Constantly Hitting a fade With my Driver

[DLR]

For the last month or so I have been constantly hitting a fade with my driver. Yesterday when I was playing a friend of mine told me that I am dropping my right elbow in too much and I am opening up the club face at impact. I have been noticing that I have been hitting a couple balls off the toe of the club. I have tried adjusting my swing, stance, and how far away I stand from the ball and still no improvement. Everyone I golf with tell me that I have a nice golf swing with my irons and hybrids but when I pick up the driver it makes a turn for the worse. Anyone have any advice for me.

[ks8829]

Does your ball start straight and slice? or is it a push slice?

Slices are caused by an open club face at impact:

1) Grip too tight
If your right handed sometimes you grip too tight with your right hand not allowing the club to close during your swing.
a) loosen your right hand grip pressure and make sure you have a strong grip.

2) Take the club outside the line.
a) Start taking the club around your body more and make sure your wrist are choked on the backswing and release at impact.

3) Timming of your body and arms is off.
a) Make sure you are taking a full back swing and shoulder turn, slow down your take away and swing at 70% or slower to get your tempo and timming down.

4) Moving ahead of the ball.
a) Make sure your head stay behind the ball by starting with a shoulder tilt with your rear shoulder and more weight on your back foot, you will shift the weight forward but this will help keep you head behind the ball during your swing.

5) Not shifting your weight forward and falling back at impact
a) Make sure 98% of your weight automatically shift to your front leg at impact.

practice swinging your club with your feet together this helps with a full turn and weight shift.

keep you swing compact by keeping your elbow against your body as long as you can.

[bIGwIRE]

Let your hips lead your body around (like when you were in high school )
Don't even think of dropping or turning your shoulder, just focus on turning your hips quickly, get them ahead of your shoulders, and the rest will follow.

[Mr Eagle]

Aim left!

[Stacey_E]

I'm not sure if your fade is a little cut or a banana ball. But a fade isn't a bad shot to have with the driver. If the hole permits it, always tee up on the far right of the tee box and aim to the far left of the fairway at about the distance your driver usually goes. This way if u do hit it straight you are in the left side of the fairway, and you have a whole fairway's width of cushion for your fade.

[DLR]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Im going to try and hit the range and practice here in the next couple of days. I know I said I was hitting a fade but it actually varies from a fade to a wicked slice. I have been teeing off from the right side of the box and aiming left to compensate for it but sometimes it just isnt enough. Thanks again.

[TinCupTampa]

Aim left!

Actually, you would drop your back foot about an inch or so to promote a draw swing ... thus aiming right.

This is the simple reason most beginners cant cure their slice.

[Mr Eagle]

Actually, you would drop your back foot about an inch or so to promote a draw swing ... thus aiming right.

Good advice to anyone with a slice.

Have you posted on the right thread?

[TinCupTampa]

Good advice to anyone with a slice.

????

Not sure what you mean.

[Mr Eagle]

Sorry Tin Cup I missed DLR's second post when he turned his fade into a slice and was being padantic.

[bogeyhitter25]

I had the same problem. What I'd do is to stand further away from the ball in your setup, and have it lined up with your front foot.

[jambalaya]

If you are doing well with your other clubs then it could be a setup problem. Find as many videos and articles as you can about setting up with a driver or hitting a driver. I approach a shot with a driver in my hand different than for any other club.

[DLR]

After playing a couple of rounds with a couple of veteran golfers it seems that I am swinging outside to in which is why I am slicing the ball. What I am wondering is there any kind of drills I can do to stop me from swinging like this? I still cant figure out why Im swinging like this with my driver but all of my other clubs I swing fine. Also, when I went to the range yesterday trying to get this straightened out it seems that when I do hit the ball straight I sky it sending it very high about 200-225 yards. Can anyone offer me some advice on what kind of drills I can do and why I am skying the ball constantly?
When I first bought the driver I was hitting the ball straight and a nice trajectory. If it helps the driver is a Nike Sumo 10.5 reg flex.

TIA