BackswingGripHook Driver Intermediate ⏱ 4 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Closed face at the top of the backswing: controlling your hook

Name: Closed face at the top of the backswing: controlling your hook
Uploaded: 2022-08-01T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 3 min 33 s
Description: In three minutes, Swing Quest goes over three key aspects of the hook: the grip, the clubface at the top of the backswing, and how the club approaches impact. It includes a racket exercise to do in front of a mirror.

In three minutes, Swing Quest goes over three key aspects of the hook: the grip, the clubface at the top of the backswing, and how the club approaches impact. It includes a racket exercise to do in front of a mirror.

▶

Swing Quest Golf · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

2 minSame problemJustin Rose's ball drill: rotating without liftingJustin Rose · Intermediate 16 minSame problemJon Rahm's Short Driver Backswing ExplainedJon Rahm · Intermediate / Expert 14 minSame problemCollin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the TargetCollin Morikawa · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

The hook has a simple cause: upon impact, the The front is closed in relation to the target and the club path. First thing to check: the grip. While this isn't a universal rule, many golfers who hook the ball have a strong grip, left hand too high with too many knuckles showing, right hand too low.

Second check: the face in top of the backswing. If it faces the sky, it’s closed; if it follows the line of the left wrist and arm, it’s neutral. Exercise: Hold a tennis or squash racket in your left hand and stand in front of a mirror. Third check: the moment of impact. If the hands move forward and the club gets stuck behind them, the clubface flips and closes. The instruction: from the top of the swing, the arms drop first, and then the body turns.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Check your grip: fewer visible knuckles on your left hand, and your right hand should be positioned lower.
Hold a racket in your left hand and take a full backswing in front of a mirror.
Make sure the racket face follows the back of your left wrist and arm.
Reproduce the same position with your club.
From the top, first let your arms drop, then rotate your body.
Hit a few balls while keeping the club in front of you as you swing down.

Key Takeaways

Hook: facing away from the target and the path.

A strong grip, with the left hand positioned too high, is often the cause.

At the top of the swing, a clubface pointing toward the sky is closed.

Neutral side: aligned with the back of the left wrist and left arm.

Club stuck behind the hands: the clubface flips at impact.

First the arms drop, then the body turns.

Mistakes to Avoid

A grip that shows too many knuckles on the left hand.
A clubface pointing toward the sky at the top of the backswing.
A player who moves on too soon and leaves the club behind.
Hands that react instinctively at the moment of impact to save the shot.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

Grip Control
Left-handed tennis swing in front of a mirror
Arms that drop before the body rotates

Your Questions

How can I tell if my clubface is closed at the top of the backswing?

If it points toward the sky, it is closed. When neutral, it follows the angle of the back of the left wrist and arm; when pointing toward the ground, it is open.

What is the purpose of the racket in this exercise?

When held in your left hand, it naturally falls into the correct position. Stand in front of a mirror to see if its front aligns with the back of your wrist.

What does “let your arms drop first” mean?

From the top of the swing, your arms come down before your body rotates. The club stays in front of you instead of getting stuck behind you, and you have better control over the clubface.

Learn More

All “Backswing” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Grip” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Hook” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you

Video posted on YouTube by its creator. Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.