Hooks and slices are two of the most common golfing mistakes that beginners encounter. The good thing about these two errors is that they are relatively easy to fix and will immediately shave strokes off of your game.

Before getting into the mechanics of how to correct a hook or a slice, it is best to go over why each happens. A hook is the result of hitting the ball with a closed clubface while a slice is from an open face. Plainly put, the ball goes either to the right or to the left rather than straight. Rather than hitting the ball squarely, both of these errors are the result of an angled club face. This angle causes the ball to spin in a particular manner which is referred to as either a slice or hook, depending on direction.

How to fix it:

Grip: Too firm of a grip can cause a hook while too weak of a grip will cause a slice. If a golfer employs a deathlike firm grip on the club, their dominant arm will cause the club’s face to hit the ball at a closed angle. A weak grip results in an open face. It is imperative to experiment with your grip to find a happy medium to avoid unintentional hooks or slices.

No two golfers will grip their clubs exactly the same way, however there are some general guidelines and schools of thought on the matter.  Starting with your clubface squarely aligned with your target, look down. If you are right-handed you should see at most 2-3 of the knuckles on your left hand.   There should also be a “V” shaped area formed in the space between your index and thumb fingers on both hands. This “V” will point towards your right shoulder or ear area. (If left-handed reverse the above directions.)

Stance: Once you have figured out the correct grip, it is important to take a look at your stance. An incorrect stance can also cause your ball to stray off of the target line. First things first, where are your feet pointing? If they are not aligned with the target, you are bound to hook or slice. Next, check that your shoulders are squarely set with your feet. 

It can be hard to see if you’re actually lining up properly with your target. Try placing a club down in line with your target, then take a step back and see if it is indeed aimed correctly. If not, readjust the club and take note of the difference. Noticing what precise detail makes it in line with your target will help improve your ability to line yourself up correctly.  You want your body (feet, shoulders and hips) to be parallel to the club and therein parallel to your target.

Swing: A solid swing is fundamental to any golfer’s game and requires always taking note of the target line. The target line marks your clubs ideal path and hooks or slices occur when your swing veers from the path at the start of your backswing. (You’ll have a slice if you are too outside of the line and conversely a hook if the swing is too much on the inside).  Ideally the club’s shaft should be directly over your shoulder during the backswing.
 
For the downswing, there needs to be a shift in weight from your back to your front foot. Weight on the back foot can also be the cause of a hook. While shifting weight, you are turning your body. At this part of the swing your hands/arms need to be relaxed to ensure a fluid motion for the shot to follow the target line.   

The positives of a hook:

The good thing about a hook shot is that once you truly understand why it is happening and how to make it happen on purpose, it is a great tool in your golf arsenal. An intentional slight hook, also called a draw, can be used to get the ball on the fairway in certain situations.

In golf it is particularly true that small changes can have big results. When correcting a slice or hook this is even more so the case. Try going to the driving range and experimenting with different grips, stances, even the tension in your arms and take note of the effects. Controlling a hook or slice will take time, but it is the accumulation of these little changes that will impact your overall game.