Hearing a golf commentator praise a beautiful right to left shot can leave new and even experienced players puzzled about what that really means. It’s a common piece of golf jargon that describes a ball's flight path, but the term covers everything from a perfect, tournament-winning approach to a disastrous, round-ruining slice into the woods. This article will break down exactly what a right-to-left ball flight is, the difference between the good and the bad, and show you how to start controlling it in your own game.
At its core, "right to left" simply describes the shape of a golf shot as it travels through the air. For a right-handed golfer, a right-to-left shot is one that starts to the right of the target line and then curves back towards the left. The ball travels on an arc rather than a perfectly straight line. You will rarely hear this term used to describe a short pitch or a chip because it primarily refers to full shots where the ball has enough time in the air for spin to take effect and create a visible curve.
Think of it like throwing a curveball in baseball. The pitcher doesn't throw it straight at the catcher's mitt, they throw it out to the side and let the spin bring it back over the plate. The same principle applies here. The golfer launches the ball on one path and uses spin to bend it onto another.
If you're a left-handed player, everything is simply mirrored. For you, the desirable shot shape that curves toward your body is a left to right flight path. This shot starts to the left of your target and then curves back to the right. A slice for you goes left and curves further left uncontrollably, while a hook moves too far from left to right. Just mentally reverse the directions in this guide, and all the same concepts about clubface and swing path will apply to you.
The term “right to left” is an umbrella that covers both a controlled, desirable shot and an uncontrolled, problematic one. The difference comes down to the amount of curve and whether the ball finishes on target. This distinction is one of the most important concepts to grasp in your journey to better golf.
A draw is the "good" version of a right-to-left shot. It’s a shot that starts just a few yards to the right of the target and then gently curves back, landing precisely at or very near the target. Pros love the draw for a few key reasons:
In essence, a draw is a controlled, intentional application of shot-shaping.
On the other side of the spectrum is the hook. A hook is the "bad" version of a right-to-left shot. It also starts to the right of the target but curves aggressively and uncontrollably to the left, often missing the fairway or green by a wide margin. These hooks can be so severe they're called “snap hooks,” a low-flying shot that dives into the ground quickly after takeoff. This is often seen as one of the game's most destructive miss-hits.
Where a draw feels balanced and powerful, a hook feels jerky and out of sync. It’s what happens when the controlled mechanics of a draw are taken to an extreme. Instead of the clubface being slightly closed to the path, it’s severely shut, causing excessive sidespin that takes over the shot.
Understanding what physically makes the golf ball curve is the first step toward controlling it. It’s not magic, it’s all about the relationship between two things: your swing path and your clubface angle at the moment of impact. The new ball flight laws have simplified this a lot.
1. Clubface Angle: For the most part, the direction your clubface is pointing at the exact moment it strikes the ball determines the ball's initial starting direction.
2. Swing Path: This is the direction the clubhead is traveling (e.g., in-to-out, out-to-in) at impact. The difference between your swing path and your clubface angle is primarily what creates spin and makes the ball curve.
To produce a right-to-left curve (draw or a hook), the recipe is very specific:
Your swing path must be traveling to the right of where your clubface is pointing at impact.
Let's picture the perfect draw: You want the ball to start just right of the flag and curve back. To do this, your clubface must be aimed just right of the flag at impact. Then, to get the "draw" spin, your swing path needs to be traveling even further right than the clubface. So your body is aiming/releasing the club further to the right compared to where the face is pointed, hence the classic "in-to-out" swing path advice.
A hook happens when this relationship becomes extreme. The swing path might be severely in-to-out, and the clubface gets "shut" (points too far left) relative to that path. Often, this is caused by overactive hands that flip the club closed through the ball.
Want to start turning the ball over from right to left on command? It takes practice, but the setup and swing thoughts are straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up for a draw.
Instead of aiming everything at the target, you’re going to set up for the shot shape. Stand behind the ball and pick an intermediate target a few feet in front of the ball on your intended finish line (e.g., at the flag). But now for the setup:
This is the part that feels a little strange, yet it's very important. After your body is aligned right of the target, you then need to aim your clubface directly at your final target (e.g., the flagstick). Your clubface will now look “closed” or “shut” in relation to where your body is aiming, yet it points where you want the ball to end up.
This simple setup adjustment has now produced that key ingredient – the clubface is aiming to the left of your swing path, which your body is lined up perfectly on.
Now, just make your normal swing, but focus on swinging the club along the line you’ve set with your feet and shoulders, not where the flag pole is. Trust that this in-to-out path of your body will make the ball start out right, while that ‘closed-looking’ clubface will get the necessary spin to curve the ball back to your target!
Feel like you are extending your arms away from your body and your hands “exit” to the right of your final target. Don’t try to steer the ball back to the left - an unwinding, powerful swing along your body's alignment has already created this recipe for you.
If you have an ever-present hook which is costing you golf shots and ruining your scorecard, it's time to start bringing this ball back into play with these tips. Here are the main steps to diagnosing and controlling a hook:
Just as described in our core philosophy, the grip is the "steering wheel" for the clubface. A "super strong" hand grip (seeing three or more knuckles on your left hand for a right-handed player) will naturally make you want to close the clubface down very fast and hard, which is a primary cause of hooks.
Try weakening your grip slightly (having your top left hand less rotated over so you see only two knuckles). This change can make a world of difference. It might feel strange at first but will go a long way to neutralizing an overpowering hook!
Where the golf ball sits in your stance plays a massive role in influencing the swing path. A ball positioned too far back in your stance for longer irons and woods will overly promote an in-to-out downswing producing nasty low snap hooking shots. Try moving the ball an inch or two forward in your stance, allowing the club to "shallow out" or deliver a more neutral, square strike on the ball at impact.
A hook can often result from an overly active, flipping lower body and hands through the downswing trying to ‘save’ or scoop the ball. This can lead to a very closed face on the club and an uncontrolled hook. Instead, focus on keeping the tempo smooth and your body rotation consistent without sudden acceleration.
Understanding "right to left" means recognizing it as a descriptive term for ball flight that includes both the highly sought-after draw and the wildly frustrating hook. Mastering this shot shape comes down to controlling the crucial relationship between the face of your club and the path you're swinging. With practice, you can begin to use a draw strategically, or at the very least, turn that wild hook into a more manageable miss.
Mastering a precise shot shape like a draw can involve subtle feelings that are hard to figure out on your own. When you're out on the course and struggling to diagnose why your ball keeps hooking wildly left, I know a little objective advice can be a game-changer. For this reason, Caddie AI acts as your 24/7 on-demand coach. Should you ever encounter a tricky lie and are unsure of how to hit this shaped shot, simply take a photo of the lie, and the app offers a customized strategy tailored to that exact situation. This turns your guesswork about what to do into a much stronger commitment to how to actually get it done, allowing you to feel relaxed and calm over your shots.
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