Head Movement
If you find that you move your head in front of the golf ball during your downswing, you probably hit the ball to the right when you do. Also, many players attempt to get more distance by swaying their bodies away from the target during their backswing and toward it on their downswing, which will cause a slice in the majority of cases. Concentrate on keeping your head steady and slightly behind the golf ball throughout your swing, and you should begin to see a straightening of your ball.
Inside-Out Swing
Many chronic slicers have a downswing that is on a plane that is outside that of their backswing so they will cut across the golf ball, making it spin and sending it to the right. Another term is "hitting from the top," which is an expression for the same fault in the swing. If you suffer from a similar disease, consider taking the club back in a flatter arc and concentrating on curling your right shoulder underneath your left on your downswing. Then finish your swing high.
Poor Weight Shift
To improve the accuracy of their golf shots, players often keep their weight on their left side throughout the swing and don't move it to the right on their backswing and back to their left side during the downswing. This action will often result in a slice because the clubhead is open and facing to the right at the moment of impact. If this is the case with you, address the ball with your weight evenly distributed between your left and right sides, and make a conscious effort to move your weight to your right, then left, during your golfswing.
Feet Open at Address
Many golfers attempt to compensate for their tendency to slice the ball by lining up their shots to the left of their targets, but they are committed to hitting the ball toward it. Since that action results in an open stance with the left foot behind the right, they simply don't allow their shoulders the latitude to make a complete rotation. If this is your problem, too, simply move your left foot farther forward when you address the ball to lessen the slice.
About The Author
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic." He graduated from the University of Louisville.
