A golf hook shot occurs when the golf ball starts right of the target (for right handers) and curves back to the left of the target. The golf hook shot is usually the result of improper setup and can be relatively easy to fix. In this article, we provide a few golf hook shot tips and two very useful golf hook shot practice drills to fix this vexing swing fault.
What Causes the Golf Hook Shot?
1. Poor alignment to the target: For example you are aligned too far right of the target.
2. Too strong of a golf grip (i.e., your golf grip is rotated too far to the right on golf club grip). This causes the clubface to close pre-maturely at impact, which sends the ball to the left.
3. Your club swing path is either "out to in" which sends the ball to the left or conversely your club swing path is too much "in to out" and also combined with a closed clubface. An "in to out" swing path and closed club face combination creates counter-clockwise spin on the ball which sends the golf ball to the left.
Great Drills to Fix Golf Hook Shots
LEFT TOE BACK DRILL
Corrects golf hooks caused by excessive IN-OUT swing and encourages proper IN-SQUARE-IN swing path. Also promotes strong balance.
1. Assume your golf setup with 7-iron and without ball.
2. Bring your front foot back and keep your front foot toe on ground. Keep weight on right side.
3. Staying balanced, take 5 to 10 practice swings.
4. Continue drill by hitting balls off tee at half-speed.
HOOK TEE DRILL
Corrects golf hooks caused by excessive IN-OUT swing and encourages proper IN-SQUARE-IN swing path.
1. Place two tees and ball left to right diagonally, creating an IN-SQUARE-IN swing path. Allow about 4"x 4" spacing from each tee to ball.
2. Assume normal setup and ball position with 7-iron.
3. Focus on hitting the golf ball crisply without hitting tees.
4. Hit 5 to 10 practice shots, then return to your normal swing.
5. If you start to hit golf hooks again, simply return to the hook tee drill for 5 to 10 practice shots.
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