A hook is a shot that curves hard from right to left for a right-handed golfer (left to right for a lefty), usually because the clubface is closed to the swing path at impact. A little curve that way is a draw and is often on purpose. A hook curves too much, starts left or bends left fast, and usually ends up in trouble.
What is a hook in golf?
A hook is the opposite of a slice. Where a slice spins the ball weakly to the right, a hook spins it hard to the left. Hooks also tend to fly lower and run farther once they land, which is why a hooked drive can end up in the left rough or out of bounds even when it was hit solidly.
Golfers use a few related words:
- Draw: a controlled right-to-left curve. See draw vs fade.
- Pull hook: starts left of the target and curves even farther left. The worst version.
- Snap hook or duck hook: a hook that dives left almost immediately and stays low.
- Push draw: starts right and curves back toward the target. Many good players aim for this.
What causes a hook?
Ball flight comes down to two things at impact: where the clubface points and which direction the club is moving (the path). The face has the bigger say in where the ball starts. The difference between face and path sets the curve. When the face is closed relative to the path, the ball curves left. The more closed, the more it hooks.
The usual causes we see:
- A grip that is too strong. Both hands turned too far to the right on the handle make it easy to shut the face through impact.
- A path that is too far in to out. Many players who fixed a slice overcorrect and now swing out to the right while the face closes.
- Hands flipping at the bottom. If the body stalls, the hands take over and close the face quickly.
- Ball too far back in the stance with the driver, which encourages an inside path and a closed face.
- Equipment. A heavy draw-bias driver, a shaft that is too soft or too light for your speed, a lie angle that is too upright on irons, or grips that are too thin can all add left curve.
How do you fix a hook?
Start with the cheapest fixes and work up.
- Check the grip. For a right-handed player, you should see about two knuckles on the left hand at address, not three or four. Make sure the V's formed by your thumbs and index fingers point roughly between your chin and right shoulder.
- Check alignment. Lay a club on the ground along your toes. Hookers often aim right to make room for the curve, which makes the in-to-out path worse.
- Keep turning through the ball. Feel your chest face the target at the finish. When the body keeps rotating, the hands do not have to flip.
- Tee drill. Put a tee in the ground about a foot in front of the ball and slightly left of your target line. Try to swing over it. This shallows out an exaggerated in-to-out path.
- Look at the clubs. If your driver is set to a draw setting or is a draw-bias model, move the weight to neutral or try a neutral head. If your irons are too upright, a lie check is cheap. A shaft that matches your speed can also tighten dispersion. Our shaft flex guide covers how to tell.
Is a hook better than a slice?
Many coaches would rather fix a hook than a slice, because a hook usually means the player is already releasing the club and swinging from the inside, which are signs of a decent swing. A hook also tends to carry more distance. The downside is that a hook runs, so a bad one finds more trouble than a bad slice does.
Where the term comes from
Nobody has pinned down exactly when golfers started calling this shot a hook. The image is simple: the ball's flight bends like a hook. The same word turns up in other sports for a curving or swinging motion, such as the hook punch in boxing, which Etymonline dates to 1898. We could not find a reliable first recorded use in golf, so we won't make one up.
FAQ
What is the difference between a hook and a draw?
Both curve right to left for a right-hander. A draw is gentle and controlled. A hook curves too much and is usually a miss.
Can a driver fix a hook?
A driver can't fix a swing, but it can make a hook worse or better. Draw-bias drivers add left curve. A neutral head, or moving adjustable weight away from the heel toward neutral or fade, helps reduce it.
Why do I hook my driver but not my irons?
The driver has the least loft, so it shows sidespin the most. It is also the longest club, so face and path errors grow. Many golfers also play the driver with a stronger grip or ball too far back.
Is a hook the same for left-handed golfers?
Yes, just mirrored. For a lefty, a hook curves hard from left to right.
More golf words in our golf terms glossary. Looking for a straighter driver? Browse used drivers, each listed with exact loft, shaft and condition.
