Thread: Golf swing - slicing the ball!

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A slice like this often occurs when you hit the ball with your arms - rather like playing tennis - instead of making a swing with your shoulders and not using your arms at all. You need to concentrate on keeping your arms neutral.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I have just arrived back from the golf range for the third time this weekend - I have only spent £10.50 this weekend by the way Astasanim - and by slowing down my first three drives THEY WENT STRAIGHT, but only reaching around 180yrds or so.

To be fair Bruno, it's much better to hit 180-220 yards straight than to hit longer and into trouble. Ball position at address may help you to hit a wee bit longer and maybe with experimenting a bit more you may be able to achieve an extra 20-40 yards but hitting straight is the key to consistant golf and lower scores.

I rarely hit a 400+ yard par 4 in 2 shots but almost never get myself in trouble, so 3 shots on the green and 1 or 2 putts will help to lower your handicap.

You seem to be pleased with your progress so keep swinging easy buddy.

Get another 3 mates and you can stay at The Wiltshire Hotel and Country Club and get 2 rounds of golf for 36 quid, with breakfast too.



http://www.yourgolftravel.com/the-wiltshire-hotel.html

Originally Posted by Blake7

A slice like this often occurs when you hit the ball with your arms - rather like playing tennis - instead of making a swing with your shoulders and not using your arms at all. You need to concentrate on keeping your arms neutral.

I thought you used a golf club to hit the ball ,not your arms , must be very painful on the arms ,

[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKHPuZzTC98"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKHPuZzTC98[/URL

Last night down the range hitting my 9 iron perfectly 110yrds, straight down the middle of the range...

I have just noticed, watching it again here, that my eyes follow the club as I bring it back.

Suggestions welcome:

Watch, the same speed, but with a 5 Iron and look how the ball leaves the club face - well right of the target!!

Its no bloody wonder !!!!!!!!!! what the hell is that all about watching the clubhead as you take it away ???????? only one place to watch ,the ball

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Its no bloody wonder !!!!!!!!!! what the hell is that all about watching the clubhead as you take it away ???????? only one place to watch ,the ball

I honestly didn't realise it at the time as I was so concerned with pulling the club back correctly that after the club left my line of vision I was left. well, kinda wondering what to look at next.

Eyes on the ball - got it!

Take lessons from an accomplished hooker. She'll straighten you out.

There ya go!

Bruno,
You need to have the camera postioned behind you at about hands height.
Also a face on angle would be good aswell. If that was a 5 iron you were hitting in the last vid. just from the angle it looked like you had the ball positioned too far back in you stand which would be leading to a slice.There are plenty of good instruction vids on Youtube, search for Lynn Blake and what his videos, good stuff about the golf swing.

Progress

After 3 months of trying, watching youtube and spending more time than I ought too down the driving range I have now, i think, cured my slice.

Any many number of aspects when addressing the ball have been considered such as stance, fixing that annoying habit of taking my eyes off the ball, relaxing the arms and, what was paramount in fixing the slice I found, was my grip.

Rather than seeing, two knuckles on the left hand, (i am a right handed player) I shifted my left hand across slightly so that the third knuckle showed, whilst bringing the right hand over to the left. This forced the club to adopt a more of a 'closed' face when I struck the ball...

8/10 I am now striking the ball down the middle of the fairway and reaching a distance of around 220-250 yards - depending on the natural contours of the fairway...

VERY HAPPY MAN !!

If anybody is from chiang mai and would like a round of golf in July, please let me know

Congratulations Bruno, i'm a wee bit envious that you can hit that distance with a straight drive.

Would love to catch up with you for a round or two but currently in the UK and unfortunately wont be in CM during July.

It's a great game when things are going well and ones handicap starts to improve. Keep it up Bruno

Tuck a towel in your right arm pit.

Try Polara golf balls.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

Congratulations Bruno, i'm a wee bit envious that you can hit that distance with a straight drive.

Thanks... I really am pleased and I have put so much effort in these past 3 months that it's great to finally be able to connect with the ball in such a way that I don't see it flair off to the right of the fairway - and beyond!

I am only hitting at around 75% of my effort level, leaning to the right upon set-up and once I bring the club on the down swing I really try and get my weight behind the ball as much as I possibly can. Mostly it lands at 220 yrds then rolls a further 10 yrds or so - good enough for me!!

Originally Posted by Travelmate

Tuck a towel in your right arm pit.

Never heard that one, does it help?

Originally Posted by mackayae

Try Polara golf balls.

£20 for 3 polara golf balls

If I ever lost one I wouldn;t quit until I found it...

Congratulations Bruno, I too have the dreaded slice and an outside-in swing. The other part of my bad habits is I tend to lung at the ball.

Best of luck bringing down your handicap. Keep swinging and thanks for starting this golf thread.

Jon

Originally Posted by buzzy

Congratulations Bruno, I too have the dreaded slice and an outside-in swing. The other part of my bad habits is I tend to lung at the ball.

Best of luck bringing down your handicap. Keep swinging and thanks for starting this golf thread.

Jon

Thanks Jon,

It was a full 2 years since I picked up my clubs in anger whilst even then I played very intermittently, taking the odd lesson here or there and playing on few occasions. I really found watching you tube for tips helpful. I would start, one at a time, with body position, stance, grip, back swing, follow through etc etc and just play out each tip down the range individually.

After 1 week I would progress to the next part of the swing and so on... eventually it all comes together and your left with an end result which you can then tweak accordingly, in my case It was the slice - everything else was fine, and now I have overcome this I usually step up to the tee on a par-5, without the anxious feeling I had before, and crack that driver with more confidence, finding I am either on, or near the green, in 3 shots..

Next time I'm down the range I'll upload another video...

[/IMG]

Ok, so it's taken me a while but I am finally hitting the balls 80% of the time in the desired direction. I feel like I might be moving the upper body a little too much, not sure if it must be more static, but overall I am pleased with the way I am now hitting the driver...

Same day, but now with a 9-iron

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Nice + relaxed swing mate on iron + wood ,,,,,,,,however I have watched this closely and your still moving toward an out to in slice swing mate , also you have very little resistance in your swing ie a hell of a lot of body movement ,, please try what I first suggested >>>> initiate your swing with your LEFT shoulder only , leave your hands passive ,, think push the club away with your LEFT shoulder , if you can do this you will find it impossible to slice it .

Are you in the UK now mate ?? if so where are you ? ( area )

Thanks,

I totally agree and its useful getting advice from somebody who knows the game. I always felt that the upper part of my body was 'moving' too much, overenthusiastic you could say! I can also see what you mean by an 'out to in' swing which does, on occasions, cause a slice. It's still a work in progress but better than it was from the original uploads.

I'm based in Essex / Chiang mai

Originally Posted by Bruno

I'm based in Essex

Give us a shout when your in Essex mate , I am in North Essex no probs , can meet you at any range you like ,, love to help ya ,,,,,,,

That towel thing that guy was on about is a David Leadbetter thing Faldo,s old coach ,, you roll your towel up, place between your two shoulders , and the theory is that by moving your shoulders together the rest of your body will follow behind,, if the towel falls out you fail the test as your hands and arms are moving before your shoulders . Anyway as I said thats the theory

If you wanna come on down mate or me come on up or whatever PM me if you want ,, if you come on down my lovely Jan will make us some good ol Thai food for refreshment + recouperation I am sure

Chok dii