early release or flipping of the wrists is when you lose your wrist hinge or lag on the downswing and let your hands and wrists pass ahead of the clubhead before impact. This can also result in a closed clubface and a loss of power.
How to Fix a Hook in Golf?
If you are hooking the ball unintentionally, you probably want to fix it as soon as possible. Here are some steps you can take to cure your hook:
Check your grip
Make sure your grip is neutral, with your thumb down the right-hand side of the grip and your bottom hand a little bit more on top. When you look down at your grip, you should see two or three knuckles of your left hand (for right-handed players).
Check your stance
Make sure your stance is square or slightly open, with your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel or slightly left of the target line (for right-handed players). This will help you swing more on a plane and avoid getting stuck inside.
Check your swing plane
Make sure your swing plane is not too flat or inside-out but rather on an arc that matches your posture and shoulder tilt. You can use an alignment rod or a golf club to check your swing plane at various points of your swing. Ideally, you want your club head to be slightly outside or on top of the rod or club on the backswing and slightly inside or below it on the downswing.
Check your release
Ensure you maintain your wrist hinge or lag on the downswing until your hands reach waist height, then release it gradually through impact. You can practice this by hitting punch shots with half swings and keeping your hands ahead of the clubhead at impact.
How to Play a Hook in Golf?
While many golfers seek to eliminate a hook from their game, some skilled players deliberately incorporate a controlled hook into their repertoire. A controlled hook can be an effective shot shape to navigate tight fairways, hit approach shots that stop quickly, or hold greens with back pin positions. Embracing a controlled hook requires understanding your swing and having the ability to shape shots consistently.
If you want to hit a hook intentionally, for example, to curve the ball around an obstacle or to take advantage of a dogleg hole, you can use one or more of these methods:
Strengthen your grip
Rotate both your hands slightly to the right (for right-handed players) on the club so that your left hand is more on top of the grip, and your right hand is more below it. This will make it easier for you to close the clubface at impact.
Close your stance
Align your feet, hips, and shoulders slightly to the right of the target (for right-handed players), which will encourage an inside-out swing path and a closed clubface relative to the target.
Close your clubface at address
Hold the club out in front of you and twist it so the clubface is closed. Then place your hands on the handle, using your normal grip, and set up to the ball with the clubface closed.
Swing from inside to out
Swing the club more from inside to out on the downswing, and rotate your hands and wrists more through impact. This will create a more counter-clockwise spin on the ball and more hook.
Tips and Drills to Improve Your Hook
Here are some tips and drills to help you improve your hook, whether you want to fix it or play it:
Use a Swing Align device
A Swing Align device is a training aid that helps you align your body and swing on the correct plane. It consists of a belt with two rods attached to it, one pointing forward and one pointing sideways. You wear the belt around your waist and adjust the rods so that they are parallel to your target line and perpendicular to your spine angle. The device gives you instant feedback on your stance, swing plane, and release and helps you avoid hooks or slices.
Use a headcover drill
A headcover drill is a simple drill that helps you avoid getting stuck inside on the downswing, which can cause hooks. You need a headcover or a towel, and place it under your right armpit (for right-handed players). Then make some swings without letting the headcover or towel fall out. This will help you keep your right elbow close to your body and swing more on the plane.
Use a tee drill
A tee drill is another simple drill that helps you avoid closing the clubface too much at impact, which can also cause hooks. You need a tee and place it in front of the ball, about a foot away, on the target line. Then make some swings and try to hit the ball and the tee with a square clubface. This will help you control your clubface and swing path better.
Recap: What is a Hook in Golf
A hook in golf is a shot that curves sharply from right to left for right-handed players and from left to right for left-handed players. It can be intentional or unintentional, and it can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the situation.
To fix a hook, you need to check your grip, stance, swing plane, and release and make sure they are not causing your clubface to be too closed at impact. To play a hook, you need to strengthen your grip, close your stance, close your clubface at address, and swing from inside to out.
To improve your hook, you can use some tips and drills such as the Swing Align device, the headcover drill, and the tee drill. These will help you better align your body and swing, avoid getting stuck inside or flipping your wrists, and better control your clubface and swing path.
We hope this blog post has helped you understand hooks in golf better and how to use them or lose them.