From Push to Slice... Grip?

[Travtex]

Went to the range this morning with the intention to work on my unplayable push and occasional push fade.  It started with just the driver, then started creeping further down my bag.  Last round I had been starting to push long and mid irons.  By the time I started trying to work on it at the range, I was pushing my stupid pitching wedge.

Whatever horrid habit is causing it, it's terribly ingrained, because I was moving ball position forward in my stance, back in my stance, trying to turn the club over through impact, tweaking my forward press at address, setting up toward the toe, toward the hosel... it made zero difference WHATsoever.  Push Fade.  Once in a great while I managed a snap hook.

I worked a bit with the 3w and hybrids a bit, trying to get the ball started off straight.  Out of nowhere, I started hitting some monstrous slices -- Straight slice.  Pull slice.  Even a nasty balloon push slice that ended up about 45* left of my target.

So, trying to wrap my head around the ball flight physics -- This starts to sound like a grip thing to me.  Going from dead push to a slice means I've just changed the swing path... BUT my club face relative that swing path is pretty much the same, yes?

Push -- In-to-Out Path, Open Face

Slice -- Out-to-In Path, Square Face

So, if I'm correct on the physics, what are some ideas to work on next time?  Coming over the top in order to make contact with a square face to fight the push is obviously not the way to go.

(The day wasn't lost, at least... Had one of the best pitch/chip/putt sessions I've ever had, after I got pissed off at the range and forced myself to stick around for twice that in short game practice, heh.)

[Gerald]

First of all ..... if I read of all the slices, it might well be that you are coming from the outside in on most ball contacts ..... I don't know your swing, but if you say you even had some pull slices .... I would say coming over the top ......

Problem is that most golfers trying to create an inside-out swingpath are creating to less room for coming from the inside by going more-more-more to the inside in the backswing, actually so far that coming back in the downswing actually means there is no room to come from the inside.

Actually you have to create a room for an inside-out swing path, by keeping your left arm straight as long as possible in the backswing and keep your right elbow close to your body ....... if you do this right your back will be turned to the target ....... in the downswing you about only turn-turn-turn back till you belly is towards the target ...... if you focus on extending the right arm as far as you can ...... you'll have and inside-square-outside swing, ball going to the right, curving a little back to target during fight, and land in front of you.

If you don't turn enough ...... you'll end up with the pushes.

But we are no swing instructors, visit a pro, 5 minutes later you know what you should be working at....

[P-Town Golfer]

Well when I start pushing or even slicing the ball I try to make sure I keep my posture and my head behind the ball and that I don't move toward my target until after I hit the ball. Check your stance and see if it is open. Check your shoulders to see if they are open. Maybe close your shoulders a little at address. Check to see if you are following through with your shots (belt buckle facing your target at the finish) swing through the ball and not at it. Also sometimes it might be the opposite of what you think. For example maybe try to purposely hit a slice or come over the top or try to take the club straight back on your takeaway. Sometimes when I get a bad habit going and I don't know what I'm doing I will try to purposely hit that shot and sometimes the results are different and can kind of find out what your doing.

Good Luck

[soloredd]

I've been battling a push-slice lately and I've come to figure out that it occurs for a couple reasons (for my particular swing anyway). 1, I get lazy and instead of making a shoulder turn I'm using my arms more - this causes my elbow to eventually break down nothing is connected at this point. 2, I sway to the right on the backswing. 3, my alignment is off. This happens to me more than it should, I'm ashamed to admit.