Error 1 – Body movement

One of the first things I see a slicer do, when trying to fix their slice, is pull their right foot back, closing their stance and lower body.  They believe by closing their stance, it will help them swing more from the inside, in an effort to create a draw.  Actually, the result is quite the opposite.  A major cause of a slice is the upper body turning faster than the lower body in the downswing, meaning that the arms and club move onto an outside plane.  By closing your lower body, you are only creating a situation where the lower body cannot rotate and lead in the downswing.  The shoulders will dominate and create an impact where the shoulders are more open than the hips.  This is an impossible position to hit a draw from.

 

 

The Fix

In fixing your slice, if you can achieve a movement where your lower body is faster than your upper body in the downswing and at impact, your shoulders will be closed to the target with the hips open, and you will be sure to have the swing path from In-To-Out (swing path to the right).  A way to get the feeling for this is the opposite of what you and most slicers have been doing:

Exercise

• Pull your left foot back.  The toe of your left foot should be in line with your right heel – an open lower body position.
• While you have opened your lower body position at address, I want you to close your upper body a little.  This is the feeling of body position you should be trying to achieve at impact.
• Start your backswing from this position, trying to return to the same position at impact.  The key is to keep your shoulders SLOW in the downswing, and your hips leading.  Try keeping your hips moving FASTER than your shoulders for as long as possible.
• Once you have the feeling from the drill, repeat the feel with a regular stance.

Be sure to check upcoming blogs on more fatal errors that cause a slice.