diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4022a27..3f04f22 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 1. [Command handling](#command-handling)
     1. [Switch on the command string](#switch-on-the-command-string)
     1. [Attach a `Run(...) error` method to each command](#attach-a-run-error-method-to-each-command)
+1. [BeforeHook\(\), AfterHook\(\) and the Bind\(\) option](#beforehook-afterhook-and-the-bind-option)
 1. [Flags](#flags)
 1. [Commands and sub-commands](#commands-and-sub-commands)
 1. [Branching positional arguments](#branching-positional-arguments)
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@
     1. [`Resolver(...)` - support for default values from external sources](#resolver---support-for-default-values-from-external-sources)
     1. [`*Mapper(...)` - customising how the command-line is mapped to Go values](#mapper---customising-how-the-command-line-is-mapped-to-go-values)
     1. [`ConfigureHelp(HelpOptions)` and `Help(HelpFunc)` - customising help](#configurehelphelpoptions-and-helphelpfunc---customising-help)
-    1. [`Hook(&field, HookFunc)` - callback hooks to execute when the command-line is parsed](#hookfield-hookfunc---callback-hooks-to-execute-when-the-command-line-is-parsed)
+    1. [`Bindings(...)` - bind values for callback hooks anr Run\(\) methods](#bindings---bind-values-for-callback-hooks-anr-run-methods)
     1. [Other options](#other-options)
 
 <!-- /MarkdownTOC -->
@@ -165,6 +166,8 @@ A more robust approach is to break each command out into their own structs:
 3. Call `kong.Kong.Parse()` to obtain a `kong.Context`.
 4. Call `kong.Context.Run(params...)` to call the selected parsed command.
 
+Note that `Run()` method arguments may also be provided by the `Bind(...)` option (see below).
+
 There's a full example emulating part of the Docker CLI [here](https://github.com/alecthomas/kong/tree/master/_examples/docker).
 
 eg.
@@ -207,6 +210,40 @@ func main() {
 
 ```
 
+## BeforeHook(), AfterHook() and the Bind() option
+
+If a node in the grammar has a `BeforeHook(...) error` and/or `AfterHook(...) error` method, those methods will
+be called before validation/assignment and after validation/assignment, respectively.
+
+The `--help` flag is implemented with a `BeforeHook`.
+
+Arguments to hooks are provided via the `Bind(...)` option. `*Kong`, `*Context` and `*Path` are also bound.
+
+eg.
+
+```go
+// A flag with a hook that, if triggered, will set the debug loggers output to stdout.
+var debugFlag bool
+
+func (d debugFlag) BeforeHook(logger *log.Logger) error {
+  logger.SetOutput(os.Stdout)
+  return nil
+}
+
+var cli struct {
+  Debug debugFlag `help:"Enable debug logging."`
+}
+
+func main() {
+  // Debug logger going to discard.
+  logger := log.New(ioutil.Discard, "", log.LstdFlags)
+
+  ctx := kong.Parse(&cli, kong.Bind(logger))
+
+  // ...
+}
+```
+
 ## Flags
 
 Any [mapped](#mapper---customising-how-the-command-line-is-mapped-to-go-values) field in the command structure *not* tagged with `cmd` or `arg` will be a flag. Flags are optional by default.
@@ -450,26 +487,8 @@ The default help output is usually sufficient, but if not there are two solution
 1. Use `ConfigureHelp(HelpOptions)` to configure how help is formatted (see [HelpOptions](https://godoc.org/github.com/alecthomas/kong#HelpOptions) for details).
 2. Custom help can be wired into Kong via the `Help(HelpFunc)` option. The `HelpFunc` is passed a `Context`, which contains the parsed context for the current command-line. See the implementation of `PrintHelp` for an example.
 
-### `Hook(&field, HookFunc)` - callback hooks to execute when the command-line is parsed
+### `Bindings(...)` - bind values for callback hooks anr Run() methods
 
-Hooks are callback functions that are bound to a node in the command-line and executed at parse time, before structural validation and assignment.
