A hook is a golf shot where the ball flies initially to the right of the intended target and then curves to the left and finishes on the left of the intended target.
It is caused by swinging your golf club across your target line rather than directly along the target line. To explain this, put an alignment pole or a golf club on the floor to represent the line that you want the golf ball to fly down to the target. If you are hitting a hook, you are swinging your golf club with an in to out swing path. Swing path simply means the club head’s direction of travel through impact.
An in to out swing path means that the club head is approaching the golf ball from the inside of the target line, or the side of the line that you are standing on and then striking the golf ball and moving across the target line to the outside, or far side following impact. As you are swinging the club head in this direction, the club face is aiming to the left of the club head’s swing path, but right of the target. The club face aim is 85% responsible for the ball flight and with the face aiming right of the target, the ball starts in this direction initially. However, because the face is aiming left of the direction of travel this imparts tilted axis spin on to the golf ball which results in the golf ball curving to the left during its flight. The greater the difference between the club’s swing path and club face aim, the greater the curve in the ball’s flight.
To correct a hook, you simply need to swing the club head straight along the target line with the club face aiming at the target. This will produce a straight golf shot. To improve your swing path, or club head’s direction of travel, create a swing channel for the club head to swing through. Take six golf balls and place two of these one inch to the left of the golf ball. Place one ball two inches outside the target line and the other two inches inside it. Place another two golf balls one inch to the right of the golf ball that is going to be hit and place one ball two inches outside the target line and the other two inches inside it. Place the final two balls in line with the golf ball that is going to be hit, one two inches on the outside of the target line and the other two inches on the inside. Make some slow swings and work on swinging the golf club head between the six balls in the channel without hitting any of them. Once you are feeling more confident with the new action, gradually build your swing speed back up and then begin hitting golf balls from within the channel.
The second drill that you can work on to improve a hook is to take your driver head cover and place it one inch to the right of the golf ball (for right handed golfers) on the inside of the target line. You should be able to swing the club head around on your backswing and then swing back down around it on the far side of it as you swing through impact. Initially, swing slowly and gradually build your swing back up, making sure that you do not hit the head cover. Work on keeping the club face aiming at the target as you do this and you will begin hitting straighter golf shots.
Finally, you can also work on this drill. Place an alignment pole on the left side of the golf ball about three feet towards the target. Push the pole into the ground and lean it at about a 45 degree angle on the inside of the target line. Make a swing and work on keeping the club just underneath the pole on the left side of you. Do this slowly at first and keep the club face up towards the pole. The club head is travelling under the pole with the club face upwards towards it. As your confidence with this movement improves, build your swing speed back up and begin to hit golf balls making the same movement.
All three of these drills will improve your swing path and club face position through impact and you will begin hitting much straighter golf shots and cure your hook.