Potential Cures For Your Snap Hook

[BigAl5150]

I had gone through a period this year where the only shot I could muster was a snap hook. It was just plain ugly. I tried various different tips and couldn't seem to find anything to work out. Once in a while, I could muster a nice draw but those were far and few in between. Fortunately, I was able to get some instruction (Thank you, Erik!) and I thought I would share some possible solutions in case you suffer from this dreaded disease as I did.

First the bad:

• Grip - My left hand was ok however my right hand was a mess. I had been gripping the club closer to my palm and there were times you could actually see my fingernails pointing up at me prior to starting my backswing. The clubface was closed before I even started my backswing.

• Alignment - My shoulders and feet were pointed right of the target. Not just a little either. If you were to stand behind me you would probably wonder just what the heck I was aiming at.

• Takeaway - With the poor grip and aligning right, I had no option but to pull the club way inside on my backswing. If you stood behind me and looked down the target line, once I reached the top of my swing (which was way too long), the club would be pointing right of the target by at least 30 or more degrees. Toss in a lateral shift rather than rotating and it was a disaster waiting to happen.

The fix list:

• Grip - My right hand now holds the club more in the fingers and I hold the club a bit more lightly.

• Alignment - I now align myself on target or just a bit open. Have someone hold a club across your shoulders or thighs (or do it yourself). You'd be amazed at what originally looked good was way off.

• Take-away - I now push the club away with my left shoulder. It first felt like I was going to hit the biggest slice ever after pulling the club inside for the last few years but after three rounds, it feels quite natural. A baby fade was born.

• Backswing - My swing is much more compact as I only go to the point where my left shoulder hits my chin and that's as far back as I go. Once my left shoulder hits my chin, the downswing starts naturally.

I'm still in the trusting phase as this was a radical departure of how I played golf however I can now tell when I do hit a bad shot why it happened as my swing is much more simplified. It's required an overhaul of my pre-shot routine as well by making me more target specific and being quicker rather than standing over the ball and thinking about it. The only swing thought I have is to push my left shoulder away and stop when it hits my chin. That's it. Just trust it and go.

If you have the dreaded snap hook like I did, hopefully the fixes above will help you out. They did wonders for me.

[Finn07]

Good post, if there is one thing my game suffers from its this. I just got done reading Ben Hogans Five Lessons Book. He too suffered from a hook early in his life, the one thing Ive tried is moving my left hand a shade more counter-clockwise on the club, and also doing the same with my right hand so that the "v" is pointed to my chin in the grip. Has worked so far.

[Mhinderaker]

I tend to develop a hook when I am really having a bad day and for me it is always rooted in the takeaway, which tends to get waaaaaaaay too far inside, causing me to hit a nice little hook 220 yards and in the left rough.

Alignment and grip are also very good things to check when your balls begin to fly left as well.

[BigAl5150]

I wanted to revive this thread since I've seen a few other members of the Captain Hook Club ask about curing this on the forum and to add one more item when this started to creep back into my game this year.

I found that if I held onto the club with both hands or just the left and addressed the ball, I would set up with my shoulders level or have my front (left) shoulder a bit lower than my back (right). This would lead to me swaying and unable to make a good rotation. If I addressed the ball with just my right hand first and then grabbed the club with my left hand once I was aligned, my back (right shoulder) would be lower and my head would behind the ball, rather than on top or even forward.

Really a simple fix and something basic but sometimes it's forgetting the basics (posture, grip and alignment) that throw your game out of whack.

[mikelaw]

Check out your left toe...If your left toe tends to aim towards the target, try moving your left toe in towards your right foot a bit. Essentially 'squaring' your left foot against the target. Like a T

[Fasteddy]

Hey some great comments. I am currently really struggling off the tee with a hook/snap hook and for someone who doesn't hit the ball that far is as we say 'doing my head in' gonna try some of those tips out tomorrow.