How A Hook Can Control Your Slice

You just sliced your opening tee shot 30 yards to the right into the trees. If this is your normal shot shape, you have a couple of choices: For the rest of the day, you can aim 30 or more yards left so the ball has a chance of ending up in the fairway, or you can understand why your ball slices 30 yards and correct the problem.

Let’s choose the second option and talk about why you slice and how you can correct it.

The reason the golf ball slices is because your clubface is open, or looking to the right of, the direction the club is moving through the impact zone. How do you correct this? Based on the thousands of lessons I have given, the most effective way to eliminate your slice is to learn how to hit big hooks.

To hit a hook, you must ensure that the clubface is closed, or looking to the left of, the direction the club moves through the impact zone. Assuming you have an acceptable grip, the simplest way to close the clubface through impact is to rotate your forearms (and consequently the clubface) counter-clockwise well prior to impact.

Word of caution: Don’t be satisfied with reducing or eliminating your slice; you must learn to really hook the ball, curving it at least 20 yards to the left, if you want permanent change to take place.

The feelings of hooking and slicing should be greatly different, and once you can hook and slice at will, you will want to practice hooking and slicing to different targets.

Another word of caution: Learning to hook the golf ball will not automatically lower your scores – you must now learn how to adjust your distances and how to aim properly before seeing those scores go down.

Dr. Eric C. Wilson, PGA Legacy Master Professional, is Executive Director of Golf Operations at Keiser University College of Golf. He welcomes your questions at ewilson@keiseruniversity.edu