Why do I slice the golf ball?
Ball flight
All golf questions
Ball flight
Why do I hook the golf ball?
The short answer
A hook curves strongly toward the lead side: left for a right-handed golfer, right for a left-handed golfer. On a centred strike, a face pointing to the lead side of the club's path helps explain the curve. A hook does not automatically mean the clubface was pointing left of the target for a right-hander.
What to check first
01
Identify the type of hook
A right-handed shot that begins right and curves left is different from one that starts left and curves farther left. Note the starting line before choosing a correction. Mirror the directions for a left-handed golfer.
02
Look at face contact first
Check a series of strikes with an appropriate face marker. A driver strike toward the toe can contribute to draw curvature through gear effect. That needs a different investigation from a consistently centred strike with excessive face-to-path separation.
03
Check the target and setup
Make sure the face is not already aimed unintentionally toward the lead side. Review the grip and ball position against your normal setup without declaring one grip style wrong. A stronger grip can be a functional match-up for one golfer and unhelpful for another.
04
Investigate the delivery rather than guessing
Video can show whether your movement changed between a playable shot and a hook. If available, measured club path, face angle and impact location give a more direct impact comparison. Ball flight alone cannot prove that the hips stalled or the hands flipped.
Try this in practice
Choose a generous target and a mid-iron. At reduced speed, record five shots with their start, curve and strike location. Establish the baseline before making one purposeful adjustment. Retest with the same club before moving to full-speed driver swings.
What to measure
Track the number of shots that cross your chosen lead-side boundary, along with their start direction. The objective is a dependable playable pattern, not a requirement to make every shot perfectly straight.
Keep the conclusion proportionate
Trying to hold the face open aggressively can create a different miss or disrupt contact. Identify whether the issue is strike, face delivery, path or their combination before choosing a long-term change.
Sources and further reading
The definitions and coaching principles above draw on these primary resources. Practice tasks and numerical examples are STROKES GPD educational illustrations.
Bring evidence to your next review.
Review your swing on video for a movement question, or use the free golf scorecard to identify a recurring on-course pattern.
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