-
-eg.
-
-```go
-app := kong.Must(&CLI, kong.Hook(&CLI.Debug, func(ctx *Context, path *Path) error {
-  log.SetLevel(DEBUG)
-  return nil
-}))
-```
-
-Note: it is generally less verbose to use an imperative approach to building command-lines, eg.
-
-```go
-if CLI.Debug {
-  log.SetLevel(DEBUG)
-}
-```
 
 But under some circumstances, hooks can be useful.
 
diff --git a/callbacks.go b/callbacks.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..351ee48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/callbacks.go
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package kong
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+)
+
+type bindings map[reflect.Type]reflect.Value
+
+func (b bindings) add(values ...interface{}) bindings {
+	for _, v := range values {
+		b[reflect.TypeOf(v)] = reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	}
+	return b
+}
+
+// Clone and add values.
+func (b bindings) clone() bindings {
+	out := make(bindings, len(b))
+	for k, v := range b {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func getMethod(value reflect.Value, name string) reflect.Value {
+	method := value.MethodByName(name)
+	if !method.IsValid() {
+		if value.CanAddr() {
+			method = value.Addr().MethodByName(name)
+		}
+	}
+	return method
+}
+
+func callMethod(name string, v, f reflect.Value, bindings bindings) error {
+	in := []reflect.Value{}
+	t := f.Type()
+	if t.NumOut() != 1 || t.Out(0) != callbackReturnSignature {
+		return fmt.Errorf("return value of %T.%s() must be exactly \"error\"", v.Type(), name)
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < t.NumIn(); i++ {
+		pt := t.In(i)
+		if arg, ok := bindings[pt]; ok {
+			in = append(in, arg)
+		} else {
+			return fmt.Errorf("couldn't find binding of type %s for parameter %d of %T.%s(), use kong.Bind(%s)", pt, i, v.Type(), name, pt)
+		}
+	}
+	out := f.Call(in)
+	if out[0].IsNil() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return out[0].Interface().(error)
+}
diff --git a/context.go b/context.go
index 8d60d98..76e2c64 100644
--- a/context.go
+++ b/context.go
@@ -475,41 +475,20 @@ func (c *Context) parseFlag(flags []*Flag, match string) (err error) {
 // The target Run() method must exist and have the type signature "Run(params...) error".
 func (c *Context) Run(params ...interface{}) (err error) {
 	defer catch(&err)
-	expectedRunSignature, err := c.validateRun(c.Model.Node, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if expectedRunSignature.NumIn() != len(params) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("expected %d params but received %d; does not match target Run() signature of %s",
-			expectedRunSignature.NumIn(), len(params), expectedRunSignature)
-	}
-	for i, param := range params {
-		if reflect.TypeOf(param) != expectedRunSignature.In(i) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("param %d is of type %s but should be of type %s to match target Run() signature of %s",
-				i, reflect.TypeOf(param), expectedRunSignature.In(i), expectedRunSignature)
-		}
-	}
 	node := c.Selected()
 	if node == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("no command selected")
 	}
-	method, err := getRunMethod(node.Target)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	method := getMethod(node.Target, "Run")
+	if !method.IsValid() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no Run() method on %s", node.Target)
 	}
 	_, err = c.Apply()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	reflectedParams := []reflect.Value{}
-	for _, param := range params {
-		reflectedParams = append(reflectedParams, reflect.ValueOf(param))
-	}
-	result := method.Call(reflectedParams)
-	if result[0].IsNil() {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return result[0].Interface().(error)
+	binds := c.Kong.bindings.clone().add(params...).add(c)
+	return callMethod("Run", node.Target, method, binds)
 }
 
 // PrintUsage to Kong's stdout.
@@ -522,45 +501,6 @@ func (c *Context) PrintUsage(summary bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Validate that all commands have Run() methods and that their signatures are the same.
