A "hook" or "hook shot" in golf is a shot that results in a significant right-to-left curving of the golf ball's flight (for a right-handed golfer; for a lefty, a hook curves left-to-right in flight). A hook can be played intentionally, but is often the result of a mishit.
What is hooking in golf?
What Causes Hooking? What is a Hook in Golf? A hook in golf is a ball flight that goes sharply from right-to-left for right-handed players and left-to-right for left-handers. Hooks follow the same flight as a draw but have more lateral movement.
Why do I keep hooking the ball?
If you are hooking the ball without meaning to (an uncontrolled hook), you probably hate that hook. It's a rattlesnake in your pocket, to quote Hogan again, that can jump up and bite you on any shot. The root cause of a hook is a closed clubface at the moment your club impacts the golf ball.
What is the hook ball flight for a right-handed golfer?
The hook ball flight for a right-handed golfer: The ball starts out to the right before curving (often sharply) back to the left. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism.
Can you hook a golf ball with any club?
They can be hit with any club, but you will see your most drastic hooks with your driver, fairway wood, and hybrids. Whether you hit a hook off-the-tee or approaching a green, unintentional hooks are a big problem because the ball ends away from the intended target, usually in trouble and sometimes out of bounds.
What happens when you hook the golf ball?
1:524:34How To Stop Hooking The Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe club face is going to face more down to the ground on the toe is going to be pointing. More overMoreThe club face is going to face more down to the ground on the toe is going to be pointing. More over there okay. So if we're hooking the golf ball the club face is closed.
How do you hit a golf ball hook?
1:011:49Golf Tips - How To Hook The Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen you address the ball it's aiming a little left number to try to swing the club head a littleMoreWhen you address the ball it's aiming a little left number to try to swing the club head a little out to the right out to the right. And this would put that spin on the ball.
How do you hook the ball?
To hit a hook, you want to be closing the clubface as you strike with ball from an inside-out swing path. - To close the clubface as you strike the ball, you should turn your hands to the right on the grip. - If you don't want to adjust your grip, you can close your stance, which will promote a more in-to-out swing.
What is the difference between a hook and a slice in golf?
Slice Vs Hook Overview While a hook is a draw gone wrong. In reality, it is far more complex than that, as multiple factors can induce a slice or a hook. A slice is when the ball curves off to the right and a hook is it when it curves off to the left, generally speaking.
What causes hooks in golf?
Hooking in golf comes from a closed clubface relative to your path at impact which can be caused by a strong grip, lack of body rotation or poor connection/timing between the arms and body. The most common hook comes from the challenge of getting the face square at impact.
Why do I hook my irons?
The upper body obstructs or interferes with the club's path to the ball. The most common reason players get stuck is, they don't keep the arms and club in front of the chest as they turn back and through. When the club trails the upper body on the way down, the hands have to flip the clubhead over to recover.
How do I stop hooking my irons?
3:197:02STOP HOOKING YOUR IRONS SHOTS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd your body as you go through. And by keeping the club face looking at the sky we're reducing theMoreAnd your body as you go through. And by keeping the club face looking at the sky we're reducing the amount that the clubface rotates. Through impact. So for me this is what I call a concept drill.
How do I stop hooking the ball with my driver?
10:0111:155 SIMPLE WAYS TO FIX YOUR GOLF HOOK - GUARANTEED - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo far the grip the club. Face coming through the ball making sure the face doesn't shut down tooMoreSo far the grip the club. Face coming through the ball making sure the face doesn't shut down too much getting your alignment traveling more down the left-hand.
How do I stop hitting hooks?
To fix the issue, turn your hand more towards the target, in a neutral position. Make sure the V's between your thumb and index finger on each hand point straight up. When the V's are facing more towards your rear shoulder, you are likely to hit a bad left hook.
Is hooking better than slicing?
Since your distance is affected as well as your direction, a slice sets up a lot of bogeys. Another reason the hook is considered to be a better miss is that, with the hook shot, a player has usually released the club, but their timing was just off. The player's clubface could also be closed slightly, causing the hook.
Why does a hook go further than a slice?
A hook goes further than a slice because its generated by someone who has a bigger brain.
Do most golfers hook or slice?
The Importance of Swing Path The most common ball flight for amateur golfers is typically the golf slice. The out to in swing path move is very normal and you shouldn't feel bad if this is your usual miss.
Why do you hook the ball?
The ability to hook the ball can come in handy. Some players may use it to get a bit more yardage on longer holes, while other golfers hook the ball to escape trouble. If you are a right-handed golfer, a right-to-left ball flight has several advantages over a left-to-right flight. A controlled hook, called a "draw," flies farther ...
How to hook a golf ball out of trouble?
To hook the ball out of trouble---for example, around a tree---exaggerate everything. Close your stance more, turn your hands more to the right and make an effort to turn the club face over even more through impact.
