So...I don't mind the odd game of golf but I've always had a persistant, repeatable slice from longer clubs.
Hi Jc,
I'm a former golf pro that many moons ago started off with a slice.
Why golfers slice :
1) Club swing path going "across" the target line from "outside" to "inside"
2) Clubface "open", never "closing".
Often because of excessive tension in the hands, where the right hand is "holding" the clubface open.
And /or, a poor grip to start with
.
Here is an explanation / drill for part 1 of curing a slice\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4vz9q0wff0
That video is somewhat of a "band aid", and and "exaggeration drill", but the lack of rotation / "club closing" is a common fault for slicers.
Some golfers hold the club so tightly they may not even be
able to rotate their arms as Paul as doing in the video !
The second major part of the swing that contriibutes to slicing, is your "swing sequence".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=97MOKWCjZMg
Like any other throwing motion, the ideal sequence is "from the ground up", i.e. your lower body initiates the action, which
propels the upper body, and finally the arms and clubhead through the ball.
The average golfer / slicer, does just the opposite, typically starting their downswing with their dominant hand (r.h, for a right handed golfer), which then "unwinds" the upper torso, "ahead" of the unwinding of the lower body, causing the "outside in" path shown on the video.
The cure is a change in the thinking of what the golf motion is. It is first and foremost a
swinging motion, and not a
hit. The hit is a
result of the swinging motion.
Todays' modern ultra light clubs contribute to making it difficult for a golfer to sometimes feel the swinging motion.
Excessive tension in the upper body, shoulders, torso, arms and and hands, all caused by trying to get more distance, paradoxically (is that a word ?), actually cause
less distance and the dreaded slice, as the motion is actually restricted.
On the other hand, if you focus on
increasing your relaxation level during the downswing, you will probably find your motion increases, as will your clubhead speed, and quite probably your clubhead will "close" properly.
A good drill to generate the proper "swing sequencing" (from the "ground up"), is to forget "golf swing", and just make a motion where you are trying to throw the club side arm / under hand as far as possible. Even going as far as making a "Happy Gilmore" motion, i.e. taking a couple of running steps.
In the the book Extraordinary Golf, Fred Shoemaker had his students actually throw old golf clubs, which in many cases instantly transformed their downswing motion to the correct sequencing.
Mike
