A duck hook – otherwise called a snap hook – is a golf shot that veers violently from right-to-left through the air for a right-handed player. They most commonly occur with driver, fairway woods or long irons and are caused by a severely in-to-out swing path combined with a closed clubface.
What is a duck hook in golf?
What Is A Duck Hook In Golf? The duck hook is a destructive golf shot. We explain what it is and briefly highlight a few of the most likely causes What Is A Duck Hook In Golf? Every golf shot that doesn’t fly straight has its own name, whether push, fade, slice, pull, draw or hook.
What is a duck/snap hook?
The duck/snap hook likely derives its name from the shot shape it creates – which is normally a low, curling, bullet-like trajectory that snaps, or ducks, off the clubface and usually comes to rest well left of the fairway.
What is a golf hook and how to fix it?
But a golf hook is still a ball-flight problem you need to take care of to make that next step and become a scratch or near-scratch player. A hook is when the golf ball swings to the left mid-air after the impact. For many beginners, it’s a huge problem. And in this post, we intend to fix it.
What causes a snap hook in golf?
A golf snap hook is caused by a combination of the club face angle at impact and swing path into the ball at impact. The more these two factors are out of whack, the more severe your duck hook swing is going to be.
How do you treat a duck hook in golf?
3:515:07How to Fix a Duck Hook with the Driver | Golf Instruction | My Golf TutorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's pointing to where you want the ball to start. So what we're trying to do is is I we're tryingMoreIt's pointing to where you want the ball to start. So what we're trying to do is is I we're trying to bring the face. And the path. And get them closer together because.
What does duck hook mean?
Definition of duck hook : a pronounced and unintended hook in golf.
Why is it called duck hook?
It also goes by the names of 'snap hook', 'quick hook' or 'smother'. Why is it called a duck hook? Almost certainly because the ball ducks away violently to the left, invariably leaving you in trouble and probably not very far up the hole, depending on the length of the rough.
How do you stop duck hooking in fairway woods?
4:307:32#98 - Stop Hooking Woods - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust your first knuckle. And then just cover that thumb with the other hand and this line betweenMoreJust your first knuckle. And then just cover that thumb with the other hand and this line between your thumb and index finger should. Point right up at your chin like mine does. Okay.
Why do I duck hook my irons?
What causes duck hooks? Duck hooks are usually caused by an excessively in-to-out swing path, combined with a closed clubface at impact – which can also be exacerbated by flipping of the hands. The outward path coupled with the face direction imparts sidespin onto the ball, causing it to hook sharply.
What's the difference between a slice and a hook?
For a right-handed golfer, a slice begins to the left of the target and curves back to the right. Once again, the definition is the opposite for left-handed golfers. What is this? While a hook is the result of a closed club face, a slice is caused by an open club face.
Why do I hit my irons straight but hook my driver?
When you have your left foot sticking out further than your right foot, you will close off your body to the target. This can cause hands and arms to swing around with a slightly closed clubface and make the ball head to the left. The alignment is one of the most common causes of a hook.
What is a snap hook in golf?
If the clubface is dramatically closed relative to your swing path when you contact the ball, you are going to hit a snap hook. For a right-handed golfer, that means the face is pointing significantly to the left of the path that the club is taking as it moves through impact.
Does a strong grip cause a hook?
If a player's grip is too strong, meaning their bottom hand is rotated too far underneath the club, they will likely flip or turn the clubface shut at impact. This closes the clubface too quickly or easily and results in a hook.
Why do I duck hook my 3 wood?
Hooking a 3-wood is a common miss, and it happens for a common reason: Players who struggle with this club tend to set up as if they're hitting a driver. The ball is positioned off their front foot, and the upper body is well behind the ball at address.
Do you swing a 3 wood like a driver or iron?
Yes, you should hit your 3-wood like an iron – more specifically, a 3 or 4-iron. Your set-up position, including stance and body tilt, should be the same for a 3-wood as a long iron. Your ball position should also be slightly forward of centre when hitting 3-woods and long irons.