How to hit a hook?
Adjust your grip or adjust your stance. To hit a hook, you want to be closing the clubface as you strike with ball from an inside-out swing path. - To close the clubface as you strike the ball, you should turn your hands to the right on the grip.
What is a good grip for a hook shot?
If a normal shot calls for a grip of "5" on a scale of one to 10, you should grip the club at a "6" or "7" for a hook shot. Remember, some hooks can be too wild. A hard, low hook that dives to the left is called a "duck hook" and tends to put a player in much worse trouble than a weak slice to the right.
How to get a good hook on a golf club?
Step 1. Use a mid-iron, such as 6-iron, to begin practicing your hook. This club has enough loft to avoid putting too much hook spin on the ball, creating wild shots. It will also negate sidespin. Step 2. Adjust your grip or adjust your stance.
How to promote hook?
To promote the hook, think of swinging as if you were hitting a baseball. If you're hitting the ball straight right, you probably have an inside-out swing path, but you are failing to rotate your hands and arms to close the clubface. Try hitting the ball with the toe of the club.
How to get a bigger hook in golf?
Before you begin your takeaway, move your right foot back about 4 to 6 inches. This will help you come through the ball at an angle that will result in a hook. You can also combine the two, creating a bigger hook. Step 3. Swing easy.
How to hook a golf ball?
There may be times when hitting a hook intentionally would be a great talent to have. How do you do it? The easiest ways for recreational golfers to intentionally hook the ball are: 1 Close your stance. A very closed stance can induce a draw or hook ball flight. 2 Close the clubface at address. Hold the club out in front of you and twist it so that the clubface is in a closed position. Then place your hands on the handle, using your normal grip, and set up to the ball with the clubface closed. 3 Strengthen your grip. For a right-handed golfer, this means rotating both your hands slightly to the right, so your left hand is more on top of club's grip and your right hand is more below it.
What does it mean when you hook the ball without meaning to?
If you are hooking the ball without meaning to (an uncontrolled hook), you probably hate that hook. It's a rattlesnake in your pocket, to quote Hogan again, that can jump up and bite you on any shot.
How to get a hook ball to fly?
Close your stance. A very closed stance can induce a draw or hook ball flight. Close the clubface at address. Hold the club out in front of you and twist it so that the clubface is in a closed position. Then place your hands on the handle, using your normal grip, and set up to the ball with the clubface closed. Strengthen your grip.
What is a hook in tennis?
A hook can be played intentionally, but is often the result of a mishit. A hook is a more severe version of a draw, and the hook is the opposite of a slice . A very severe hook is sometimes called a "duck hook" or "snap hook.". When those terms are used, it probably means the ball flight started out straight before dropping severely to the left.
What is the hook ball flight?
The hook ball flight for a right-handed golfer: The ball starts out to the right before curving (often sharply) back to the left. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism.
What does it mean to be right handed in golf?
For a right-handed golfer, this means rotating both your hands slightly to the right, so your left hand is more on top of club's grip and your right hand is more below it. Try one of these on the driving range, try them in varying amounts, try them in combination, and see what kind of draw and hook shot shapes you get.
Why are golfers afraid of slicing?
Recreational golfers are usually more afraid of slices because slicing is what most recreational golfers do. But it's the hook that scares the pros.
What is a pull hook in golf?
A true hook in golf is a shot that starts out to the right of your target (for right-handed players) or starts straight but then curves back to the left. This is caused by a combination of club path through impact and face alignment at impact.
What does it mean when you hook a target?
This means that you don't want to have your hands and forearms turned away from the target too much at impact.
How to do a downswing swing?
That means you start your downswing from the ground up firing your hips first, then your shoulders, then your arms, and then your hands.
What is a true hook?
So simply put, if your clubface is shut at impact, your ball is probably going to hook and if you swung on an inside/out path, you can call it a true hook. If you swung on an outside/in path and got the face closed at impact you could call it a pull hook.
Can hooks occur in golf?
Hooks can occur at any time and are dangerous miss-hits as they are extremely difficult to control. Finding and fixing what causes a hook in golf is crucial for low to high handicappers alike. >> If you like this, you'll also like: 3 Proven Ways How to Correct Your Reverse Pivot in Golf.
What is a Hook in Golf?
A hook in golf is a ball flight that goes sharply from right-to-left for right-handed players and left-to-right for left-handers. Hooks follow the same flight as a draw but have more lateral movement. They can be hit with any club, but you will see your most drastic hooks with your driver, fairway wood, and hybrids.
What Causes A Hook In Golf?
Hooking in golf comes from a closed clubface relative to your path at impact which can be caused by a strong grip, lack of body rotation or poor connection/timing between the arms and body. The most common hook comes from the challenge of getting the face square at impact.
Fix Your Golf Hook with Swing Align!
