How to Fix a Hook in Golf - Everything You Need to Know

When something as simple as a truly terrible shot happens to a novice golfer, it often signals the beginning of a sequence of events that progressively worsens over time. When something like that does occur, a round of golf may become an extremely frustrating experience.
Hooks are never enjoyable. A hooked shot will incur additional strokes, whether it is a rapid and low tee shot or a shot that sweeps across the green and into the bunker.
This article explains what happens during the golf swing to cause a hook, how to repair the problem if you routinely hit hooks, and what to do if you want to hit hooks.

What is a Hook?

A shot that begins to the right of the intended target, curves to the left while in flight and lands to the left of the intended target is known as a hook for a golfer who hits the ball with their right hand.

A hook is a final step on the path to a decent golf swing, and if you've mastered it, you'll be able to hit powerful shots that are consistent with your swing. However, you still have a problem with the way the ball flies, and you need to fix it before you can take the next step and become a scratch or near-scratch player.

Pull-hook

A pull hook occurs when the ball begins on the left and bends further to the left. It occurs when the club path is neutral or traveling to the left and the clubface is angled even farther to the left.

Push-hook

Advanced golfers frequently battle a push-hook, in which the ball begins its trajectory to the right and then abruptly turns to the left towards its end. The sole difference between an in-to-out swing path and a push-hook is that the clubface is closed upon contact.

What is a Snap Hook and Why is it Bad?

The snap hook is a dreaded golf mishit because it may go a considerable distance in the incorrect direction.

Snap hooks are so severe that they can begin to spin almost immediately after the golf ball has taken flight, and the curve offline can be significant. Snap hooks have an unsettling propensity to ricochet in trees or go into water. Snap hooks are sometimes referred to as duck hooks, shrimp hooks, snappers, and quackers. A snap-hook can happen on any hit, although it happens most frequently on tee shots. You should seek the advice of a professional if you find yourself hitting snap hooks. 

Not only are snap hooks terrible to look at, but they also have a significant negative influence on your overall score. After making this shot, you will most likely not even be able to locate the ball. Even if you do find the ball, it is quite unlikely that it will be in a position that is advantageous to you. Consider yourself fortunate if you are able to leave the hole with a bogey.

The 6 Most Common Causes of Hitting Hook Shots

If you have a tendency to strike hooks, you should first consider yourself fortunate. You're close to hitting powerful, consistent shots after you master the hook. To become scratch or near-scratch, you must improve your ball flight.

1- Grip

The moment before the swing is when players frequently decide to hit a hook shot.

People who can curve the ball from right to left typically have a strong grip, which is one of the key reasons for their success in doing so. When a golfer has a strong grip on the club, the right hand goes to the right and turns away from the ball. 

As you swing towards the target, the clubface closes, and your hand rotates as it continues to move throughout the remainder of the swing. You should keep your body in a neutral position while turning your hand to answer the problem.

2- Posture

If you are leaning too far back on your rear side or bringing your rear shoulder down too far upon impact, this will promote an excessive inside takeout. You should feel more stacked (shoulders on top of hips), and your weight distribution should be 50/50 with your irons and 40/60 with your driver. Stacking refers to feeling your shoulders are on top of your hips.

3- Alignment

If you're hitting a poor left hook, you're likely aiming to the right of the target, resulting in an inside or out swing path. Check that your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, and forearms are all positioned parallel to the target line.

4- Swing

Your ability to execute an effective golf swing, as opposed to a hook or slice, is directly linked to the order in which you move and rotate your body during the swing. 

When there is inadequate hip turn, initially to the rear and then exploding forward to start the downswing and impact, the hands take over and close at impact, causing the ball to be struck again to the left.

5- Swing Path

The path of the club's swing corresponds to the direction the club is heading at impact (more right or left). A swing path that leans to the right in a game of opposites will force the ball to move to the left.

When an inexperienced golfer sees the ball hooking to the left, their natural inclination may be to swing further to the right, which makes the problem much worse. This may be frustrating for the golfer because it goes against everything their instincts tell them to do. If you swing a driver to the right by one degree, the ball will curve 4% farther to the left.

6- Release

During impact, a loss of timing or sequence might result in the clubface closing sooner than expected. Make sure that your golf swing keeps a strong kinematic sequence, enabling different body parts to move in the appropriate order.

This signifies that you will initiate your downswing from the ground up by firing your hips, shoulders, arms, and hands. It is simple to close the face if you begin the downswing by shooting with your upper body.

4 Ways to Fix Hooks in Golf

 Here are four ways that can help you fix hook shots: 

1- Change your Grip

The most common issue for golfers who hook the ball is a poor grip on the club. This could involve either their bottom or top hand or perhaps both of their hands. When holding a golf club, your hands should fall into a natural position. Your hand will naturally want to return to this posture when the impact occurs.

A grip that is too tight is the most typical reason that leads to a hook. The golfer will consequently make contact with the ball while the clubface is in its closed position as a result of this. The ball will travel from right to left as a result of the spin that is produced. Maintain a natural grip on the golf club and be as objective as possible in your assessment. You can try releasing one knuckle of your grip to see if this gets rid of the hook.

With a firm hold, a hook is easier to strike. Turn your bottom hand (right hand for right-handed golfers, left hand for left-handed golfers) below the grip, and turn your top hand so that it is more on top of the club.

