| Something like 95% of golfers have tried to cure a | | | | the target line. There is no way it can initially go |
| golf slice at some point in their life. It is the most | | | | straight or right. |
| common fault amongst golfers and can be terribly | | | | The direction of the ball flight after the primary |
| frustrating to cure. | | | | direction is determined by the angle of the club face |
| I am often asked by players if I can help them cure | | | | at impact - open, closed or square - in relation to the |
| a golf slice and of course the answer is yes if they | | | | ball to target line. Make sense? |
| are prepared to spend some time working on it. | | | | Just to reiterate what I said earlier about being |
| Unfortunately too many people want instant | | | | certain the problem is a slice and not some other |
| gratification and believe that buying an offset golf | | | | problem. |
| club will cure their slice. Nothing could be further from | | | | Imagine now the club is square to the ball to target |
| the truth. Whilst an offset club will help initially it does | | | | line at impact but with the same out -to-in swing |
| not get rid of the root cause of the problem. | | | | path (combine 1 and 2 below). You will then have a |
| More commonly I discover that many of the players | | | | totally different ball flight because the club is square |
| who believe they have a slice actually have a "push" | | | | and the spin on the ball is greatly reduced. You will in |
| shot or a "push slice". Each is distinctly different to | | | | fact produce a fade with this angel of club face and |
| the other and it is important to know exactly what | | | | swing path. |
| your own problem is. | | | | If on the other hand the angle of the club face is |
| For a golfer to hit a slice he must perform two acts: | | | | closed through impact with the same swing path (1 |
| | | | and 3 below) then you will have a shot where the |
| 1. He must have an out-to-in swing path. Difficult to | | | | ball has no spin on it and the result is a hook. |
| describe in words and much easier to demonstrate! | | | | There are only three possible swing paths (as per the |
| But I'll give it a go. Assume there is a straight line | | | | line you drew); |
| extending from behind and through the ball to the | | | | |
| target. We will call this the ball to target line. Help me | | | | 1. Out to in as drawn |
| here and draw this on a piece of paper in front of | | | | 2. In to out. This is the same as you have in front of |
| you. Just a straight line parallel to your toe line. The | | | | you but starting on the inside of the ball to target line |
| swing path is the line that the club head takes | | | | and finishing on the outside and |
| relative to this target line. What I want you to do | | | | 3. In to in. The most difficult to execute. It starts on |
| now is mark a spot in the centre of the line that you | | | | the inside and finishes on the inside. |
| have drawn; this spot represents the position of the | | | | There are also only three possible angles for the club |
| ball at address. Now draw a straight line starting | | | | face through impact: |
| above our target line and some distance behind the | | | | |
| ball. This starting point would be the top of your back | | | | 1. Open |
| swing; it starts on the outside of the target line. | | | | 2. Square and |
| Remember above the line and behind the ball. From | | | | 3. Closed. |
| this point draw a straight line dissecting the target line | | | | Any of the swing paths in combination with any of |
| at the point where the ball is and finishing below the | | | | the club face angles will produce a different ball flight. |
| line and in front or the ball. Your line should finish on | | | | Let me tell you my story which will help demonstrate |
| the inside of the target line. You will now have a line | | | | how I was wrong about my own swing: For years I |
| that cuts across the target line in an out-to-in | | | | thought I had a beautiful draw. And then I had my |
| manner. This is the swing path that must be present | | | | swing analyzed. Horror of horrors when I discovered |
| for a slice to occur. | | | | I had a "pull hook"! |
| 2. The club face must be open through impact. For a | | | | A pull hook is the result of an in-to-in swing path with |
| golfer to slice the ball the club face has to be open in | | | | a closed club face at impact ( a combination of 3 and |
| order to cut across the ball and cause spin. In this | | | | 3 above). I had been compensating for my pull hook |
| case in a clockwise direction. It is this side spin in a | | | | by aligning myself way right believing that I was |
| clockwise direction that will send the ball flying off to | | | | hitting a draw! |
| the right. The spin is exaggerated because of the out | | | | It is possible to cure a golf slice but before you cure |
| to in swing path. The result is an ugly slice. | | | | it you need the correct diagnosis. Unfortunately your |
| The primary direction of the ball is determined by the | | | | friends may not understand what the difference is |
| swing path of the club. Look at your drawing again | | | | between a slice, a push or a push slice and their well |
| and it will be obvious to you that the only direction | | | | intended advice could do you more harm than good. |
| the ball can start off with this swing path is left of | | | | |