Retention graphs on almost every channel show the same shape: a sharp drop in the first 8–15 seconds, then a slow decline. The size of that first drop is the single biggest lever on average view duration, and it is decided by the hook. The Hook Generator produces ten opening lines across five styles, with a predicted hold rate for each, delivery notes on pacing and camera, and a simple test plan.
This guide explains the five hook styles, what "hold rate" means, and how to deliver a hook so it lands.
Five styles
Pattern interrupt breaks the expected opening ("Don't buy a grinder. Not yet."). Bold claim stakes a position the video must earn ("Every espresso tutorial gets this wrong"). Question puts the viewer's problem into words ("Why does your espresso taste sour even when you follow the recipe?"). Story drops into a moment ("Three weeks ago I almost sold my machine"). Controversy picks a fight with conventional wisdom ("Expensive machines make worse espresso for beginners").
Each hook is tagged with the traffic source it suits: browse and suggested favour pattern interrupt and story; search favours question and bold claim.
What hold rate predicts
Hold rate is the estimated share of viewers still watching at 30 seconds, relative to other hooks for the same topic. It rewards specificity, an implied payoff, and a hook the visuals can support. It penalises generic openers, front-loaded greetings and hooks that promise more than a typical video on the topic can deliver. A hook rated 85 is not a guarantee of 85% retention; it is a prediction that it will outperform one rated 60.
Delivery
The delivery notes matter as much as the words. A bold claim spoken hesitantly reads as insincere. Pattern interrupts want a slightly faster pace and a closer camera. Story hooks want a beat of silence before the first word. Questions want the camera at eye level and a genuine pause after the question mark. Most hook failures are delivery failures.
Tips
- Tell the generator the video's conclusion. A hook that hints at the actual payoff beats one that hints at a generic one.
- Record all ten hooks in one take — they are each one sentence. Cut the best one in during the edit after you have seen the footage.
- Cold-open with the hook, then title card, then content. Never title card first.
Common mistakes
- Greeting before the hook — "Hey everyone, welcome back, today we're…" is the top cause of the 8-second cliff.
- A hook the video does not pay off — High early retention followed by a mid-video collapse is worse than a modest hook — YouTube reads it as a broken promise.
- Reading the hook off a script — Memorise the one you pick. The first sentence is the one place stiffness is unforgivable.
Worked example
Input: "Why most diets fail — the video concludes it is meal timing, not food choice."
What the report returned: Top hook (hold 88, bold claim): "You didn't fail your diet. Your diet failed at 4pm." Pattern interrupt (84): "Throw away the meal plan. Keep the clock." Delivery note: pause after "4pm", cut to B-roll.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a hook be?
One sentence, under eight seconds spoken. The generator keeps every option under 20 words.
Should the hook match the title?
It should extend the title, not repeat it. The title got the click; the hook has to earn the next 30 seconds with new information.
Does this work for Shorts?
The pattern-interrupt options do. For Shorts-specific structure with the loop built in, the Shorts Script Generator is tuned for that.
How do I test hooks?
Film two, publish with one, and compare the 30-second retention in YouTube Studio to your channel average. Swap if it is below average; the video will be re-evaluated.