So some of you may or may not have read our very first blog post about why you may not need to ditch your slice. This post is a follow-up to that, except for hooks! The game of golf is challenging, and it can be hard to get something consistent going, so when you do, it’s hard to want to get rid of it. So you’re a hooker; it’s not the worst thing in the world, it can help with length, and you certainly can play it, especially if it’s a 20 or 30-yard hook instead of a 50 or 60-yard hook. How do you play it, though? Well, it’s pretty simple, aim right! Thanks for coming to my TED Talk!
What is a Hook
Okay, so it isn’t just as simple as aiming right, swinging away, and letting it hook. First, we should understand what makes a hook. A hook is an exaggerated draw, or the ball goes from right to left for a right-handed player and left to right for a left-handed player. A hook is caused by a large difference in the clubface and the club path, with the path far right of the clubface for a righty and a path really far left of the club face for a lefty. Ball flight is determined by face and path. The face determines where the ball starts, and the path determines the trajectory it takes. So the face sends it, and the path bends it. When the path is right of the face, you hit a draw; when the path is left of the face, you hit a fade. Switch those around if you are a lefty. That is what creates a hook; now that you know, we can discuss how to play it.
Why Controlling a Hook can be a good thing
Controlling a hook can lead to some pretty cool shots that you can hit. It can get you out of all kinds of trouble and gives you some extra distance! A hook will always roll out a ton; it generally stays a little lower and hits the ground going hard, while a slice will go higher and hit the ground softly when it lands. So when I am playing, and there is a long hole or just need to add extra distance, and the hole is wide open, I will close my stance and play a big sweeping hook to gain more distance. I will also use a hook to get out of trouble, even hit a green from behind a tree. Being able to hook the ball is a beneficial skill in your arsenal. It may not always be the best shot to hit, but the need will arise to hit a hook.
Play Your Miss
Having a hook is not a bad thing; in fact, it can be a great thing! Especially if you can produce that shot every single time and you know that the miss is going to be left. Having a one-way miss is one of the best things you can have in golf. We all miss, we all make mistakes, the best players you see on TV miss shots. The difference between them and you is that they know how to play their misses. Instead of going at every pin and hoping they don’t miss, they play their miss, and if they hit a great shot, they leave themselves a 15 to 20 footer, and if they miss, they have a good chance at the pin. So if you hook the ball, don’t worry about fixing it so much as playing it.
CTRL Swing Master
The best way to learn to play your shot and hit your shot more consistently is, without a doubt, the CTRL Swing Master. It is the best training aid on the market. With the CTRL Swing Master, you can learn how to hit your best shot every single time. That is the trick to playing better golf and playing your hook. If you know what the ball will do every single time, you play better golf. It is just that simple. The CTRL Swing Master is the best training aid on the market and the only one that learns what you do best and gives feedback to do that every single time. CTRL believes in getting everyone to master their perfect swing!
Conclusion
So you’re a hooker; who cares! Do you booboo. Go ahead, aim right, aim way right of your target, knowing that if you miss, it’s going further left, and swing away. Get out of your way and play the shot you got. If life gives you lemons, don’t try to make orange juice; make lemonade! If you need to be more consistent, buy the only real consistency-building golf training aid, the CTRL Swing Master.
