Stop Hooking
It
The ball starts right and curves hard left — sometimes into trouble, sometimes out of bounds. Most golfers try to fix hooks with swing thoughts. The real fix is in the path, the face, and the release. Here's how it works.
The Hook Is a Face-Path Problem
A hook happens when the clubface is closed relative to the swing path at impact. The ball starts in the direction the face is pointing, then curves because of the spin axis created by the difference between face angle and path direction.
On a launch monitor, you see: swing path direction, face angle at impact, and face-to-path relationship. Most recreational golfers who hook have one of two patterns: an inside-out path with a face that closes too much, or a face that's actively closing through impact.
Get TrackMan Analysis →Over-Rotating the Face
The wrists release too early or too aggressively in the downswing. The face ends up pointing left of where the path is moving at impact.
Inside-Out Path
An inside-out swing path combined with a square or slightly closed face naturally produces a draw or hook shape. The path provides the power — the face controls the start direction.
Strong Grip
A grip with the hands turned too far to the right (for right-handers) makes it physically difficult to keep the face open through impact. The stronger the grip, the more likely the face closes before the club reaches the ball.
Timing / Release Issues
Coming "over the top" with a late release. The body releases the arms and club too late — the hands rotate past the ball before the club arrives, closing the face hard.
How to Fix a Hook
Grip Check — Neutral First
Start with a neutral grip. At address, you should see 2–3 knuckles of your left hand (for right-handers). If you see more, your grip is strong. If you see the palm, it's too strong. A neutral grip is the foundation of face control.
Hold the Release
The hook often comes from an aggressive, early release. Practice holding the wrist hinge through the downswing and releasing the club just before impact — not at the top of the backswing. On a video, this feels like "keeping the clubface looking at you" longer.
Path Awareness
Most hookers have an inside-out path — which is actually a powerful path. The issue is the face closing too fast relative to that path. Focus on the face staying open relative to the path, not the path changing.
Impact Tape
Apply impact tape to the clubface. A hook pattern shows marks on the heel side of center. As you fix the pattern, marks move toward the toe. That visual feedback keeps you honest during practice.
Related Shots
Draw Golf
Controlled right-to-left. Sometimes a hook is just a draw taken too far. Understanding the difference helps you control both.
Slicemydrive
The opposite problem: ball goes right. If you're hitting hooks, you probably also have a slice tendency — working on both at once is common.
Golf Fixes
General swing fixes and diagnosis. The hook fix fits into a broader swing improvement framework.
"The hook is a friend to the pro and an enemy to the amateur. It goes further, stops faster, and with the right timing is one of the best shots in golf. The problem for most golfers is they hit it unintentionally."
— Dave Pelz, short game and ball-striking instructorFix Your Hook
TrackMan shows the exact face-to-path relationship at impact. See your numbers, know the cause, drill the fix.
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