-func (c *Context) validateRun(node *Node, signature reflect.Type) (reflect.Type, error) {
-	if node.Leaf() {
-		method, err := getRunMethod(node.Target)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if signature == nil {
-			signature = method.Type()
-		} else if signature != method.Type() {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Run() methods are not consistent on %s, expected %s but got %s", node.Target.Type(), signature, method.Type())
-		}
-		if signature.NumOut() != 1 || signature.Out(0) != expectedRunReturnSignature {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Run() method on %s should return (error)", node.Target.Type())
-		}
-	}
-	for _, child := range node.Children {
-		if childSignature, err := c.validateRun(child, signature); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		} else if signature == nil {
-			signature = childSignature
-		}
-	}
-	return signature, nil
-}
-
-func getRunMethod(value reflect.Value) (reflect.Value, error) {
-	method := value.MethodByName("Run")
-	if !method.IsValid() {
-		if value.CanAddr() {
-			method = value.Addr().MethodByName("Run")
-		}
-		if !method.IsValid() {
-			return method, fmt.Errorf("no Run() method on %s", value.Type())
-		}
-	}
-	return method, nil
-}
-
 func checkMissingFlags(flags []*Flag) error {
 	missing := []string{}
 	for _, flag := range flags {
diff --git a/kong.go b/kong.go
index 8ff4bcb..8e3fdce 100644
--- a/kong.go
+++ b/kong.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	expectedRunReturnSignature = reflect.TypeOf((*error)(nil)).Elem()
+	callbackReturnSignature = reflect.TypeOf((*error)(nil)).Elem()
 )
 
 // Error reported by Kong.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ type Kong struct {
 	Stdout io.Writer
 	Stderr io.Writer
 
-	before    map[reflect.Value]HookFunc
+	bindings  bindings
 	resolvers []ResolverFunc
 	registry  *Registry
 
@@ -65,12 +65,14 @@ func New(grammar interface{}, options ...Option) (*Kong, error) {
 		Exit:      os.Exit,
 		Stdout:    os.Stdout,
 		Stderr:    os.Stderr,
-		before:    map[reflect.Value]HookFunc{},
 		registry:  NewRegistry().RegisterDefaults(),
 		resolvers: []ResolverFunc{Envars()},
 		vars:      map[string]string{},
+		bindings:  bindings{},
 	}
 
+	options = append(options, Bind(k))
+
 	for _, option := range options {
 		if err := option.Apply(k); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -155,13 +157,26 @@ func mergeVars(base, extra map[string]string) map[string]string {
 	return out
 }
 
+type helpValue bool
+
+func (h helpValue) BeforeHook(ctx *Context) error {
+	options := ctx.Kong.helpOptions
+	options.Summary = false
+	err := ctx.Kong.help(options, ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	ctx.Kong.Exit(1)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Provide additional builtin flags, if any.
