How to fix a slice: with PGA pro Eddie Hammond

We just lately caught up with PGA professional Eddie Hammond on learn how to repair a slice and straighten up your golf sport.

Right here’s what he needed to say…

repair a slice

For me, one of many major causes
golfers slice a ball is all the way down to visible misconceptions—typically referred to as parallax.

As we deal with the ball, we stand to
the facet trying throughout on the goal which causes a shift of the physique
alignment to the place we understand the goal to be. This adjustment in alignment
causes an over-the-top ‘pulling’ motion into impression.

The extra a right-hander swings left to cease the ball from slicing proper, the extra doubtless it’s that the clubface shall be open to the trail, which causes a slice. This clubface normally seems like a powerless glancing blow or facet swipe.

Why is the slice so frequent?

Clearly, poor approach is the
underlying explanation for a slice, however you possibly can additionally put it all the way down to poor
understanding of what makes the golf ball go the place it goes.

In some ways, golf could be a sport of opposites. For instance, if you wish to curve the ball from proper to left, it’s essential swing the membership extra proper of the goal. And it’s very exhausting, if you’ve simply seen the final half a dozen pictures slice to the proper, to then try and swing the membership in that very same path.

repair a slice: what must you test?

Begin along with your set-up place, as
there are a number of elements earlier than the membership even strikes that may set you up for a
slice. A few of the causes we slice the ball embody:

• Physique alignment not being parallel to the clubface
• A weak grip with palms rotated too far in the direction of the goal
• Ball place too far ahead within the stance
• Poor posture
• An excessive amount of weight within the heels

My finest recommendation for fixing any swing issues is to go to your native PGA Skilled, who’ll be capable to information you within the appropriate method.

repair a slice: issues to attempt

Attempt these when taking a look at learn how to repair a slice.

1. For anybody with expertise of taking part in different sports activities, there’s very often a transferrable talent that can be utilized.

Whether or not it’s throwing a rugby ball,
taking part in a top-spin forehand, or recreating a well-known David Beckham free-kick
into the highest left nook, there’s normally one thing.

My favorite is the free-kick. Without any consideration-hander, think about the membership shaft as your proper leg and the heel/toe of the clubhead as your foot. Take into consideration what angle you’ll strategy the ball from and the way you’ll transfer your foot by way of the ball to impart the required spin.

2. If in case you have a follow space the place you’re in a position to hit pictures with the ball above your ft, attempt hitting some and spot the added feeling of rotation in your arms all through the swing, particularly simply previous to and after impression.

Take into consideration what should occur for the only of the clubhead to match the angle of the bottom, making a stable contact. After a couple of pictures, you need to hopefully begin to see the ball flight straighten up and probably even transfer with a bit of draw form. After you’ve hit a couple of, transfer on to a extra impartial space of floor and try and recreate the identical. Some driving ranges may have specifically designed mats which can be sloped to create totally different lies resembling ball above and beneath ft.

3. The split-grip drill will provide help to really feel rotation within the swing, too. With a 7-iron, hold your high hand the place it’s and slide your decrease hand to the underside of the grip. From right here, make some swings again and thru, noticing how your lead arm folds on the best way by way of. You must also really feel how the grip finish slows down by way of impression, and the proper arm rotates over the left and hinges again up into the end.

4. Maintain the membership out in entrance of you, degree on the horizon with the clubhead degree along with your chin. From right here, make swings round your physique, conserving the clubhead degree with the horizon, and search for any modifications.

As an example, has the clubhead dropped within the backswing? Most slicers will discover that when the clubhead returns to the beginning, it’s coming from above the horizon, swinging throughout and downwards. Attempt repeating the train and have the clubhead journey extra upwards from low to excessive by way of impression. Discover the sentiments you’re creating—probably a extra folded path arm as you strategy impression or extra rotation within the arms by way of impression. See when you can hit some pictures from a traditional deal with place whereas sustaining these new feels.

What different elements must you take into account when figuring out learn how to repair a slice?

For any person who performs golf from the alternative facet to their dominant arm, it’s value noting that the lead arm being the stronger arm can overpower the downswing and pull each arms out in entrance of the physique, inflicting a really outside-in path by way of impression.

We hear lots concerning the seek for a straight lead arm. Sure, a straight lead arm can add width and energy to a swing, however it could possibly additionally add pressure. This added pressure and stiffness within the lead elbow can delay the squaring of the clubface and depart it open by way of impression.

About Eddie Hammond

Eddie is the Head Assistant Skilled at Moortown Golf Club in West Yorkshire. He’s initially from Sheffield and moved to Moortown in 2005, qualifying as a PGA Skilled in 2010. Eddie can be a Titleist ambassador.

Now you’ve obtained loads of meals for thought with regards to fixing your slice, you’ll be capable to good your sport very quickly. Nevertheless, you might also wish to take into account defending your self and your gear with specialist golf insurance earlier than your subsequent spherical.

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