Whatever is causing your hook, there are steps you can take to fix it.
How to Intentionally Hook a Golf Ball
Unless you are a highly skilled player, Trying to play a hook as your standard shot is a dangerous strategy as it brings big misses into play. However, there are often times where it would be advantageous to play a hook.
Why do I get hooks on my swing?
Probably the most common swing-related cause of the hook is an inactive lower body. If you struggle to transfer your weight during the downswing, your hands will take over and a quick hook is very much on the cards.
Why do I get hooks in my hands?
Rotate your body. Another common cause of the hook is an early release of the angle in the hands through impact. In my experience, this happens because golfers stop rotating their bodies. A great tip that will help is simply to turn your left foot out a fraction at address (as above).
How to tell if you have a strong grip on a hook?
If, for example, you can see three on the left but only one on the right, you have a strong grip and that could be causing the hook.
How to make a grip change?
In this instance, start with seeing one and a half knuckles on your right hand and hit some half shots. You should begin to see and feel a difference. From there, work towards grooving a more neutral grip and you’ll kill your hooks for good.
Where does a golf ball go when it travels along a pulled hook flight path?
A ball that travels along a pulled hook flight path will start to the inside of the target line and will proceed with curling aggressively to the inside still, before coming to rest way left of the target (for right handed golfers).
What is a ball that travels along a hook flight path?
A ball that travels along a hook flight path is one that will start to the outside of the target line before curling aggressively towards the target and passing it before finally coming to rest to the left of it. Balls hit in such a way will carry a lot of topspin and as a result will roll a considerable distance after landing before coming to rest.
What is a duck hook?
A duck hook, or a snap hook, will occur when the golf ball will curl very aggressively to the left (for right handed golfers) over a very short distance and on a low altitude. These terms are associated with particularly punishing golf shots since the ball will usually come to rest in crippling situations.
Why is it desirable for a golf ball to fade?
Good: Such a ball flight is deemed to be desirable because the ball will eventually land near the intended target.
What happens when a golf ball draws?
A golf ball that draws will begin to travel outside of the target line before coming back towards the target. Thanks to the topspin generated balls that travel along that flight path tend to roll a little more upon landing than one hit straight. Good: Although it veers off course in the beginning, a draw is deemed to be desirable because ...
Why are hooks considered bad shots?
Bad: Hooks are considered bad shots because contrary to draws – which also go from right to left – balls hit with a hook will miss the intended target.
Why is a pulled ball undesirable?
Mediocre: A pulled ball is deemed undesirable because the ball will miss the intended target, landing left of it instead. Opposite: The opposite of a pull is a push. More on: How to Fix a Pull.
Where Does the Golf Term 'Hook' Come From?
It came from the Civil War where we had a Union General named General Hooker. He was the most organized guy of all the staff, in fact he organized everything so well that he even took the camp followers, the women that followed the soldiers around, he organized them and they called it Hookers Second Army.
Three Ways to Stop Hitting Hook Shots
First one is grip; whenever my hands rotate underneath I am closing the face. People think that if they move their hands this way that opens the face, just the opposite, it closes the face. So I am going to make a good swing with a bad grip, it looks something like this.
What does it mean to hit a hook shot in golf?
What is a Hook in Golf. One of the goals of a golfer is to hit straight shots consistently. However, this does not always happen. For a right-handed golfer, a hook shot means when a golf ball goes to the right then curves way to the left. And vice versa, for a left-handed golfer, a hook shot means when a golf ball goes to ...
How to make your golf ball go left?
Shift the weight of your body to your left leg as you turn. As you turn, your right shoulder will lower. Then, you should continue turning your body. I know that this may sound ironic but if you don’t want your ball to go the left, then you must keep on turning to the left. Let me explain.
Why is my golf club not going down the swing plane?
If the ball starts from the left then goes farther left, then it is more likely that your club is moving from outside to inside the target line.
How to use a thumb jigsaw puzzle?
While it is in an open palm position, move your right thumb so that the side of your thumb touches the forefinger. Place your right hand’s groove on the handle and slide it over your left hand. Your left thumb should fit right into middle of the groove of your right hand just like a jigsaw puzzle.
How to hit straight shots?
In order to hit straight shots, you need full body coordination so that the club hits the ball with a square club face. It is not enough to just know how to stop hooking the ball, you need to put everything that you learned into action. So hurry and head to a driving range and practice hitting straighter shots.
Why do my shots go to the left?
One possible reason why your shots are going to the left is because of your club. You should know which golf club to use for your skill level. Actually changing or adjusting your club is one of the easiest ways on how to stop hooking the ball.
Why is my golf ball going left?
Here are 2 reasons why your golf shots are going to the left. 1. Your club face is closed at impact. No matter how good your grip, stance, or swing is, the position of the club face at impact is the most important factor that will determine the direction that your ball will take.
