Every golfer has been there—you step up confidently, make your swing… and the ball snaps left, balloons right, or digs straight into the turf. Hooks, slices, and fat shots are some of the most common (and frustrating) ball-flight issues golfers face, but the good news is this: they’re usually caused by a handful of fixable swing mistakes.

In this guide, we’ll break down the specific errors that lead to these mishits and how you can correct them to become a more consistent player.

1. What Causes Hooks?

A hook is a shot that curves sharply from right to left (for right-handed golfers). It’s usually more severe than a draw.

Common Swing Mistakes That Cause Hooks

✔ Too Strong of a Grip

A grip where both hands rotate too far to the right can over-close the clubface at impact.

✔ Overactive Hands

If your hands roll excessively through impact, the clubface shuts down quickly.

✔ Swinging Too Far from the Inside

A path that’s too far inside-out encourages the face to rotate closed, producing that big left turn.

How to Fix It

• Neutralize your grip (knuckles 2–2.5 visible on lead hand).
• Feel like you “hold the face off” through impact.
• Rehearse a more neutral swing path using alignment sticks.

2. What Causes Slices?

A slice is a shot that curves dramatically from left to right (for right-handed golfers). For many amateurs, it’s the #1 golf swing complaint.

Common Swing Mistakes That Cause Slices

✔ Open Clubface at the Top or Impact

Weak grip, poor wrist angles, and over-cupping the lead wrist leave the face open.

✔ Over-the-Top Downswing

This classic slice move sends the club outside-in, cutting across the ball.

✔ Poor Weight Transfer

Hanging back on the trail foot adds loft and leaves the face open.

How to Fix It

• Strengthen your grip slightly to square the face earlier.
• Practice dropping the club “in the slot” to neutralize your path.
• Work on shifting weight into your lead side before impact.

3. What Causes Fat Shots?

A fat shot happens when the club hits the ground before the ball—leading to a chunk, a divot too early, or a weak, short result.

Common Swing Mistakes That Cause Fat Shots

✔ Swaying or Sliding in the Backswing

When your upper body drifts, it becomes difficult to return the low point consistently.

✔ Early Release or “Casting”

Throwing the club early widens the arc too soon and bottoms out behind the ball.

✔ Hanging Back on the Trail Foot

If your weight doesn’t shift forward, the lowest point stays behind the ball.

How to Fix It

• Keep your head and chest centered during the backswing.
• Practice maintaining lag and releasing later.
• Work on transferring pressure into your lead foot earlier in the downswing.

4. Why These Swing Mistakes Happen

Most amateur golfers don’t make these mistakes on purpose—they result from:

• Trying to hit the ball harder
• Misunderstanding proper swing mechanics
• Poor setup fundamentals
• Lack of consistency in weight transfer
• Overcompensation for previous bad shots

The key is identifying which flaw is causing your pattern. Once you fix the root issue, your shot shape changes quickly.

5. Quick Checklist to Improve Your Ball Striking

Run through these before your next round:

Grip

• Not too strong, not too weak
• Hands working together

Setup & Posture

• Neutral stance
• Balanced athletic posture

Swing Path

• Avoid extremes (too inside-out or outside-in)

Clubface Control

• Square at the top
• Square or slightly closed at impact

Weight Transfer

• Pressure moves toward the lead side on the downswing

Final Thoughts
Hooks, slices, and fat shots might seem like three totally different problems—but they usually come from a small set of fixable fundamentals. By understanding the mistakes behind your mishits and making simple adjustments, you’ll see immediate improvements in your ball flight, distance, and consistency.

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