Typically 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 off course. And slicing your driver doesn’t simply damage your accuracy, it robs you of invaluable yardage, too.
Sadly, the dreaded slice is among the most typical issues for golfers. A slice happens when the ball curves dramatically to the best (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 target and sometimes touchdown within the tough or worse, out of bounds.
To learn to cease slicing your driver, you have to first study what causes a slice. The first culprits are an open clubface at affect and an outside-in swing path. When your clubface is open, it factors to the best of your goal in the intervening time of contact. Mix this with a swing path that cuts throughout the ball from exterior the goal line to inside, and also you’ve obtained the proper recipe for a slice.
Different elements like a weak grip, poor stance, and inadequate hip rotation may contribute to slicing. However the excellent news is that with a couple of easy changes and a few focused drills, you possibly can rework that slice into a strong, straight drive.
Right here’s methods to cease slicing your driver.
Tips on how to Cease Slicing Your Driver
1. Examine Your Grip
Your grip is among the most important elements in controlling the course of your photographs. A weak grip (the place your palms are rotated too far to the left on the membership for right-handers) could cause the clubface to stay open at affect, resulting in a slice.
What to do:
For right-handed golfers, rotate your left hand barely to the best so you possibly can 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 apply swings with an exaggerated sturdy grip (the place your palms are turned much more to the best) to get a really feel for closing the clubface. As you swing, pay shut consideration to how your palms and wrists rotate naturally via affect, 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 via the ball. The primary few swings would possibly really feel awkward, however with apply, you’ll turn out to be extra comfy and begin to develop the muscle reminiscence wanted to naturally sq. the clubface at affect.
2. Regulate Your Stance
An improper stance may contribute to slicing. If you happen to’re aligned too far to the left (for right-handers), it will increase the chance of an outside-in swing path, which is a typical reason behind slices.
What to do:
Ensure your ft, hips, and shoulders are all aligned parallel to your goal line.
Your ball place ought to be simply inside your left heel, not too far ahead or again in your stance.
In an effort to appropriate your stance, you possibly can place a membership or alignment stick on the bottom alongside your goal line and one other one parallel to it in step with your toes. This visible support will assist guarantee your stance is sq. to the goal. It’s also possible to take apply 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 exterior the goal line, reducing throughout it. This movement, sometimes called ‘coming excessive,’ not solely opens the clubface at affect but in addition imparts aspect spin on the ball, inflicting it to curve sharply off target.
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 best of your goal (for right-handers).
The “Gate Drill” is great for correcting your swing path. Place two tees within the floor simply exterior the toe and heel of your driver, making a “gate.” Apply swinging via this gate with out touching the tees, which can practice you to carry the membership from the within.
4. Sq. the Clubface at Affect
Even with the proper grip and swing path, an open clubface at affect can nonetheless trigger the ball to slice.
What to do:
As you strategy affect, deal with rotating your forearms and palms 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 affect bag is a superb coaching support for bettering clubface management. Whereas its main profit helps you sq. the clubface at affect, it additionally presents the added benefit of enhancing your sense of lag – a key issue for cast-iron photographs, although much less crucial together with your driver. If you happen to battle with early extension, working towards with an affect bag will help you preserve wrist hinge and ship extra highly effective, crisp strikes together with your irons.
5. Improve Your Hip Flip
A scarcity of hip rotation can result in over-reliance in your arms and palms, 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 easy and pure, not compelled.
Apply your swing and not using a 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 article as you rotate, guaranteeing you’re not swaying.
Studying methods to cease slicing your driver is all about making small changes and working towards constantly. By focusing in your grip, stance, swing path, clubface, and hip flip, you possibly can dramatically scale back and even get rid of your slice. Bear in mind, the hot button is to apply these steps and drills repeatedly. Over time, you’ll see your drives turn out to be straighter, longer, and rather more correct.
