The common challenge that most golfers at all levels deal with is the slicing of the ball off the tee. Without any doubt, this hitting a slice costs most golfers more strokes than any part of the game.
When you miss the fairway because of your slice, it means having to play from the rough, out of trees, sand traps or worse, ending up in a water hazard.
There is more time and money spent learning to fix a slice than any other aspect of the game of golf. Yet, every time you head to the golf course you hear that infamous “FORE” being yelled out from another golfer.
Here are five golf driving tips to fix a slice.
1. Check Your Grip
Your grip is where everything starts. Grip the golf club incorrectly, and you end up trying to make adjustments to your stance, ball position or swing path to compensate for your grip.
You should have what is commonly known to as a neutral grip. This is when the “V” created by the creases formed by your thumb and forefinger point directly down the center of the shaft or your club.
If your grip is different, then you need to adjust your grip before making any other changes.
2. Tee the Ball Correctly
The location and height of the ball on the tee make a big difference. Believe it or not, having your golf ball teed up too high or too low can affect the flight of the ball. The same thing goes for having the ball too far back or too far forward in your stance.
When setting up in your stance, the golf ball should be centered on the clubface from top to bottom and left to right. On every driver I have seen there is some marker that outlines the sweet spot of the clubface.
With your stance, the ball needs to be lined up just inside the instep of your forward foot. For right-handers, that is the left foot, and for left-handers, it is just the opposite.
3. Control Your Speed
For some reason, many golfers believe that you have to swing quickly to generate clubhead speed. The opposite is actually true. A slow, smooth takeaway allows your body to coil like a spring. The winding up of your body, when unleashed in the forward swing, creates momentum that is translated into clubhead speed.
4. See Your Target
If you watch golf, you see the pros take time to survey their shot. They are not admiring the scenery; they are picking a specific spot where they want to see the ball land. It does take some practice, but when you start to develop an image in your mind of where you want to see the ball land, your mind will focus on what your body has to do rather than what you don’t want to happen.
5. Practice Swings
When you take your practice swings, you should be taking the swing as if you were actually taking your shot. As you visualize the shot, let your body feel the swing. When you prepare your mind and body for your shot, you are more likely to execute it.
In conclusion, it does not matter if you’re new to the game of golf or you have been playing for years, finding ways to shave strokes off your score is never ending.