We have all done it. Set up for you your shot, golf club face square to the pin. Stance is perfect, swing feels great, and the perfect ping when the club hits the golf ball and the flight path of the ball looks like a darn banana. A slice has happened to everyone at one time or another. To cure a golf slice does not take a lot of work, and will make a huge difference in your golf game.

A golf slice is when the golf club face strikes the golf ball off square. This causes the golf ball to spin during flight imparting the dreaded curve that has ruined many a shots. Even the pros will occasionally hit a golf slice, so your goal is to learn the basics of reducing your chance of hitting a banana ball.

When you want to fix a golf slice examine your stance. When you set up for your shot look at your feet. Are they square to your target? Lay a club on the ground aiming at the intended target. Do your feet line up with your club? When in your stance, do your shoulders also stay square to the same plane as your feet? It is important to keep your shoulders lined up to that target also.

It is hard to fix your golf slice by yourself. Not that it cannot be done, but enlist the help of a friend to stand back and watch you during the full range of your golf swing. Or use a video camera to record you while you hit the ball multiple times. See want you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. Take what you see and change up your stance till you are consistently hitting the ball in a straight line and not slicing the golf ball.

By: William Keller

About the Author:

Something like 95% of golfers have tried to cure a golf slice at some point in their life. It is the most common fault amongst golfers and can be terribly frustrating to cure.

I am often asked by players if I can help them cure a golf slice and of course the answer is yes if they are prepared to spend some time working on it. Unfortunately too many people want instant gratification and believe that buying an offset golf club will cure their slice. Nothing could be further from the truth. Whilst an offset club will help initially it does not get rid of the root cause of the problem.

More commonly I discover that many of the players who believe they have a slice actually have a “push” shot or a “push slice”. Each is distinctly different to the other and it is important to know exactly what your own problem is.

For a golfer to hit a slice he must perform two acts:

He must have an out-to-in swing path. Difficult to describe in words and much easier to demonstrate! But I’ll give it a go. Assume there is a straight line extending from behind and through the ball to the target. We will call this the ball to target line. Help me here and draw this on a piece of paper in front of you. Just a straight line parallel to your toe line. The swing path is the line that the club head takes relative to this target line. What I want you to do now is mark a spot in the centre of the line that you have drawn; this spot represents the position of the ball at address. Now draw a straight line starting above our target line and some distance behind the ball. This starting point would be the top of your back swing; it starts on the outside of the target line. Remember above the line and behind the ball. From this point draw a straight line dissecting the target line at the point where the ball is and finishing below the line and in front or the ball. Your line should finish on the inside of the target line. You will now have a line that cuts across the target line in an out-to-in manner. This is the swing path that must be present for a slice to occur. The club face must be open through impact. For a golfer to slice the ball the club face has to be open in order to cut across the ball and cause spin. In this case in a clockwise direction. It is this side spin in a clockwise direction that will send the ball flying off to the right. The spin is exaggerated because of the out to in swing path. The result is an ugly slice.

The primary direction of the ball is determined by the swing path of the club. Look at your drawing again and it will be obvious to you that the only direction the ball can start off with this swing path is left of the target line. There is no way it can initially go straight or right.

The direction of the ball flight after the primary direction is determined by the angle of the club face at impact – open, closed or square – in relation to the ball to target line. Make sense?

Just to reiterate what I said earlier about being certain the problem is a slice and not some other problem.

Imagine now the club is square to the ball to target line at impact but with the same out -to-in swing path (combine 1 and 2 below). You will then have a totally different ball flight because the club is square and the spin on the ball is greatly reduced. You will in fact produce a fade with this angel of club face and swing path.

If on the other hand the angle of the club face is closed through impact with the same swing path (1 and 3 below) then you will have a shot where the ball has no spin on it and the result is a hook.

There are only three possible swing paths (as per the line you drew);

Out to in as drawn In to out. This is the same as you have in front of you but starting on the inside of the ball to target line and finishing on the outside and In to in. The most difficult to execute. It starts on the inside and finishes on the inside.

There are also only three possible angles for the club face through impact:

Open Square and Closed.

Any of the swing paths in combination with any of the club face angles will produce a different ball flight.

Let me tell you my story which will help demonstrate how I was wrong about my own swing: For years I thought I had a beautiful draw. And then I had my swing analyzed. Horror of horrors when I discovered I had a “pull hook”!

