Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

[cawthor]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone can offer some suggestions for me. I've been playing for a couple of years, still a high handicapper! I have real trouble hitting my driver and woods, I am consistently slicing (starting straight then veering wildly to the right). Here are links to 2 videos of my swing...any suggestions would be appreciated. I have tried strengthening my grip to no avail. I am therefore assuming that I don't have enough forearm rotation (although not really sure how to check this).

Thanks!

http://s94150279.onlinehome.us/side.wmv
http://s94150279.onlinehome.us/front.wmv

[pnearn]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

First off welcome to GTO and being brave enough to post your swing and second I think your fence needs painted

Seriously though I think your posture isnt great. Need to more bend from the waist such that you are futher away from the ball. Try and get some sharp angles in your setup. Have a look at some good pro setups to get an idea

Secondly, like most high handicappers you are too armsy/hands led. It looks like you lift the club with your hands and arms on the backswing and dont really get a good connected shoulder turn away from the ball. This gives a very short arc and a collapsed left arm at the top which brings you over the top on the way down. Have a look at the this recent threads for some good ideas about connected body-led backswings

http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/v...ead.php?t=4267

Im sure some of the teaching guys on GTO can add more but I suspect you probably need to work on some real basics before getting too technical.

[TeachingPro]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

I can't see your videos unfortunately ... I have tried a few times.

If the golf ball starts straight(ish) and then curves right, there isn't a problem with your swing path because you're starting the ball straight. So, what you have isn't really a slice.

The curving to the right is because of an open club face ...

Solve it by trying to turn to the toe of the club 'over' at impact. Or simply, check that your club face is square at address, that might be the problem.

[msklar92]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

agree with pnearm. In essence, the weight of your lower body is shifting the the outside part of your right foot and your upper body is shifting toward toward the left leg. This is a reverse pivot. you need more lateral movement in the swing and less up and down movement. put a book or other object outside of the right foot so that when you swing your weight stays on the inside of the right foot. this will also restrict you from overswinging. You want to get your left shoulder more over your right knee. You will feel like you are miles away from the ball. but if you look at any pro swing, you will see they are 2-3 inches behind the ball with a 90 degree shoulder turn. This may help with a number of issues, including lack of hip rotation.

[cawthor]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...they are MUCH appreciated! I can definately see what you say about my posture, I will try the tips you have suggested.

THanks again!

[WahnamCH]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

My very first post here so hi everyone

I'm at 22 h/c and have just started playing again reasonably regularly after 15 years of "drought". That's the disclaimer for what I'm about to write.

Your swing looks quite similar to mine was a while back in many respects so I'm learning a lot from this thread too. (still lots to work on including the table drill and the impact drill)

What this similarity also does is make me look at the same things I'm working on.

What I think I saw is a disconnection of the hands at the top of the backswing --- particularly with the driver. It looks like the heel of your bottom hand leaves the grip at the top (as mine did until recently). This will result in inconsistency if nothing else. Tightening the grip won't necessarily help here (it made things much worse for me as it caused tension in the hands and forearms leading to incomplete release --- replaced one problem with another one).

The other comments from pnearn above also look right on (again to my untrained eye). I'd also look at the flex (or lack of) in the left leg.

But like I say --- untrained eye and still working on loads of problems mself. Hope I've been of some help though.

WahnamCH

[Simon Woo]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

There's a piece of advice which is often given out, but with caution because sometimes it can be taken too far. However I think it might help you somewhat with your address position, so I'm going to say it anyway :P

You need to feel more of a sitting posture, kinda like if you are sitting on a high barstool and your butt jutts out. I think you might be shifting too much of your weight towards the ball instead.

Hope that helps!

[Matt10]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

I slice alot. Today I actually hit my driver as straight as can be, maybe a bit of a fade at the end.

What I changed was my stance. I had a pretty open stance before, today I closed it pretty good and this helped me turn really well and I felt quite balanced.

I slowed my downswing, moving my hips first and aimed for the inside of the ball (so, inside left) - and made sure to roll my wrists as soon as my downswing began. Longest drive of the day was a 295yard bomb, felt great.

When I did slice, it was because I forgot to roll my wrists and/or sped up my swing - but that could have been because of the 15-25mph wind we had today.

[mattinIL]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

I think you take your arms too far back and up in the backswing, leading to a little casting (letting the arms go early resulting in an outside-in swingpath). Try keeping your arms more in front of your body during the backswing; imagine your arms and hands staying in front of your chest. This will help your hands and arms lag behind your body on the downswing, which will prevent casting and result in a more inside-out-inside swingpath.

As for your grip... Instead of strengthening it too much, try keeping your normal grip and twist your forearms so that the club sits *open* at address. Swing away. This will help remind your body to release the wrists during the swing, often causing a hook if you're not careful.

Hope this helps!

[cawthor]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

Thanks again for all the great tips guys...this will definately give me some things to work with. I also decided to get a video analysis done by a Pro this weekend so we'll see what he comes up with.

[WahnamCH]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

It'd be great to compare his findings with the ones here. If you'd be prepared to post them that is.

[cawthor]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

absolutely...I'll let you know what he says.

[JasonGlatt]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

Your posture isnt the greatest but its not a major problem. I think what is causing a lot of the slicing is that your not letting your arms naturally drop at set up. Try this: hold the club in front of you with the shaft vertical and then place it on the ground and get your arms just slightly out of verticle. Also in golf you hear alot about maintaining the triangle your arms make, and it can sound quite confusing but as you are doing keep recording your swing and try to make sure that the triangle shown at the beginning of the swing is close to the shape it is half way through with the right arm just slightly higher than the left. If your still having troubles though consider getting an offset driver with a higher loft and swing a little slower.

[shootin4par]

Re: Irons ok...consistent slice with driver (video link)

First, Need to fix your grip, the fat pad of your left hand is not on top of the club where it should be, buy ben hogans book for five bucks and learn his grip.
second, weight is too much on your toes
third, knees are bent too much
fourth, your butt is not sticking enough behind you, this will also get you to bend over more and let arms hang down
Fifth, if that is how you set up then you got the ball too far back in your stance, BALL SHOULD NEVER BE BEHIND CENTER on regular shots, wedge has THE BACK of the ball at center, you can move up from there or play all shots in one spot in relation to your left heel and vary the width of your stance.
If you are serious about golf and want to improve, do this FIRST, which will in turn change your whole swing. then we could see what the real swing flaws are.