Snap Hook...Falling Forward?

Gripit N Ripit 54 · February 6, 2007

Anyone got advice?

Hey im hoping someone can help me out here

For the past couple of months, my driver swing and low irons have been snap hooking, with very low tradjectory.

I concluded that when i swing, i kinda sway. so on my backswing, i kinda go back, and on my follow through, i go forward, causing my face to be closed, and deloft the driver. if you picture a perfect face at impacts, the face is level and at 12 o clock. mine is more like 10:30 and toe in the ground.

I tried to not fall forward, and swing more open, to give the clubface a more "level" approach, but when i do that, i rocket it straight to the right, and high. so i either have high and right, or low and left....i think i have to find a good medium.

Can anyone help me out with this? i would video my swing, but i have a windchill of -8 currently, and will hopefully video my swing in my garage soon.

Thanks in advance

Brian

press · February 6, 2007

By "falling forward' DO YOU MEAN THAT YOU FALL TOWARD THE BALL OR DO YOU MEAN YOU SLIDE FORWARD TOWARD THE TARGET. there is a big difference.

If you are falling toward the ball you are on your toes to much. hit some balls with your toes pressed up to the top of your shoes, this distributes your weight between the balls of your feet and the heels. You will not fall forward

If you are sliding toward the target then take some practice swings and feel that you keep your back to the target longer at the top and let your hands drop sooner you wont get ahead of the ball.

Gripit N Ripit 54 · February 6, 2007

yes, im sorry for not clairifying.

I sway from side to side, not front to back. like away from the target, to torwards it. my balance on my feet is fine, and im not on my toes or anything. your second option was the correct one. its just how i have always swung.

Thanks for the advice

Brian

diesel234 · February 6, 2007

Your ball position is too far forward.

When you mis low and left it is because you are releasing the club at the right time but the ball is to far forward.

When you mis high and right it is becaause you are holding on trying not to hit a hook, and therefore not releasing the club.

go to the range and lay a club on your target line and another club perpendicular to it one inch inside your front heel. this will help your ball position problems.

make sure you allow the club to release while keeping your head behind the ball. This should fix your problems.

Let me know the results and good luck.

Kevin

Gripit N Ripit 54 · February 10, 2007

Hey Kevin

well i went to the range today...and even though i was freezing my butt off (it was like 12 degree's) i went out there and hit a large bucket.

I moved the ball to more of the center of my stance, but it MADE IT WORSE!!

my friend then did a test for me. he put a ball about 8 inches infront of the ball on the tee. he told me to swing, and try not to hit the ball infront of the tee. sure enough, i did it 4 times, and all 4 times i hit the ball on the ground. i fixed my posture a bit, but still it didnt help!

next i tried keeping my lower body still and not move my hips, to prevent my "slide". this just made the ball zoom of to the right again! ugh will this ever end!!?!?!?

i then tried to draw the ball more while keeping the lower body still, and my ball flight was inconsistant.

So anyone got any ideas? again, ill get a video of my swing up once my sister lets me use her camera ;)

Thanks for the advice kevin

Brian

joesgonegolfing · February 11, 2007

I am not sure I can address this in writing but here's the effort.

Ball Position: A player with a true inside to outside swing should not move the ball back in their stance. That player will hook it more or get stuck on his release.

The more forward the ball the more the club is moving on it's final arc away from the ball and it's almost a cutting across the ball, with a little gear effect and a square to closing face this produces the straighter shot or even a fade...FOR a guy who swings in to out.

This works the opposite of how most players think, but most players are outside in.

Falling forward:

If your body gets to going left too quickly then as you come through the ball you could already be pointed in the hook direction, and you could be hitting more of pull-smother hook.

Try hitting some balls with very narrow feet (touching) and arm swing. The narrow feet will quiet you down and you can feel whether or not you are rushing past your body with arms. If these shots come out with a little draw or straight, then I'd suspect on your full swing you are swaying through the ball as you get to impact instead of turning.

Take a stand bag with legs and from your set up position stand the bag so it opens and the bag top touches your hip. The legs should open up around you on boths sides, but not impede your swing.

Now take some swings (no ball yet) and work on turning your body inside the bag, not knocking into it.

This drill will firm up your sway through and let you work on your turn.

Joe

drew123 · February 11, 2007

Your ball position is too far forward.
When you mis low and left it is because you are releasing the club at the right time but the ball is to far forward.
When you mis high and right it is becaause you are holding on trying not to hit a hook, and therefore not releasing the club.
go to the range and lay a club on your target line and another club perpendicular to it one inch inside your front heel. this will help your ball position problems.
make sure you allow the club to release while keeping your head behind the ball. This should fix your problems.
Let me know the results and good luck.
Kevin

not necessarily true. My miss has always been a hook and there are several ways in which you can hook it. Sometimes it might be due to ball position but a blanket statement is not always true.

Brian,

It seems like you have already identified your problem. You said you sway. When you on you can probably hit it great but when you struggle I bet you either will miss dead right for awhile or straight left for awhile. Swaying is a tough thing to fix because swaying to far forward can cause both a hook and a push while at the same time if you sway back but not forward you can miss it both ways also.

Try hitting balls with the only focus being on keeping your head still. You will probably still sway a little but that's actually a good thing. Look at the best players in the world, they all sway a little. Hope this helps