Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Beginners Nightmare... Curing The Golf Slice

If you are new to golf then you will find that curing the golf slice is one of the first problems you face when you get past the basics. It is without doubt the most common of the swing faults seen on every course in the land.

You will even see the pros fire off the occasional slice when under pressure.

What makes this happen?As many people have come to discover in the past, hitting a slice involves a club moving across the line at impact combined with an open clubface.

One of the biggest problems golfers face today is curing that annoying slice. Imagine how much more accurate you can be if you could improve your golf swing technique and considerably decrease your slice.

Below are 5 little tricks to minimize your slice, or even to eliminate it once and for all.

1. To eliminate the slice, you must develop a wide and powerful backswing. You have to keep your left arm straight as you take the club backwards, but you must not keep your left arm straight in your follow-through.

If kept straight, your left arm can lead to a heavy slice. This is due to your left arm hindering your right arm's natural rotation. How to adjust? Simple.

Let your left arm bend during your follow-through. Before doing a full swing just use your left arm first to get the feel.

2. Another cause of slicing is because you are letting your club get too far behind you on the backswing, which makes you get outside your target line on your downswing. Without a club, try swinging your left arm, mimicking a full swing.

Your right shoulder is the correct destination for your arm as it swings in front of you. On the downswing, try replicating that motion exactly, only backwards.

3. When it comes down to it, a slice is just a lack of squaring the club with the ball. So you need a great finish to square the club with the ball correctly. Grab your 8 iron and tee the ball up.

Swing it back to waist height, cock the club up, and then pull towards your left. You should be aiming to hit the ball about 50 yards. Be sure to make your chest and belt buckle face your target.

4. Let's say your problem is a bit worse. You are hitting big banana slices. The secret is squaring the clubface to the ball earlier on in your swing. What you should do is draw a yard long straight line in the sand in a bunker.

Take a 5 iron or 6 iron and swing the club above the line. Try to get your divot to start at the line and go forward. Aim to get about ten shots that start at the line.

5. Often one's slice can be eliminated, only to come back stronger than ever. Don't worry; there is a golf swing tip for this too. It is time to head over to the driving range now. Raising the ball to a level above that of your shoes.

Start hitting balls with a strong left hand grip on the club. This naturally straightens out your swing. Make sure to grip the club in the usual way. I hope that after reading this you will be able to kiss you slice goodbye.

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