My Swing (Jr1Zero)

[Jr1Zero]

Someone please help me with my swing. I almost 90% of the time slice the ball. The ball starts dead center most of the time and then takes off left. I am convinced it is so bad that it sometimes comes backwards like a boomerang. I just posted a video of my swing. Please let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCJn47B5a3A

[Spyder]

The biggest key to stop slicing, out of many, would be to know where the club face is by controlling your left wrist throughout your swing. Bring the club back waist level and then stop. Most golfers have a tendency to bring the club back with the face open by "over" rolling the left wrist backwards (cupping it backwards). Focus on keeping the club's face slightly closed on your backswing and remember to drive the hips forward.

Grip can be another issue as well. Make sure that your club's shaft is resting right below the fingers (where you normally get calluses) - straight across the 4 knuckles of your palm. If you have the shaft going diagonally through your palm, this is a very weak grip that will promote an open club face and twist the face at impact.

Just focus on keeping that left wrist flat during the back and down swing. After a few shots, or even instantly, you will see the ball go straight and even begin to draw. I watched your swing video and paused it several times on your backswing where you can see the club face opening. It's not impossible to hit a straight shot or draw with an open club face during your back swing, but it will definitely be much more difficult to hit it straight.

(Edit: If you're a lefty, ignore the "Left" wrist examples and replace it with Right wrist).

[Jr1Zero]

I have read a lot about out to in swing paths causing this slicing problem. Other than my club face being open, am I getting an out to in motion? I would like to find a permanent fix and not just a quick fix that reverts back to my wicked slice

[Slowswing]

I think you sway to far backwards in your swing personally (knees specifically). If you can make it work though, who cares. If your slicing it is swing plain and you are cutting across the ball. I was hooking earlier this year it was from a swing coming inside and I was throwing my hands at the ball cutting across the opposite way you are describing. I played around with my swing plain and learned to slice and hook then chose a happy medium that shoots it straight. Good luck!

[Spyder]

Well, an out-to-in path is definitely a major cause of a slice. However, the tips I mentioned above will promote an in-to-out swing (straight or draw) and correct your swing path as well. When you're opening your club face by cupping the lead wrist, it is causing your plane to start either over the top, or outside (or even both in some circumstances).

The tips mentioned in my last reply are by no means a temporary fix or a band-aid. Those tips will eventually become a permanent fixture. Obviously you won't be able to expect results on the first 3 shots, but I recommend going to the range and constantly focusing on that wrist. Here's 2 videos to help you out as well.

[Jr1Zero]

I am going to try and go to the range tomorrow and post results. My main focus looks to be keep that left wrist straight with no bend at all and stop the knee action and see where that goes. I think it also could be a grip issue. I constantly switch between interlock and baseball grips

[Spyder]

Most people will tell you that you NEED to use interlocked. The plain and simple answer is - use what gives you a strong and comfortable grip. I personally use interlock. Overlap is weak for me and baseball tends to promote a flipping action of the club when I use it. For me it is easier to keep the wrists stable and make good contact when my grip is interlocked.

Keep us updated and let us know how you do. I'll definitely be checking back to see how you did with the tips. Just remember not to get frustrated because it is something new and it's going to be fresh on your mind. Sometimes it takes 3 steps backwards to go 10 steps forwards. After a while it'll be a subconscious action rather than a thought - the wrist will be flattened off and you'll be bombing them straight. Remember to slide the hips into the ball as well.

[Slowswing]

Well also a more neutral grip will make it "easier" to slice and a stronger grip would make it easier to close the face, theoretically. Don't get caught up thinking about to much stuff. Just work on a back swing that comes more inside bringing the club a little more behind you then try a back swing more outside in. Use your same swing just practice different club paths, the fix is simple I think. You could also play with ball positions a little bit, try moving it a little more forward and see where that gets you.

[Jr1Zero]

Went to the range today and hit 4 buckets of balls. The first bucket pretty much was same old wicked slice. Comes out straight then the dreaded slice left. Went to second bucket and stopped the slice and even hooked a couple, but then were about 50 yards right of center, remember I am a lefty. I tried twisting hips and that pushed it further right and when it didn't rotate hips the ball would slice again. Same thing happened throughout the rest of the buckets. I separated my right shoulder and broke the collar bone was I was a kid (now 26) and I've come to the conclusion nothing will ever fix my problem. I was hitting the inside out swing with face closed and everything. My fingers are now paying the price with multiple blisters for hours spent at the range. Any pics or videos would be great otherwise the clubs are going to the bottom of the lake:~(

[Grumpter]

Try filming when you are actually hitting balls. Real swings are usually different than practice swings.

