Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

[Soccertom9]

I am a beginner golfer who plays probably 4 or 5 times a year. I started with swinging the ball well, but had a nasty slice to the left (I am a lefty). However, the past 2 years my slice has been getting worse and worse and now it has gotten to the point where I can't even get the ball off the ground and even if flops up going 50 yards it still goes towards the left. From what I can see it is that at my backswing my left wrist opens up and thats what screws up my followthrough. Also, someone told me that it could possibly be that I twist my front foot a bit on my swing as well. I have tried putting golf balls in between the ball i hit to make sure I have a straight swing, but I still either slice or just make the ball run along the ground to the left. Can someone please help me with advice on what to do to fix it!! I am supposed to go golfing soon and I need to fix this problem pronto!

[Matt10]

Re: Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

I know the guys will help you out soon enough - they can explain it better than I can. However, I notice your screename - does that mean you play soccer?

I've played soccer my whole life, so I thought getting into golf would be a whole new game - for the most part it is - but the way you approach the ball still has the same bal flight.

Say, you want to perform a typical Beckham-like cross/shot (right to left ball flight, in your case left to right) - this would be a draw in terms of golf. Now how would you KICK the ball to go from right to left, left to right in your case?

Simple, you would kick the inner part of the ball, the inner right in your case and inner left in mine. The more you follow through, the more distance you put on. Now the very very big difference is in golf - smoothness equals power (effortless power), while in soccer it's hard to imagine smoothness equaling that much power. Remember you're hitting the ball with an iron and not your leg, so distance shouldn't be a concern - focus on hitting the ball purely for now.

I used to be a really bad slicer. What I focused on (before taking some priceless lessons) if I wanted to draw the ball, was to hit the inside of the ball - so if you have to align yourself to the right (left in your case) of your target, then do so. Just remember to keep your head still and always follow through - instead of focusing on the back of the ball, keep your eyes set on the front of the ball, that'll help you follow through.

I'm sorry if this post is erratic - it's mainly because I just thought of it and haven't really grouped my thoughts, but I hope you get the idea.

[jcbdb]

Re: Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

What a good analogy. Believe it or not there is a teaching pro who has a football boot (or in your case a soccer boot - but really it's a football boot) attached to the end of a club and uses this to teach draw and fade to students.

I saw this in a golf mag (I think todays golfer).

Never tried it (may look a little odd on the range and I get the idea without trying it!)

[slater170]

Re: Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

I know the guys will help you out soon enough - they can explain it better than I can. However, I notice your screename - does that mean you play soccer?

I've played soccer my whole life, so I thought getting into golf would be a whole new game - for the most part it is - but the way you approach the ball still has the same bal flight.

Say, you want to perform a typical Beckham-like cross/shot (right to left ball flight, in your case left to right) - this would be a draw in terms of golf. Now how would you KICK the ball to go from right to left, left to right in your case?

Simple, you would kick the inner part of the ball, the inner right in your case and inner left in mine. The more you follow through, the more distance you put on. Now the very very big difference is in golf - smoothness equals power (effortless power), while in soccer it's hard to imagine smoothness equaling that much power. Remember you're hitting the ball with an iron and not your leg, so distance shouldn't be a concern - focus on hitting the ball purely for now.

I used to be a really bad slicer. What I focused on (before taking some priceless lessons) if I wanted to draw the ball, was to hit the inside of the ball - so if you have to align yourself to the right (left in your case) of your target, then do so. Just remember to keep your head still and always follow through - instead of focusing on the back of the ball, keep your eyes set on the front of the ball, that'll help you follow through.

I'm sorry if this post is erratic - it's mainly because I just thought of it and haven't really grouped my thoughts, but I hope you get the idea.

well done matt
that is a novel way of getting your advice across if you know about football very easy to visualise

[Matt10]

Re: Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

Ah good to see I haven't gotten the bash yet

JC, I wouldn't be surprised if that was actually done - it's kind of like the old thread I started about AJ's Truth About Golf, he uses a baseball bat analogy and hits "homeruns".

[Martin Levac]

Re: Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

Soccertom9,

This is what you are doing:

You are trying to send the ball somewhere while you disregard where you send the club.

This is what you should be doing instead:

Send the club to the ball while you disregard where the ball will go.

In other words, focus exclusively on proper contact with the ball. Look at the ball as it's being hit by the club and keep looking at where the ball was even as it leaves the clubface.

If you have ever played pool, you know what happens when you strike two balls together at an angle. The same thing happens when you strike a golf ball with a club at an angle.


Martin Levac

[Soccertom9]

Re: Open Wrist/Slice...HELP!!

Thanks for the replies guys, I am going to be thinking about what you have said. Now that I realize what the problem is....is there any specific thing I could do to try and fix it? Any drills, techniques etc...