Slice on Drive

[TheBirdMan9]

Hello

I just got a new Taylormade r9 460 driver (really like it) and some holes i am slicing it hard right and some holes I am hitting it dead straight about 275. I know it should be simple to feel what I am doing differently on the straight ones compared to the slicers, but I just cant. I go through the same motion and it just slices hard sometimes. What could I be doing wrong? Trying to kill the ball? Im not sure

[CalBoomer]

Sadly, there are so many things you could be doing wrong that a written reply in a forum like this just won't be helpful. Go get some expert advice from someone who can watch you.

[crayputter]

Hello

Without looking at a video, what I can offer (based on the same problems I had when I was playing off a 30 hc ) :

1. The most common one would be you probably stopped moving upon impact. Meaning you stopped turning the minute you hit the ball...or simply put, the failure of completing your swing is the cause. Next time, just hold your finish on the slices...chances are your belt buckle is pointing right and not toward the target... 2. Check your grip. Try using a strong grip, instead of a neutral or weak grip 3. Dude, you have the R9....its like having 24 different drivers ( based on the angles and lie you can change the face of the driver )....look at what you're setup for now, and then just change it the opposite way...meaning if you're setup at N, change it to L (left) and see how it goes...remember though, this is a quick fix only, and as you improve in your game and swing, this will need adjustment again.... Hope this helps.... Ray

[Shanks A Million]

Hello

It doesn't make any difference what driver you have. If you had a persimmon driver, the answer would be the same. We hit clubs, they don't hit us. So long as we do our part every time the same way, we'll get the same result. The only thing that changes is what we do. So, post a video, or get some help, otherwise, there's not much we can tell you. Over the top is the most obvious result.

[TheBirdMan9]

alright, yeah i guess it is pointless without a video, I'll try and get a video up

[Ringer]

Really the only thing to say is that if the ball is "slicing" then the path is outside in. That could be for any number of reasons. Now if the ball is starting to the right and then slicing, I'd say the face just isn't rotating. But again without video it's kinda tough.

[CalBoomer]

Really the only thing to say is that if the ball is "slicing" then the path is outside in. That could be for any number of reasons. Now if the ball is starting to the right and then slicing, I'd say the face just isn't rotating. But again without video it's kinda tough.

I can't agree with this comment. The only thing you can say about a slice is that the ball was contacted with an open club face. You can hit a slice with an in-out swing. People with too vertical swing paths do it all the time.

[Razz11]

Ringer is right. If you are slicing any way besides a push-fade, then your path is out-to-in. The only way you can slice the ball with an in-to-out swing path is a push-slice. Meaning the ball starts right of where you are aiming and then slices further right. He did explain that in his post.

[iacas]

I can't agree with this comment. The only thing you can say about a slice is that the ball was contacted with an open club face. You can hit a slice with an in-out swing. People with too vertical swing paths do it all the time.

More than 90% of people who slice do so with a clubface relatively square to the target. Thus, more than 90% of people who slice do so with the path.

I can't agree with your comment. P.S. Obviously - and as I assume you know - you can slice with a closed clubface (relative to the target).

[CalBoomer]

I think the main issue here is semantics and reference lines. I am not sure we really disagree. One reference line is the target line, which is usually used to decide whether a swing is out-in or in-out. A second, and more obscure reference line, is a line tangent to the horizontal projection of the clubhead during the swing path. Let's call that the swing tangent line. To my way of thinking, referencing the club face as being open or closed relative to the target line does not make much sense. In terms of the clubhead contacting the ball, it makes more sense to reference the swing tangent line because that is the instantaneous direction of the clubhead at the moment of contact. Consider an out-in swing which is contacting the ball with the face square to the target line. With regard to the swing tangent line, however, the club face would be open. I think we both agree that this swing would produce a slice. Consider an out-in swing with a club face closed to the target line but square to the swing tangent line. A straight pull is the likely result. So the out-in swing in reference to the target line does not determine that the ball will necessarily slice. Or consider an in-out swing with a club face open to the target line and slightly less open to the swing tangent line. The result is likely to be the so-called power fade. If the club face were even more open, it could be a slice. So an in-out swing can produce a slice. Although it is not common used, the swing tangent line is a better reference for the angulation of the club face and the likely effect on ball flight.

[Shanks A Million]

I think the main issue here is semantics and reference lines. I am not sure we really disagree. One reference line is the target line, which is usually used to decide whether a swing is out-in or in-out. A second, and more obscure reference line, is a line tangent to the horizontal projection of the clubhead during the swing path. Let's call that the swing tangent line. To my way of thinking, referencing the club face as being open or closed relative to the target line does not make much sense. In terms of the clubhead contacting the ball, it makes more sense to reference the swing tangent line because that is the instantaneous direction of the clubhead at the moment of contact. Consider an out-in swing which is contacting the ball with the face square to the target line. With regard to the swing tangent line, however, the club face would be open. I think we both agree that this swing would produce a slice. Consider an out-in swing with a club face closed to the target line but square to the swing tangent line. A straight pull is the likely result. So the out-in swing in reference to the target line does not determine that the ball will necessarily slice. Or consider an in-out swing with a club face open to the target line and slightly less open to the swing tangent line. The result is likely to be the so-called power fade. If the club face were even more open, it could be a slice. So an in-out swing can produce a slice. Although it is not common used, the swing tangent line is a better reference for the angulation of the club face and the likely effect on ball flight.

That's really all semantics. Iacas refers to the clubface relative to the target. I prefer using the swing path as a reference. The main issue is to be clear which one you mean to avoid confusion. I will always say, "open relative to the swing path." Slices are almost always caused with the club square or closed to the target, but open to the path.

[CalBoomer]

That's really all semantics. Iacas refers to the clubface relative to the target. I prefer using the swing path as a reference. The main issue is to be clear which one you mean to avoid confusion. I will always say, "open relative to the swing path." Slices are almost always caused with the club square or closed to the target, but open to the path.

So I guess that means we agree.