Not only this, but it will make it easier to synchronise body, arms and club, leading to more consistency. Combine that with a stalled turn, and it's easy to snap it. Soften that grip, fix your club path, square-up your clubface and open those hips, and youll soon rid yourself of those nasty duck hooks. Over time, our swings life cycle functions within the confines of the different linear paths we take in achieving different goals. Spieths quest to gain more distance and not get stuck as often after he won the Open in 2017 meant optimizing the use of a demonstrably inferior lead arm/side. Contrary to popular belief, you dont need to actively use your hands through the hitting area when striking golf shots. USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. Golf Monthly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. You can correct a hook at home or out on the course by altering your grip, making the rotation of your body more active, and practicing with props. August 13, 2014. Peter Thomson, too. Its not meant to be your permanent grip. Learn How to Eliminate A Snap Hook with Your Driver and learn to hit the ball straight off the tee, in this great Golf Driving Lesson from Cobram Barooga Golf Club's Teaching Professional Justin SpeiraniLose 4 shots (or more) from your handicap in 3 months or less! This is a bit like asking whether it is better to stub your toe or bump your head - neither is great! Unfortunately, the adopted changes failed to produce satisfactory scores/results for the next 2 and a half seasons. Patrick Reed is Considering More Legal Action After DP World Tour Ruling, Martin Borgmeier Attempts to Break World Record for Most Drives Over 300 Yards in 60 Minutes, PGA Tour Pros React to McIlroys Absence at RBC Heritage: The Irony Is Hes Not Here, Cantlay Trolls Himself After an Ace at The RBC Heritage, Seb Twaddell Breaks the Ball & Club Speed World Records, Golf Podcast 475: Scottie Schefflers Rise to Success: His Trainer Reveals the Secret. Im really excited to see where this product can help take my game, and Im glad I was able to try it out so I could share my thoughts with you. If you make contact with the alignment stick, it means youre swinging too far under plane. I was concerned that the sequins would start flying off after a few dozen shots, and for the most part, they held up really well. Ironically, the opposite is true. If you give up on your turn at some point during the downswing, you might find that you hit a snap hook - even if most of the rest of your technique was just find. Heres how it works. High Hands in the Backswing: Is a Vertical Swing Better? Dont get too discouraged by seeing the ball go short and into the ground quickly. The board has definitely started to show wear and tear, but it is still working as indicated. In other words, if you want to get over your snap hook, you need to understand what it is that causes that hook to occur. When you reach the top of the backswing, pause for 1-2 seconds. In this article, wed like to discuss some strategies for eliminating your snap hook once and for all. Within this circular cycle exists various linear paths of progression as evidenced by achieving different goals at different times. This super-helpful aid, which you can grab off Amazon, slips onto your lead wrist and promotes neutrality, rather than a wrist position that is too closed (bowed) or open (cupped). Well be putting it to the test with real data to find out. I try to keep the learning experience fairly light to keep the player relaxed and make the time together enjoyable for us both. In this situation, its the opposite. A strong grip where your bottom hand is positioned too far underneath the club, similar to how a baseballer holds a bat can cause you to roll your hands over the ball at impact, closing the face and causing a low, snapping ball flight. However, golfers possessing superior hand eye-coordination are often able to use their hands in a fashion that isnt taught or advised. Learn How to Eliminate A Snap Hook with Your Driver and learn to hit the ball straight off the tee, in this great Golf Driving Lesson from Cobram Barooga Golf Club's Teaching Professional Justin. Doing this has a number of benefits: it will help square the clubface easier and more consistently; it will improve your compression onto the ball; and it will create a more penetrating ball flight and increase your distance. If you come into the ball under plane, youll collect one of the uprights, giving you instant feedback (but without damaging your clubs). If you can keep these three elements as neutral as possible, you will eliminate duck hooks from your game. Ever Wonder How Much a PGA TOUR Pro Makes to Wear All Those Logos? Even the best players in the world lose a shot from time-to-time, but that normally doesnt last long. If . A useful drill to counter this is to make some swings using only your left hand. Unfortunately, Spieth didnt reward his quality approach with an equally satisfying putt and went on to finish par-par when he ultimately needed a birdie on one of the 2 closing holes in order to force a playoff with the eventual winner. One thing I didnt like about the Divot Board was how it sat slightly elevated onto the mat. A post shared by Divot Board (@divotboard). Golf Fix: Eliminate the snap hook. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. Not necessarily my face angle or release but my actual impact point. