Swing consistency

[Aycliffe_Hacker]

Hi,

Looking for advice about my technique. I know it's not easy without seeing my swing but maybe there is something obvious I'm missing.

Went to the driving range yesterday, for the first time in ages, and I hit the ball all over the place.

My usual shot is a wicked slice, probably 50% of the time at the moment (especially with the driver). However, at times the ball shoots off to the left of the target. Not a hook, just a really straight shot left. Any suggestions?

On the positive side I hit my 9 iron/PW well and my 3 wood was clearing 200 yards off the mats (going relatively straight too!).

All help appreciated as I'm playing at my new club on Sunday and I don't want to get off to a bad start.

Cheers

Dave

 

[birdieman]

No expert here but I'll have a try.

You are swinging with an 'over the top' action. When you keep the face square to target at impact the out to in direction of the club imparts sidespin on the ball causing the 'wicked slice'. However sometimes when you turn the hands over through inmpact you are closing the face a little and because your clubhead is travelling to the left rather than along the target line - that's when you get the straight left or 'pull shot'.

Here is a link that explains things fairly simply. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/skills/4242940.stm - click on slice and pull, you'll see its the same swing path for both.

Cure is no overnight thing - you need to see a teaching pro as your fundamentals are wrong and then spend a lot of time practicing to cure this. You'll probably go backwards before you go forwards with any major swing overhaul.

 

[Aycliffe_Hacker]

Thanks for that, birdieman.

I'll book some lessons for next week. I don't want to get half way through the year before I do something about it.

I really want to improve this year then I can justify some new gear!

 

[RGDave]

Hi A_H.

It seems pretty obvious to me that you are just struggling from the common problem of "cutting" across the line with your swing. Otherwise known as out-in.....

My feeling (and I suffer badly, especially since re-jigging my swing) is that it is quite easy to believe you are on line as shorter clubs don't show up the problem so badly and *some* shots go bang on target.

Slices, fades, pulls (the one that goes left) are all the same shot just with varying degrees of the face of the club.

A small too-much-fade shot (one that starts 5 yards left and ends up 5 yards right, for example) with a 7 iron could easily work out much worse with a driver or 3 wood....like a 20 yard slice maybe A real FADE starts left and ends up more or less on target.....

The straight left shot is the nasty one (for me) as because the path and face angle are actually matching, the ball comes off beautifully (and seemingly strong) but makes a run for the left hand trees like a rabbit heading for the nearest hole in the ground.

My two tips for you are as follows.

1) Watch this video http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/video/mcleanslotdrill

this, if you get the feel for it, should improve your "over the top action" if you have it (I do when it goes wrong)

and

2) find a drill you like where you start to feel and ingrain a more in-out path. You might try to simply start 100 balls right, or use the 3-ball drill (search on here) or lay a club outside your ball pointing at 1 o'clock (taking straight ahead as 12) and do your practice swings down along that path.

There's lots on here about improving the "path" of your swing. Getting "in the slot" better and repeating an in-out drill should help quite quickly.

Good Luck.....

I'm sure folks will elaborate or correct me or offer other advice for you to think about.

 

[Aycliffe_Hacker]

RGDave,

Thanks for the advice.

"The straight left shot is the nasty one (for me) as because the path and face angle are actually matching, the ball comes off beautifully (and seemingly strong) but makes a run for the left hand trees like a rabbit heading for the nearest hole in the ground."

This is the one that really freaks me out! It had never happened before my last round and then it happened 3 or 4 times. I couldn't get my head round it, at all (I'm used to a slice).

I'll look up those drills and have a go before Sunday.

Cheers

Dave

 

[bobmac]

Cliffe,
If the one that goes straight left is a sweet contact and powerful, if you aimed right and hit the pull, where would it finish?

 

[RGDave]

I was messing around with ideas like this today on the practice ground (2 hours). I hit 20 identical balls with one club and then went to have a look/collect.

What I discovered (after walking down to collect balls) was that I had 3 clear groupings. I was hitting 20 at a time and there were about 7-8 well left, 6-7 spot on (would hit the green/centre fairway) and 6-7 well right....a right mix....

This was "deliberately" trying to push/draw the ball.

Next, I re-set the alignment pole a little open and relaxed a bit (expecting the pull-type shots to return).....but actually the results were better.

I guess a player can live with almost any minor problem IF you can trust that a bad one won't cost you too much.....

I hit two (out of 150??) that would have cost me dear on the course, one a snap pull (just horrible) and the other a push-slice that went out of the range and towards a golfer coming up the fairway!!! He gave me a glare as he came past, but I knew he was level with the end of the range (210) and my 3 iron won't go that far!!!!

 

[bobmac]

I know my swing is slightly out to in naturally by about 10 yards.
I have spent all my adult life aiming 10 yards right and hitting the pull, i.e. out to in swing path and clubface square to the path.
As Tincup will confirm, it works for me most of the time. (Just dont mention the 17th at Mid Yorks lol)
'The trouble with golf is that there is more than one way to play it well'.

 

[JustOne]

Cliffe,
If the one that goes straight left is a sweet contact and powerful, if you aimed right and hit the pull, where would it finish?

hehe, but what if he aimed right and hit the usual slice?

Always set up correctly, stance, alignment and posture. Then you build your swing around these fundamentals, not the other way round. As mentioned you are cutting across the ball (an out to in swing) you need to decide if you are going to continue to do this or not!
If you are slicing/pulling then your swing path is too pronounced. Try to come in straighter to the ball to reduce the effects...On the range pick a target 6 inches behind the ball and 1 inch closer to you and try to get your clubhead to go over it.

Regards
JustOneUK.

 

[bobmac]

Easier said than done in a perfect world.
In the real world, sorry I cant agree

 

[JustOne]

Easier said than done in a perfect world.
In the real world, sorry I cant agree

hehe, yeh. That's why there are so many slicers of the ball. It's easier said than done.

If you start with the basics of stance, alignment and posture then at least that's 3 variables removed. Most golfers get those wrong to start with

All the best
JustOneUK

 

[bobmac]

I know my swing is slightly out to in naturally by about 10 yards.
I have spent all my adult life aiming 10 yards right and hitting the pull, i.e. out to in swing path and clubface square to the path.
As Tincup will confirm, it works for me most of the time. (Just dont mention the 17th at Mid Yorks lol)
'The trouble with golf is that there is more than one way to play it well'.

Would you change my aim and swing path if you were teaching me?