A pull hook is the result of an in-to-in swing path with a closed club face at impact ( a combination of 3 and 3 above). I had been compensating for my pull hook by aligning myself way right believing that I was hitting a draw!

It is possible to cure a golf slice but before you cure it you need the correct diagnosis. Unfortunately your friends may not understand what the difference is between a slice, a push or a push slice and their well intended advice could do you more harm than good.

By: Lawrence Bredenkamp

About the Author:

Well, who actually did invent the game of Golf? The question has been asked and argued for many years with no true winner. Many countries have a valid claim to an early game that resembles the game of golf. Some of the countries that make this claim are England. Scotland, China, Rome, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Laos. The most heated debate over who invented golf definitely comes from Great Britain and Scotland.

The first area to look when deciding the answer to our question must be what actually determines when a game with sticks and balls is golf or another game. Most countries in the world have had games where you hit an object with a stick at some sort of target. Is this enough to be called golf, I dont think so. If so, then these early games could claim the origin of many sports played today. I think it takes more than just a game with some kind of object being hit by a stick to qualify as the origin of golf.

Holland is believed to be the origin of the name of golf but not the actual game itself. Holland played a game in the 1200s called Colf, which means clubs. This was a form of golf but once again the form of many other sports.

Colf has been traced back to Dec. 26, 1297, in the town of Loenen aan de Vecht in northern Holland. On that day, the local townsfolk played four holes of the game to commemorate the relieving of the Kronenburg Castle exactly one year before. The fact that colf was chosen to mark the occasion is proof that the game was already popular by that time.

Great Britain The earliest traces of golf history has golf being played are said to date back to 1340, where in a sketch from a stained glass window, the Great East Window, in the east wing of the Gloucester Cathedral, England, scenes of the Battle of Crecy in France showed a man apparently preparing to strike a ball in a golf-like manner.

One of the early forms of golf were all missing one important ingredient to their games to truly make the game golf and that was the hole. Scotland is widely believed to be the first country to put all the ingredients together and actually start a primitive form of the great game of golf.

Yes, this will always be a disputed point, who actually invented the game of golf. If you believe some of the claims that the game they were playing was golf and they didnt have a hole, then you could take this same game and turn it into the origin of many games we still play today. I believe the hole is what separates all the early claims to who originated the game of golf.

Look at our Golf History section at the World of Golf Handicap for more detailed information on the History of Golf.

http://www.dave-and-maggie-world-of-golf-handicap.com/golf-history.html

By: David Humphrey

About the Author:

Slicing is one of the most common problems golfers face. There are a couple of reasons why you are slicing your ball. To learn how to cure your slice, you have to figure out what your problem is. The right grip, stance, and swing are needed to eliminate the slice.

First, start with your grip. You want a grip that is neither too strong or too weak. It’s the weak grip that causes a slice, because this results in an open club face. To fix your grip, position your hands so that your left hand (right hand if you are a lefty), faces the target. Your other hand should face the opposite way.

If you still slice after you adjust your grip, your golf stance may be your problem. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. Your shoulders should be in line with your target. Your right foot needs to point ahead while your left foot should point slightly to the left. At a driving range, practice hitting balls with the correct stance and grip to see if your slice improves. Make slight adjustments to your stance until you are confident that you have found the proper form.

The last way to cure your slice is to fix your swing. Start with your backswing. At the top of your backswing, the shaft should be over your shoulder. The position of your clubface can also create a slice. While you want the clubface open, it should be that way because of the movement of the torso and shoulders. You should not twist your hands or wrist to achieve this.

The backswing is more likely to cause a slice than a downswing, but you should check to see if you have a proper downswing. A good downswing starts with your hips. A follow through is essential.

Even after you figure out what is causing your slice, you’ll need practice to fix it. Don’t be tempted to fall back into what feels right–that’s what causes your slice. If you keep practicing with a proper grip, stance, and swing, you’ll find that the proper way will feel natural.

By: Matt Menden

About the Author:

If you were to compare today’s golf clubs to clubs from the 1980′s, the most obvious difference would be in the size of the clubhead. Today’s clubheads are significantly larger. And this size increase makes the clubs much easier to hit. So a used set of today’s clubs is much more advantageous to the beginning golfer than a like-new set of clubs from 1980.

