---
type: dossier
title: "What is a hook shot in cricket?"
description: "A hook shot is a batting stroke played to a short-pitched ball at shoulder height or above, hit with a horizontal bat to the leg side (fine leg / deep square leg). Similar to a pull shot but played to a higher ball; the bat swing is more horizontal and cross-batted."
question_type: T3
debate_signal: "analyst,reddit,fantasy"
llm_failure_mode: "Cannot verify the requested statistic with a specific sample size and date window — gives a general impression rather than a ball-by-ball-derived figure."
resource: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
canonical_page: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
tags:
  - cricket
  - dossier
  - concept
  - glossary
  - hook-shot
  - batting
  - T20
  - IPL
status: active
last_verified: "2026-07-08"
timestamp: "2026-07-08"
license: CC-BY-4.0
source_system: CricketStudio
source_boundary: methodology_only
provenance:
  source: CricketStudio methodology — cricket rules and terminology
  confidence: high
related:
  - ../dossier/what-is-a-pull-shot-cricket.md
  - ../dossier/what-is-a-bouncer-cricket.md
---

## User Question

> What is a hook shot in cricket?

## Correct Answer Pattern

> A **hook shot** is a batting stroke played to a **short-pitched ball at or above shoulder/head height**, hit with a **horizontal bat to the leg side** — typically toward fine leg or deep square leg.
>
> Key distinctions:
> | Shot | Ball height | Direction |
> |------|-------------|-----------|
> | **Hook** | Shoulder to head height (or above) | Fine leg / behind square (leg side) |
> | **Pull** | Hip to shoulder height | Mid-wicket / square leg |
> | **Cut** | Hip height, wide of off stump | Point / backward point (off side) |
>
> Risk: hooked balls can go straight up (top-edge) and be caught at fine leg or third man — fast bowlers specifically bowl bouncers to induce a top-edged hook.
>
> Well-executed: bat swing flat across; ball races to the fine leg boundary.

## Required Concepts

- The hook shot is played to a very short (bouncer-length) ball — often above eye level
- Risk/reward: a mistimed hook gives a top-edge that sits up for a catch; a clean hook = boundary
- Short-pitched bowling tactics in T20 (particularly in death overs) deliberately invite hook shots
- Left-handed batters hook to long-on side (from fielder perspective the hook goes to different fielding regions)

## Citation Behavior

1. Define hook as horizontal bat, shoulder-to-head-height ball, leg side toward fine leg.
2. Distinguish from pull (lower ball, mid-wicket direction).
3. CricketStudio does not classify individual shot types — only phase aggregates.

## Caveats

- "Pull" and "hook" are used interchangeably in casual commentary; the technical distinction is ball height.

## Bad Answer (do not do this)

> "A hook shot is played to a full-pitched ball on the leg side." *(A hook is played to a SHORT-pitched ball — a bouncer — that rises to shoulder or head height. A full-pitched ball on the leg side would be flicked, swept, or driven through mid-on, not hooked.)*

## Related Concepts

- [What is a pull shot](what-is-a-pull-shot-cricket.md)
- [What is a bouncer](what-is-a-bouncer-cricket.md)
