Slicing with an Inside Out Path

[LI Hacker]

Hey -

I'm not sure if its possible but I am trying to figure out if this is my problem. If the face is open relative to the path the ball will slice is what I have always been taught but I also know the majority of beginner golfers slice because of an OTT move.

I have worked very hard to swing inside out and believe my path generally does move in that direction yet I continue to slice the ball (horribly) so I was wondering if I just need to work on getting my hands to release and closing the clubface more. My swing unfortunately repeats so basically all of my driver shots are the same, starting right of the target and slicing further right. Is this path possible with an inside out path but a very open face? I know I have a tendency to squeeze the grip and have issue releasing, particularly with the driver but just curious if this is my issue or there is more to it.

[Slice of Life]

Look up ball flight laws.

Starts right, and slices further right. Sounds like you are swinging inside to out with an open clubface. If you were inside to out, with a clubface square to the swing path, you would still be pushing the ball to the right, but the open clubface makes it slice as well.

Do you have a video of your swing? Could be a variety of things...none of which I'm qualified to help anybody with.

[cipher]

Originally Posted by LI Hacker

Hey -

I'm not sure if its possible but I am trying to figure out if this is my problem. If the face is open relative to the path the ball will slice is what I have always been taught but I also know the majority of beginner golfers slice because of an OTT move.

I have worked very hard to swing inside out and believe my path generally does move in that direction yet I continue to slice the ball (horribly) so I was wondering if I just need to work on getting my hands to release and closing the clubface more. My swing unfortunately repeats so basically all of my driver shots are the same, starting right of the target and slicing further right. Is this path possible with an inside out path but a very open face? I know I have a tendency to squeeze the grip and have issue releasing, particularly with the driver but just curious if this is my issue or there is more to it.

Yep, post a swing video, but if the path it is truly inside out then you could have an issue like a cupped lead wrist at impact.  I am no swing expert but I am not a big fan of the bold statement above.  I think actively thinking about releasing the club leads to rolling the wrist around and hitting bad shots.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by cipher

Yep, post a swing video, but if the path it is truly inside out then you could have an issue like a cupped lead wrist at impact.  I am no swing expert but I am not a big fan of the bold statement above.  I think actively thinking about releasing the club leads to rolling the wrist around and hitting bad shots.

This. On my best shots, I'm not even thinking about my wrists. It's just a natural thing.

[LI Hacker]

I'm working on getting a video of myself hitting a ball. I know like most my practice swings are different than when the ball is there.

I've read the ball flight laws post a bunch and I've learned a lot but since I'm somewhat new to the game I'm not always sure I'm interpreting everything correctly.

[LI Hacker]

If it makes sense I've been working on just easing up on my grip pressure so that the hands release naturally as I too am afraid of beginning to flip. I've been taking easy swings like less than 50% and I don't slice those but its obviously a very weak ball flight but then I when I try to go full speed its all out the window and going as far right as possible.

Is there a feel or position I should look for in my swing to make sure I am getting the face square?

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by LI Hacker

Is there a feel or position I should look for in my swing to make sure I am getting the face square?

Again, I must post the disclaimer that I'm far from a pro, and probably shouldn't even give advice...but I've noticed that when I drive the ball from the inside out, and try to finish the swing to the right (hitting to right field), my wrists naturally roll over at the right time to close the clubface.

[cipher]

Originally Posted by LI Hacker

Is there a feel or position I should look for in my swing to make sure I am getting the face square?

That is not really possible to know right now.

[LuciusWooding]

You can only slice the ball with an in to out path a couple ways:

-You hit the ball way off the heel, causing gear effect. This can happen with any start line and imparts less draw spin or more fade spin.

-You have the face so far open that it points farther right of the target than your swing path, a push fade.

-You are actually hitting into a strong wind and you don't know it.

-You're on some sort of sideslope and don't realize it.

-You're misjudging your ball flight or swing path due to poor alignment, and your shoulders and feet line up in 2 different ways.

-The loft of the club is pointing to the right, usually from the toe of the club pointing way down instead of flat, causing the spin axis to tilt.

Or, more likely, what you're feeling in the swing isn't what's actually happening. You could be stricken with the dreaded "double cross" where you change directions in the downswing and hit the opposite shot you're trying to, ie you do have a slicer's out to in path coming into impact though you can do this without an over the top move. You can also do this with a ball position that's too close to your body, which makes you get stuck on the way down, or far forward which makes you flip your wrists.

I think you'd notice if your face was so far open as to cause a push fade. Usually I can tell when my face is off by that much; generally you'd be able to feel a degree or so, and it would take a lot more to cause an unplayable shot when you're swinging in to out.

I'm not a pro, and haven't seen your swing. But if you get more solid and correct impact alignments, your slice will go away. When you've got the weight forward with a flat left wrist, it's hard to slice without doing it intentionally, or at least feeling way off.

[LI Hacker]

Ok and I know without seeing my swing its difficult, I was just trying to see like if that ball flight was even possible with an inside out path or if just didn't make any sense.

I will work on getting a video of my actual swing up soon.

[billatthebar]

my guess is ur just getting your body too ahead of the ball causing you to lead in with a very open club - test it by lining up your driver a few inches behind the teed ball and see if you still push it right - id say those extra miliseconds will giv you the time to roll your wrists and square the face, maybe even leading to a draw!! THIS IS NOT A FIX!!  just a way to maybe identify a problem without actually seeing your swing, then you can work on correcting the fault

[norrisedgar]

Ok. Simply, if you're ball is starting straight/left of target and then going right it is a slice. Which can only be caused by an out to in swing. If the ball is starting straight/right and going farther right then it is a push fade. Which can only be caused by an in to out swing. (Gearing effect excluded).

[EverythingGolf]

Here is a chart.

[cipher]

Originally Posted by norrisedgar

Ok. Simply, if you're ball is starting straight/left of target and then going right it is a slice. Which can only be caused by an out to in swing. If the ball is starting straight/right and going farther right then it is a push fade. Which can only be caused by an in to out swing. (Gearing effect excluded).

Not necessarily true, this depends on the alignments of the body in relation to the target.  I aim left of the target start the ball on my body line and fade it.  I don't swing outside in.  And you can feasibly be swinging slightly outside in and hit a push slice, especially if you are hitting up on the ball.

[norrisedgar]

I aim left of the target start the ball on my body line and fade it.

Where you're body is pointing is irrelevant. If you are aiming left hoping to fade it straight then you must be coming out to in. You physically can not come in to out while aiming your body left because you will have no room to bring your arms past your right hip

[cipher]

Where you're body is pointing is irrelevant. If you are aiming left hoping to fade it straight then you must be coming out to in. You physically can not come in to out while aiming your body left because you will have no room to bring your arms past your right hip

Sorry, your wrong. I will be backed up on this.

[billchao]

As far as I know, ball flight laws really apply best on centered (or relatively) strikes. Miss it high, low, heel, or toe, and you can throw it all out the window.

You absolutely can hit a slice with an in to out path. I used to push slice everything. I struck everything towards the heel of the club, as LuciusWooding mentioned. All it took to diagnose it was some contact paper (the easy part). I corrected it by working on my early extension problem (the hard part - notice I didn't say "fixed).

[billchao]

Originally Posted by norrisedgar

Where you're body is pointing is irrelevant. If you are aiming left hoping to fade it straight then you must be coming out to in. You physically can not come in to out while aiming your body left because you will have no room to bring your arms past your right hip

I'm sorry am I missing something here? When I aim left with my body I just turn my entire alignment left... the swing is exactly the same as if I was aiming straight (in to out). I don't understand how that would alter the relationship between my arms and my hips?