The reality is that when you play the ball too far back in your stance, you’re more prone to hit down on the ball—with a swing direction that’s out to the right—causing the ball to hook. By moving the ball forward, the attack angle is more level to slightly ascending, which causes the swing direction to shift to the left.
Why do I keep hooking the golf ball?
· Because the position of the right palm roughly replicates the clubface, it's easy to see why this turning over of the right hand causes the clubface to …
Why do my golf clubs hit the ball 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. Changing your grip, posture, or swing all require internal changes made on you yourself.
How to stop pull hooks on the golf ball?
Golf balls lying above your feet, on a sidehill, have a tendency to shoot left of the target. 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. FIX: Aim right of the target.
What causes hooks on the swing?
Here’s a list of the most common causes of the dreaded left-to-left shot, and the cure for each: Cause: Grip is too “strong” -- If your hands are turned too far right on top of the grip, the clubface will be closed (relative to the swing path) on the backswing and at impact, creating hook spin.
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 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 .
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.
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.
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.
What causes a golf hook?
The cause of a golf hook is 1) a disparity between the angle of the club path and the angle of the clubface and 2) a closed clubface.
What is a hook shot in golf?
If you’re right-handed, a golf hook is when your ball starts out on a straight flight path, then veers sharply to the left. If you’re left handed, your ball veers to the right. In both cases, a hook shot is also characterized by a lower-than-usual ball flight.
What is a draw in golf?
A draw, as you probably know, is when the ball curves gently to the left (for a right-handed golfer). Rather than veering wildly off course, it’s a solid, controlled shot. In order to hit a draw, you want your club path angled 4 degrees to the right and your clubface angled 2 degrees to the right, relative to the target line.
How to tell if your golf club is square?
If you’re not sure whether your clubface is square, lift the club straight out in front of you at eye-level. Look at the leading edge of the clubface. If that edge is straight up and down, the clubface is square. Keep the club in that position as you lower it back down and take your setup.
What does it mean when your trail hand is turned under?
If you’re right-handed, a strong grip means your lead hand is turned well to the right. Your trail hand is turned under. What you want instead is a neutral grip.
Is hooking a golf ball an inevitable part of the game?
When you don’t fully understand it, it’s easy to feel like the golf hook is just an inevitable part of your game. Fortunately, a little knowledge goes a long way to stop hooking the golf ball and start shooting nice, long draws.
How to avoid hooks in golf?
To combat a hook, Spearman suggests widening your stance on the tee by moving the right foot back -- away from the target -- several inches. Also, as a drill, take a 6-iron to the practice tee and grasp the club near the bottom of the grip. Hitting the ball properly will require keeping your hands low and your rear end down, Spearman explains, rather than straightening up.
How to avoid hooking the ball off the tee?
To avoid hooking the ball off the tee, all-time golf great Jack Nicklaus recommends playing a controlled fade, a shot which moves from left to right. To hit this shot take a smooth backswing “with very little wrist action,” Nicklaus says. At impact, be sure the palm of your right hand faces the target, and keep your right hand below ...
What is a hook shot in golf?
When a right-handed golfer’s tee shot curves to far to the left, the shot is described as a “hook.”. This shot typically occurs when the club head moves across the ball from left to right, imparting side-spin on the ball.
How to combat hooks?
To combat a hook, Spearman suggests widening your stance on the tee by moving the right foot back -- away from the target -- several inches. Also, as a drill, take a 6-iron to the practice tee and grasp the club near the bottom of the grip. Hitting the ball properly will require keeping your hands low and your rear end down, Spearman explains, ...
Why do golfers flip their wrists on the downswing?
By failing to rotate fully on the backswing, golfers don’t shift their weight properly and tend to compensate by flipping their wrists on the downswing, striking the ball with a closed club face that may cause a hook. Woods suggests that players visualize the triangle created by their hands, arms and chest at address, then make sure that relationship “remains intact throughout the swing.”
What does Rick Smith say about slow body turn?
Teaching pro Rick Smith says a slow body turn is often the culprit when a player hits a hook.
Can a golfer throw a curve ball to the left?
This is the same method by which a baseball pitcher throws a curve ball, but in the golfer’s case the excessive spin is unintentional. There are mechanical fixes that can help prevent a right-handed golfer from hooking the ball to the left, or a lefty from driving the ball too far to the right.
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 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.
Why is my golf ball pulled left?
At the most basic level, a pulled golf shot occurs because the club face is pointed to the left of your target at impact.
What is pull hook golf?
The pull hook is one of golf’s most devastating maladies because on top of the misdirection, a ball hit with right-to-left sidespin will run for days; plus, pull hooks fly low, so they roll even farther. In other words, a case of the pull hooks must be dealt with and defeated ASAP. Pull hooks results from an over-the-top (or outside-to-inside) ...
How to control a golf club face?
If your lower body isn’t doing its job during the downswing, the club face will likely rotate too quickly and end up in a closed position. The rotation of your body in the downswing not only serves to build power, but also to control the position of the club face and keep it square with the target line. As soon as your lower body stops turning toward the target, the club face will quickly ‘flip over’ and wind up pointing well to the left. The first thing you should do when you realize that you are dealing with a pull is make sure that your lower body is doing its job correctly.
What happens if you hit a pull hook off the tee?
If you hit a pull hook off the tee, for example, there is a good chance that you won’t find that golf ball. If you do, don’t expect to have a very good shot at the green. Pulled golf shots can sneak into your game at any point along the way, and for any shot during a round.
How to improve distance in golf?
The solution? Better tempo. Distance isn’t a result of raw power, but rather an even tempo that allows you to build speed gradually throughout the swing. Your focus should always be more on making solid contact than hitting the ball as far as possible. Control is more important than power in golf, so focus your efforts on creating a reliable swing that has an even tempo from start to finish. You just might be surprised at how far you are able to hit the ball when you don’t even feel like you are swinging that hard. And best of all, the pull hook should be a thing of the past.
How to get rid of pulled shots in golf?
When you hit a punch shot, it is easier to feel the position of the club face at impact because you aren’t swinging as aggressively up into a full finish. For that reason, hitting a few punch shots can help you to get rid of the pulled golf shots from your game. Use the same seven iron you used for the previous drill and set up on the range to hit a few punch shots at a specific target. These shots should fly lower than your normal swings, and they will hopefully track straight toward your target. Choke down slightly on the club for control before starting your swing. If you notice that you are struggling with the pull even on your punch shots, try using your hands less during the swing until the ball flights straighten out. Just like with the drill above, start to work from a punch shot back up to a full shot gradually. Make longer and longer swings until you arrive at your full swing and you are still hitting the ball straight at the target.
What are the two types of pulled golf shots?
In general, there are two kinds of pulled golf shots that you need to deal with – the straight pull, and the pull hook. Both of these shots can be damaging to your score, but the pull hook is particularly troubling because the ball starts off line, and then continues to turn even farther away from the target.