Do you swing a 3 wood like a driver?
Don't hit it like a driver. Drivers are specifically designed to hit the ball on the ascending side of the swing arc. A 3 wood is not. Take your practice swing and see where the club bottoms out.
What does a duck hook do?
A duck hook sends the ball further to the left of your target than you want. However, if you pay enough attention to your face angle, grip, and swing path, you will fare better than most.
What causes a duck hook?
Two scenarios can occur with the clubface that can cause a duck hook. The first one is if the clubface is closed at impact and the swing path is inside-in. The second scenario is if the clubface is too closed and the swing path is either inside in or inside out.
How does a golf ball spin?
The spin is created by the spin path. Hence, when the swing path is from the inside, it rotates the golf ball counterclockwise at impact. As a result, it does not travel the way it should. A golf ball spinning at a high rate often leads the ball in an unintended direction.
How to fix a duck hook golf swing?
Another method to fix a duck hook golf swing is to perfect the clubhead release. Losing your timing or sequence through impact can certainly cause the club face to shut too quickly. Be sure to keep a solid kinematic sequence in your swing allowing body parts to fire in the correct order.
What is a golf ball hook?
A hook is when the golf ball swings to the left mid-air after the impact. For many beginners, it’s a huge problem. And in this post, we intend to fix it. There are 3 major types of duck hooks (or snap hook if that’s how you refer to it).
What causes a snap hook in golf?
A golf snap hook is caused by a combination of the club face angle at impact and swing path into the ball at impact. The more these two factors are out of whack, the more severe your duck hook swing is going to be.
What is the second duck hook?
The second duck hook is a golf ball that starts out straight down the fairway before severely hooking left into the rough. This is the most common problem for the golfers who are missing the target. They know how to shoot straight, but the art of landing the ball on target is yet to be learned.
What is the first type of hook?
The first type of hook is when the ball starts out to the right and then severely snap hooks left of the intended target. This is what most golfers would refer to as a “Normal Hook”. It’s not necessarily bad if you manage to land the ball on the target.
How to do duck hook ball flight?
That means you start your downswing from the ground up firing your hips first, then your shoulders, then your arms and then your hands. If you get out of sequence and start firing with your upper body first in the downswing it ’s easy to get the face closed and create the nasty duck hook ball flight.
What is a duck hook?
The duck hook is a common swing fault that many golfers suffer from in addition to a nasty slice. If you’re not sure what a slice is, it’s when the ball curves from left to right when it’s on the flight. Many golfers call it the fade as well. A fade is good at times. But not when it curves excessively. The good news is you’re close ...
Why do golf clubs have a duck hook?
There are two primary reasons why duck hook happens, and they’re both easy to spot. The first cause of duck hook is that your golf clubs face (or head) is closed at impact, and your swing path is aimed inwards. This means that the club face is forcing the ball inside causing it to veer off a straight path. For reference, an open clubface would do ...
What is a duck hook?
Duck hook is the term for a shot that hooks (hence the name) left of your intended target if you are a right-handed golfer, and vice versa. It doesn’t sound so bad, but it can cause problems with your score, your ball will go off course and even land in some difficult terrain to get yourself back into the game.
What is the second aspect of improving your shot and avoiding duck hook?
Stance and foot position is the second aspect of improving your shot and avoiding duck hook. While accuracy comes from your grip, and a little bit of power too, your stance is where most of the impact will come from. Golf is similar to baseball in the sense that your strength goes from the feet to hips to shoulders.
How to get better at duck hook?
Turning your hand around the grip so you can see your knuckles from your non-dominant hand, and forming a V shape between your thumb and index that points towards you is a good Duck Hook Strategy that will help your swing. Handling the club is your first step towards an improved shot!
How is golf similar to baseball?
Golf is similar to baseball in the sense that your strength goes from the feet to hips to shoulders. By now you probably know how you like to stand with some bend to your knees and crouching with your hips. The next part is your foot stance.
Can you fix a duck hook in your swing?