Of these clubs with larger clubheads, there are models designed specifically for the beginner. These clubs are often referred to as “oversized, forgiving, cavity back, or perimeter weighted” when describing the clubhead. This clubhead should be paired with a regular flex or graphite shaft to increase the chances of success.

Of all the tips on buying golf clubs for beginners, I strongly suggest looking at used clubs. Golfers have a propensity to abandon their old clubs in a never ending attempt to buy a better golf game. Consequently, there are lots of used clubs available at garage sales, golf pro shops, and golf superstores. Often times these clubs are in very good shape and at very decent prices. The beginner should investigate used clubs while keeping in mind the clubhead and shaft recommendations made above.

If the beginning golfer wants to buy new clubs, I recommend a club fitting so that the player is properly “measured” for the new clubs. This service is available at pro shops and at most golf superstores, usually for a fee of about $35 that normally can be applied toward a purchase of clubs. During the fitting, the golfer will be able to hit several brands of clubs to find what he or she hits best. The selected club can then be fitted for length and “lie.”

The “lie” of a club is the angle between the bottom or sole of the club and the shaft. If the lie angle is too upright, the ball will typically fly left of the target. If the angle is too flat, the ball will normally fly to the right. All you need to remember is that the lie of the club makes a significant difference and you need to have it checked by the club fitter.

A putter isn’t normally included in a set of clubs. My tips on buying golf clubs for beginners would always include spending some extra time selecting a putter. Putting is a very individualistic part of the game, and the putter should look and feel right to the player. So much of putting is confidence, and you need to be very comfortable with your putter selection. A club fitting can also include the putter. Remember, about 43% of the strokes in an 18 hole round of golf are made with the putter. It may be the most important club in the bag.

By: Gary Jack Palmer

About the Author:

Slices and pulls come from the same basic swing fault. Each time, the club head approaches the ball on an out-to-in swing path. Most golfers know, this is one of the most common errors in golf. The easiest way to know if your club is travelling from out to in, just look at your divot. When the divot time after time points to the left of the target, you are swinging outside in.

Anyhow, whether the ball slices or pulls is simply a function of the clubface. If the clubface is closed or even square at impact then the result will be a pull. If the clubface is square at impact, why is the ball headed left? Because of the club path moving from outside to inside. If the face is open at impact, the result will be a slice with a severe clockwise spin.
However, look at the club face to see where the ball
has left a mark. This will give you an idea where you
hit your impact according to your actual swing.

IN PRACTICE

That said, the slicing stroke for most golfers is most deeply felt in the longer clubs, mostly the woods. These straight-faced clubs are much less tolerant to an outside in path and the ball spins very much to the right.

ADVANTAGE WITH HIGHER LOFT

The greater loft of some drivers encourages backspin. This backspin tends to negate the slicer’s sidespin. Result? The ball will go straight but less distance.

SUGGESTIONS HOW TO FIX SLICE IF YOU CAN

To achieve the objective, there are five known tips. Try any of them. You will probably make some errors; otherwise use my technique according to your actual swing

TIPS #1: Start with your grip.

Shift both hands to the right on the club until you can spot three knuckles on the back of your left hand. Make sure, however, that the “V” formed by the thumb and index fingers of both hands are parallel. This grip technique will allow you to rotate the clubface and balance it up.

TIPS #2: Body alignment.

Align your shoulders, hips, knees and feet to the right of the target. Then, move the ball back slightly in front of your stance. This will help you creating a more inside to outside swing path.

Again these tips are easier, however if you are not comfortable, many people use baseball grips and it works because the V is still align.

TIPS #3: Try straightening your right arm earlier on downswing.

Picture yourself standing on a clock face. The ball is bang in the middle of the clock. Twelve o’clock is your target, with your feet aligned parallel. Feel as if you can swing the club from 7 o’clock to 1 o’clock. Or, from inside towards outside. However at time of
impact, both hands are facing down parallel each other. Try the exercise by stopping each time 1 inch before the ball impact to see if your hands are place properly and look at the club face to see if it is square.

TIPS #4: Keep your right arm straight on the impact.

As the club swings through contact, sense your club head closing as you insistently move your right arm over your left forcefully squaring up the clubface.

TIPS #5: Hitting shots from a side hill stretch out will also help.

Place the ball several inches above the level of your feet. Hit shots from there. Observe how this promotes a more rounded swing plane and a more controlling in-to-out path.

Hope this will help understanding much better your golf game.

