Cure your slice
The slice or shot that curves from left to right is one of the most common swing faults. When the golf ball slices, you will lose power and have trouble hitting accurately. The reason the golf ball flies to the right is because your club face is open at impact. When you learn to square your club face at impact, your slice will disappear quickly. Here are a few reasons the ball slices and the corrections necessary to eliminate shots that fly to the right.

Grip
How you place your hands on the club directly affects how your club face will impact the golf ball. A weak grip will cause your club face to open as it approaches the ball. You will need to strengthen your grip in order to square your club face and eliminate your slice. First, make sure you can see at least three knuckles on your left hand when you look down at your grip. Second, hold the club with the same pressure you use to empty a tube of toothpaste. These two grip corrections will help you square your club face and are necessary to begin the process of eliminating your slice.

Ball position
More often than not, slicers have the ball too far forward in their stance. When the ball is forward in your stance, your shoulders will open and the result will be a “out-to-in swing path.” Simply  keeping the ball  towards the middle of your stance will help you square your shoulders and help you swing on the correct path to the ball.

Swing Path
Slicers have a swing path that is from “out-to-in” and the result is a ball that flies left of the target and lands too far to the right. This “steep” swing path results in deep divots and a inconsistent shot pattern. After you check your grip and ball position, it is time to begin to try and swing the club from “in-to-out”.  The simplest way to encourage an “in to out” swing path is to try to hit the inside half of the golf ball when you enter your down swing. This will encourage a shallow angle of attack and help you hit long, straight shots.

You can eliminate your slice with some simple adjustments and begin hitting nice long and straight shots. Thank you for taking the time to read this months golf tip. If you need further help eliminating your slice you can contact me at rickaltham@pga.com or 207-839-3490.