Fix a slice by making some simple swing changes

Golf shots fly off-line for many reasons and the reason can be in your own hands, your stance, your head position, swing, aim or balance. To identify typical faults you must first understand the con- cepts of target line and swing line. The target line runs from the ball to the target. That is the line which you take when lining up your shot The swing line is the actual line taken by the clubhead as it goes from the backswing down to the ball and through to your finish. lf the clubhead goes back and then through on the same line, then it is in plane. lf, however, from the top of the backswing you are in an upright position and at the finish of the shot you are in a flat position then you will have swung out of plane, on an out-to-in swing line. The opposite occurs when your hands at the top of the backswing are in a flat position and at the finish of the follow-through have moved in o a upright position — then you have swung from in to out.

The causes of bad shots is easiest explained in terms of table tennis. ln this game slices and spins are exaggerated and intentional, an effects easier to see than in golf.

THE SLlCE
The slice is a shot where the ball sets off to the left of the target line (still in terms of right handed players) and swerves in the air to finish right off the target line. The ball has the same flight as the back-spin shot in table tennis. o play this shot the table tennis bat is held open to the target line and the swing line is from out-to- in and the bat cuts across the target line under the ball. The ball swerves from left to right.

COMMON FAULTS You must analyze your own game to find any faults with your aim, grip, stance, the position of the ball or your swing to dis- cover the cause of any of your own way- ward shots. Listed below are some ideas to help diagnose the possible cause of the trouble. You might slice shots because:

• ln your aim the club blade is open to the target.
• Your grip is too weak.
• Your feet or body are lined up left of the target in the stance.
• ln your swing, you open the club-face at the start of the backswing.
• Your wrists cup at the top of the back- swing, which also causes an open face.
• You are starting the downswing with the right shoulder coming out towards the ball, causing an out-to-in swing.