Attack of the Snappers!

[SuaSponteMn]

So I spent a lovely, sunny, Saturday afternoon with a SandTrap.com staff member this past weekend playing the Meadows at Mystic Lake. A new course here in Minneapolis that claims to be THE golf destination in the Midwest. Well, they'd be 20% correct if they figured out that cutting the fairway to the point of it being bald, and not cutting the rough at all (serious, it was over 2 feet tall) is bad greenskeeping, but that's another story.

So I stand on the first tee, make a reasonable swing with my driver and hit the fairway, 120 yards to the green (drive distance was 269 yards). Miss the green, which is sad in itself, and I end up with bogey. Postive thought is that I think i'm going to be OK from the teebox today right? Wrong! I shot the worst round of the season, throwing up a freakin 56 on the front.

I started missing, snap hooks rest of the day. I only have this issue with my driver and 3w, iron play was just fine. I've gotten to the point where I'm hitting nothing but draws that turn into hooks, and I can't seem to make it stop. I'd say most of it is tempo, I've been told that my entire backswing and transition have gotten fast, but I can't feel it. I've been told to count on the way back, I tried but can't do that, it feels too mechanical. Does anyone have a suggestion? Do people actually pause at the top or is that just a swing thought? Does anyone have any suggestions other than moving the weights in my fancy-pants driver?

[Fried Egg]

What is your normal ball flight?

If you are getting really quick in transition and the shaft is not stiff enough, this could cause it.

Otherwise, since it's only with your driver and three wood, make sure you're not swinging up at the ball too much while rotating your hands too much. This can be caused by the weight staying or falling back in your downswing which dips your back shoulder, causing your swing to come up too soon.

[lamebums]

I had a very similar problem with my driver and even now once or twice a round it will crop up (but it never happens with the 3 wood or irons). When I swing aggressively, if I don't watch it my left wrist will roll to the left, snapping the club face shut and leading the toe to impact. The result is either a weak hook that goes about 200 yards out and 100 off line to the left (most common) or a snap hook that well...invariably means 3 off the tee (less common).

Bottom line: put your left hand further to the right on grip and make sure the club stays square at impact. Works for me, at any rate.

[iacas]

The result is either a weak hook that goes about 200 yards out and 100 off line to the left

Missing by 100 yards is a "weak" hook?!?!?!!!

Bottom line: put your left hand further to the right on grip and make sure the club stays square at impact. Works for me, at any rate.

That's a "stronger" grip (for righties) and usually leads to bigger hooks. In other words, you're recommending the

opposite of what most people would recommend.

[Finn07]

100% correct. That would only make the hook worse. Do the opposite of what is said above and that should work. Also take your right hand and turn it more to the left of the club, that will reduce hooks. A good thing to try is take the driver to the range and start whacking some huge cut shots, get the feel of hitting a fade. See if that works.

[lamebums]

Missing by 100 yards is a "weak" hook?!?!?!!!

I meant a weak shot in general. Although now I see how people could take that...

That's a "stronger" grip (for righties) and usually leads to bigger hooks. In other words, you're recommending the opposite of what most people would recommend.

I'm losing it. Now that I read it, yep, I've definitely got it backwards...

I think I'm better off curling up in a corner and crying...

[Fried Egg]

Be careful. According to Sua's profile, he? is lefthanded.

[SuaSponteMn]

Thanks everyone for the responses...

I've checked my grip, it's pretty neutral, almost weak (and yes, I'm LH, but I'm used to doing the automatic translation when it comes to anything golf related ).

As for my regular (or preferred) ball flight, it's a 5 yard draw. I've never been very successful trying to fade the ball, typically it will just be a push. It seems like it is (or was) a couple of things, but tempo really is driving it. If I'm too quick off the ball, I go way inside on my take-away. By slowing it down, everything comes away in one piece. At the top, I am (or again, was) really racing back down to the ball, and was coming from the severe inside of my plane. By slowing everything down, I've been able to keep everything out on plane (in my basement anyway).

I was talking to a pro about this yesterday, he was the one who mentioned counting. I couldn't do it at that point, but I worked on it last night, and I've had some success. A medium paced 7 count with a long 4, creates a delay at the top and allows me to bring everything else back to the ball in one piece. I don't think it's an actual pause in my swing, but it's close. And I feel like I'm significantly slower all the way around.

Thanks again everyone!

[Logie]

When i had this problem im either way to flat or, i hang back and flip my hands. Thing is it never felt like i was!

I got the club up more, up to the point where it was a sure thing i was going to hit a fade/slice.

I worked back from there. Thing was, i was hitting hooks and at worst, the ball was comming backwards they were that bad! With a Fade, you know roughly how the ball was going to go so atleast you can keep it on the fairway by aiming to the right a bit.

Glad to say im starting to find the correct plane etc and im keeping most drives on the fairway!

Hope you get yours sorted cause i know how frustrating it can be

[Free Ballin]

I am having the same problems. I try to swing too hard and up not shifting my weight and staying on my right foot and not following through to the target. I am working on it as well. Just not enough hours in the day.

[$2 Nassau]

For me, this is usually a result of diving out over the ball. Basically my head and weight lunge out past the pall at impact and everything closes down, the result is a low hook. I tend to be a swayer so this creeps on me every once in a while. I try to concentrate on keeping my head behind the ball at impact and making a turn instead of a sway. Good luck.