You're Correct!

The hook shot is the exact opposite of a slice and can be just as destructive to both the score card and psyche.

The hook starts right of the target before curving left during flight to finish well left of the target. Golfers struggling with a hook and looking for a cure first need to understand what is happening at impact. The main factors to be paid attention to are club face angle and club path.

To produce a hook, the swing path must be from in-to-out. This will cause the club to swing toward the right of the target line. For the curvature to occur and send the ball left, the club face must be closed both the path and target.

There are a number of possible faults which could cause the hook to occur, check these aspects of your game first.

Strong Grip

An overly strong grip will see the hands force the club face closed at impact. A grip would be at its strongest when looking down at address - the left hand is wrapped over on top of the grip with all four knuckles visible and the right hand is tucked underneath the grip with no knuckles visible.

As a general rule of thumb, golfers need to see two and half knuckles on the left hand and one and a half knuckles on the right hand. In this position, the Vs created by the left thumb and forefinger and the right thumb and forefinger should point up at the right shoulder. This is a neutral grip.

Swing Path Fault

For a hook to occur, the club must be traveling on an in-to-out swing path. The correct swing path for a straight shot is slightly inside-to-square-to-inside. Use this drill to help change your swing path.

• To groove the inside-to-square-to-inside swing path, place a line of tee-pegs or a small box just outside the ball
• By hitting balls with the tee-pegs or box on the outside its easier to groove a more consistent inside-to-square-to-inside swing path
• If any of the pegs or box is hit, the club will still be traveling on an out-to-in swing path

Hitting hooks is never a nice feeling. Check the club face angle and path first to help cure the problem.

An out to in swing path will move the club across the body and left of the target. If the club face is closed to this path, a pull hook would be produced. The pull hook starts left of the target and curves further left in the air.

Swinging the club from in to out is required to hit a hook shot. However, if the club face is square to the path then the ball will start right and fly straight right. This is a push shot.

Many golfers believe that a heel contact with the ground causes the club to dig in and flip over. This is not the case, however, as the left ball flight is caused by face plane tilt. This basically means when the toe of the club rises at impact, the club face will point more to the left.