18holeclub.com

Stop your slice!

31st October 2007

Stop your slice!

Golf tips are dime a dozen, but occasionally I run across a fundamentally sound help.  This one is from Golf.com.

Turn Your Slice into a Draw
Imagine a baseball diamond to hit drives out of the park

By Steve Bosdosh
GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher
Published: November 01, 2007

This story is for you if…

• You’re a chronic slicer
• You cut across the ball (check your divots—do they point left of the target?)
• You want to hit the ball straight every time

THE SITUATION

You’ve given up trying to fix your slice and just aim more to the left now.

WHY IT’S BAD

Over time, aiming to the left makes your swing even more outside-in. You know this is happening to you if your slices are mostly high and short, and your divots point left of the target.

THE SILVER LINING

Although opening your stance has intensified your slice, you can use it to hit powerful draws with one simple adjustment. At address, imagine that you’re standing at home plate on a baseball diamond. Keep your feet aimed to the left as before, like you’re lining up to hit a hot shot at the shortstop. But instead of swinging to short, try to hit the ball at the second baseman. To do this, you’ll have to swing in the opposite direction of your toe line from the top. That’s what swinging from the inside-out feels like. Do it correctly and your shots should fly with a draw and send the centerfielder back, back, back…

posted in Instruction | 0 Comments

4th October 2007

Hitting out of the deep rough.

One of the harder shots in golf is hitting out of the deep rough from 150 to 250 yards from the pin.  The trick is getting the club to hit as much ball and as little grass as possible.  The first thought to go through your mind should be a steeper swing, because your regular swing will most likely get caught up in the grass.  I would not recommend trying to it your 3 wood in this situation or even a 3 or 4 iron unless they are hybrids (they have the extra weight needed to stay on course in the thick stuff).  Usually the 5, 6, 7, or 8 iron is best due to the length of the club being shorter which makes a steeper swing path easier.  Next set up with a couple of adjustments in your swing.  First move a little closer to the ball than you might normally set up and put the ball closer to your back foot than normal.  Next set up for a fade (open stance with your back foot closer to the ball than your front) and open your clubface slightly (toward your back foot).  Your grip should be a little tighter than normal but do not choke it to death.  Next put more weight on your front foot than your back.  Try to swing more up and down than normal and a little harder than you would normally swing (say 85% instead of 70%) but don’t overswing!  If you feel you can, try to keep your hands ahead of the club head in your downswing, this promotes better contact.  What you will find is that the ball usually comes out lower than normal so you will get more role out than your standard shot.  Remember this is one of the harder shots in golf so if you don’t get it the first time keep trying, eventually it will help you bring your scores down and you’ll impress your golf buds with your shot making ability.

posted in Instruction | 0 Comments