How do you fix a hook in golf? To fix a hook in golf, you must identify the root cause, which usually involves an overly closed clubface at impact, an inside-out swing path, or an overactive trail hand movement. Correcting this requires adjusting your grip, improving your swing path, and using targeted drills.
A golf hook is one of the most frustrating shots a golfer faces. The ball starts straight or slightly right (for a right-handed golfer) and then curves sharply left in the air. It’s the opposite of the dreaded slice. While some golfers might aim for a controlled draw, a full-blown hook loses distance and control. This guide will help you diagnose the problem and provide actionable steps for golf hook correction.
Deciphering the Golf Hook
Before we fix the issue, we must clearly define what a hook is and how it differs from other ball flights.
Draw vs Hook Golf Shot
Many amateurs confuse a controlled draw with a severe hook.
| Feature | Controlled Draw | Severe Hook |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Flight | Slight, gentle curve from right to left. | Sharp, aggressive curve to the left. |
| Direction | Ends up slightly left of the target line. | Ends up significantly left of the target line (sometimes even left of the starting line). |
| Clubface | Slightly closed relative to the swing path. | Significantly closed relative to the swing path. |
| Path | Slightly in-to-out. | Sharply in-to-out. |
A draw is often desirable for distance. A hook is almost always destructive. Knowing the difference helps in fixing a slice vs hook problems, as the solutions are often opposite. Slices need more closure; hooks need less.
Fathoming the Causes of a Golf Hook
Why does the ball dive left? The primary reason for a hook is the clubface closing too much, too soon, relative to the path the club is taking through impact. Here are the most common causes of a golf hook:
Grip Issues
Your grip is the only connection to the club. A poor grip often forces compensations later in the swing.
- Overly Strong Grip: This is the most frequent culprit. If your lead hand (left hand for righties) has too many knuckles visible at address, the clubface is already set up to close quickly. At impact, this strong positioning forces the face to shut rapidly.
- Thumbs Pointing Down: If the thumbs are aggressively wrapped around the top of the handle, it promotes excessive rotation through impact.
Swing Path Problems
The path the club travels in relation to the target line dictates the starting direction. The club traveling from inside the target line to outside the target line is an in-to-out path.
- Coming “Too Far Inside”: If you drop the club too far behind you on the downswing, the path becomes severely in-to-out. This forces the face to shut down to keep the ball airborne. Fixing this often means correcting how you initiate the downswing.
Impact Mechanics and Hand Action
This is where many golfers struggle, especially those dealing with an overactive trail hand in golf.
- Casting or Early Release: This means releasing the wrist angles (lag) too early. When you release too soon, the clubhead whips around, causing the face to rotate shut before impact.
- Overactive Pulling: Some golfers try to pull the handle toward the target. This leads to the hands aggressively rolling over, shutting the face down violently. This is often related to trying how to stop pulling the golf ball, but the aggressive pull actually causes the hook instead of a straight pull.
Equipment Factors
Sometimes, the equipment works against you.
- Shaft Too Flexible: A shaft that is too soft might “whip” too much through impact, causing the face to shut down faster than intended.
- Lie Angle Too Upright: If the toe of the club is pointing too far skyward at address (lie angle too upright for your body), the heel kicks in, encouraging the face to close prematurely.
Corrective Strategies: Fixing the Hook Face and Path
Correcting a hook requires fixing both the face angle and the path. We will tackle these systematically.
Adjusting Your Grip: Removing the Strength
The first step in golf hook correction is often neutralizing your grip.
Reducing Grip Strength
- Square the Lead Hand: At address, rotate your lead hand slightly more to the right (more neutral). You should see only one or two knuckles, not three or four.
- Lighten the Pressure: Gripping the club too tightly restricts natural wrist movement. Try to feel like you are holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing the paste out. A lighter grip allows for better feel and less forced rotation.
Refining the Swing Plane for Hooks
A flatter swing plane can encourage the in-to-out path that causes hooks. We need to encourage a neutral or slightly on-plane swing.
Diagnosing the Plane
Use video analysis to confirm if your golf swing plane for hooks is too flat. A flat plane means the swing arc comes from too far inside.
Drills for Swing Plane Correction
- The Gate Drill: Place two headcovers on the ground, one slightly in front of the ball and one slightly behind it, forming a narrow “gate” that the clubhead must pass through on the downswing. This visually reinforces staying on plane and stops the club from dropping too far inside.
- Hips Initiating the Downswing: Focus on initiating the downswing with your lower body moving toward the target. This helps shallow the club slightly, preventing it from dropping too far inside and promoting a better path.
Managing Hand Action and Trail Hand Dominance
This section directly addresses the dealing with an overactive trail hand in golf issue.
Slowing Down the Release
The goal is to delay the rotation of the clubface until after the ball is gone.
- The Bowing Drill (Lead Wrist): For some golfers, intentionally slightly bowing the lead wrist (pushing the lead wrist slightly away from you at impact) can keep the face squarer for longer. This feels counter-intuitive but stops the face from rolling over too early. Note: This is an advanced fix and should be done cautiously.
- The Hold-Off Finish: Practice stopping your swing right after impact, feeling like you are holding the clubface square (or slightly open) for a split second after it hits the ball. This forces you to delay the aggressive rollover.
