Seeing your golf ball start down the fairway only to take a sharp, uncontrollable dive to the left can be one of the most frustrating sights in golf. That destructive hook not only costs you strokes but also robs you of your confidence on the tee box. This guide will walk you through the real reasons your golf ball is hooking and provide you with clear, actionable steps and drills to straighten out your ball flight for good.
Before we can fix it, we have to know what's causing it. In simple terms, a hook is the result of a single moment in time: impact. For a right-handed golfer, a hook happens when your clubface is pointing significantly to the left of your swing path as it strikes the ball. The more difference between the face angle and the path angle, the more the ball will curve.
This isn't a gentle, controlled draw that curves gracefully toward the target, it's an unpredictable shot that often dives hard and low into trouble. The common culprits behind that closed clubface are surprisingly simple and usually stem from one or more of these areas:
The good news is that we can address each of these methodically. Let's start with the things you do before you even start the swing.
Most hooks can be tamed, if not completely cured, before you even take the club back. Your grip and setup dictate so much of what happens during the swing, and getting them right is the fastest way to see improvement.
In golf, a "strong" grip is a a bit of a misleading term. It doesn't mean you're gripping the club tightly, it means your hands are rotated too far to the right (for a righty) on the club. This position naturally encourages the clubface to shut down through impact, creating the hook.
If you answered yes to either of these, your grip is likely too strong and a major cause of your hook.
Fair warning: This new grip will feel weak and awkward. That’s a sign you're doing it correctly. Stick with it. Hit short shots on the range until it starts to feel more natural. This alone can make a huge impact on your ability to hit the ball straight.
Even with a perfect grip, a poor setup can program a hook into your swing.
If you’ve fixed your pre-swing fundamentals and the hook persists, it’s time to look at the swing itself. Most in-swing hooks are a result of overly active hands "flipping" the club shut through impact.
The best golfers power the swing with the rotation of their big muscles - their core, hips, and shoulders - not just with their hands and arms. Hookers, on the other hand, tend to stall their body rotation on the downswing, letting their hyperactive hands take over and snap the clubface closed.
This drill trains your body to lead the swing, quieting the excessive hand action.
This "held-off" feeling prevents the hands from flipping over. You’ll probably hit some shots that float a little to the right at first. Excellent! That means you’re neutralizing the hook. This feeling of the body leading the club through impact is fundamental to consistency and straight shots.
A severe hook is often paired with a swing path that is extremely "in-to-out." While a marginal in-to-out path is fine, one that's too extreme leaves you little room for error. The Gate Drill is a classic and effective way to feel a more neutral path.
To succeed at this drill, you cannot swing excessively from the inside - you’d hit the inside headcover on the follow-through. It forces you to feel a more centered, neutral attack on the golf ball, taking the hook-producing path out of the equation.
Curing a hook is about identifying the source and working methodically to correct it. Start with your pre-swing fundamentals - neutralizing your grip and ensuring a square setup. These are often the biggest contributors and the easiest to fix. Then groove the feeling of a body-led swing, rather than a handsy one, to control the clubface through impact.
Understanding and applying these fixes can get complicated, and sometimes you just need a second opinion to know if you're on the right track. With Caddie AI, you have an expert opinion right in your pocket. You can ask for feedback on your grip, send a photo of your setup to check for flaws, or get a drill recommendation specifically for your hook, anytime you need it. By taking the guesswork out of troubleshooting your swing, our app gives you the clarity to work on the right things and the confidence that you're making a change that will actually stick.
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