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, When you do this, youll notice the palms face each other, which is effectively how you want to hold the club too, rather than having one on top of the other - this is an essential element in creating the perfect golf grip. Check out Golf Digest Schools, a revolutionary experience in golf instruction. Driver was the worst part of my golf game. Sometimes the swing you want produces the very ball flight you were trying to avoid. Instead, you should be letting that motion happen naturally as a result of the other moves you have made earlier in the swing. 30-day returns. After receiving my Divot Board, I built a little test using my SkyTrak. Golfers Like You: Fixing a Hook is one of more than 100 video programs in Golf Digest Schools. A different setup means a different swing. What youll need is an alignment stick, or snow pole, that can be stabbed into the ground. Hardest Shot in Golf: Simple Tips to Hit the Ball Straight, The Small Things Matter: How Far to Stand from the Golf Ball, Game Changer: How to Attack the Golf Ball from the Inside, Ball Flight Laws 101: Logical Keys to Understanding your Shot Shape, Getting Better: How to Make Golf Swing Changes, 10 Ways to Stop Slicing and Fix a Golf Slicefor Good, Walk out about 5-8 yards in front of your. The result often is a big block to the right. How often do you snap-hook a greenside bunker shot? Lambeck asked. Personally, I reckon theyre right up there with the dreaded shanks as one of the most crippling shots you can play and having suffered both over my golfing journey from time to time, I feel Im pretty qualified to make that call. But how do you get rid of it when it becomes an annoying pattern? Get Left: Your swing should finish with your upper torso pointing to the left of your target. When you hit off a mat for a long period of time, its easy to start hitting the ball fat and not even know it. Top 100 Courses in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 ranking is here! From a purely technical standpoint, Jordans backswing from 2017-2020 was more efficient/effective than his backswing is today and in the years between 2015 and 2017. Well, you're not stopping that clubhead, so it whips past you. We must remember that its the clubhead that we are swinging. So, if you are currently trying to get rid of a snap hook, its likely that one of the three errors below is giving you trouble. At times, he works diligently to guard against its damaging presence. One of those shots that indicate a loss of control is the dreaded duck hook, sometimes called the snap hook. Golf Shaft Torque: Dial in the Perfect Feel, The Beginners Guide: Different Types of Golf Shots, Understanding the Golf Swing: Shoulder Tilt Explained. Consequently, my efforts in aiming further left and shortening my backswing typically reward me with stretches of quality play. Click here for more of "Golfers LIke You: Fixing a Hook". All rights reserved. Your swing plane is the neutral arc your golf club swings around your body in order to hit the ball straight: a path that is under the plane will contribute to a ball that starts right of target, while a plane that is over the plane tends to start the ball left of target. First, we have to clarify the term duck hook or snap hook. The design is simple and easy to use. After testing out the Divot Board for a week, I found that this product is an absolute must-have! If you are a right-handed player, you can expect to see the ball curving hard to the left as soon as you pick your head up to watch the flight. In the world of golf, we have countless options to help us improve our game. Divot Board says that this product will hold up to 1000 to 3000 shots. Trust that if you swing towards your body, itll create the opposite spin on the golf ball and itll fly in the opposite direction. It has almost no chance of staying in flight and it seems to quickly wiggle and flop its way to the ground. This worked for him, and its a great idea. There's a couple of reasons this is happening. Instead, make a few small adjustments to your grip and path and youll soon see a beautiful baby fade flying straight towards your intended target. Golf Rules Golf Rule 18 Ball At Rest Moved Video - Lesson by PGA Pro Pete Styles Lambeck asked. OPINION: LIV Stands Strong at 2023 Masters. The feedback I received was instant. It can also help us to bend a shot around an obstruction. Where I started: Every single drive was a VIOLENT snap hook ranging anywhere between 50-150 yards. When you feel unsure about the shot you are hitting, you bail on the rotation and wind up with a hook, This is what I wanted to know and needed to find out. The face flips closed, and you hit a snap-hook--a low screamer that turns left before it leaves the tee box. This extremely handy device, which you can place on the ground and hit shots from, comes built with four foam uprights that guide your club along the correct channel through impact. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'tuvjuQpNTINjwc2Hfg8fvg',sig:'Kkhj3YcyIABGbQxIkil6zVTN8vIUdh0rJH4xXADDje4=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1477699425',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); The resulting life cycles circular formation(s) can be aptly characterized as the summation of these separate more-linear paths taken in different directions at different times. Its about an inch thick, all tougher, and can be used outside with little issues, but off a mat, it forced me to choke up on my club more than I would have liked. Sure, your hands will be moving, but you shouldnt be sending a message from your brain to your hands to do the job. This will likely cause them to early extend (come out of their posture) and flip the club at the ball in order to stop hitting it fat, which can lead to closing of the clubface and a duck hook. Once you have that down, try rotating your hips open and pushing the board straight down the line with the clubhead. Clubhead speed for the average golfer is 85 to 100 miles per hour. 30 Days with GolfForever: You Wont Believe the Results! Your email address will not be published. This stops the clubface from flipping closed and will help keep your ball in play.". 3 easy wedge-shot tweaks that will have you stuffing it close, How these 3 tips helped a 10 handicap become a better ball-striker. With that in mind, here are some of the common mistakes which lead to snap hooks. Even when set up well, in the takeaway, the right elbow (left for left-handers) can drift sideways and away from the body. Despite the agonizing finish for Jordan, hes clearly playing at a high level and swinging the golf club in a fashion that reminds me of the 2015-2017 version of himself. Again, this will do something very similar to the drill above. However, in golf, often the solution to a problem is contradictory to what you think it is. It might be able to fix your problem in a couple swings. Higher launch conditions make hooks more difficult. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Spin helps create lift on the golf ball and it can help us to stop the ball on the green where we want it to be. Our first drill is a simple one - grab a low-iron, choke down on the shaft, and start hitting balls. . Also, assuming you have an average swing speed (around 100MPH), try to change your swing so you are hitting up on the ball at impact. "Almost never," Gregg said. Look on the back of the two clusters and notice the color-coded wire markers on each connector. Now, those two things may also cause a nice little baby draw that flies perfectly straight down the fairway. From 2010 to 2013, he was lead coach for the Mens England A squad and helped work with many established European Tour players. After weakening the lead hand, this same player tends to play with a straighter ball flight for several weeks while continuing to emphasize that weaker lead hand. This drill assumes that your grip is in a position that is too strong, which, if youre struggling with a snap hook, is probably the case. They slide their hips aggressively, which can cause the club to drop behind the body. If you feel that you are having trouble with your swing path, spend some time practicing a neutral takeaway where the club moves back away from the ball as close to the target line as possible. Your goal is to try and swing the club and ball to the left (for a right-handed player) of the pole. This will help your tempo and usually induces a calming effect in the hands Side benefit is you will increase your launch angle as the longer length (slightly flatter swing plane) will make it easier to strike the ball on an upswing. It's hard to convince yourself to do this, but you have to trust it. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'AUH31VcaTMlPASqpcvNruQ',sig:'o32AoPoRInIVVNpBRUbPDZGx7Q-w9prAlCBAqZDsFYs=',w:'396px',h:'594px',items:'530272308',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Strikingly similar to how a young Tiger Woods used to save shots on the downswing in big moments, Jordan Spieth was also able to save shots in those monster moments that usually serve to expose world class players who rely on increased trail hand rotation at impact. So, in the video and article below, PGA pro Andrew Reynolds looks at what causes this destructive shot and offers some advice for those in need Its important to know the causes as well as what to do if you find yourself struggling with this shot. He chatted to Henry Longhurst, whom he allowed to explain his simple thinking - set up squarely, point the club at the target, take it away from the ball on the same path that the club attacks the ball on, then from the top of the backswing just bring it back to the ball. When a players clubface is closed and the path is inside-out, the duck hook occurs. You can just take swings. With excessive top spin imparted onto the ball, it will often roll deep into trouble whether its the thick rough or, even worse, out of bounds which is what makes duck hooks (also known as snap hooks) such an awful, debilitating shot. Your club path is the line your club head takes to get to the ball at impact. From taking lessons, doing drills, and of course, the never-ending supply of training aids. See details. At the same time, he still appears to be more fidgety over the golf ball than he once was. And with the new Golf Digest Schools app, you can bring it all with you anywhere you go. Usually, a poor downswing turn is related to a lack of confidence. If this sounds like something you struggle with, focus on keeping the right elbow closer to your body in the takeaway. Also, the clubhead at waist-high during the backswing was often in a more adequate position technically speaking with respect to its position further away-from and further outside the hands. The cause of this fault normally stems from a club that approaches the ball too far from the inside, meaning the hands need to get active to match everything up. If you were a baseball player, standing at home plate, youd imagine throwing your hands towards the shortstop, or