2- Wider Stance

To hit the ball further, golfers frequently commit the common fault of holding back on the downswing of the club. It may seem obvious, given that we are often told to hit the ball on the up with the driver, but doing so is likely to result in hooks since the body will stop moving and the hands will take control.

After you have the impression that your feet are somewhat wider at address - it's only marginal, so don't overdo it. Concentrate on moving your body through the shot while keeping that sensation in mind. When starting from the most elevated vantage point, the feeling of pushing off with your right foot might frequently be of assistance.

3- Practice Drills

Golf exercises are one of the most efficient strategies to maximize your practice time and develop genuine abilities that you can apply on the course.

Good drills can also boost a player's confidence by allowing him or her to experience repeated success. Any golfer who wants to progressively develop his or her game over time should have a list of practice drills to keep things moving correctly.

These are some of the drills you can practice: 

Alignment Stick Path Drill

This initial exercise is my favorite. It could solve your problem in a couple of swings. You will need a snow pole or alignment stick that can be driven into the ground.

Place the pole in the ground approximately 5 to 8 yards in front of your ball position on the range so that it stands upright.

Then, return to your ball and aim for the pole. Make sure that you can see the pole in your peripheral vision. The objective is to strike the ball and club to the pole's left (for right-handed players). This should create a slight fade around the pole and straighten your shot.

Left Hand Drill

Because there is far less room for error, consistently hooking the ball can sometimes be caused by releasing the club too early at the point of impact. This error is typically caused by a club approaching the ball from too far inside, needing active hands to align everything properly.

It is beneficial to take occasional swings using only your left hand to combat this. Initially, it will be difficult since you will be battling your natural tendencies. Still, practice will reduce the right hand's dominance and offer you a more steady clubface throughout the hitting zone.

Weak Grip Drill

This drill's sole purpose is to overcorrect your grip. This exercise assumes that your grip is overly strong, which is often the case if you're having trouble with a snap hook.

Place your hands on the club with your thumbs pointing straight down the shaft. This will likely feel really awkward at first.

Then, do extremely gentle, full-swing shots.

The purpose of this drill is to experience how the ball travels when the grip is weakened. It is not intended to be a permanent hold. You will need a grip that falls between your current grip and this drill grip.

4- Slow Down 

Why are you in such a rush? The golf ball is stationary. If you swing your snap hook driver too quickly and with too much force, you may cause damage to it. You do not need to make every shot with maximum force. Most of the time, 85% is sufficient.

Reduce the strain in your swing. Relax and swing with grace. Did this remove or diminish your hook? Reduce the speed of your golf swing and stop hitting snap hooks.

Another major reason why golfers hook the ball is that their hands and hips are too quick. Again, this can result in a closed clubface upon contact and the infamous right-to-left curve.

Practice backswings that are slower and more fluid. This should help you maintain a more consistent swing speed and may correct your hook.

Hook VS Slice

Those who have played golf for at least a few years have likely hooked and sliced the ball at some point. It can be among the most irritating moments in a game. Possibly, if you are new to golf, you consistently slice the ball and are weary of losing distance, so you play from the trees.

Many beginner golfers suffer with the slice, while advanced golfers frequently battle with the hook. Golf is far more enjoyable from the fairway when your swing produces the maximum distance possible. Hooks and cuts decrease our total distance and increase the game's difficulty.

A slice happens when the ball leaves the clubface with left-to-right side spin if the golfer is right-handed and veers to the right, typically into the rough.

This is the most prevalent difficulty beginner golfers face since they tend to leave the clubface open at impact, resulting in a slice.

It is still possible to slice the ball with a closed clubface; however, the open face at contact is frequently the cause of slices among beginners.

Which one is better?

This is exactly equivalent to questioning if it is preferable to hit your head or deal with a broken toe. Neither is very good. However, a hook typically results in a more aggressive ball flight. As individuals afflicted with a hook are well aware, the ball will frequently chase into difficulty as a result of its lower trajectory and increased speed.

On the other hand, since your distance and direction are both changed, a slice creates numerous bogeys. A second reason why the hook is regarded as a superior miss is that the player has typically released the club, but the timing was slightly off. The player's clubface could also be slightly closed to produce the hook.

Whether you have a hook issue or are attempting to remedy a slice, you will need to spend time on the driving range. The results should be significant if you can make minor, incremental changes.

Final Thoughts

Don't be too disheartened by the ball falling short and landing rapidly on the ground.

There is nothing wrong with being a draw player for most of your shots, but if you dive too far into this pattern, your draw will become a hook. You may keep a neutral swing stance by working on hitting fades during your practice sessions. This is an excellent way to improve your swing.

The key to fixing a hook is to understand what causes them. Once you've identified the problem, you'll know how to correct it.

Consistently hooking the ball presents a problem for a lot of skilled players. A lifetime of practice is required to achieve a flawless swing.

Establish a routine for each time you address the ball, checking off each item on your checklist to ensure that your grip and alignment are correct. Develop a pattern that you can follow. Keep in mind that you should rotate and shift forward while you are swinging.

Adding a fade to your arsenal will make you more versatile and help you avoid extreme motions that lead to a vicious snap hook. This is true even if you wish to remain a draw player most of the time.