I know this sounds like a dumb question but... can holding off the face produce a slice?

[senorchipotle]

lately, i've been trying to "hold off" the face like a chip or a pitch shot to keep my clubface square for a longer amount of time in the hitting area with my irons and driver. but it seems as though this produces a big straight slice. is this the case, or is there something else afoot?

[Stretch]

What's your normal shot shape when you don't consciously "hold off"?

A straight slice comes from a club face that is square to the target line at impact and a path that is going to the left of that. If you normally hit pull fades then, sure, your swing could be just the same but the face now less closed at impact -- so the ball starts on line and goes right instead of starting left and falling toward the target. If you normally draw the ball, then the thought of "holding off" is probably also affecting how you're getting down to and through impact. Personally, I tend to be more CP (arms tight to torso, exit low and left) when consciously trying to keep the right wrist bend in.

[senorchipotle]

well, my "normal" shot is a mid trajectory 5 yard or so fade. in other words, i try to feel like my arms are going straight back and through and exiting low and left. i've had good success with it, but i was told by a reputable pro i was standing too tall over the ball, and try and get more bend from the waist. you can barely tell the difference on film, but holy smokes has it made a difference in the feel i get off the club. i've picked up ridiculous yardage and my swing is a lot freer and easier, if that makes any sense.

only drawback is, i began hitting this 10 yard draw. it's nice and all, but i prefer to hit a fade. so i felt that holding off the face, a la charlie hoffmann/zach johnson, would give me a more predictable ball flight and i can control the flight with just my swing plane. so i feel like i'm going straight back and through, but now i'm getting these huge slices that start off straight but go 30 yards right.

[Gerald]

10 yds left - 30 yds right and it can be anything in between ...... pfffff, back to where you came from would maybe be the the best advise ..... otherwise you might try ball position more forward.

If you are now more at a flatter plane, for sure it means your swing is longer, but also it might mean less room for error and maybe you are not any longer balanced to the heels, which might mean blocking some rotation, etc....

[senorchipotle]

shameless bump

[senorchipotle]

so i went to the range tonight and figured it out. it's amazing how easily you can diagnose yourself if you take a minute, be patient, and hit shots with your feet together. unbeknownst to me, my upper body has been moving ever so slightly forward, moving my swing arc ever so slightly forward. since i'd been flipping at the bottom i was deceived into thinking everything was good and my swing was sound.

one i realized i was flipping, naturally i decided to work on not flipping. this exposed the targetward upper body movement i was making. so i got it in my head to keep my shoulders steady, make the same swing with no flip, and presto, beautiful high flying irons with a 5 yard fade. and a reliable driver.

also, i had strengthened my grip to compensate, which is why they were starting straight and fading instead of a push fade.

thanks for all the help guys.

seriously though, i hope this helps someone.