By: Robert Petrucci

About the Author:

The slice is probably the most common problem that all golfers encounter when playing. In fact, some golfers spend years in frustration trying to remedy slice. Usually, slice happens just when you think your tee shot is just fine. Suddenly, the ball starts to curve to the right and promptly misses the target.

There are many ways to cure slice. Let us start with developing a good grip. As you hold the club, your left hand and thumb should be along the shaft and is aligned toward your right eye. Your right hand should wrap over the left, with the palm resting securely over your left thumb. Your grip should not be too tight or too loose. Gripping the ball too tightly can cause the ball to hook. On the other hand, a weak grip will open the clubface and cause slice. Take the time to practice your grip. Make small adjustments and try new grips until you find one that works and that you are comfortable with.

Another important component in stopping slice is to develop and practice a good stance. You can achieve this by standing square to the ball with your feet spread as wide as your shoulders. Keep your right foot pointing straight ahead and your left foot pointing a little to the left. Make sure your elbows and shoulders are in a natural, relaxed and comfortable position. Remember that posture is very important. Try to avoid throwing your lead shoulder up in the air prior to hitting the ball. Ask your friends to watch you as you hit a drive to see if you have the so-called ‘uppity shoulder’.

Finally, by simply correcting your golf swing, your goal to stop slice is half done. Remember that a correct backswing involves the hands, arms, and shoulders in one fluid and smooth motion. Meanwhile, the right downswing involves turning the hips, keeping your eye on the ball and making sure that your head is behind the ball as you proceed to your follow-through.

These are just a few of the tips and techniques on how to stop golf slice. You can also try various drills to develop specific areas of your play. These drills strengthen and develop your golf skills for the better. Just keep in mind that you need to devote time and effort through constant practice in order to achieve your goal of stopping slice.

By: Tim Lee

About the Author:

If you’ve been battling a hook for a while you understand how frustrating they can be. Everyone else is, more than likely, slicing the ball, and you are playing from the opposite side of the fairway.

But… the hook really is pretty easy to cure. Try this sequence of corrections, and most likely the hook will be fixed in no time. Your goal in correcting a hook is to swing from outside to in.

1) Weaken your Grip – You could be playing with a grip that is too strong. You’ll want to simply rotate both hands around the grip and towards the target. This will make it much harder for the clubface to naturally close through the impact zone. Don’t over do it, and like everything else, testing is crucial. Make sure to test this, before moving on, unless you are positive that you already play with a weak grip.

2) Move the ball forward in your stance – It is common of players that slice the ball to play the ball forward in their stance. So copy them. If you hook, the result should be a relatively straight ball. (Side Note: Whether you hook or slice, your first goal should be to learn to do the opposite.) Moving the ball forward in your stance should get some things back on track.

3) Aim to the left (to the right if left handed) of the target – Start out with an open stance to the target. This will put that clockwise rotation on the ball that you are looking for. Just open your stance a little bit, and swing along the line of your shoulders.

4) Make sure that you are finishing with your weight on your forward foot – This is the single best solution for the hook. If you hook the ball, chances are that you finish with some of your weight still on your back foot. This causes you to come around the ball with a closed clubface. This is the number one cause of the deadly snap-hook. Finish with all of your weight forward, and you’ll never experience it.

By: David Nevogt

About the Author:

The slice is the most common fault in golf and in this article I plan to explore what causes a golf slice and how to cure it.

The slice is an uncontrolled shot that causes the ball to curve off to the right of the ball-to-target line, causing a loss of both direction and distance.

Most slices are the result of an unintentional out-to-in swing path, though other faults may also produce slicing. Whatever the swing path, the clubface always moves across the ball from far right to near left (right handed players). This causes the ball to spin in a clockwise direction, which moves the ball from left to right as it flies through the air.

Faults that lead to a slice occur at either the address position or during the swing itself.

Possible Causes During Set-up.

Bad Grip.

A club that is held too tightly creates tension in the arms and can cause the player to have an out-to-in swing. Try to relax your grip by imagining you are holding a little bird. You don’t want to squeeze it to death but at the same time you don’t want it to escape.

Having a “weak grip”. A weak grip tends to cause an open clubface at address. If this is your problem try turning both hands clockwise on the club.

Alignment.

May be open, which promotes slicing, or closed, which promotes an over the top swing. Align your feet and shoulders so that they are parallel to the ball to target line.

Ball Position.

