What
is a slice?
A slice is a shot that curves to the right in the air (for a right hander). A slice does not necessarily
start to the right of target it may in fact start to the left, but spins clockwise in the air causing it to curve.
With
the longer clubs it is exaggerated, as there is more sidespin imparted than backspin. Chances are that your four iron
will curve more than your nine iron.
Your
driver will definitely curve more than your nine iron.
Why
fix your slice?
The slice greatly reduces your distance, and dictates that anything on the right side of the course
is in danger. Fairway bunkers, shrubs, rough and water are common areas of habitation for the severe slicer. High scores,
bruised ego's, lost balls, diminished enjoyment are the dilemma's facing the chronic banana baller. Its time to join your
playing partners at the center of the fairway.
What causes
your slice?
Simple Answer, Your clubface is open to the path of your golf club.
There is no other
reason; we may have worked on 612 different moves, positions and processes only to return to the same old habit. All we have
to do is match up your club-path and clubface and we can fix the slice forever.
It
all starts at address and as you will see most people that I have helped to fix there slice actually set up for a slice to
start with.
Most common set-up flaws for slicers.
Grip
too weak (rotated too far to the left) especially left hand.
Ball position too far forward at address.
Alignment
too far to the left or right.
Back to top
Most common swing flaws for slicers.
Trying
to add loft to the face at impact by leaving it open.
Trying
to flip the ball up into the air with the hands.
Trying
to hold the face square to the target through impact.
Spinning
out with the shoulders on the downswing causing an out to in path. With a club path going left the smart golfer works out
that the only way to get the ball to the target is to hold the clubface open. Either a weak grip or by creating tension through
the swing not allowing the club to release.
Getting
set-up for a straight shot.
Grip
Chances are that one or both of your hands are in a weak position (most
commonly the left hand). Which will not allow the club to release with speed or square the clubface.
Even with a strong grip we can still slice the ball.
If
you hold the clubface open through impact.
We must still allow the club to release by allowing the gap in between the
forearms to become narrower after impact and the right palm to face the ground.
This
will square the clubface and give us more speed.
Back to top
Ball position
Check the ball position is not too
far forward which may cause the path of the club too be swung to the left.
If we released the club from there we would
achieve Path Left and Clubface Left.
No
prizes for guessing where we will hit the ball. FORE LEFT!
With correct ball position we will allow the shoulders
to return to square at impact. Improving the club path and in turn helping us to release the club.
Aim
and Alignment
Chances are that alignment is either:
Aimed and Aligned to the left, which would necessitate
leaving the clubface, open to get the ball to the target.
You are aimed and aligned to the right of the target, which
forces you to spin the shoulders early in the downswing to pull the ball back to the target.
Please run through
this checklist:
Your Slice will be fixed by incorporating at least one of these fundamentals
Strengthen
your grip by moving the v's between the thumb and forefinger of both hands to the right.
Move your ball
position between the left armpit and the center of your stance
Learn to release
the golf club through impact. Letting your forearms rotate closer together through impact. The release is a forearm rotation
not a wrist manipulation.
Finish your
shoulder turn on your back swing.
Allow the club,
arms and body to work in sequence on the downswing.
You can never have too much tempo or balance. The
swing should be more like a dance than a tree removal.
See you on the short grass!
