How to Hit a Controlled Hook

[TMO]

I am not struggling with hitting hooks or even having problems hitting hooks. This is more of a survey. I am just curious to see how different players approach hitting a controlled hook. Thanks.

[ted dibiase]

I had to hit one yesterday. I was behind a couple of trees, so I needed to hit a low hook about 150 yards. I used my 5 iron, but probably should have hit a 7 or 6. I lined up so that I would miss the trees, but turned the club in my hands so that it was aimed at the target. I then swung normally for a punch shot. The ball came out of the rough nice and low, then hooked around the obstructions. Unfortunately the ball went a little too far and my chip wasn't good enough to 1 putt, but I was very pleased that the ball did essentially what I wanted it to do.

[opie]

I seem to hit the controlled hook better than the controlled fade for some reason. I line up directly at my target like I was going to hit a normal shot and then turn my body clockwise until I'm going to clear what I need to. I then move the ball back in my stance and pretty much hit a punch like the previous poster. For some reason I can't get similar results when trying to slice it. The ball just starts out way right in that case

[ks8829]

1) position my body in the direction I want to start the ball
2) close the club face to the direction I want the ball to end up

3) stronger grip
4) rear leg inside to encourage an inside out swing

5) turn the hands over with an inside to inside swing
6) keep my hands very close to my body

[billm408]

Controlled hook is an oxymoron.

[bunkerputt]

I've at times played a little draw because I thought it was the best shot-shape off the tee. If I try to draw it a "little more", it starts turning left and just never stops. So I play a fade whenever I can. I can fade it more before it becomes a slice and I lose it right. The only time I play a big hook intentionally is when I hook one off the tee inadvertently. It usually requires another one to get up to the green, and I'm confident I can do it again. Sometimes I'll try to draw one around a dogleg left, end up hooking it a bit in the treeline on the left, and have to hit a low hook-punch to advance the ball. Other than that I try to avoid them. They usually end up bad for me.

[Dub]

I played today with my 10 year old son.


First hole I hit a high drive that got up and went 20 yds left of the fairway. There was a large pine in between my ball and the pin. I was about 180 yds out.

My son looked at the ball and said, "Easy shot ....just hit it below the branches and then let it hook back to the green." "Yeah, right....very easy" I said.

Used 3 hybrid and lined up the face with the green (closed) but aligned my body to the right edge of the fairway. I swung smoothly and relaxed with a low finish/follow-through around my body.

The ball came out wide of the tree and below the danger and kept rising....at the lower-than-normal apex it began working back to the left and dropped to the front-right fringe of the green.

I made a nice chip and a short putt to clean up the par.

I wish I could say that every hole played this smoothly.

[Jay-Bird]

I often play a power draw. I just adjust my swing plane so I'm hitting the ball slightly from the inside, and I finish the swing a bit lower.

[enarhi]

I align to the where I want to start the ball and then swing from the inside with the club tracking on a slightly more inside slot. I mainly focus on keeping my left elbow (I'm a lefty) tucked next to my side on the downswing, throwing it out along the target line upon release. Release timing and the extent/height of my follow-through can then be used to change trajectory and amount of draw/hook.

[iWALK18]

I take a club too much and I choke down, making the grip smaller and easier to rotate. I then take some practice swings rehearsing the shot. I only take the club 3/4 of the way back, cut off the follow through, and feel the extra release in the hands the shot takes.

[Adumb]

I assume my normal grip rotate my hands very slightly to the right causing my clubface to be closed at impact, and I take a normal swing. This works well with the fade too, except I rotate my hands to the left slightly. (If you're left-handed the rotation will be opposite)

[lynchjo]

Check out this video on how to hit a power draw.

This easy to follow video is designed to help you learn the draw golf shot. This shot is so powerful it will fix your slice and let you hit the ball further than ever before.

Play well.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I over-cook a draw setup. I move my trailing foot back an extra half step or so to ensure an inside out path. This also closes my stance. From there i just take a normal swing, but i make sure to turn my forearms over extra good in the realse. This ball usually doenst go very high, but as long as it hooked, i usually get a reasonable result.