What causes a hook?

[fly_high]

Title pretty much speaks for itself.
What are the main causes that a ball hooks to the left?

Is it inside-outside swing?
Arms are coming in too fast before the hips?
Wrists are rotating on the upswing?

[wrx_junki]

A closed clubface can cause a hook. The worst kind is the pull hook which is caused by a closed clubface and a out to in swing path.

[retexan599]

For me, the most frequent hook culprit is that I (unwillingly) allow my right hand to roll over as I make contact with the ball. I have to keep practicing what I would call 'neutral wrists' as I swing through.

[Phil]

I usually hook when I have too tight of a grip with my glove hand, causes me to rotate the club through to quickly.

[wrx_junki]

To add, a flat swing will cause a hook.

[ScottRempel]

To add, a flat swing will cause a hook.

That's for sure, lol!

Had a few rough rounds were I was hitting the ball terrible. Finally yesterday on the range my wife of all people says "it looks like your club is coming back low". I think to myself...FLAT...she's right! All is well again...just need to jot down some swing notes so this doesn't happen again :). I guess all those "lessons" I've been giving my wife finally had some return ...just need to make sure that doesn't happen too often lol...next thing you know she'll think she can beat me or something crazy like that!!!

[sdped1]

I've suffered terribly with the hooks. Here is what I've found.
1. I need to make sure I have a nuetral grip
2. Make sure the V's are lining up the same, I have a tendancy to have a little stronger right if I don't watch it.
3. Now this is hard to explain but it works for me. I "feel" like I'm leading with the hosel. I feels like on my downswing that I'm going to hit the ball with the back of the hosel. This gives me great lag and keeps me from turning my hands over to early. Just feel as you are coming down on the inside path(and you can really go way inside with this) that you are hitting the ball with the opposite side of the toe of the club. Your hands will turn if you relax and keep looking at the ball all the way through impact.- Steve

[running-8-iron]

Feel free to correct me but my understanding is (for a right-handed golfer)...

the path the ball initially starts off at is based on swing path, ie a ball that starts off to the right of the target line has been struck on an in-to-out path; a ball that starts off straight has been struck with a club on path; a ball that starts off left of the target line has been struck with an out-to-in path. Again generally, what the ball does after that is based on face position at impact relative to the path. An open face with spin the ball to the right, a neutral face will keep the ball on path and a closed face will spin the ball to the left.

So my answer to your question without being specific would be to analyze the limb mechanics, grip, stance (and probably other factors) once establishing the shape of the shot.

[laxbballgolf]

Feel free to correct me but my understanding is (for a right-handed golfer)...

I think the physics are as follows:

The ball will start flying in the direction the clubface was pointing at impact. The ball will curve based on sidespin created by the swingpath: an out-to-in swingpath causes a fade, and an in-to-out swingpath causes a draw. So yes, an open clubface will usually cause a fade, but that is because the swingpath is out-to-in relative to the direction the clubface was pointing at impact. (Sort of a what came first, the chicken or the egg type of deal.)

[NotAStick]

I think the physics are as follows:

That's not entirely true. In my experience, the ball begins flying down a line about halfway between the swing path and the club face angle and then it turns about as much as the differential between those two angles.

I'm unusual in that I hit a draw by aiming my clubface to one side or another and then swinging normally down a line just outside where I want the balll to begin. For example, to hook around a tree, I set up 30 yards right of the green, as normal and then put the ball back in my stance and turn the club closed. I actually holed out a shot from behind a tree last week with that technique. Anyway, it's just a quibble, but it's important for people to recognize.

[Zeph]

I think the physics are as follows:

It's the other way around, and I disagree, an open clubface will not produce a fade, but a slice.

The ball starts flying in the direction the club is swinging In to out = Starts out right Out to in = Starts out left Square = Starts out square The ball spin and fall down in the direction of where the clubface is aiming Open clubface = Ball lands to the right of the target line Closed clubface = Ball lands to the right of the target line Square clubface = Ball lands on the target line Now you can combine any of these and find 99% of all ball flights. A couple of examples: In to out swingpath and closed clubface = Ball starts out right and spins back to the left of the target line Out to in swingpath and closed clubface = Ball starts out left and continues straight, could also spin further left depending on how open the clubface is Square swingpath and open clubface = Ball starts straight and spins off to the right Out to in swingpath and square clubface = Ball starts left and spins back on the target line The definitions of the golf terms are often cause for confusion. Some call a ball starting straight and curving to the right a fade, some call it a slice. I like to define them by the result and not merely the ball flight itself. Regardless of definitions, the important thing is to know what causes the ball to go in either direction. It's pretty easy, and very useful to know. I've seen examples on this forum of people struggling with a ball flight from left to the target line and trying to close their clubface more, it makes no sense. I know some call a ball starting square and spinning slightly off to the left a fade, but I call it a slice. I think of a fade and draw as a desired shot which always come down where intended. The only difference of a slice and fade in some definitions is the amount of spin. I don't see the point in that. The problem is an open clubface and neither is a desired shot. A fade or draw is a shot where the ball actually lands where you intended and aimed the clubface, only the swingpath gives it a curve. I haven't included every type of shot here. You've got some starting left and spinning off to the right, a pull slice. Vica versa, ball starts right and spins off to the left, a push hook. When discussing using these terms, keep in mind that people define them differently, which may be cause for confusion. A severe condition of swingpath or clubface will produce extreme shots. Hitting the ground first and opening the clubface a lot will also slow down the speed of the clubhead and the ball may fly straight left, even with the swingpath going straight. These rules apply to a cleanly hit ball with a downwardstrike. Without it, the club won't apply enough speed to the ball to have it fly off in the direction of the swingpath.

[mkoreiwo]

Feel free to correct me but my understanding is (for a right-handed golfer)...

+1 - just about sums it up!

[mkoreiwo]

Feel free to correct me but my understanding is (for a right-handed golfer)...

+1 - just about sums it up!

[HytrewQasdfg]

It's the other way around, and I disagree, an open clubface will not produce a fade, but a slice.

That has always been my understanding, but I have heard some people lately say the opposite.

BTW, good diagram. Maybe it should be posted somewhere on the site as a reference so we can all use the same language when talking about this stuff.

[$2 Nassau]

My driver swing, that's what.

[Leftygolfer]

For me, my hook swing flaw is caused by coming over the top with a closed club face. I have sufffered from this and I definitely come over the top and pull hook it.

For me to actually not hook I have to come more from the inside so it starts off to the left and draws.

[wannabe]

interesting thread, great explains. +1 for suggestion of posting the diagram where it's easily located, maybe sticky it to the top of "Playing Tips" subforum?

[running-8-iron]

interesting thread, great explains. +1 for suggestion of posting the diagram where it's easily located, maybe sticky it to the top of "Playing Tips" subforum?

I would agree on having that ball flight attachment as a sticky. I know once I figured it out my game tremendously improved. Not only could I figure out what I was doing wrong but it allowed me to try intentionally shaping shots.