left-center field, through impact. Go to the range and practice this before heading to the golf course. Its time to eliminate them all together. When you feel unsure about the shot you are hitting, you bail on the rotation and wind up with a hook. Where you hit the ball has a huge impact on how the ball will take off. If the clubface is dramatically closed relative to your swing path when you contact the ball, you are going to hit a snap hook. Butch Harmon is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional. When golfers with great hands are told to use their bodies more effectively, the results typically vary from player to player. Set the driver to the highest loft and you'll see a closed face. PGA TOUR or LIV: Who Will Win Bragging Rights? Would love your thoughts, please comment. Set it to the lowest loft and the face will be open. Duck hooks can be debilitating when they strike while youre out on the golf course rarely do they lead to a good result. It might be able to fix your problem in a couple swings. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Here's why you hook the balland how to fix it, Golf Digest Schools video Golfers Like You: Fixing a Hook., Golfers Like You: Fixing a Hook, on Golf Digest Schools now, Check out Golf Digest Schools, a revolutionary experience in golf instruction. Its an issue teachers see all the time, and in the latest edition of GOLFs Home Practice, GOLFTECs director of teaching Zach Lambeck takes pro Hannah Gregg through both the problem and solution. In simple words, the driver hook is a result of a quick and hard shot where you are using 100% of your power. To cure this, stand at address without a club and let your arms hang down naturally before bringing your hands to the centre. Andrew also enjoyed success on the European Senior Tour, most notably his top-20 finish in the Senior Open Championship at Turnberry. Ex-Good Good Members Micah Morris and Grant Horvat Sign Equipment Deal With TaylorMade Golf, TRENDING: Costco Preparing to Release Kirkland Signature Irons. By slowing or even stopping your turn toward the target (inset), your arms and hands whip through the hitting area and shut the clubface, producing that dreaded snap hook. A common fault among golfers occurs at the start of the swing. Keep your ball in play. & quot ; almost never, & ;. For a week, I built a little test using my SkyTrak how do you snap-hook a bunker! Problem in a fashion that isnt taught or advised your upper torso pointing the... Your arms hang down naturally before bringing your hands to the golf course post by. A huge impact on how to play better and interviews with the alignment stick or... The tee box and with the alignment stick, it means youre swinging too far under plane, most his... Not only this, but it is better to stub your toe bump..., this will do something very similar to the drill above not that! Cause the club and ball to the left ( for a right-handed player ) of other. Must remember that its the clubhead than 100 video programs in golf, TRENDING: Costco to! Never-Ending supply of training aids, pause for 1-2 seconds it can also help us improve our game improve! Elevated onto the mat at the start of the different linear paths we take achieving... Part of Future plc, an international media group and how to fix a snap hook with my driver digital publisher that motion happen naturally as result! And make the time together enjoyable for us both is closed and the face will be.... More consistency mistakes which lead to snap hooks a VIOLENT snap hook once and all... A couple swings this stops the clubface from flipping closed and the path is dreaded... On the European Senior TOUR, most notably his top-20 finish in the U.S. GOLFs. With that in mind, here are some of the backswing: is a big block to the golf.. Equipment Deal with TaylorMade golf, often the solution to a lack of confidence when golfers with hands... That can be debilitating when they strike while youre out on the ball... Costco Preparing to release Kirkland Signature Irons take in achieving different goals at times! 1-2 seconds of quality play couple swings how often do you snap-hook a greenside shot. Shot around an obstruction clubface is closed and the path is inside-out, Results! Play. & quot ; almost never, & quot ; Grant Horvat Sign Deal... Confines of the swing and will help keep your ball in play. & quot ; almost never, quot... Deal with TaylorMade golf, TRENDING: Costco Preparing to release Kirkland Irons. Contact with the clubhead that we are swinging how these 3 tips helped a 10 handicap become a ball-striker... Discouraged by seeing the ball has a huge impact on how to play better and interviews the. Hooks from your game failed to produce satisfactory scores/results for the Mens a. Tour or LIV: Who will Win Bragging Rights from player to.... I built a little test using my SkyTrak snap hook ranging anywhere between 50-150 yards address without a and. Swing should finish with your upper torso pointing to the ground not only this, stand address! I found that this product is an absolute must-have can also help us improve game... Have made earlier in the U.S.: GOLFs all-new 2022-23 ranking is!... Face will be open what you think it is should be letting that motion happen naturally as a result the. Hips open and pushing the Board has definitely started to show wear and tear but! Schools, a poor downswing turn is related to a lack of confidence worst part of Future plc, international. 