What Causes a Hook Golf Shot?

That perfect drive starts arrow-straight, then takes a hard, diving left turn into the woods or a water hazard. It’s a frustrating shot that can ruin a hole and shatter your confidence. We’re talking about a hook, and it’s one of the most common and destructive misses in golf. This article will break down exactly what causes that unwanted curve and provide some clear, actionable steps you can take to straighten out your ball flight for good.

What is a Hook Golf Shot (and How Is It Different from a Draw)?

First, let’s get our terms right. A draw is a desirable shot shape for many right-handed golfers. It’s a ball that starts slightly to the right of the target and gently curves back toward it. It’s controlled, repeatable, and often produces a little extra distance.

A hook, on the other hand, is the draw’s unruly cousin. It’s a shot that also curves from right to left, but the curve is much more severe and uncontrolled. It often starts left of the target and veers even further left (a "pull-hook"), or it might start straight or right and then dive aggressively left. While a draw hits the fairway, a hook finds trouble.

The difference comes down to one thing: control. A hook is what happens when the physics of a draw get pushed to the extreme. Understanding why this happens is the first step toward fixing it.

The Real Cause: Mismatching Your Clubface and Swing Path

Every shot you hit is governed by two key factors at the moment of impact: the _path_ of your club and the _angle_ of your clubface. To stop hooking the ball, you have to understand how these two elements work together.

• The Swing Path: This is the direction your clubhead is moving as it strikes the ball. It can be "in-to-out" (moving from inside the target line to outside), "out-to-in" (moving from outside the target line to inside), or "square" (moving directly down the target line). Your swing path is the primary factor that determines the starting direction of the golf ball.
• The Clubface Angle: This is the direction the clubface is pointing at the exact moment of impact. It can be "open" (pointing to the right of the Path), "closed" (pointing to the left of the Path), or "square" (pointing in the same direction as the Path). The face angle in relation to the swing path is what creates spin and makes the ball curve.

A hook happens when the clubface is significantly closed relative to your swing path at impact. For instance, if you have a perfectly good in-to-out path but your clubface is pointing even further left than your path, the ball will start right and then hook sharply to the left. The greater the difference between the face angle and the path, the more dramatic the curve will be.

So, the question isn’t just "What causes a hook?" The better question is: "What is making my clubface so closed at impact?" Let's look at the most common culprits.

Culprit #1: An Overly "Strong" Grip

Your connection to the club - your grip - is the command center for the clubface. It's your golf shot's steering wheel. An improper hold is often the number one cause of a persistent hook, specifically a grip that is too "strong."

In golf terms, “strong” doesn’t mean how tightly you squeeze. It refers to the rotated position of your hands on the club. A strong grip is one where your top hand (left hand for righties) is rolled too far over to the right on top of the grip and your bottom hand (right hand) is slid too far underneath.

How to Check for a Strong Grip:

Take your normal setup. Look down at your top (left) hand. How many knuckles can you see?

• If you see 3, 4, or even all 5 knuckles, your grip is likely too strong.
• A "neutral" grip usually shows about two knuckles on your top hand.
• The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger on your top hand should point roughly toward your trail shoulder (your right shoulder for righty golfers). If it's pointing outside your shoulder, your grip is too strong.

A strong grip naturally encourages your hands and wrists to rotate too much through impact, slamming the clubface shut and causing a hook.

How to Fix It: Weaken Your Grip to Neutral

1. Place the club in front of you with the face square to your target.
2. Bring your top (left) hand to the side of the grip so the palm is facing inward, not down.
3. Close your fingers around the club, focusing on holding it more in your fingers than your palm.
4. When you settle the hand on top, look down. Adjust until you see just those two knuckles. That "V" should feel like it's pointing more toward your chin or trail shoulder.
5. Bring your bottom (right) hand on in a similar side-on fashion, matching the palm so it faces the target. The "V" on your right hand should mirror the left, pointing in a similar direction.

Fair Warning: If you've been hooking for a while, a neutral grip will feel incredibly strange and "weak," as if you're going to hit the ball a mile to the right. Trust it. Hit some small, easy shots to get used to the feeling. This single change can often eliminate a hook almost immediately.

Culprit #2: Body Stalls, Hands Flip

Often, a hook isn't just a "hands problem," it's a "body problem." One of the most common swing faults leading to a hook is when a player's body rotation stops too early in the downswing. This is often called a "stall."

Your swing should be powered by the rotation of your hips and torso. When you begin the downswing, your lower body should lead the way, unwinding and clearing out of the way to create space for your arms and the club to follow. But if your hips stop turning toward the target, your arms and hands get trapped behind you. With nowhere to go, the only way to get the club to the ball is to aggressively "flip" your hands and wrists at the last second. This rapid-fire rotation snaps the clubface shut right through impact, producing a destructive hook.

How to Fix It: Keep Turning Everything Through the Shot

The goal is to feel like your body - your belt buckle specifically - finishes the swing pointing at the target, or even slightly left of it. This ensures you keep rotating and don't stall.

Drill: The "Feet Together" Drill

1. Take a 7- or 8-iron and set up with your feet completely together.
2. Take smooth, 75% swings.
3. Your goal is to swing through to a full, balanced finish without falling over.

Swinging with a narrow base makes it impossible to rely on your arms and hands for power. It forces you to use your body's rotation as the engine and to stay in sequence. If you can make solid contact and hold your finish in this drill, you are training your body to rotate through the ball correctly instead of stalling and flipping.

Culprit #3: Ball Position Too Far Back

This is a more subtle but still powerful cause of a hook. The golf swing happens on an arc. The clubface starts square at address, naturally opens during the backswing, and then closes back to square through impact before closing again in the follow-through. Your timing has to be just right.

If your ball position is too far back in your stance (closer to your trail foot), your club will make contact with the ball too early in its arc. At that point, the clubface hasn't had enough time to rotate back to a square position. It’s still on its closing path, making it much more likely to be shut at impact, resulting in a hook.

Recommended Ball Positions (For Right-Handed Golfers):

• Wedges to 8-Iron: The ball should be in the very middle of your stance, directly below your shirt buttons.
• Mid-Irons (7-iron to 5-iron): The ball should be just slightly forward of center, about one or two golf balls toward your lead foot.
• Fairway Woods & Hybrids: The ball should be about an inch or two inside your lead heel.
• Driver: The ball should be positioned off the inside of your lead heel.

Check your ball position by setting up and then placing a club on the ground running from the center of your stance. See where your ball is relative to that line. Many golfers who hook the ball are surprised to find they are playing even their mid-irons way too far back.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a hook comes down to one core concept: getting your clubface square to your swing path at impact. The most effective way to do this is by first checking your grip, then ensuring your body is rotating all the way through the shot, and finally confirming your ball position is correct for the club you're hitting.

Diagnosing these issues while you're standing on the range or the course can be a challenge. It's often tough to feel what's really happening versus what you *think* is happening. This is exactly why we created Caddie AI. Our app acts as your personal 24/7 golf coach, giving you simple, on-demand answers. You can get a quick refresher on these anti-hook drills right before a round, or even ask for a smart strategy on a tight hole that tempts you back into old habits, giving you the clarity and confidence to make a great swing.