Fix Your Banana Slice

So you slice nearly every time you hit driver. What do you need to do to stop that?

Though what follows isn't a cure-all, it may help you during your next round. As always, you're encouraged to get expert, professional advice and lessons.

I'm willing to bet that the reason you slice is due to several issues but an outside-in swing path is probably the biggest problem. A bad set-up hurts you immediately because the angle of the club-face at impact is open - facing slightly right - or out. It's also possible your swing path is outside-in - a hacking motion that creates a slicing flight (not unlike a pool player adding English to his shot). Logic dictates that you have to make sure the club-face is square at impact. But how do you do it?

A Strong Set-Up

While addressing the ball, toe your club in slightly. Keeping your hands on the club, rotate both hands - as a unit - to the right (if you're a lefty, rotate them to the left). Not too much - just enough to get your right hand (left hand for lefties) in a more powerful placement. This makes a stronger grip. Your left arm (right arm for lefties) should be above your right arm (left arm for southpaws).


Create An Inside-Out Swing Path

Now drop your back foot back by 8-10 inches. So now instead of having both feet parallel to the ball and in line with your knees, waist and shoulders, your back foot is offset by almost a foot (no pun intended!). It's basically referred to as a "closed stance" in baseball (a righty should be set up to hit the ball over second base into right field vs a lefty who should feel as if he's hitting over shortstop and into left field).

Focus on the inside bottom of the ball - about 4:00 for righties and 8:00 for lefties. THAT's where you want the club to hit the ball.

Sweep the grass in your back swing as far as you can before the club naturally moves up - don't pick it up immediately - bring it straight back on a parallel line. Let your back elbow bend naturally into your side above your hip.Pause a second at the top and reverse your takeaway path down to the ball to strike it. Try and keep your back elbow close to your trailing hip/waist on the way down. As you hit the ball and proceed with your follow-through your lead arm will collapse and bend as your back arm straightens and turns over your front.

My guess is your ball will fly a lot straighter than your typical shot. What you've done is essentially created an inside-out path which is optimum for better ball flight. Toeing in the club has allowed the club-face to square up at impact - essential for straight shots.

As awkward as it feels to begin with, after a few shots it'll become apparent if adjustments are still needed to gain consistency in keeping your ball flying straight and true.

You may even begin to see a draw develop. While a draw is a more powerful shot than a slice, it can cause it's own problems. Just back off some of the radical moves as detailed above - move your back foot closer to parallel; rotate your hands slightly back to neutral; don't toe the club as much - and you'll see your ball flight start to straighten out.

Keep in mind this is a quick fix and at some point it will probably break down and possibly create more problems. As always, try it on the range before using it while playing.

And of course, always get LESSONS!

I'm just an average Joe golfer passing along information I've received over the years that has always helped me at some point and for some time. I still yell "FORE!" though.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Spackler_II
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6211835

Hit the Golf Ball Straight By Having a Sound Grip

Hitting the golf ball straight is the key to playing good golf. Recreational golfers try to emulate professional golfers by building a swing that enables straight ball flight. There's a place, though, that you have to look at before you consider the swing if you want to hit a ball that heads for the fairway or flies into the green. That's your grip.

The point many amateurs miss is that the greatest determinant of straight ball flight is not the swing, but a correct grip, something pros have already mastered, giving them freedom to make adjustments to their swing. Not until you have a grip that's right for you will swing changes be beneficial.

The first issue is the orientation of your hands. This isn't about whether your grip is strong, neutral, or weak, though it's related. It's about whether your grip fits in with how your body moves, given the particular way it is put together.

Your body makes a golf swing in a way your body shape, bone structure, and muscular development allow. How you put your hands on the club affects whether movements that are natural for you can occur, or whether you have to make compensations during the swing to correct for the improper orientation of your hands on the club.

A good grip makes your swing flow like water, and the wrong grip makes it feel like you have to get out of your own way. I can't offer clear advice on how to determine this, other than to suggest you try turning your grip around the handle to the right or left by measured degrees until you find the orientation that makes your swing flow the smoothest.

Second, your hands must operate as a unit during the swing. If they become disconnected at some point, the clubface can turn and accuracy becomes subject to chance.

The place I'm talking about is where the right hand fits over the left thumb (left hand over the right thumb, for left-handed golfers). Even though this connection is secure at address, if it comes apart during the swing, the clubface can become disoriented. Even worse, the top hand can overpower the bottom hand on the downswing because it now has space it can rotate into.

Try this. Grip the club with a light connection between the one hand on top and the thumb it covers. You will find that you can rotate that top hand easily, without moving the bottom hand, and when you do, the clubface closes.

To fix this, put a blade of grass between your top hand and the thumb underneath. You should be able to complete your swing without the grass falling out.

Finally, grip pressure. Overall, pressure must be light. Hold the handle just tightly enough so overall it feels that your hands mold in with the grip material, but no tighter. Pressure on the last three fingers of the bottom hand needs to be a little greater than that to ensure clubhead control during the swing.

From time to time, review your grip carefully. Getting it right is more complicated than you might think, and getting it right is the foundation of a good golf swing.

Bob Jones is internationally recognized instructor of personal development who has been playing golf for over 50 years and is the author of Better Recreational Golf. He'll show you how to play consistently good golf by practicing at home just minutes a day. Get started right now with this FREE download at www.therecreationalgolfer.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_E._Jones
Bob E. Jones - EzineArticles Expert Author
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6160999