- Root Cause. The root cause of hook shots in golf -- shots that start right and move to the left -- is swinging from the inside relative to your target.
- Wood Problems. A 3-wood generally is easier to hit than a driver -- provided the 3-wood has more loft -- but tougher to hit than many irons and wedges.
- Secondary Cause. ...
- Correct Move. ...
Full Answer
Why do I keep hooking the ball?
Sep 09, 2012 · Get Mark's iPad App http://itunes.apple.com/app/id542855061Get Mark's iPhone App http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/golf/id456035227Get Mark's Android App https...
What causes a hook in golf?
Apr 19, 2015 · This is caused by a combination of club path through impact and face alignment at impact. Growing up we were all taught that the ball starts in the direction of your path (where the clubhead is traveling) and then curves and ends …
How do you know if you’re hooking the golf ball?
Jun 07, 2018 · Getting stuck is coming from too far inside and behind the body. 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...
Why do my golf clubs hit the ball to the left?
Jun 15, 2020 · These are a few of the potential causes of topping the golf ball: Your arc is too high at the bottom of the swing. When this happens you usually have two options. You either completely... You reach the bottom of the arc before hitting the ball and are on an upswing when the club connects. Again, ...
How do I stop hooking the golf ball?
Why do I keep hooking the ball in golf?
How do I stop pull hooking my driver?
What causes toe hooks in golf?
Why do I keep hooking my irons?
What swing path causes a hook?
Why am I snap hooking?
How do you cure a pull in golf?
How do you avoid toe shots in golf?
Why do I keep hitting the golf ball on the toe?
What is a golf hook?
The dreaded golf hook – a ball that can start any direction, but curves dramatically to the left (for a right-hander) – often into the trees or out of bounds. Amateurs try all sorts of things to fix their hook;
Which way does the ball snap in golf?
This can be really frustrating for the uninformed golfer, as they see the ball snap hook to the left, and every bone in their instinctive body tells them to swing more to the right – but this just exacerbates the problem.
What is an out of control hook?
An “out-of -control” hook is created by a combination of a right swing path AND a face that is too closed (to the left of) that path.
How far will a golf ball curve if you drive it 250 yards?
Have an 5 degree right swing path (and square face) The ball will curve 50 yards to the left. For reference, here’s a 5 degree right swing ...
How many things can cause a hook?
With all the info out there on this topic, did you know that there are only 3 things that can cause a hook? This article will explain exactly what they are, so you are more informed as to what to change to fix your hook.
What happens if you hit the ball towards the toe side of the club?
However, to give you the cliffs notes – all else being equal, if you struck towards the toe side of the club, the ball will have more curvature to the left than if you didn’t.
Does swing path create hooks?
With that said, swing path (on its own) does not create a hook.
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.
What is the next checkpoint in golf?
Your next checkpoint is the grip. Again, simple, but a huge factor in determining the shape of shot you’re going to hit .
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.
How to hit a straight shot?
From this position, the only way to really hit a straight shot is to rotate your body hard through the ball, shifting your weight and delaying the release of the club a fraction. It’s a great way to groove a much better swing sequence.
How to stop your foot from moving through the shot?
A great tip that will help is simply to turn your left foot out a fraction at address (as above). If this foot is perpendicular to your target, it can restrict your movement through the shot.
What happens if you struggle to transfer weight during the downswing?
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. RELATED: How to stop toe strikes. If this sounds like you, take your normal address position and slightly close the face of your iron – it sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
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.
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 ...
What is the overlapping grip on golf clubs?
Close your hand with your fingers holding the club, and not with your palm. The little finger of your right hand should sit on the forefinger of your left hand. This is called the overlapping grip or the Vardon grip, named after Harry Vardon.
Why do my hands move forward in downswing?
Because you have a tendency to hook the ball, you turn cautiously during your downswing so it slows down the rotation of your body. Consequently, your hands are probably moving ahead of your body. But the key is your body should take the lead in hitting the ball and not your hands.
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.
Where should the thumb and forefinger be on a swivel handle?
The sides of your thumb and forefinger should touch each other. Your thumb should rest slightly on the right side of the handle . There is a V shaped crease formed between the thumb and the forefinger. The V should point to your right shoulder.
How to hold a golf club with your left hand?
Place your left hand’s open palm at the end part of the handle. Close your hand. Hold the club by wrapping your fingers around the handle. Don’t hold the club across your palm. Because holding it with your palm will restrict the movement of your hand and wrist.
Why is a golf shot called a push hook?
Note that technically, the shot can also be called a pushed hook because as is the case for a push shot, the ball begins its flight right of the target. Continue reading in order to find out what causes hooks and in order to get some advice on how ...
What causes a hook?
Taken together and to summarize, a hook is caused by the combination of a: Clubface that is pointing to the right of the target at impact. This produces a shot that starts right of the target but spins left aggressively.
Why do my wrists hook?
Bowed wrists at the top can cause hooks because the mechanism through which the wrists will uncock as the hands are brought down during the downswing can be overdone and close the clubface at impact.
What direction does the clubface go in a hook ball flight?
Specifically and for a shot to produce a counter-clockwise spin that is typical of a hook ball flight, the clubface must be closed relative to the club path. Or in other words, the clubface must aim more left than the path of the club itself. But – and this is important – because the ball flies to the right of the target initially it means ...
Why is my club face closed?
