Defining the Snap Hook in Golf

What is a "snap hook" in golf? A snap hook is a hook that goes even worse. It is a really bad hook shot. Even the best golfers in the world sometimes snap hook a shot. Here is Tiger Woods doing it on a drive:

To recap what a hook is: A "hook shot" is when the golfer's shot curves in flight to the left of the target line. (We are using right-handed golfers for these examples; for lefties, it will be the opposite — a hook curves to the right of the target line). Hooks are the opposite of slices.

The snap hook is a dreaded mis-hit in golf because they can travel quite a ways, just in the wrong direction. Snap hooks are so severe they might start turning very soon after the golf ball takes flight, and the curve offline can be pronounced. Snap hooks have a disturbing tendency to bounce around in trees or run into water.

Snap hooks are also known as duck hooks, shrimps or shrimp hooks, snappers or quackers. Any shot in golf can be snap hooked, but tee shots are where they are most common. If you are snap-hooking putts, please seek professional help.

Speaking of seeking help: How do you fix a snap hook? You can find many videos on YouTube and on golf instruction sites that go into details, as well as articles from golf instruction gurus such as this one from Butch Harmon. Here is a video addressing the topic (search YouTube or Google for more):

Related articles:

• What is a chunk shot?
• The waggle: what it is, why golfers do it
• How to grip a club: lessons from the best