 func (k *Kong) extraFlags() []*Flag {
 	if k.noDefaultHelp {
 		return nil
 	}
-	helpValue := false
-	value := reflect.ValueOf(&helpValue).Elem()
+	var helpTarget helpValue
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(&helpTarget).Elem()
 	helpFlag := &Flag{
 		Value: &Value{
 			Name:   "help",
@@ -172,18 +187,7 @@ func (k *Kong) extraFlags() []*Flag {
 		},
 	}
 	helpFlag.Flag = helpFlag
-	hook := Hook(&helpValue, func(ctx *Context, path *Path) error {
-		options := k.helpOptions
-		options.Summary = false
-		err := k.help(options, ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		k.Exit(1)
-		return nil
-	})
 	k.helpFlag = helpFlag
-	_ = hook(k)
 	return []*Flag{helpFlag}
 }
 
@@ -200,45 +204,48 @@ func (k *Kong) Parse(args []string) (ctx *Context, err error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if err = k.applyHooks(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, &ParseError{error: err, Context: ctx}
-	}
 	if ctx.Error != nil {
 		return nil, &ParseError{error: ctx.Error, Context: ctx}
 	}
+	if err = k.applyHook(ctx, "BeforeHook"); err != nil {
+		return nil, &ParseError{error: err, Context: ctx}
+	}
 	if err = ctx.Validate(); err != nil {
 		return nil, &ParseError{error: err, Context: ctx}
 	}
 	if _, err = ctx.Apply(); err != nil {
 		return nil, &ParseError{error: err, Context: ctx}
 	}
+	if err = k.applyHook(ctx, "AfterHook"); err != nil {
+		return nil, &ParseError{error: err, Context: ctx}
+	}
 	return ctx, nil
 }
 
-func (k *Kong) applyHooks(ctx *Context) error {
+func (k *Kong) applyHook(ctx *Context, name string) error {
 	for _, trace := range ctx.Path {
-		var key reflect.Value
+		var value reflect.Value
 		switch {
 		case trace.App != nil:
-			key = trace.App.Target
+			value = trace.App.Target
 		case trace.Argument != nil:
-			key = trace.Argument.Target
+			value = trace.Argument.Target
 		case trace.Command != nil:
-			key = trace.Command.Target
+			value = trace.Command.Target
 		case trace.Positional != nil:
-			key = trace.Positional.Target
+			value = trace.Positional.Target
 		case trace.Flag != nil:
-			key = trace.Flag.Value.Target
+			value = trace.Flag.Value.Target
 		default:
 			panic("unsupported Path")
 		}
-		if key.IsValid() {
-			key = key.Addr()
+		method := getMethod(value, name)
+		if !method.IsValid() {
+			continue
 		}
-		if hook := k.before[key]; hook != nil {
-			if err := hook(ctx, trace); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
+		binds := k.bindings.clone().add(ctx, trace)
+		if err := callMethod(name, value, method, binds); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/kong_test.go b/kong_test.go
index 2f11c40..f67892b 100644
--- a/kong_test.go
+++ b/kong_test.go
@@ -355,43 +355,64 @@ func TestTraceErrorPartiallySucceeds(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, "one", ctx.Command())
 }
 
+type hookContext struct {
+	cmd    bool
+	values []string
+}
+
+type hookValue string
+
+func (h *hookValue) BeforeHook(ctx *hookContext) error {
+	ctx.values = append(ctx.values, "before:"+string(*h))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (h *hookValue) AfterHook(ctx *hookContext) error {
+	ctx.values = append(ctx.values, "after:"+string(*h))
+	return nil
+}
+
+type hookCmd struct {
+	Two   hookValue `kong:"arg,optional"`
+	Three hookValue
+}
+
+func (h *hookCmd) BeforeHook(ctx *hookContext) error {
+	ctx.cmd = true
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (h *hookCmd) AfterHook(ctx *hookContext) error {
+	ctx.cmd = true
+	return nil
+}
+
 func TestHooks(t *testing.T) {
-	var cli struct {
-		One struct {
-			Two   string `kong:"arg,optional"`
-			Three string
-		} `kong:"cmd"`
-	}
-	type values struct {
-		one   bool
-		two   string
-		three string
-	}
-	hooked := values{}
 	var tests = []struct {
 		name   string
 		input  string
-		values values
+		values hookContext
 	}{
-		{"Command", "one", values{true, "", ""}},
-		{"Arg", "one two", values{true, "two", ""}},
