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Hook All clubs Intermediate ⏱ 7 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Snap Hook, the Real Cause: Clay Ballard

Your ball veers to the left and curves even further left—and you’re told you’re coming over the top? Clay Ballard of Top Speed Golf uses radar to show that the snap hook actually results from a club path that’s too far to the right, then offers two adjustments to correct it.

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Clay Ballard
Clay Ballard · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemWall exercise for the hook shot with irons: grip firstChris Ryan · Intermediate / Expert11 minSame problemHow to Fix a Hook with a Driver in Five StepsRick Shiels · Intermediate4 minFrom the same proImpact Position with Irons: The Trail Wrist SecretClay Ballard · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

After a big hook, playing partners often talk about a “double cross”: a swing to the left with a closed face. Clay Ballard shows the opposite on a FlightScope radar. He hits a snap hook with his 3-wood: the ball starts left and ends up in the trees, yet his club path is about 10° to the right, with the face about 8° closed. The ball starts mostly in the direction of the face, then the gap between the face and a path far to the right makes it curve violently left. It feels like you came over the top, when in fact you swung in-to-out.

No one feels like they’re swinging 10° to the right—it just happens. So you need to look for the opposite feel: a slight fade, with a path a little to the left and a slightly more open face. The key is to stay in your posture through impact: the hips open, but the shoulders don’t straighten up, because flattening shoulders help the face close while the path goes right. Drill: a club across your chest, about ten practice swings staying bent over and feeling a slight fade. On the next shot, his path comes back to about 6° right; the ball starts straight with a slight draw and goes farther.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Place a club across your chest.
  2. Get into your posture and turn as if you were swinging.
  3. Through impact, open your hips without straightening your shoulders.
  4. Feel a path slightly to the left, as if you were hitting a fade.
  5. Make about ten of these swings.
  6. Hit the ball with the same feel, without trying to correct your swing with your hands.

Key Takeaways

A snap hook comes from a path far to the right, not from coming over the top.
The ball starts mostly in the direction of the face.
The gap between the face and the path creates the sharp curve.
Straightening up through impact closes the face.
Feeling a slight fade gets the path straighter.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Believing a hook comes from an over-the-top move and swinging even further right.
  • Straightening up through impact, shoulders flat.
  • Letting the face close on a path that is too far right.
  • Trying to draw when you're already hooking.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Ten swings, club across the chest, staying in posture
  2. Balls hit looking for a slight fade
  3. Check your path on a launch monitor if possible

Your Questions

What is a snap hook?

A sharp hook: the ball starts off to the left or right, then curves sharply to the left. According to Clay Ballard, this is caused by a club path that’s heavily biased to the right.

Does a snap hook come from coming over the top?

No. His radar shows a path about 10° to the right, with the face about 8° closed: you are swinging in-to-out.

Why stay in your posture?

If your shoulders straighten up through impact, the face closes easily while the path goes right.

What sensation should you look for to correct it?

A slight fade: a path a little to the left and a slightly more open face, while staying bent over.

Learn More

All “Hook” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Wall exercise for the hook shot with irons: grip firstA concept for after impact: imagine a wall behind you and bring the grip to it before the clubhead, with your face turned toward the sky. How to Fix a Hook with a Driver in Five StepsFive adjustments in order: looser grip, facing the backswing, minimal wrist rotation, alignment further to the left, and a path that cuts more across the ball. Strong Grip Without a Hook: The Thumb-Off DrillMaintain a strong grip without hooking the club: keep the swing path straighter and let the club run through, with your thumb off the grip to free up your wrist. Clay BallardAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Clay Ballard). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros