problem with slice

[big_mean_bunny]

Just wondering if anyone can help me with my current slice problem!

drives start off straight but after 80-100 yards they begin to go heavily to the right and when they land they always go right. Today I managed to cure this slightly on the last two holes making my stance very wide and slowing down my swing speed, however I was losing about 30 yards of distance and it felt really awkward compared to a few rounds ago when i was driving really well.

Read a few things but it feels like what ever I do doesn't add. Usually my playing opponents complement me on a "great drive" as soon as it comes off the tee and then when it hits the 80 yards distance the slice comes in and they start shuffling there feet and feeling bad!

 

[RGDave]

If I'm playing at/towards the end of the round and the balls are leaking right, but I'm starting straight, I just tweak my grip a little stronger. I then get down the range a.s.a.p. to improve the face through impact.

 

[JustOne]

The problem - your clubface is pointing at the target and then you cut across it. the ball starts at the target but the cut spin takes the ball to the right.

Simple fix - close the clubface by strengthening your grip on your tee shots so that it aims 20yds to the left of the target/intended landing spot.

The result - the ball will start left and curve back nicely into play assuming that you apply the same cut spin swing.

 

[Region3]

If I've understood recent posts on here about the subject, it means the clubface is square at impact, but the swing is cutting across the ball from out to in.

Curing it is beyond my knowledge, sorry.

 

[Region3]

Beat me to it!! Better put as well

 

[RGDave]

The result - the ball will start left and curve back nicely into play assuming that you apply the same cut spin swing.

Unless you have a Wilson Spine driver, in which case you'll get to enjoy the left hand rough.

 

[JustOne]

The result - the ball will start left and curve back nicely into play assuming that you apply the same cut spin swing.

Unless you have a Wilson Spine driver, in which case you'll get to enjoy the left hand rough.

...or unless you are Smiffy in which case you'll probably nobble it 50yds


nb: IF the ball CURVES too much then you are putting TOO MUCH spin on it, in which case you need to start looking at your swingpath and the reason why you are so 'out-to-in'. First thing to look at though is the starting direction of the ball, hence the clubface needs to point left to get the ball starting down the lefthand side.

 

[USER1999]

50? The smiffster can hit it 50 yards? Must have a new driver.

 

[JustOne]

.... sometimes they get a good bounce!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Or is that downwind

 

[RGDave]

JustOne,

I got into a discussion the other day with a lad who came up with quite a "challenging" theory.

He suggested that if he swung his driver the same as every other club in his bag, by the time the clubhead meets the ball, the path must be out-in as the straightest part of his swing must be half way between his feet.

In a way, I found this quite a perceptive idea from someone just getting into the game. I explained that set-up/swing and timing have got a lot to do with it...but ran out of steam. Surely players who hit their middle irons with a pull don't stand a chance with a driver of the front foot/heel?

Just a left-field idea.

 

[JustOne]

Yes that is (kinda) true if you follow a basic geometry however the bottom of your swing arc should be closer to your left armpit than it should be to the middle of your stance (provided you have set up correctly) and also you have to allow for turn/weight shift/lag to keep the club coming from the inside.

If he stood static, fell back off it a little, lead the downswing with his shoulders or addressed the ball wrong then yes that would be the case, he'd be cutting across it with a slight out-to-in swingpath. You generally see players who hit a draw (swing from the inside) have their hands more forward at impact than they had at address..

Picture below (Mr.Woods).... at address and impact

 

[RGDave]

Thanks mate, can I quote you?

I was trying to explain that the bottom of the swing was ideally "in front" of a mid-iron and "just before" a driver, as you say more level with the armpit.

He hits his clubs very well (and long) and my suggestion was that to imagine where the club would bottom out for a 3 iron/rescue club. If he/us think of that as the lowest and straightest place, then a driver isn't such a crazy idea.

Maybe the ideal club to practice with would in fact be a 5 wood or 3 iron/rescue off a mat/grass rather than chopping down all the time with 7 irons etc!

Cheers.

 

[big_mean_bunny]

just been having a look at your picture, and at the sergio garica article from 2 issues back and notice that they have their hands behind the ball at address? I was taught during my lessons that for driving I should have my hands in front of the ball slightly with the club hanging down?

 

[RGDave]

I was taught during my lessons that for driving I should have my hands in front of the ball slightly with the club hanging down?

Whoops.

 

[JustOne]

I was taught during my lessons that for driving I should have my hands in front of the ball slightly with the club hanging down?

Nothing wrong with that either... this is Lee Westwoods set up.... totally different from Tiger's.

...it's WHAT SHOT you are intending to hit and how you execute the shot that is important.

Repetitive, Repetitive, Repetitive!

Personally I prefer Westwoods position although maybe he could move the ball just a fraction more forward.

 

[RGDave]

Crikey JOuk...where did you find that photo.

Look like me playing my legendary 4 iron.

 

[JustOne]

Hehe... looks like my 7-iron position!

I guess he likes to hit the ball with a slightly descending blow. Funnily enough I was talking to Danny Willett at Walton Heath and his i15 driver is 9° however he has it bent to 10.4° as he like to hit it slightly descending.... sneaky!

No wonder we all rush out to buy 9° drivers that we can't get airborne!!!!!!

 

[iGolf]

drives start off straight but after 80-100 yards they begin to go heavily to the right and when they land they always go right.

my drives are exactly the same. It's the main thing I need help with right now!

 

[RGDave]

Funnily enough I was talking to Danny Willett at Walton Heath and his i15 driver is 9° however he has it bent to 10.4° as he like to hit it slightly descending.... sneaky!

I'm guessing that Danny would have been on a trackman (or something) and Ping will have sorted out the ideal launch/loft.
Makes you wonder why they didn't fit him with a 10.5 and take it 0.1 degree down? Maybe the 9 has a different face angle.

Oh, to be that good! ... and he was. I stood behind the tee on a few a watched those drives thunder down the fairway.