-		{"Flag", "one --three=three", values{true, "", "three"}},
-		{"ArgAndFlag", "one two --three=three", values{true, "two", "three"}},
+		{"Command", "one", hookContext{true, nil}},
+		{"Arg", "one two", hookContext{true, []string{"before:", "after:two"}}},
+		{"Flag", "one --three=THREE", hookContext{true, []string{"before:", "after:THREE"}}},
+		{"ArgAndFlag", "one two --three=THREE", hookContext{true, []string{"before:", "before:", "after:two", "after:THREE"}}},
 	}
-	setOne := func(ctx *kong.Context, path *kong.Path) error { hooked.one = true; return nil }
-	setTwo := func(ctx *kong.Context, path *kong.Path) error { hooked.two = ctx.Value(path).String(); return nil }
-	setThree := func(ctx *kong.Context, path *kong.Path) error { hooked.three = ctx.Value(path).String(); return nil }
-	p := mustNew(t, &cli,
-		kong.Hook(&cli.One, setOne),
-		kong.Hook(&cli.One.Two, setTwo),
-		kong.Hook(&cli.One.Three, setThree))
+
+	var cli struct {
+		One hookCmd `cmd:""`
+	}
+
+	ctx := &hookContext{}
+	p := mustNew(t, &cli, kong.Bind(ctx))
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		hooked = values{}
+		*ctx = hookContext{}
+		cli.One = hookCmd{}
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			_, err := p.Parse(strings.Split(test.input, " "))
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			require.Equal(t, test.values, hooked)
+			require.Equal(t, &test.values, ctx)
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/options.go b/options.go
index 0db6d23..1420f7e 100644
--- a/options.go
+++ b/options.go
@@ -109,24 +109,20 @@ func Writers(stdout, stderr io.Writer) OptionFunc {
 	}
 }
 
-// HookFunc is a callback tied to a field of the grammar, called before a value is applied.
+// Bind binds values for hooks and Run() function arguments.
 //
-// "ctx" is the current parse Context, "path" is the Path entry corresponding to the hooked value.
-type HookFunc func(ctx *Context, path *Path) error
-
-// Hook to apply before a command, flag or positional argument is encountered.
+// Any arguments passed will be available to the receiving hook functions, but may be omitted. Additionally, *Kong and
+// the current *Context will also be made available.
 //
-// "ptr" is a pointer to a field of the grammar.
+// There are two hook points:
 //
-// Note that the hook will be called once for each time the corresponding node is encountered. This means that if a flag
-// is passed twice, its hook will be called twice.
-func Hook(ptr interface{}, hook HookFunc) OptionFunc {
-	key := reflect.ValueOf(ptr)
-	if key.Kind() != reflect.Ptr {
-		panic("expected a pointer")
-	}
+// 		BeforeHook(...) error
+//   	AfterHook(...) error
+//
+// Called before validation/assignment, and immediately after validation/assignment, respectively.
+func Bind(args ...interface{}) OptionFunc {
 	return func(k *Kong) error {
-		k.before[key] = hook
+		k.bindings.add(args...)
 		return nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/resolver_test.go b/resolver_test.go
index 7e16a8d..1caa942 100644
--- a/resolver_test.go
+++ b/resolver_test.go
@@ -125,33 +125,6 @@ func TestJSONBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, cli.Bool)
 }
 
-func TestResolvedValueTriggersHooks(t *testing.T) {
-	var cli struct {
-		Int int
-	}
-	resolver := func(context *kong.Context, parent *kong.Path, flag *kong.Flag) (string, error) {
-		if flag.Name == "int" {
-			return "1", nil
-		}
-		return "", nil
-	}
-	hooked := 0
-	p := mustNew(t, &cli, kong.Resolver(resolver), kong.Hook(&cli.Int, func(ctx *kong.Context, path *kong.Path) error {
-		hooked++
-		return nil
-	}))
-	_, err := p.Parse(nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, 1, cli.Int)
-	require.Equal(t, 1, hooked)
-
-	hooked = 0
-	_, err = p.Parse([]string{"--int=2"})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, 2, cli.Int)
-	require.Equal(t, 1, hooked)
-}
-
 type testUppercaseMapper struct{}
 
 func (testUppercaseMapper) Decode(ctx *kong.DecodeContext, target reflect.Value) error {