The fact that your clubface position is closed relative to the path at impact may have something to do with the way you bring the club back initially. Indeed, during the takeaway it is possible that you are bringing your club up with a face that is too closed, or in other words with a face that is angled towards the ground too severely.
Why is it important to move to a weaker grip?
Moving to a weaker grip will help slow down the release of the club at impact and will help in achieving contact with the ball while the clubface is square to the target.
What does it mean when the ball flies to the right of the target?
But – and this is important – because the ball flies to the right of the target initially it means that the clubface at impact was open relative to the target. And the only way the club can be aiming to the right of the target at impact yet be closed relative to the club path is through a severe inside-out club path.
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 is the right hooking position?
If you are hooking you are most likely aiming to the right of your target (for right-handed players). This encourages an inside/out path in relation to your target line.
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 does it mean when your clubface is shut at impact?
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.
Why is it important to keep your swing plane on?
Keeping your swing on the right golf swing plane is vital to stopping you from hooking the golf ball.
Where does the ball start and end?
Growing up we were all taught that the ball starts in the direction of your path (where the clubhead is traveling) and then curves and ends up in the direction of where your clubface was at impact.
Do shanks pop up randomly?
Just about all golfers fear a shank. In reality, though, they are an easy fix when you know the causes. It's not often that a shank will pop up randomly either. They seem to come in groups (one shank loves another) and go on for a while. Once fixed, they usually go away and don't come back.
How to stop your body from sliding back when you take a golf ball?
Solution: Lean in your right knee as you turn away from the golf ball. This prevents the upper body from sliding back during the backswing and takeaway.
Who said golfers make the mistake of topping the ball?
Here’s the thing. Even skilled golfers make the mistake of topping the ball on occasion, according to Jack Nicklaus.
What happens if your arc is too high?
When this happens you usually have two options. You either completely whiff the ball. Embarrassing, but it happens. Or you hit above the equator, topping the ball. You reach the bottom of the arc before hitting the ball and are on an upswing when the club connects.
What happens if you hit the ball too far forward?
For instance, if the ball is too far forward or back in your stance, the arc of your swing will be off, resulting in a topped golf shot. Solution: Position the ball in the middle of your stance for irons and in-line with the lead heel for your driver.
How to stop choking down on golf clubs?
Solution: Invest in custom-fitted golf clubs or hold the club higher on the grip instead of choking down.
What happens when you hit the bottom of the arc too late?
When the bottom of the arc occurs too late, you’re still hitting above the ball’s equator, meaning you’re hitting at the top of the ball rather than the sweet spot.
What does "topping the ball" mean?
The term “topping the golf ball,” refers to hitting the ball above the ball’s equator.
Why do golf balls shoot left?
The reason they do is because the sidehill will promote a flatter swing that will leads to a more aggressive release of the hands. This will naturally close the clubface and send the ball to the left of the target.
Why is the ball aiming left of the target?
And because the ball shoots left of the target, it means the clubface was closed at impact and was also aiming left of the target. But it also means the swing path was outside-to-in, resulting in a clubface that is square to the club path and ultimately a pulled shot. Likely Reason #1:
Why do small grips close?
Generally speaking, small grips promote an active release of the hands ahead of impact, which can cause the clubface to close .
How to avoid over the top swing path?
In order to avoid an over the top swing path you will need to focus on the downswing. Rather than pushing the club outside of the target line as you begin the downswing you will need to focus on bringing the club down from inside of the target line as it should, rotating around your body in the process.
What does it mean when the clubface is closed at impact?
Clubface Closed at Impact, But Square to the Club Path. For a shot to produce no side spin, the clubface must hit the ball with an angle that is square to the club path. In effect, the path the club takes must match the direction of the clubface. And because the ball shoots left of the target, it means the clubface was closed at impact ...
Why is it important to aim with specific clubs?
Aiming right with those particular clubs will help your shots reach the target without changing your whole swing.
What is a pull shot in golf?
In golf a pull – or a pulled shot – is one that sees the ball starting left of the target initially and continuing on straight that line, without lateral spin. It is in effect a straight shot that misses left of the target. Because it ultimately misses the target it constitutes a golf shot error and should be avoided.
What Causes Hooks?
- Clubface Open at Impact, But Closed to the Club Path
For a shot to produce a lot of side spin the clubface must hit the ball with an angle that is anything but square to the club path. Or in other words, the clubface must not be perpendicular to the direction of the club at impact in order to produce some side spin. Specifically and for a shot to …
Other Possible Reasons For A Closed Clubface
- The following are possible explanations for why your clubface could be closed relative to the path, which as was discussed is a key element of a hook flight path.
Other Possible Reasons For An Inside-Out Club Path
- Are you locking your right knee at the top of the swing?
Another part of the puzzle behind your hook shots – and another that relates to the top of the swing position – is found in how your right knee behaves. Indeed, some golfers tend to lock their right leg at the top of the swing. They do so while rotating the upper body on top of the hips. Th…
Other Possible Reasons For A Hook
- If the likeliest reasons proposed above still don’t touch the core of your hooking shot issues then you’ll want to consider the following alternative explanations.
Pull Hooks – How to Stop Pull Hooking Shots Left
- In golf a pull hook – or a pulled hooked shot – is one that features the same right to left side spin that is associated with a hook. However, in this instance the shot starts left of the target instead of right. So in contrast to the hook shot proper, a pull hook will see the ball start left of the target and proceed to curve left still. As is the case for a hook shot, a pull hook will also see the ball co…