Luckily, solving your duck hook issue with your swing is not the worst situation you can be in! In fact, many experts believe that addressing duck hook in your swing is the last barrier before a well rounded swinging technique. With that being said, here are the causes of duck hook and how you can fix it.
Can duck hooks be fixed?
While duck hook can be an annoying problem to encounter when it comes to your golf game, it’s a really easy problem to fix. Consider some of the ways you have been hitting the ball. What your stance is like, how your feet face, and the grip you use in your club.
What is a duck hook?
A duck hook – otherwise called a snap hook – is a golf shot that veers violently from right-to-left through the air for a right-handed player. They most commonly occur with driver, fairway woods or long irons and are caused by a severely in-to-out swing path combined with a closed clubface.
What causes duck hooks?
Duck hooks are usually caused by an excessively in-to-out swing path, combined with a closed clubface at impact – which can also be exacerbated by flipping of the hands. The outward path coupled with the face direction imparts sidespin onto the ball, causing it to hook sharply.
How do I stop hitting duck hooks?
To stop hitting duck hooks, you need your club path, clubface and grip to be as neutral as possible. A swing path that is under plane, a closed clubface and an overly strong grip are common contributors to duck hooks and must be corrected to straighten out your ball flight.
Step one: Check your club path
If you’re hitting duck hooks, there’s a very high chance that your club path is too far in-to-out (commonly referred to as ‘under plane’).
Step two: Check your clubface
New ball flight laws show that clubface has the biggest effect on the starting line your ball will take when it leaves the clubface.
Step three: Check your grip
Another piece to the puzzle, when it comes to stopping duck hooks, is ensuring your grip isn’t too strong.
Step four: Get your hips open
Stalling of the hips can be another contributing factor to duck hooks.
What is a duck hook?
A duck hook is a shot that curves hard to the left of your target, if you are a right-handed golfer. A duck hook almost always gets a golfer into some kind of trouble on the course. A closed club face at impact and an inside-to-out swing can cause a duck hook. Learning to swing with a square club face, to release the club properly ...
How to swing a golf club down?
Turn your hips toward the target to start the downswing. Your arms will naturally follow your hips down. Keep turning your hips toward the target as you approach impact. This will help keep the club from releasing early and help you swing the club down on the proper path.
How to use a golf club with a pinkie finger?
Step 1. Grip the club with the fingers of your left hand first, so you still can see two knuck les on your left hand. Then grip the club with your right hand so your right thumb and index finger point to the right shoulder. Your right-hand pinkie finger should rest between the index and middle finger of your left hand, ...
What arm position is best for a downswing?
A straight left arm position helps you avoid an early release on the downswing. An early release occurs when you lose your wrist hinge and the club face closes before impact. Stop your backswing when your left shoulder is under your chin.
How to keep your golf club from closing?
Swing the club back and point the toe, or rounded edge, of the club straight up when the club is hip high. This will keep you from having a closed club face on the backswing.
What happens when you hit a golf ball with a ducked shoulder?
Effects on the Ball. Due to the poor path of the golf club, shots hit with a ducked-shoulder backswing will often be far more erratic than a proper swing . The most common malady that duck swingers have to deal with is a sharp hook of the ball.
How to tell if a duck is a turn or a duck?
The easiest way to identify the difference in a duck and a turn is by looking at the alignment of your chest . If the chest is still facing nearly ...
Why does my golfer's shoulder drop down?
This is caused by a failure to properly turn about the axis as the golfer is swinging. To compensate, the player drops his shoulder, which allows the backswing to get farther back, making the player feel like they are ...
Why does my back swing drop down?
This is caused by a failure to properly turn about the axis as the golfer is swinging.
What happens when you duck your arm?
When you duck arm in order to make your backswing reach the desired length without putting in the required level of upper body rotation, the most drastic change to the swing will be the path of the club's arc.
What is the arcing path of a golf club?
The arcing path of a golf club for most swings should be only slightly off the desired target line for the ball. When using a shoulder rotation for the swing, the club will still leave the target line, but not to any great extent.
