Any tips for squaring the clubface at impact?

[glock35ipsc]

Had a pretty dismal 9 holes Saturday.  I have always had a slicing problem with the driver (has almost always been a straight slice), but Saturday I started out with a push slice and it just continued to get worse.  I haven't really had a problem with slices with my irons, but occasionally push them a little right.  Saturday I was push slicing everything from the driver down to the 7 iron.

On the driver, I was taking such a strong grip that I was on the back side of the shaft and still push slicing!  Are there any drills anyone can send my way that will help me to square up the club face at impact?

I have been working on trying to correct on out-to-in swing with the driver.  I think, according to the ball flight anyhow, that I am not approaching the ball from the outside now.  I initially had a straight slice, starting out down the line then curving right.  Now the ball is starting to the right and continuing to slice.  As far as a desired flight goes, I don't really have one, other than not a right turn into the trees!

I am finished with my first instructor, and am in search of a new one, so hopefully I can get this fixed soon.  But in the mean time I'm looking for something that might help.  Thanks!

[NEOHMark]

I'm betting your strong grip has far exceeded the point of diminishing returns.  I believe an overly strong grip can actually hinder the natural rolling over of the club - pretty much locking up your wrists and keeping the face wide open at impact.

I'd suggest going back to a slightly strong left hand grip - V pointing at your right ear/shoulder and getting more neutral with your right hand (assuming you are RHed).  Try to swing less 'fast' with the arms and more 'turn' with the hips early in the swing.

I've had my best days when I'm not consciously thinking about 'squaring' anything and allowing the arms to swing freely, pretty powerlessly in fact, through the swing and just naturally letting 'it happen' at the bottom of the swing and beyond.

It'd be my bet if you get those hips started first and don't try to 'muscle' the hands - you'll get better ball flight almost instantly.  Maybe even try a bit shorter backswing until you get things straightened out.

[glock35ipsc]

Thanks Mark.  If the weather holds out, I'll give those a try tonight.

[bunkerputt]

Lee Trevino says he would take almost any amateur and weaken their grip so they can release the club and get more distance.  With a strong grip, you have to block so you don't hook it.  Over-the-top with a strong grip is slice-city in my experience.  Imagine someone is standing in front of you offering you the grip end of the club.  If you were to grab it, wouldn't you just clap your hands together naturally instead of rolling the lead hand away from your lead side?  Why is it so different if the clubhead is on the ground since you are bent over anyway?  I've got a pretty neutral grip like this and hit baby push-draws all day long with plenty of power.

Regardless, when you figure out how you want to grip it, practice hitting an impact bag or stopping the club at the ball.  You will get some visual feedback for what square is pretty quickly once you can see the club face.

[bunkerputt]

Lee Trevino says he would take almost any amateur and weaken their grip so they can release the club and get more distance.  With a strong grip, you have to block so you don't hook it.  Over-the-top with a strong grip is slice-city in my experience.  Imagine someone is standing in front of you offering you the grip end of the club.  If you were to grab it, wouldn't you just clap your hands together naturally instead of rolling the lead hand away from your lead side?  Why is it so different if the clubhead is on the ground since you are bent over anyway?  I've got a pretty neutral grip like this and hit baby push-draws all day long with plenty of power.

Regardless, when you figure out how you want to grip it, practice hitting an impact bag or stopping the club at the ball.  You will get some visual feedback for what square is pretty quickly once you can see the club face.

[saevel25]

I read an article were a golf teacher basicaly said that Hogan kept him in business because it tought people how to slice the ball.

So its a matter of opinion, my theory is, unless you have strange swing, keep your grip a few steps to the weakside of netural to a few steps to the strong side of neutral. Moderation in the grip.

[Deryck Griffith]

I agree with NEOHMark on the stong grip comment.  Going overly strong will certainly lock those wrists.

As it pertains to the push slice, an open face with an out-to-in path will certainly cause that to happen.

Without seeing your swing which you should POST so we can all see.

1. Go back to a standard strong grip.

2. Setup a video camera "caddie view" --> check to see if you are moving your weight foward onto your left leg (if you are righty) on your downswing.  I would guess that you are spinning like a top without moving forward.  This will cause the severe out to in swing that you have ATM.  By moving forward to the left leg, it gives your hands room to drop into the slot and move in an in-to-out path (as your body moves left).  WIthout this movement, it is extremely difficult to have an in-to-out hand path when you are ONLY rotating vs. "moving" forward.  The feeling you should have on the downswing is a push forward with the right foot with the inseam rotating onto the inner part of your foot rather than up on the toe (picture a pitcher pushing off of the rubber when they are about to throw a pitch).  I will stress that you really try to push forward and focus on having your hands drop down and then through on the inside.  These are all feel movements which are hard to accomplish on your own which is why a camera showing what you are actually doing will tell you if you are indeed accomplishing what you are trying. There is also tons of information here on this forum that will explain better than I have on how to accomplish all of what I said.

From the caddie view, I would also check to see if you are moving back to your right leg on the backswing.  If so, then there is a good chance that you are getting stuck on your right leg on the downswing which also, promotes a rotational move vs. and "moving forward" move onto your left leg.  Again, there are many posts on this forum that can help with the "proper" way to have a centered turn vs. moving back onto the right leg turn.

I am no expert but hopefully some of that helps.  Post your swing so we can all see and check out some of the other posts that people have made.

[slabm7]

In the last year or so I have managed to conquer my slice and I'll give you a couple things I did that made huge improvements. First was a flat wrist at the top of my backswing, if your wrist is cupped at all it doesn't allow you to properly rotate your wrists through the impact zone and won't allow the club face to square up to the ball. Second but most important to me is making a mental point to start the downswing with the rotation of your hips. When you do this it in turn drops your shoulders and club head into the proper swing path. This prevents an out to in swing and lets you come in behind the ball. This also helped dramatically with my ball striking with my irons.

[jamo]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

Had a pretty dismal 9 holes Saturday.  I have always had a slicing problem with the driver (has almost always been a straight slice), but Saturday I started out with a push slice and it just continued to get worse.  I haven't really had a problem with slices with my irons, but occasionally push them a little right.  Saturday I was push slicing everything from the driver down to the 7 iron.

If it's a straight slice, chances are the face isn't the problem.

[EverythingGolf]

Originally Posted by jamo

If it's a straight slice, chances are the face isn't the problem.

Right...You must be comming OTT. Don't start the down swing with your upper body. Take a practice swings to the top  then just turn your higs and you will feel that the hands want to drop more from the inside. Get a 7 iron and practice this then hit a ball and try to do the same thing in your swing. It hepls to take a 3/4  swing so you don't try and swing to hard and turn your upper body first.

[NEOHMark]

FWIW, the OP has indicated that what had started as a straight slice has now become a nasty push-slice.

Quote:

I have always had a slicing problem with the driver (has almost always been a straight slice), but Saturday I started out with a push slice and it just continued to get worse......

I initially had a straight slice, starting out down the line then curving right.  Now the ball is starting to the right and continuing to slice......

[glock35ipsc]

Yes, in the past few months it was a straight slice, but Saturday it was becoming more of a push-slice.

But now it looks like I have a few things I can work on - making sure I have a flat wrist at the top, starting the downswing with the hips and not my upper body, and not taking such a strong grip.

Thanks for the tips guys!  I did speak to a new instructor last night, and we should be getting together in less then two weeks.  At least I can work on these to pass the time until we can get together.