Preventing the Pulling Action
If you are trying to stop hitting it left by “holding off” the release, you might accidentally transition into a different mistake—a pull (straight left). To avoid this, ensure your swing path moves toward the target line, not across it.
If you feel like you are holding off the face, focus on swinging out toward the target, not at the target. This promotes the correct path while allowing the face to close naturally relative to that path.
Best Golf Drills for Hooks
Practice makes permanent. Use these drills specifically designed for fixing a slice vs hook scenarios, focusing purely on hook correction.
Drill 1: The Towel Under the Trail Arm
This drill teaches you to maintain the angle between your arms and body longer, which prevents the premature casting that shuts the face.
- Place a small towel or headcover under your trail armpit (right armpit for a righty).
- Take short, controlled swings (half swings).
- The goal is to keep the towel pinned there throughout the backswing and downswing, only letting it fall out naturally after impact.
- If you cast or flip your hands early, the towel will drop immediately, alerting you to the faulty timing.
Drill 2: Target Line Alignment Drill
This drill helps fix the in-to-out path.
- Place your usual golf ball down.
- Place an alignment stick on the ground pointing directly at your target (the intended path).
- Place a second alignment stick just outside the ball, angled slightly toward the target (the desired path when fixing a hook should be slightly more neutral or slightly outside-in temporarily).
- Focus on swinging the club between these two sticks. This forces you to stop dropping the club too far inside.
Drill 3: Tee Height Adjustment (Temporary Fix)
For practice, teeing the ball higher can sometimes help promote a better upward strike, which reduces the tendency for the face to aggressively snap shut. This is not a long-term fix but helps with feel during practice.
Indoor Golf Hook Practice
You don’t always need a range. Indoor golf hook practice is excellent for isolating mechanical movements without the pressure of distance.
- Impact Bag Work: Hitting an impact bag allows you to focus purely on the clubface angle at impact. Set up as if you are about to hit a hook (strong grip). Then, intentionally try to keep the face square using only your lower body rotation. Feel the pressure transition from the outside of your lead foot to the inside of your trail foot without the hands aggressively flipping.
- Mirror Work: If you have a large mirror, practice your takeaway and transition. You need to see that the club doesn’t drop too far behind you immediately on the downswing. Focus on the relationship between your lead arm and your chest during the first move down.
Equipment Adjustments for a Hook
Sometimes, minor tweaks to your clubs can offer immediate relief while you work on your swing mechanics. These are part of equipment adjustments for a hook.
Changing the Grip Size
- Grip Too Small: A grip that is too small forces the hands to squeeze harder to maintain control. This often leads to an overly strong grip or excessive hand action to stabilize the club, causing hooks. Try a slightly larger grip.
Adjusting Clubface Angle (If possible)
If you have adjustable clubs, slightly opening the face (e.g., turning the setting to “Draw” or “Fade” if available, or simply turning the setting to open the face) at impact can counteract the rotational tendency. However, remember this is masking the swing flaw, not fixing it.
Lie Angle Check
Have a professional check your lie angle. An upright lie angle can cause the heel of the club to dig in, promoting face rotation. An adjustment might be necessary to make the sole sit flat at address.
Transitioning from Hook Fixes to Desired Ball Flight
Once you stop the severe hook, you might overshoot and start hitting fades or slices. This is common when overcorrecting the grip or path.
Moving from Neutral to Draw (If Desired)
If you eventually want a controlled draw (which is an optimized, controlled hook), you need to reintroduce slight in-to-out path with a slightly closed face relative to that path.
- Square the Grip: Return your grip to a neutral position (1-2 knuckles visible).
- Maintain Slight In-to-Out: Focus on initiating the downswing slightly from the inside, but without the aggressive roll-over. The path should be 1-3 degrees in-to-out, and the face should be 0-2 degrees closed relative to the path.
- Smooth Release: Allow the wrists to release naturally through impact, rather than forcing the rotation early.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I fix a hook just by aiming left?
No, aiming left only changes where the ball starts. If the clubface is still closed relative to your path, the ball will curve even more aggressively left, often resulting in a pulled hook that starts far left and curves further left. You must fix the cause (clubface angle and path).
Is a hook always caused by a slice gone wrong?
While both involve face rotation, the primary mechanical inputs are different. A slice often stems from an outside-in path with an open face. A hook stems from an inside-out path with a closed face. The feeling of trying how to stop pulling the golf ball can sometimes lead to an over-compensating hook instead of a straight pull.
Should I change my whole swing when fixing a hook?
No. Focus only on the transition and impact area first. Small changes to the grip or a subtle adjustment in tempo can yield big results without overhauling your entire motion. Big swing changes should be made slowly and with professional guidance.
What is the biggest difference between fixing a hook and fixing a slice?
When fixing a slice, you need to encourage the clubface to rotate more closed relative to the path. When fixing a hook, you must encourage the clubface to rotate less closed, or even stay square longer. The path requirements are also opposite: slices need less inside-out path; hooks need less inside-out path.
How long does it take to fix a hook?
This depends entirely on the severity of the flaw and your commitment to practice. Minor grip adjustments might show results in one round. Deep-seated timing issues related to the overactive trail hand in golf might take several weeks of dedicated practice using drills. Consistency is key.