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Hook

By Brent Kelley, About.com

Hook Trajectory

The hook ball flight for a right-handed golfer.

Illustration by William Glessner
Definition: "Hook" describes a trajectory or ball flight in which the golf ball starts out to the right (for a right-handed golfer) before curving severely back to the left and missing its target to the left. (Reverse those directions for left-handed golfers.) A hook is the opposite of the slice. Hooks are often the bane of amateur golfers and, for amateurs, can be tough to straighten out. A popular golf saying is, "You can talk to a slice but a hook won't listen."

Also see: Quick tips for diagnosing your hook

Also Known As: The "duck hook" and "snap hook" are variations on the theme, and indicate severity.
Examples: The Golf Guide hooked his tee shot into the trees on the left side of the fairway.

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