Generally it could possibly really feel like your golf ball has a thoughts of its personal. And there’s nothing extra irritating than stepping as much as the tee with all the arrogance on the planet, solely to slice your drive approach astray. And slicing your driver doesn’t simply spoil your accuracy, it robs you of precious yardage, too.
Sadly, the dreaded slice is likely one of the commonest issues for golfers. A slice happens when the ball curves dramatically to the precise (for right-handed golfers) or to the left (for left-handed golfers). As a substitute of a straight shot, the ball takes on a banana-like curve, veering off beam and infrequently touchdown within the tough or worse, out of bounds.
To learn to cease slicing your driver, you need to first study what causes a slice. The first culprits are an open clubface at influence and an outside-in swing path. When your clubface is open, it factors to the precise of your goal in the mean time of contact. Mix this with a swing path that cuts throughout the ball from outdoors the goal line to inside, and also you’ve received the right recipe for a slice.
Different components like a weak grip, poor stance, and inadequate hip rotation also can contribute to slicing. However the excellent news is that with a couple of easy changes and a few focused drills, you’ll be able to remodel that slice into a robust, straight drive.
Right here’s the right way to cease slicing your driver.
How you can Cease Slicing Your Driver
1. Examine Your Grip
Your grip is likely one of the most crucial components in controlling the path of your pictures. A weak grip (the place your arms are rotated too far to the left on the membership for right-handers) may cause the clubface to stay open at influence, resulting in a slice.
What to do:
For right-handed golfers, rotate your left hand barely to the precise so you’ll be able to see two or three knuckles when trying down.
Your proper hand ought to sit extra beneath the membership, making a “V” form between your thumb and index finger that factors towards your proper shoulder.
Take observe swings with an exaggerated sturdy grip (the place your arms are turned much more to the precise) to get a really feel for closing the clubface. As you swing, pay shut consideration to how your arms and wrists rotate naturally by way of influence, serving to the clubface sq. up. After a couple of swings, return to a extra impartial grip whereas sustaining that very same sensation of closing the clubface by way of the ball. The primary few swings may really feel awkward, however with observe, you’ll grow to be extra comfy and begin to develop the muscle reminiscence wanted to naturally sq. the clubface at influence.
2. Regulate Your Stance
An improper stance also can contribute to slicing. In case you’re aligned too far to the left (for right-handers), it will increase the probability of an outside-in swing path, which is a standard reason behind slices.
What to do:
Make certain your ft, hips, and shoulders are all aligned parallel to your goal line.
Your ball place needs to be simply inside your left heel, not too far ahead or again in your stance.
In an effort to right your stance, you’ll be able to place a membership or alignment stick on the bottom alongside your goal line and one other one parallel to it in keeping with your toes. This visible support will assist guarantee your stance is sq. to the goal. You may also take observe swings with a closed stance, the place your proper foot (for right-handers) is positioned barely behind your left. This closed stance naturally encourages a extra inside-out swing path.
3. Give attention to Your Swing Path
Most slices happen due to an outside-in swing path, the place the clubhead approaches the ball from outdoors the goal line, reducing throughout it. This movement, also known as ‘coming excessive,’ not solely opens the clubface at influence but in addition imparts facet spin on the ball, inflicting it to curve sharply off beam.
What to do:
Work on swinging the membership from the within out, which inspires a draw or straight shot.
In your downswing, attempt to really feel as when you’re swinging the membership towards the precise of your goal (for right-handers).
The “Gate Drill” is superb for correcting your swing path. Place two tees within the floor simply outdoors the toe and heel of your driver, making a “gate.” Follow swinging by way of this gate with out touching the tees, which is able to prepare you to carry the membership from the within.
4. Sq. the Clubface at Impression
Even with the proper grip and swing path, an open clubface at influence can nonetheless trigger the ball to slice.
What to do:
As you method influence, deal with rotating your forearms and arms to sq. the clubface.
Think about the clubface as a door closing shut – that is the movement you need as you make contact with the ball.
An influence bag is a superb coaching support for bettering clubface management. Whereas its major profit helps you sq. the clubface at influence, it additionally presents the added benefit of enhancing your sense of lag – a key issue for cast-iron pictures, although much less crucial together with your driver. In case you battle with early extension, working towards with an influence bag can assist you keep wrist hinge and ship extra highly effective, crisp strikes together with your irons.
5. Enhance Your Hip Flip
A scarcity of hip rotation can result in over-reliance in your arms and arms, inflicting an outside-in swing path and an open clubface. Correct hip flip promotes a extra inside-out swing path and higher management of the clubface.
What to do:
On the backswing, permit your hips to show naturally, however keep away from over-rotating.
On the downswing, provoke the motion by turning your hips towards the goal. This motion ought to really feel clean and pure, not pressured.
Follow your swing with no membership, focusing solely in your hip rotation. Place a chair or alignment stick close to your proper hip (for right-handers) and ensure it flippantly touches the thing as you rotate, making certain you’re not swaying.
Studying the right way to cease slicing your driver is all about making small changes and working towards persistently. By focusing in your grip, stance, swing path, clubface, and hip flip, you’ll be able to dramatically cut back and even eradicate your slice. Bear in mind, the hot button is to observe these steps and drills usually. Over time, you’ll see your drives grow to be straighter, longer, and way more correct.