Do not place the ball too far forward, this is a common fault which causes the shoulders to open and promotes an outside-to-in swing path.

Move the ball back in your stance, but still forward of center, so that when you set the club down your shoulders are parallel with the ball-to-target line.

Clubface angle.

An open clubface at address will cause the ball to slice. Ensure that your clubface is aligned square to the ball-to target line.

Possible Cause During The Swing.

Poor weight transfer.

If you are not transferring your weight from your back foot to the front (target) your clubface will be open through impact.

Use the famous Gary Player “down the fairway” drill, where you play your shot and take a step forward on your follow through and walk after the ball.

Another drill is the stepping drill whereby you grossly exaggerate your weight transfer by lifting your front leg on the backswing, shifting all your weight on to the back foot and then stepping on the front foot and lifting the back foot on the downswing and follow through. Try it, it works.

Also very effective is to swing with your eyes close and concentrate on the weight shift. Do not worry about the ball when using this drill.

Club follows an out-to-in path (points to left of target at top of back swing).

With your club in this position you will have an out-to-in swing path.

Use the following drill to cure this. Address the ball as normal and then raise the club about 18 inches above the ball so it is hovering directly above it. Make a backswing that is not pulled quickly inside. Note the angle of the plane going back. Now make a forward swing in which the plane is under or shallower than the backswing plane. A “back – under, back – under” routine. Lower the club to the ball and repeat.

Upper body tension.

This is probably caused by gripping the club too tight. See above for holding a bird. Also relax the tension in the arms.

I trust that this article has helped you understand what causes a golf slice and how to cure it. It won’t happen overnight but if you practice the above drills you will soon find yourself playing golf without slicing.

By: Lawrence Bredenkamp

About the Author:

Are you looking for golf swing help? These 3 tips will add 10 yards to your drive:

1. Golf Fitness Training

Have you ever wondered how the world’s top golfers manage to drive the golf ball so far? Did you notice that many of them look very fit. For example, much of the power in Tiger Wood’s swing is attributed to his tremendous flexibility and core strength.

Their strength and flexibility does not come out of thin air. These professionals work out at the gym when they are not on the golf course or driving range. A little bit of weight training, lots of flexibility training and core training add a lot of power to the golf swing techniques of these top golfers. An additional advantage is that golf fitness training is done indoors, so you can get your workout no matter what the weather is like outside.

You, too, can do the same thing and add many yards to your golf swing. Even if you cannot work with a dedicated golf swing trainer, many gyms offer a Pilates training program. Although Pilates does not specially target golfers, the general core training and flexibility exercises in the program will still help you a lot.

2. Use The Longest Distance Golf Balls

Did you know that the longest distance golf balls can travel 260 yards when hit by an amateur golfer? CNN’s Golf Labs actually tested more than 50 of the best golf balls in play today, using a machine to hit the balls with a normal driver.

One of the longest distance golf balls is Noodle+, which travel 259 yards. Another excellent golf ball, Nike One Platinum, travels 240 yards. Tiger Woods actually uses this ball, because it gives him the greatest control over his game.

You could be losing many yards from your drive by using cheap golf balls. Try a top-grade golf ball and add another 10 yards to your drive.

3. Getting the correct golf clubs

Are you using the correct golf clubs? Amateurs have these 3 main problems with their golf clubs:
Grip – Are the grips on your golf clubs the right size for you? A grip which causes you to hold the golf club too tightly or too loosely can cause you to slice or hook the ball, losing precious distance in your drive. More than one golfer has found his slice miraculously disappearing once he got the grips on his clubs correctly fitted. Length – Yes, length matters. Too long or too short, and your swing could be badly affected. In the past, picking the golf clubs with the right length shaft was a hit or miss affair. However, with modern technology, many golf shops are equipped with golf swing analyzers and can analyze your golf swing and suggest the best shaft length for your driver. Flexibility – The more flexible the shaft of your golf club, the more power you have on tap. Unfortunately, more flexibility also means more torque, which can lead to a slice or hook. If you find yourself suffering from a bad slice, you may want to test a driver with a stiffer shaft. Conversely, if your golf swing techniques are good and you consistently hit the ball straight, getting a driver with a more flexible shaft could give you more power in your swing and a an extra 10 yards in distance.

Using just one of these golf swing help tips could add 10 yards or more to your drive. Use all three and gain 30 yards.

By: Godfrey Swain

About the Author: