The dreaded golf hook. What is a hook? Its a golf shot that curves to the left for a right handed player and curves right for a left handed player. Many golfers find themselves off the fairway after the hook The hook shot is the one golfers most common golf shot miss hits .
The hook is a very frustrating shot for many golfers and most don’t try to correct the shot. Most golfers make the mistake of not setting goals on improving their golf game. Then no wonder their scores never improve. A hook most commonly happens when a golfer’s swing is too much from the right to the left or outside in. This causes the club face to not open too much and drives the ball left or hooks it.
Another cause of a hook is the golf club hitting the ball with too closed of face. Grip adjustments explained below is a major cause of a hook along with the inside to outside swing.
So what are the problems a golfer does that causes the hook? A hook shot is often caused by the following factors either or more:
1) The golfer swings his club not in the target line target line that goes but swings to the left (outside in)
2) A hook can be caused by a bad grip on the club. (with the grip having the club face to closed)
3) A closed club face (meaning the club face points to much to the left with a right to left to right (right-hander) movement of the club (again off target line).
Ball Position
Make sure the golf ball is in line with your forward shoulder (left shoulder for right handers). Many golfers that have a hook problem have the position of the ball to far forward in relation to their front shoulder. With the position of the golf ball in line with the front shoulder you will be allowing the club face to hit the ball at a more aligned ( square angle ) as
opposed to the club face being angle to the left if the ball is positioned further forward from the front shoulder. Also with the ball in position of the front shoulder will give your club more of an ascention (lift) on the hit as opposed to a descention on a ball that’s positioned too far back.
The Grip
Try loosening your grip especially your right hand. The grip is very important. Especially in how closed the club face is when you strike the ball. That would mean is the club face going to strike the ball dead on or cocked too much too the left. If the club face is on the other hand cocked too much to the left a hook shot would happen.
If the grip is too far too the left the club face will be more open pointing the tip of the club face too far to the right. So when lining up to take your shot pay close attention to the grip and the position of the club face. Adjust your grip one way or another on the club shaft making sure your club face is in position that the club face will hit the ball straight on. Also make sure your club face stays in the correct position throughout your swing.
Stance
On hook a golfers stance is most often is caused by a shift too far to the left which will cause the golfer to swing in a direction to be to far to the right. That is the the golfers swing instead of being straight on would be from the right to the left kind of a out of line swing (picture instead of a straight shot picture a inside to out swing).
Checking a stance many golfers do not realize what a correct stance is and what a correct swing is. with a grip can many times correct a hook. Make sure your club face is square to the target line to the hole.
Also what can be helpful is to have your shoulders and feet lined up to the hole. Sometimes the stance alone will correct the hook. Another tip as your looking down your club shaft you want to be able to see two or more knuckles. Take some practice shots and let the line of the ball be your guidance with these tips.
Backswing Checking
A stance with a grip can many times correct a hook. Make sure your club face is square to the target line to the hole. Also what can be helpful is to have your shoulders and feet lined up to the hole. Sometimes the stance alone will correct the hook. Another tip as your looking down your club shaft you want to be able to see two or more knuckles. Take some practice shots and let the line of the ball be your guidance with these tips.
Another factor to consider when the ball is hooking is your back swing. If your back swing is too steep or at an angle coming to the ground. Many times the golfer will hit the ground. To adjust the golfer will then adjust his club face in. Again wrong. Too see if your hitting the ball to steep make sure on the back swing the club face is over the back of the shoulder and not over the head (which is to high).
The Downsing
The last thing to check to correct a slice is for the golfer to check the downswing (after grip, stance, and back swing). Correcting the grip, stance, and back swing explained earlier will collect a large percentage of hooks. Another trick would be to keep the right arm next to the rib cage as long as possible throughout the golf swing.
Also try swing directly over the top of the ball when you start your downswing. For most golfers this will allow the club face a better chance to hit the ball square. Also slow down the speed of your swing so you know that you have the proper form described. Your swing should start from your hips and let your arms and hands follow along.
Get on the correct swing plane
You want your takeaway to have the club head on the outside of your hands. Mentally focus on keeping the clubhead outside your hands. This may feel unusual but you are forcing swing and the clubface to be on a more inside path. Also visualize which direction you want the ball to go in.
Try visualizing if you were a baseball batter at the plate playing baseball. Try to hit focus hitting the ball to left field. Practice and then see where the ball goes. It might start to go straight instead of a hook to the the left.Practice your swing without hitting the ball with this new swing until it feels comfortable.
Conclusion
Let the flight of the golf ball be your guide to adjustments. Get out there on the golf course or driving range (or other) and practice correcting your golf hook by making adjustments using the several tips in this article. You may be pleasantly surprised that just a minor correct may correct your hook. (A good post that gives the best golf swing release tips is highly recommended.)
Once you correct your hook with the right adjustment (grip , stance, holding of the club face) the new swing movement may feel a little unusual. But be confident that after time your new adjustment will feel natural.
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