The objective in golf is to get the ball into the hole in the fewest number of strokes. Hooks and slices curve the ball away from a straight path, often landing the ball off the fairway or in a disadvantageous position for the following shot. Although the causes of hooks and slices are usually easy to identify, correcting the problem can take a lot of practice.
Slices and Hooks
For a right-handed golfer, a slice is a ball that curves sharply to the right after impact, while a hook curves sharply to the left. For a left-handed golfer, the terminology is reversed, with hooks curving to the right. A ball with a curvature not as severe as a slice is a "fade," while a ball that hooks less severely is a "draw."
Club Face at Impact
A ball will curve in flight if the club face hits it at an angle, rather than squarely. The cause of a slice is an "open" club face, in which the toe of the club is a behind the heel of the club at impact. The cause of a hook is a "closed" club face, in which toe of the club face reaches the ball slightly before the heel. In both cases, the club imparts side-spin to the ball, which makes the ball curve in the direction of the spin.
Grip and Address
Sometimes the cause of a hook or slice is in the grip or address of the golfer before a swing. A "weak" grip, in which the hands are too far to the left, encourages a golfer to open the club face during the backswing, leading to a slice. Similarly, too "strong" a grip, in which the hands are too far to the right, can encourage closure of the club face during a swing, resulting in a hook.
Swing Plane
To hit the ball without a hook or slice, take the club back on a plane that will return it to the ball squarely. An "out-to-in" swing plane, in which you take the club back away from your body, encourages you to pull the club back toward your the body as it approaches impact, resulting in a slashing motion of the club face across the ball. This imparts side-spin and usually results in a slice.
Body Movement
Over-rotation of one part of the body during a golf swing often opens or closes the club face. When the lower body moves toward the ball before the upper body, the club face tends to open, resulting in a slice. Similarly, if the upper body moves too far in advance of the lower body, the club face tends to close, resulting in a hook.
Member Comments