How to Fix a Snap Hook in Golf

Watching your golf ball start reasonably straight only to swerve violently left into the trees or a water hazard is one of the most helpless feelings on the course. That wild, uncontrollable shot is a snap hook, and it can absolutely ruin a scorecard and your confidence. This guide will walk you through exactly why the snap hook happens and provide a clear, step-by-step process you can take to the range to finally tame that dreaded shot and start hitting the ball with predictable power.

What is a Snap Hook (and Why is it So Frustrating)?

Before we can fix the problem, we need to be crystal clear on what we're dealing with. A classic snap hook, for a right-handed golfer, is a ball that starts either straight at the target or even a little bit to the right of it, and then curves aggressively to the left, diving out of the air. It's different from a pull-hook, which starts left of the target and curves further left.

The physics behind this ball flight are simple, but powerful. A snap hook happens when two things combine at the moment of impact:

• Your clubface is significantly closed (pointing left of the target).
• Your swing path is moving to the right of the target (in-to-out).

When the face is this closed relative to the path, it imparts a tremendous amount of side-spin on the ball, causing it to hook hard. The signature of the snap hook is that start direction - it often feels like you’ve made a good swing path-wise, but the severe face angle robs you of control and distance, turning a promising shot into a destructive one.

The Main Suspect: A Grip That's Too Strong

In golf, your hands are the only connection you have to the club. If your grip isn't right, you’re setting yourself up for a fight before the swing even begins. The most common cause of a snap hook is a grip that is too "strong," which in golfer lingo doesn't mean you're squeezing it hard, but refers to the rotation of your hands on the club.

A strong grip promotes an active, over-rotating of the hands through impact, which shuts the clubface. It's often a band-aid golfers develop to fight a slice, but they overcorrect and create the opposite problem.

How to Check Your Grip for Strong Tendencies

Take your normal setup. Look down at your top hand (the left hand for right-handed players). How many knuckles can you see?

• If you can see 3 to 4 knuckles, your grip is likely too strong.
• Look at your bottom hand (the right hand). Is it positioned way under the club, with the palm facing towards the sky? This is another indicator of a strong grip.

How to Build a Neutral Grip

Correcting this is the first and most impactful step you can take. A neutral grip will feel bizarre if you're used to a strong one, but stick with it. It allows your hands and wrists to work more passively, letting the big muscles of your body control the swing.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Neutral Grip:

1. Top Hand (Left Hand): Let your left arm hang naturally at your side. Notice how your palm faces your body slightly. Try to replicate that position on the club. Place the club handle primarily in the fingers, not the palm. When you close your hand, you should comfortably be able to see about two knuckles on your left hand. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point towards your right ear or right shoulder.
2. Bottom Hand (Right Hand): Similarly, let your right arm hang and bring it to the club from the side. Your right palm should essentially “shake hands” with the grip, facing your target. The "V" on your right hand should now mirror the left, also pointing roughly towards your right shoulder.
3. Lock it In: You can use an Vardon (overlapping), interlocking, or a ten-finger grip. The style doesn't matter nearly as much as the neutral rotation of your hands. Choose what's comfortable and feels secure.

Spend some time at the range just hitting half-shots with this new, more neutral grip. It will take some getting used to, but it lays the foundation for a consistent swing.

The Sequencing Problem: Your Lower Body Is Winning the Race

A snap hook often involves a "traffic jam" in the downswing. Many well-intentioned golfers hear that a good golf swing starts from the ground up, so they initiate the downswing with a huge, fast unwinding of the hips. While the lower body does start the downswing, when it spins out of control - too fast and too early - the arms and club get left behind, or "stuck."

From this stuck position, your body's survival instinct is to try and save the shot. The only way to get the clubhead back to the ball in time is with an extremely quick, aggressive rotation of the forearms and hands. This rapid roll of the hands slams the clubface shut just before impact. The result? A perfectly executed snap hook.

Drill #1: The Feet-Together Drill

This drill is fantastic for feeling what it’s like to keep your arms and body moving in sync. You simply cannot generate wild lower body action when your feet are together.

• Stand with your feet touching. Your ankles can be an inch or two apart if needed for balance.
• Grab a mid-iron, like an 8 or 9-iron.
• Make half-swings, maybe 7 or 8 o'clock to 2 or 3 o'clock. Focus on your arms and torso rotating back and through *together*.
• You'll notice you can't spin your hips hard. Instead, your chest, arms, and club feel like a single unit moving through the impact zone. This synchronicity is what prevents the need for a last-second hand flip.

Drill #2: The Step Drill

This drill is exceptional for helping you ingrain the proper sequence and transition from backswing to downswing.

• Start with your feet together, addressing the ball.
• As you swing the club back, take a small, deliberate step towards the target with your lead foot (left foot for righties). Your foot should land just as the club reaches the top of the backswing.
• From there, just unwind and swing through naturally.
• This drill forces a gentle weight shift to initiate the downswing *before* your hips have a chance to spin wildly. It trains your body to fire in the right order: a slight lateral shift followed by rotation. It feels rhythmic and athletic, not rushed and violent.

The Swing Path Problem: Too Far From the Inside

Lots of golfers have heard the advice, "You need to swing from the inside to hit a draw." This is true, but like anything in golf, it's easy to overdo. An extremely in-to-out swing path is a major component of a snap hook. When your club approaches the ball too much from behind you, any amount of face rotation will be exaggerated, causing that hard hook.

This often happens when players try to consciously "drop the club in the slot" by dipping their right shoulder and getting the club way behind their body. While the intent is good, the execution creates a path that moves too far to the right through impact.

Drill #3: The Gate Drill

This classic drill provides instant feedback to help you neutralize your swing path and stop swinging too much from the inside.

• Find a spot on the driving range mat or grass.
• Place your golf ball down as you normally would.
• Now, create a "gate" for your club to swing through. You can use two headcovers, two other golf balls, or two alignment sticks.
• Place one object about 6-8 inches outside your ball, just beyond the toe of your club.
• Place the other object about 6-8 inches a bit behind your ball and to the inside, angled slightly with it to create your 'pathway'.
• Your goal is to swing the clubhead through the gate without hitting either object.

If you have an aggressive in-to-out path, you will likely hit or get dangerously close to the outside object. This drill forces your swing path to become more neutral (more down the target line) through the a clear visual feedback you're too inside, and to hit the ball squarely, you must 'normalize,' the approach. A more neutral club path gives a closed an open clubface much less leverage or influence over the ball's spin.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a snap hook isn't a mystery, it’s about systematically checking the most common causes and making steady improvements. By first neutralizing your grip, you set the club up for success. Then, by synching your arm swing with your body’s rotation and ensuring your swing path isn't excessively from the inside, you build a swing that is not only powerful but, more importantly, under your control.

As you work on these swing changes, getting reliable feedback is vital for making real progress. With our app, Caddie AI, you have an expert golf coach right in your pocket. You can ask for clarification on drills, describe what you're feeling to get instant feedback on potential causes, or even snap a photo of a tricky on-course situation to get smarter strategic advice. This helps you move past the guesswork so you can focus on building a more consistent and confident game.