How To Fix A Hook In Your Golf Swing
Golf can be an enjoyable game that provides players with a wide range of benefits, including improved health, relaxation, and socialization. However, it also can be a very challenging sport if your technique is not up to par. Basking Ridge Country Club, a private club in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, offers players golf tips and […]
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Golf can be an enjoyable game that provides players with a wide range of benefits, including improved health, relaxation, and socialization. However, it also can be a very challenging sport if your technique is not up to par. Basking Ridge Country Club, a private club in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, offers players golf tips and teaching programs to help correct their swing and improve their scores. Here, we discuss what causes a hook shot and the steps you can take to correct your golf swing.
What Is A Golf Hook, And What Causes It?
For right-handed golfers, a hook shot starts to the right of the intended target then quickly veers toward the left of the target during flight. Left-handed golfers experience the opposite. For them, the ball begins traveling to the left of the target then sharply changes course and lands to the right of it.
Identifying the root of a swing error requires players to view their mechanics and see where they are lacking the correct technique. Mechanics golfers should pay attention to include:
Golf Club Grip
Learning how to grip a golf club properly is key. Inconsistencies within your grip can be the reason you’re hooking the ball. A proper grip should be firm but not overly strong. A golfer with too strong a grip can result in their hands and forearms being turned away from their target when they make contact with the ball. Players should take a look at their grip before they begin their swing to ensure the Vs that form between the thumb and index finger on each hand are pointing straight up rather than toward their rear shoulder.
Golf Club Alignment
After inspecting your grip, you will next want to check your alignment and where your club is facing in relation to your target. If a player is consistently hooking the ball, it could be because they are aiming their club to the right of the target, encouraging an inside/out stroke path. Golfers should double-check their alignment right before they swing.
Golf Swing Mechanics
A golfer who fails to turn their body all the way through the shot, while not properly shifting their weight forward, is another likely reason for hook shots. What this means is the body stops turning but the club doesn’t. This results in the clubface closing and hitting the ball at an incorrect point. To correct this, make sure you are finishing your swing with the middle of your chest facing forward while distributing your weight forward off your back foot as you turn.
Practice Drills To Correct Your Golf Swing
Correcting your golf swing takes practice, whether you’re a seasoned player with established swing habits or a beginner just learning the mechanics of the game. This can be done by incorporating drills into your practice rounds or at the driving range. Drills you can perform to correct a hook include:
Left-Hand Drill
A golfer who over-releases the club at impact often will see consistent hooks in their swing. To correct this tendency, golfers can practice hitting the ball with their non-dominant hand. Players may find this drill difficult in the beginning as it may be hard to break natural tendencies. However, golfers who consistently practice this drill can reduce the dominance of their hand, giving them a more stable swing and clubface upon impact.
Short Punches
Golfers who tend to follow through with their swing to the right, resulting in wrist over-rotation, can benefit from incorporating short punch shots into their practice routine. By doing so, players will practice keeping their arms in a more neutral position. The resulting action is a more accurate swing path through ball impact. With practice, golfers will notice they are no longer over-rotating their wrists and keeping the clubface from closing. After players have mastered this technique on short-punch shots, they can then practice using longer-range clubs and full swings.
Receive Personalized Guidance From A Golf Professional
Golfers who frequently hook the ball can correct this error by incorporating the proper corrections and techniques — and by getting a little help from an experienced professional. Through our golf academy at Basking Ridge Country Club in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, members can receive golf distance, swing, and hook advice with the hands-on training provided by our professional staff. To learn more about the training programs we offer and how we can help you improve your golf game, contact us today.
The post How To Fix A Hook In Your Golf Swing appeared first on Basking Ridge Country Club.