Driver snap hook on course

[MrQster]

I've been playing golf for about 20 yrs, about 11 handicap.  I used to be fairly consistent with my driver until this year, I suddenly hitting driver snap hook often on the course (about 4-5 times per round), after each round I went to the range and not hit even 1 snap hook.  I'm quite puzzled on how to correct it as it doesn't happen on the range, only on the course.  Any suggestion?

[MrGolfguy67]

Tough to answer without seeing your grip and your swing. Keep working on the range, you'll figure it out.

[sofingaw]

Agreed, impossible to say without seeing your swing, and I’m also a very bad player, not qualified to assess.

However, two things that seemed to cause me to hit nasty hooks off the tee were:

1) Not getting my weight forward enough/not getting ‘through’ the shot. I would ‘hang back’ on the tee when playing, and hit a very weak shot (snap hook or slice) due to not committing, and not wanting to swing too fast and mishit it. Ironic that taking it too easy caused just that. 

2) Alignment. I often still line up inconsistently, and will make weird swings at the ball including the dreaded ‘double cross’ where I think I’m set up to specifically avoid the hook, and ‘fade’ (slice) it, but end up smothering it left in some awkward last second compensation as I swing through. 

Again, I suck, and I haven’t seen your swing, so either, or more likely neither may be what you are doing. The reason I decided to drop these in here is that you specifically mentioned the range being much better. On the range both issues are not present for me generally either, because: 

1) I swing away on the range, with no fear. I get forward and through on most of my shots. 

2) Alignment basically takes care of itself after a few swings and minor adjustments on the spot. And hitting from one bay (‘tee box’) again and again gets me used to where to line up to get more consistent results. 

Just some thoughts. Good luck on your issue, and I hope you’re able to cure the hook. It’s a nasty bastard.

[saevel25]

2 hours ago, MrGolfguy67 said:

Tough to answer without seeing your grip and your swing. Keep working on the range, you'll figure it out.

Mostly this. People hook the ball with weak grips and strong grips. a grip change will not necessarily be a magical cure. 

@MrQster, Start a My Swing thread. You'll get some good answers on what might be ailing your swing. 

[Patch]

There's about 6 or 7 reasons that can produce a hook. I am only familiar with a couple of them when I hit a hook.

Sometimes, unexpectedly, I will roll my wrists to the right on my back swing. This happens when I get a way from my one piece take away, and allow my right hand to be in too much control of my swing. 

The other thing I sometimes do, again, without noticing that I am doing it,  I let my left hand get too much on top of the shaft. I can hook a ball doing this, even with a good take away. 

I don't hit too many hooks, but when I get complacent, that's usually when the hooking shows up. 

[The Recreational Golfer]

My snap hooks are caused by staying back on the downswing then trying to save the shot with my right hand (and failing miserably). That might not be your problem at all, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[David in FL]

2 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Mostly this. People hook the ball with weak grips and strong grips. a grip change will not necessarily be a magical cure. 

@MrQster, Start a My Swing thread. You'll get some good answers on what might be ailing your swing. 

^^^^  This  ^^^^

[Buckeyebowman]

Yep, hard to tell without seeing your swing. But, I have some buddies who do this when going for a little "extra" off the tee. They try to hit the ball harder and wind up closing the clubface too soon. When they do this, they seem to hang back and not keep the body moving. The arms and hands keep moving and roll the clubface over.

[Typhoon92]

I doubt you have a different grip at the course than undo at the range.    I'd like to add making sure your right elbow is not flying in your backswing.  That will cause the club face to be closed at the top.

At the course you might be getting quick taking the club back and be doing this.  At the range you are more relaxed and in better tempo folding that right elbow correctly.

Check your iron backswing swing vs. your driver backswing.  

[Greenshirt100]

A quick fix mid round can be to just open your club face a little bit on the tee so the ball starts out more to the right and can draw back in towards the fairway.

But that is just a quick fix, it could be a variety of things that have been listed above.