Ava Romero
Me and My Golf is a golf coaching platform founded by golfers Piers Ward and Andy Proudman, alongside Neil Dawson. The platform offers 24/7 access to simple, step-by-step plans to improve your golf game, with a focus on flexibility, mobility, and mindset. One common issue that golfers face is hooking the ball, which can be frustrating and lead to unnecessary strokes. Hooks occur when the clubface is closed at impact, causing the ball to veer off sharply to the left for right-handed players and to the right for left-handers. This can be addressed by adjusting your grip, improving your body rotation, and perfecting your wrist mechanics and thumb placement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founders | PGA coaches Piers Ward and Andy Proudman |
| Mission | To help golfers improve their game |
| Features | Step-by-step plans, guided practice plans, live practice tool, webinars, routines for mobility and recovery, training videos, wrist mechanics guide |
| Ratings | 4.8/5, 4.9/5, 4.8/5, 4.8/5, 5/5 |
| Customer Testimonials | "I shot an 81 yesterday (with no gimmies) – my best round ever", "I went from a 14 handicap around 3 years ago to a 6 today entirely based on the instruction from Me And My Golf", "I truly wish this experience would have been available when I first started playing. What a great platform", "Best coaching by the hand in your pocket only by using your phone and self work!", "I’ve seen a lot of interesting golf swings over the years for sure! To be the best, you have to learn from the best" |
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What You'll Learn
The clubface is closed at impact and throughout the swing
A closed clubface is turned left of square, pointing left of the target, and typically causes shots that turn left. This is also known as a hook.
If your clubface is closed at impact and throughout your swing, it's likely due to the way you're holding the club. To avoid this, 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. On your trail hand, be sure that your thumb is on the target side of the grip. If either hand is rotated too far away from the target at address, the clubface will close, likely producing a hook.
To check if your clubface is closed, take the club back to waist height and look at where the toe of the club is pointing. A neutral clubhead will have the toe pointing to the sky, whereas a closed clubface will have the clubhead pointing down towards the ground.
A slightly closed clubface at the top of the swing is often the easiest to square at impact. When the face is just a bit closed, less "work" is needed on the downswing, which can help to boost speed and consistency.
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Incorrect grip
An incorrect grip is a common cause of a hook in golf. A hook is caused by a closed clubface at impact, which can be the result of a strong grip, a lack of body rotation, or poor connection/timing between the arms and body.
A strong grip means that the bottom hand is rotated too far underneath the club, causing the clubface to close too quickly or easily, resulting in a hook. To fix this, the bottom hand should be turned more on top of the club, towards the target. The top thumb should be slightly to the right of the top of the shaft, with the bottom thumb slightly to the left. This will help to neutralise the grip and reduce the likelihood of a hook.
Another way to ensure a neutral grip is to grip the club with your fingers, rather than your palms, and to ensure your thumbs align with your pointer fingers on both hands. This will give you more control over the clubface and help to straighten your swing path.
It is also important to have a consistent grip position. By placing your hands on the club in the same way each time, you can help to prevent a hook.
Additionally, a shallow or rounded swing can make a hook more likely, especially if the rotation in your swing is not timed perfectly. To check if your clubface is closed, take the club back to waist height and observe where the toe of the club is pointing. A neutral clubhead will have the toe pointing to the sky, whereas a closed clubface will point downwards.
Finally, it is worth noting that a strong grip can also be caused by an incorrect pre-shot routine. Golfers should ensure that they are placing their hands correctly prior to swinging and that their clubface is centred.
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Lack of body rotation
A hook shot in golf can be caused by a variety of factors, one of which is a lack of body rotation. This can cause the arms and hands to snap through at impact, resulting in a hook.
To prevent this, focus on rotating your body more and using your hands less. Relax your hands and grip, and let your body control the club head. This will help you achieve a neutral club face position.
Additionally, check your body angle and stance. If you have a closed stance, you may hit a draw with the same swing that would be a hook if your stance were open. Try a more open stance, with your shoulder line aimed to the right of your target line (for right-handed golfers).
Another way to improve your body rotation is to focus on your backswing. Instead of a curved backswing, aim for a more straight back swing, which will allow for a more out-to-in swing path.
Finally, check your grip. A strong grip, with the hands turned too far to the right for right-handed golfers, can make it too easy to close the clubface, leading to a hook. Neutralize your grip by turning your hands slightly more to the left.
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Poor connection/timing between arms and body
One of the most important factors in hitting a good golf shot is maintaining a good connection and timing between your arms and body. However, this is also one of the most common mistakes golfers make. When golfers swing back, their arms often fold up, lacking the extension required for a clean shot. This folding of the arms continues even after striking the ball, adding loft to the golf club and resulting in inconsistent shots.
To fix this, focus on keeping your arms extended throughout your swing. You can practice this by visualising your arms connected to your body with a piece of string, maintaining a locked position. Another drill to improve the connection between your arm swing and body action is to hold the club with your left hand on the grip, with your right arm positioned across your chest, and your right hand clasping the upper part of your left arm. As you swing the club, maintain pressure on the upper part of your left arm, pulling it towards your chest.
Additionally, be mindful of your backswing. If it is too curved, the club can get too far around, leading to a hook path. Instead, aim for a straighter backswing, which will allow for a more out-to-in swing path. A more open stance can help with this, limiting the ability of the club to get around your body during the backswing.
Finally, check the position of your thumbs on the club. Place the thumb of your lead hand straight down the centre of the grip, and ensure your trail hand thumb is on the target side of the grip. Incorrect thumb placement can cause the clubface to close, likely producing a hook.
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Incorrectly closing the clubface at address
One of the main causes of incorrectly closing the clubface at address is an improper grip. Many golfers who hook the ball tend to re-grip and change their hand positions right before they start their swing, often without realising it. This can be corrected by establishing a consistent pre-shot routine, ensuring that your hands are placed correctly before swinging and maintaining that position. It is also important to check the markings on the grip of your club, which are there to aid in setting the club correctly and prevent the clubface from closing.
Another factor that can lead to an incorrect clubface closure is the positioning of your thumbs on the club. To avoid this, place the thumb of your lead hand straight down the centre of the grip of the club. On your trail hand, ensure that your thumb is on the target side of the grip. Having either hand rotated too far away from the target will cause the clubface to close, leading to a hook.
The wrist action during the takeaway can also contribute to closing the clubface prematurely. Using a wrist sensor, such as the HackMotion, can help you perfect your wrist angle throughout the swing and prevent the clubface from closing too early. Additionally, a shallow or rounder swing, especially if the rotation is not timed perfectly, can result in a hook-type swing path. Checking the position of your clubface at waist height can help you identify if your clubface is closed. If the toe of the club is pointing down towards the ground instead of towards the sky, your clubface is closed.
Finally, the design of modern clubs can also be a factor in encouraging a hook. Many clubs today are made with features that promote a draw or hook, as the average golfer tends to struggle with slicing. Adjusting your clubface angle or seeking advice from a club fitter can help address this issue.
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Frequently asked questions
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. They can be hit with any club, but you will see your most drastic hooks with your driver, fairway wood, and hybrids.
Hooks are caused by a closed clubface relative to your path at impact. This can be caused by a strong grip, lack of body rotation, or poor connection/timing between the arms and body.
To fix your hook, you need to ensure that your clubface is not closed at impact. Check the position of your thumbs on the club and ensure that your trail foot is square and straight.