[MPS67]

Hi Jr1Zero,

I see some good things in your swing. It appears that your footwork looks good, and it looks like you're firing your hips nicely from the top.

I also see a few things that could be contributing to your wicked slice.

1) In general (and from the 'behind the line perspective') you're not turning about your spine well enough. At address, it looks like your weight is too far forward to the ball. I'd suggest that you reduce your knee bend a little bit and slide your butt away from the ball a few inches. This will give you a more balanced and stable posture at address.

2) At the top of the back swing, you've dipped or crunched down about six inches. Although squatting and keeping your knees bent are important, try to reduce (not eliminate) these movements in order to keep your head from bobbing up and down too much. You've also rotated back too far, allowing your club to travel over the line. I drew a purple line on top of your club's shaft to make it easy for you to see this position. With the club going back so far, you're going to have a more difficult time moving it on plane, whereas (in order to help) arm manipulation could come into play. I'd highly recommend that you  shorten up your back swing and let momentum do most of the work and carry the club up to the top.

I do like how you maintained your spine angle tilt from address. If anything, you're even more inclined from vertical than your address angle. Try to practice looking in a mirror or get feedback from a friend so in order to ingrain a constant angle from address and though club release.

3) In the hitting zone, your upper body looks hunched and cramped like in the image below.

You're guilty of early extension where your hips go forwards towards the ball and you stand up through impact. See where I added a green circle around your left elbow? It looks like your hips are not clearing and that you're getting stuck. Getting stuck like this can keep your club face open thru impact. Also, see the gap between the light blue vertical line and your butt in the "Hitting Zone" image.

The first video below can help you with your "early extension" fault. The 2nd one can help you understand how to more efficiently unwind your upper body.Pay close attention to how the golfer turns

forward while holding his spine angle (at around 41 seconds into the clip.)

So, I would recommend you practice following:

A) Work on keeping your posture (spine angle) constant, especially thru impact. When you shift & rotate your hips forward, you'll want your left elbow to tuck into the swing slot a little in front of your left hip.

B) Work on keeping your back side up against an imaginary vertical wall.

C) Shorten up your back swing.

D) Turn your hat around so the bill is facing the front. (Just kidding about "D")

[Slowswing]

I suffer from early extension as well, standing up. Somehow I have made it work. I noticed Luke Donald has a very similar swing. Compare [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/170435/width/640/height/700][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/170435/width/640/height/700[/IMG][/URL] To [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/170436/width/640/height/700][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/170436/width/640/height/700[/IMG][/URL] I would like to swing different but it's working, you can kinda see my club is perfectly square.

[MPS67]

Originally Posted by Slowswing

I suffer from early extension as well, standing up. Somehow I have made it work. I noticed Luke Donald has a very similar swing.

I would like to swing different but it's working, you can kinda see my club is perfectly square.

Hi Slowswing,

I placed L. Donald's swing side by side with yours and see it a little different than you.

I drew green lines for each image that represents the target line. Though, I am making a big assumption that with each of you, your feet were squared up to the target line at address.

If this is the case, your shoulders and club are pointed closed to the target and you're making an over the top move. Whereas in Donald's situation, his shoulders and club are pretty much square and down the target line.

And from the camera's perspective on your image, It's difficult to see if you're guilty of an early hip extension or if you're simply standing tall at address.

[Jr1Zero]

Just a heads up on my progress. Took the advice of keeping that wrist locked, move my butt back and stop bobbing of the head with the inclusion of keeping the spine angle constant throughout the swing and let me tell you what a difference. I don't have all the power in the world right now since I am getting used to the new swing, but I am hitting it dead straight much more than after. Recent Captain and Crew tourney I believe my group used my drive 4-6 times and I rarely used to to hit 1 or 2 fairway a round usually. The times we didn't use my drives I was more likely still on the fairway. Still have the slice here and there, but hardly not every single swing. Thanks for all the help on this!