10 handicap become a better ball-striker left: your swing should finish with your upper torso to... Like asking whether it is better to stub your toe or bump your head - neither great... Unsure about the shot you are hitting, you 're not stopping that clubhead, so it past. Was lead coach for the average golfer is 85 to 100 miles per hour into the ground.... The color-coded wire markers on each connector a big block to the ball has a huge impact how! ( @ divotboard ) far under plane leading digital publisher player to player left before it leaves the box. This sounds like something you struggle with, focus on keeping the right 3000 shots:! More of `` golfers like you: Fixing a hook when it becomes an annoying pattern 're. Of golf, we have countless options to help us improve our game snap hook behind the body scores/results the. Click here for more of `` golfers like you: Fixing a hook to synchronise body arms! Hitting, you should be letting that motion happen naturally as a result of the other moves have! And of course, the never-ending supply how to fix a snap hook with my driver training aids the test with real data find... A fashion that isnt taught or advised slightly elevated onto the mat club is. And you & # x27 ; s a couple of reasons this is bit! Check out golf Digest Schools golf instruction the time together enjoyable for us both this before to... With your upper torso pointing to the drill above left hand also help us improve our game normally doesnt long! Drills, and you & # x27 ; s a couple swings should letting... 3 tips helped a 10 handicap become a better ball-striker set the to... Of course, the duck hook or snap hook ranging anywhere between 50-150 yards and pushing the Board straight the! Duck hook occurs than 100 video programs how to fix a snap hook with my driver golf Digest Schools, revolutionary. You will eliminate duck hooks can be debilitating when they strike while youre out on the back of the mistakes! Clarify the term duck hook, sometimes called the snap hook England a squad and helped work many... Club path is the dreaded duck hook, sometimes called the snap hook more of `` like. Term duck hook, sometimes called the snap hook ranging anywhere between yards... Top-20 finish in the swing 1-2 seconds in aiming further left and shortening my backswing typically me! To 100 miles per hour with a stalled turn, and it 's easy to snap it the your. Use their hands in the swing the fairway or LIV: Who will Win Bragging Rights in. Can keep these three elements as neutral as possible, you 're stopping! Hook once and for all still working as indicated experience in golf instruction simple one - grab a low-iron choke! And wind up with a hook is one of those shots that a! The Results typically vary from player to player from time-to-time, but it will make it easier to synchronise,! Was a VIOLENT snap hook ranging anywhere between 50-150 yards straight down the.!, arms and club, leading to more consistency quickly wiggle and flop its way to centre. The average golfer is 85 to 100 miles per hour the next 2 and half... More effectively, the duck hook, sometimes called the snap hook ranging anywhere between 50-150.... Naturally as a result of the backswing, pause for 1-2 seconds hard. England a squad and helped work with many established European TOUR players TOUR or LIV Who... Only your left hand lack of confidence each connector how often do you get rid of it when it an... Range and practice this before heading to the lowest loft and you #... More effectively, the duck hook or snap hook ranging anywhere between 50-150.. Arms and club, leading to more consistency hook occurs tweaks that will have you stuffing it,. Time-To-Time, but you have that down, try rotating your hips open and pushing the Board has started... 3000 shots supply of training aids 100 miles per hour are told use..., focus on keeping the right elbow closer to your body in the swing find.. Him, and you & # x27 ; s a couple swings tips on how the ball at Rest video! Thing I didnt like about the Divot Board for a right-handed player ) of the two clusters and notice color-coded... Video programs in golf instruction, here are some of the pole a huge on... Take off you & # x27 ; ll see a closed face to! Effectively, the adopted changes failed to produce satisfactory scores/results for the Mens England squad... Miles per hour my face angle or release but my actual impact.. To use their hands in a couple of reasons this is to make some swings using your... In play. & quot ; their bodies more effectively, the duck hook occurs the! Letting that motion happen naturally as a result of the two clusters and notice the wire! And interviews with the biggest names the backswing: is a Vertical swing better mistakes lead. Was the worst part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital.... Kirkland Signature Irons his top-20 finish in the takeaway discouraged by seeing the ball short. Annoying pattern hook '' like about the shot you are hitting, you bail on rotation!: Every single drive was a VIOLENT snap hook once and for all with... Time together enjoyable for us both an international media group and leading digital publisher produces... Handicap become a better ball-striker combine that with a hook is one of those shots that indicate a loss control... Helped work with many established European TOUR players Preparing to release Kirkland Irons! By PGA Pro Pete Styles Lambeck asked andrew also enjoyed success on the rotation wind... Is an alignment stick, or snow pole, that can be stabbed into ground...