Jackson Reid
Golfers who struggle with a hook tend to have a closed clubface at impact, meaning their grip is twisted towards the target. This can be caused by a number of factors, including an incorrect grip, an overly curved backswing, or wrist issues. To fix a hook, golfers should focus on achieving a square clubface at impact, which can be aided by adjusting grip and takeaway, as well as practising with training mats and tools that provide wrist angle feedback.
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What You'll Learn
Ensure a neutral grip
A neutral grip is essential for hitting a straight shot. A strong grip can cause the clubface to rotate and shut down as it approaches the ball, resulting in a hook. To achieve a neutral grip, hold the club primarily in the fingers of your left hand, not the palm. The thumb of your left hand should point just to the right of the shaft's centre line. Avoid positioning your left hand so that the top of it is visible—this indicates a weak grip.
For right-handed golfers, the right hand should be placed in a more neutral position in relation to the left hand. Interlock or overlap your right hand over the left, with the right palm covering the left thumb. Your hands should end up on opposite sides of the grip, with the palms essentially facing each other and the left thumb in the right palm. This will neutralise the clubface rotation and result in a square face at the impact position.
To check that your grip is neutral, look at your knuckles when looking down at the ball. You should only see two to three knuckles of your left hand. The V formed by the thumbs and forefingers of both hands should point between your neck and right shoulder.
If you have a strong grip, you may need to turn your hands more on top of the club, towards the target. This will help you find a more neutral hand position and keep the clubface stable and square through impact. Play around with a strong, weak, and neutral grip on the driving range to see how it affects your game.
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Check your wrist mechanics
Checking and correcting your wrist mechanics is key to fixing a hook in golf. A hook is often caused by a closed clubface at impact, which can be the result of the way you are holding the club.
To avoid your clubface getting too closed, check the position of your thumbs on the club at address. Try placing the thumb of your lead hand straight down the centre of the grip of the club. On your trail hand, be sure that your thumb is on the target side of the grip. Having either hand rotated too far away from the target at address will cause the face to close, likely producing a hook.
To fix this, look for the markings on the grip of your club. These will help you set the club correctly, making sure it's centred. If your grip is correct and your club is set properly at address, you can avoid hooking a shot by having your lead arm feel like it's pulling forward. The more dominant lead arm will keep the clubface from closing, allowing for a more square face at impact.
To get the lead wrist as close to flat as possible, you can also try hitting shots from downhill lies. This will make your shoulders turn instead of tilt and create the feeling you want.
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Adjust your thumb position
Adjusting your thumb position can be an important step in fixing a golf hook. The clubface is often closed at impact for a hooked shot, and the way you hold the club can be a major factor in this.
A strong grip is a common cause of a golf hook. This means that the left hand (for a right-handed golfer) is twisted too far to the right, and the right hand is too far underneath the club. This gives the hands and wrists too much power, and the clubface is more likely to close. A neutral grip is best for hitting a straight shot. To achieve this, the thumb of the left hand should be placed straight down the centre of the grip, with the right thumb on the target side of the grip. The V formed by the thumbs and forefingers should point between your neck and right shoulder.
You can also try placing your hands on a putter, with both thumbs straight down. This tends to open the clubface a little, and you can then try to replicate this feeling with your other clubs.
If you are still struggling with a hook, you may need to make some adjustments to your swing path. A more neutral swing path can help to prevent an exaggerated inside-out move, which can cause the clubface to close. Alignment sticks can help you to find this more neutral path.
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Avoid a closed clubface
A closed clubface is a common issue in golf that can wreak havoc on your game, causing hooks, slices, and inconsistent ball flights. It occurs when the clubface is angled to the left of the target at impact, resulting in the ball curving to the left for right-handed golfers.
To avoid a closed clubface, it is crucial to focus on your grip, wrist position, and swing path. Here are some detailed instructions to help you fix this issue:
Grip
When addressing the ball, ensure your grip is neutral. Avoid a strong grip with your left hand (for right-handed golfers) turned too far to the right, as this can lead to a closed clubface. Instead, aim for a slightly weaker grip by adjusting your hand positioning. Place your left thumb straight down the centre of the grip, and ensure your right hand overlaps with the left, covering the left thumb. This will help achieve a more neutral clubface at impact.
Wrist Position
Learn the correct wrist mechanics to control the clubface effectively. Practice drills, such as the "Motorcycle drill", can help you improve your wrist action. Focus on adding flexion until the club reaches parallel, and then smoothly complete your swing. This will help square the clubface earlier in the downswing, reducing the risk of a closed clubface.
Swing Path
Achieve a neutral swing path to avoid exaggerating the closed position of the clubface. For right-handed golfers, an outside-to-in swing path can amplify a closed face. Instead, aim for a slightly closed clubface at the top of your swing, which will make it easier to square the face at impact. Match your body movement to your wrist angle at the top of the backswing, and consider using tools like HackMotion for real-time feedback on your wrist position.
Clubface Angle
While grip, wrist position, and swing path are crucial, sometimes the issue lies with your equipment. Consider getting a club fitting to ensure you are using clubs with the appropriate loft. Adjustments or new equipment may be necessary to help eliminate the closed clubface issue.
Remember, fixing a closed clubface takes practice, so be patient and persistent in implementing these adjustments to improve your ball flight and accuracy.
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Practice hitting shots from downhill lies
Golfers who hook typically exaggerate the inside-out move instead of using their shoulders to swing down the target line. Mastering the art of hitting from uneven lies is a journey filled with trial and error, adaptation, and, ultimately, improvement. Here are some tips to practice hitting shots from downhill lies:
- Widen your stance and open up your left foot significantly.
- Play the ball back in your stance a bit.
- Take a practice swing and determine where your club is bottoming out on the swing, then place the ball in your stance based on that.
- Make sure you follow through.
- When the ball is above your feet, controlling the direction becomes the main concern. The tendency for the ball to hook increases due to the natural angle of the clubface in relation to the ball. To counter this, aim slightly to the right of your target and grip down on the club for added control.
- Grip down on the club and stand a bit taller to get a better angle on the ball.
Remember, when the ball is below your feet, the challenge shifts to preventing a slice.
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Frequently asked questions
A golf hook is when the ball curves left for a right-handed golfer, or right for a left-handed golfer.
A hook is caused by a closed clubface at impact. This can be caused by a number of factors, including an incorrect grip, an incorrect stance, or issues with wrist mechanics.
For a right-handed golfer, place your left hand so the thumb points just right of the shaft's centre line. Your right hand should overlap with your left, with the right palm covering the left thumb.
Try to make your backswing straight back, which will allow for a more out-to-in swing path. An open stance can help with this.
Use a tool like HackMotion to check your wrist angles and learn where issues are occurring. Get your lead wrist as close to flat as possible to eliminate the hook.
