Golf Draw
There is no doubt that slicing the ball is the most dreaded problem of high handicappers in golf. It is a problem a lot of intermediate golfers face, too. The good news is it’s not really that difficult to fix. But first you need to be able to pinpoint the exact problems and then do some drills to correct them. This article contains some helpful tips that may be able to help you stop slicing the ball and get that perfect golf draw to improve your game. But remember, this are tips that you have to implement and practice for you to get maximum results.
Notice that most teaching pros nowadays utilize video cameras when coaching individual students. A video camera is a very important tool in golf since it is the only way to see how you swing and it takes out all the guessing game in the process. I’m assuming that you spend some time in the range just like any avid golfer. If you are not, then it is high time that you do. Bring a video camera with you and take a video of yourself in different angles while practicing hitting balls. Make sure that you are using all your favorite clubs during these practice video sessions. Ideally, in order for you to eliminate that dreaded slice and consistently hit that perfect controlled golf draw, you should have a square stance, your grip should be loose, your club is going over and around your shoulder during your backswing, you are creating an inside-out plane in your downswing and you are hitting the ball squarely on impact. Analyze each video you have taken of yourself and check if you are correctly doing everything mentioned earlier.
Let’s get into a deeper discussion about the ideal stance, grip, backswing, downswing, ball impact and follow through that can help you develop an ideal golf draw and finally stop slicing.
Always check your stance when addressing the ball. Lay a seven or eight iron on the grass in front of you and align your feet and your body to the club’s shaft. This will ensure that you have a square stance. You should never grip any club tightly. A tight grip might be the only reason why you keep on slicing. Practice gripping the club 1 to 2 inches lower that you normally would. A lower grip provides a greater wrist hinge which makes your grip stronger. Remember there is a big difference between a tight and a strong grip.
Your backswing is very important as this dictates the direction and rotation of your clubface during impact. Make sure that your club head is forming an arch up above your shoulder and not above your head. If you realize from watching the videos that you are executing this very common mistake, do this drill – swing your favorite iron using only your right hand, if you are right handed. Use your left hand if you happen to be a leftie. Swing the club as many times as you can before you start hitting balls on the driving range. Practice swinging the club slowly at first. Remember to swing only with your right arm. And speed up your swing gradually.
The downswing is undoubtedly the hardest to control since you are doing this in high speeds. But it would be relatively easier to improve your downswing if you have effectively worked on your stance, grip and backswing first. If you feel that you have corrected these, then video your practice rounds once more. Watch the videos and examine if you are hitting the ball squarely during impact. Closely examine how your follow through ends. In order for you to effectively draw the ball, your forearms should be forming a solid X at the tip of your follow-through. The X is formed not by your elbows or your wrist… it should be your forearms. If you notice that your arms are not properly positioned on your follow-through, then this can only mean one thing – you are significantly taking power and distance from your drive simply because you are blocking your ball.
There you have it. Simple yet very effective DIY golf draw tips that will help you eliminate that dreaded slice. Carefully study your videos so you know in which areas you are making the most mistakes and be diligent in your practice rounds. This does not mean however, that you should concentrate solely on correcting your errors and stop enjoying the game. Golf is suppose to be fun so enjoy it even if you are focused on practicing.
