Driving · Tip
Picture a New Swing Arc to Stop Pull Hooks
Part of our driving programs for hook, push or pull, not enough distance. Build a program with it
A pull hook starts left and goes farther left. That tells you two things. Your path is moving left. And your face is closed. Rather than chasing positions, change the picture in your head. Imagine the clubhead drawing an arc that exits out to the right after impact. Make practice swings along that line. Keep the face a bit more open through the ball than feels normal. Then hit balls and watch the start line.
Step by step
- Note that your misses start left.
- Picture the club exiting out to the right.
- Make practice swings along that arc.
- Hold the face a little more open.
- Check for a straighter start.
Why it works
A pull hook starts left because the path is moving left, and it curves farther left because the face is closed to that path. When you picture the clubhead exiting out to the right, you change the direction the club travels through the ball. A path that swings more to the right, with a face held a bit more open, starts the ball closer to the target and takes away much of the left curve.
Common mistakes
- You only picture the arc and never make practice swings along it.Make several slow practice swings that follow the exit line before you hit each ball.
- You steer the club right with your hands and the face flips shut at impact.Let the body turn carry the club along the arc and keep the face steady through the ball.
- You open the face so much that the ball now starts right.Hold the face only a little more open than normal and adjust in small steps based on the start line.
How you'll know it's working
- Your shots start closer to the target line instead of left of it.
- The ball curves less to the left, or finishes straight or with a slight fade.
- Your divot, if you take one, points less to the left of your target.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Lay a club or alignment stick on the ground along the exit line and make your practice swings beside it.
Harder: Hit shots with a driver off a tee while picking a start line in advance, and aim to start every ball on that line.
Common questions
Why does my driver pull hook?
A pull hook happens when the club path moves left and the face is closed to that path. The ball starts left and curves farther left.
How do I stop pulling the ball left with my driver?
Picture the clubhead exiting out to the right after impact and hold the face a bit more open through the ball. Make practice swings along that arc, then watch whether your start line improves.
