If you have a swing fault that makes you hit slices or hooks then you need to learn how to hit a ball straight of the tee. Apart from the satisfaction of hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway, you will also increase your distance of the tee. What's more, you will find yourself with an easier second shot to the green when you are nicely positioned in the middle of the fairway.
So why do so many golfers struggle to hit a golf ball straight? First, we have to understand why the golf ball moves to the right (a slice) or to the left (a hook). After you have learned how to fix a slice or a hook, you can then move on to how to hit a draw (a controlled shot that moves to the left) and how to hit a fade (a controlled shot that moves to the right.)
In this article, I will be describing the causes and cures of a slice ; the hook is basically the opposite of the slice, so just reverse the descriptions and cures. A slice occurs when the axis of the ball spins to the right or in a clockwise direction. A slice will end up to the right of the target you are aiming for, and the expression refers to an extreme or unplanned curve in the trajectory of the ball. A "fade" is a less severe version of the slice and is usually intentional.
In the basics of the golf swing, if you want to hit the ball squarely and hit a golf ball straight every time, you must return the club head to the original spot at the impact position. The slice is caused when you leave the club face open when striking the ball, which makes the ball spin in a clockwise movement. The swing path is normally correct but the ball is not struck squarely at impact, mostly because of a "weak grip."
The first thing to check is your grip when you find that you can't hit a ball straight. The one cause that can shape the path of the balls flight is the strength of the grip - it doesn't matter if you use an interlocking grip, an overlapping grip, or a ten finger grip. To fix a slice, experiment with moving your hands around on the grip, over to the right, into a more strong grip position.
Other factors that can cure a slice are the grip pressure; don't grip the club so tightly that the muscles of the wrist and forearms are tense. Try to increase the speed of your golf swing, not only will that add more distance it can also cut down on the amount of slice that you impart on the golf ball. The flex of the clubs shaft can also affect your shots; big hitters will need a stiff or extra stiff shaft, medium hitters should use a firm or regular flex, and shorter hitters should use a senior or ladies flex.
The address position has to be correct if you want to hit a golf ball straight. You should line up for your shot with your shoulders, hips, and feet all square and parallel to the target line. When teeing off with a driver, the correct ball position is opposite the instep of the left foot. Also, the sole of the club should be grounded and not tilting forwards (standing too close to the ball) or tilting backwards (standing too far from the ball.)
Remember all the basics of the golf swing ; keep your eyes on the ball, feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly flexed, spine straight and chin up. I won't go into detail about the golf swing here, just take your club back straight and bring it down again on the same plane. Maintain the same swing speed throughout the backswing and the downswing - don't try to over hit the ball.
Lastly, there are an other two types of swing faults that will prevent you to hit a golf ball straight - the push and the pull . As opposed the slice, the push shot happens when the ball shoots straight off to the right, and the pull is when the ball goes straight off to the left. The push is a result of an incorrect golf swing when the club goes through an in-to-out plane, and the pull is an out-to-in swing plane. The push or pull shot comes about due to an improper golf swing action and forgetting the basics of the golf swing.
Mick Euan Tait has more free golf swing tips including how to hit a golf ball straight and Fix a Slice.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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