Miles Bennett
Golf hooks are a common problem encountered by many skilled players. A hook is a ball flight that goes sharply from right to left for right-handed players and left to right for left-handers. Hooks are 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 is one of the biggest reasons for a hook, and golfers should ensure their grip isn't too strong, as this can cause the clubface to close, resulting in a hook. Other causes of a hook include an outside-to-in swing path, failing to turn the body through the shot, and not shifting weight forward, causing the clubface to close and hit the ball left upon impact.
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What You'll Learn
A strong grip
To understand if your grip is too strong, examine the position of your bottom hand. If your bottom hand is rotated too far underneath the club, your grip is too strong and will cause a hook. This happens when your left hand (for a right-handed player) is twisted too far to the right, requiring your right hand to fit more on the underside of the golf club. This gives your hands and wrists more power over the clubface and what it does at impact, making it more likely to close the clubface too quickly or easily.
To fix a strong grip, turn your bottom hand more on top of the club, towards the target. You can check this by cocking your wrists up so that you can see the V formed by your thumb and forefinger on your bottom hand. This V should point at your trail shoulder. This will help you find a more neutral hand position, keeping the face stable and square through impact.
It is important to note that while a strong grip can contribute to a hook, it may not be the sole cause. Other factors, such as swing path, body rotation, and weight transfer, also play a role in causing a hook.
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Poor body mechanics
One reason for this could be an excessive inside-out swing path, which can be caused by a lack of shoulder turn or body rotation. Golfers who hook tend to exaggerate this inside-out move instead of using their shoulders to swing down the target line. To fix this, try using alignment sticks to guide you to a more neutral swing path.
Another reason could be swaying or sliding towards the target during the downswing instead of turning the body. This keeps the shoulders closed and sends the swing path out to the right. To correct this, focus on rotating your body more during the downswing.
A strong grip is another common cause of hooks. If your grip is too strong, your left hand (for right-handed players) will be twisted too far to the right, giving the hands and wrists too much power and causing the clubface to close. To fix this, move your hands to a slightly weaker, more neutral position.
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Incorrect alignment
To correct incorrect alignment, it is important to ensure that your grip is not too strong, as this can cause a hook. The top thumb should be slightly to the right of the top of the shaft, and the bottom hand should be rotated more on top of the club, towards the target. This will help to achieve a more neutral hand position and keep the face stable and square through impact.
Another way to correct alignment is to use alignment sticks. Place one alignment stick on the ground along your target line and another parallel to it just outside your golf ball. This will help guide you to a more neutral swing path.
Additionally, it is important to focus on rotating your body during the downswing. This will help to get the club on a more neutral path and prevent an inside-out swing, which can also cause a hook.
By correcting incorrect alignment, golfers can reduce the likelihood of hitting a hook and improve their overall game.
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Lack of body rotation
A lack of body rotation is a common cause of a golf hook. This can lead to a breakdown in tempo or swing, resulting in hooks. The clubface ends up being closed at impact, causing the ball to veer left.
To correct this, it is important to ensure a proper shoulder turn and body rotation through impact. The body should rotate to keep the arms and body in sync, allowing the clubface to square up relative to the target line. A closed clubface at the top of the backswing can often lead to a closed clubface at impact, so it is important to address this early in the swing.
Additionally, a strong grip can contribute to a lack of body rotation. A right-handed golfer's left hand may be twisted too far to the right, requiring an overcompensation with the right hand. This can lead to a dominant hand and wrist action, causing the clubface to close too quickly. Adjusting the grip to a more neutral position can help correct this issue.
Drills and devices such as alignment sticks and Swing Align can aid in improving body rotation and overall swing mechanics. Alignment sticks can help guide golfers to find a more neutral swing path, while Swing Align provides feedback on alignment and helps keep the arms and body connected and synchronized.
By addressing the lack of body rotation and making the necessary adjustments to grip and swing path, golfers can effectively reduce the occurrence of hooks and improve their overall game.
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Incorrect thumb position
For right-handed golfers, the left thumb is key. If the left thumb is in the centre of the shaft or too far to the right, it can cause the clubface to close, resulting in a hook. The left thumb should be just left of centre (weak lead hand grip) or just right of centre (neutral lead hand).
The right thumb should be on the target side of the grip. If the right hand is rotated too far away from the target, it can also cause the clubface to close. The V formed by the right thumb and forefinger should support most of the weight of the club at the top of the backswing.
To fix an incorrect thumb position, grip the club so that your top thumb is slightly right of the top of the shaft. Place your bottom hand on the club, sliding your top thumb into the crease of your lower hand, with the thumb of your lower hand just slightly left of the top of the shaft. This will help you find a more neutral hand position and keep the clubface stable and square through impact.
It is important to develop a consistent pre-shot routine, including placing your hands correctly before swinging, to avoid a golf hook.
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Frequently asked questions
A golf hook is caused by a closed clubface at impact. This can be caused by a strong grip, a lack of body rotation, or poor connection/timing between the arms and body.
A golf hook is a ball flight that goes sharply from right to left for right-handed players and left to right for left-handers.
To fix a golf hook, you need to adopt a more neutral grip. Hold the club in the fingers of your left hand, not the palm, with your thumb pointing just right of the shaft's centre line.
