The Infamous Slice

[Lefty R.]

Hi there, im new to the forum. Just a little about me, im 20yr old, been golfing since i was about 10 years old. I have reached a point in my game where im frustrated. In high school, i shot 4 to 6 over consistantly. I played on the high school golf team for 2 years but then was forced to quit because i needed a job. Once i got a job i played maybe 3-5 times a year since. This spring so far ive probably played 20 times. Im trying to make an effort to bring the game back.
Over the course of the last few years, somewhere in my swing ive developed a nasty slice. i mean, its gross. I find myself aiming straight for treelines just so i can hit fairway. I lose probably 50-90 yards of my drives off of these slices too. My approach and putting are still alright. just my driving, its gone.
Since ive noticed the slice, ive tried everything from rolling the club face, to adjusting my grip, to putting the ball more further back in my stance. and so far, nothing has worked. I wanna know if anyone has had the infamous slice but recovered from it. Im so frustrated, and i know i could probably save 4-5 strokes a round just from straightening out my drives and fairway woods. which would put me back at about 4 - 6 over average. right now i average around low to mid 80's. sorry for such a long post but i need help. BTW, im left handed ;). Thanks
-Dan

[tjhayko]

Hi there, im new to the forum. Just a little about me, im 20yr old, been golfing since i was about 10 years old. I have reached a point in my game where im frustrated. In high school, i shot 4 to 6 over consistantly. I played on the high school golf team for 2 years but then was forced to quit because i needed a job. Once i got a job i played maybe 3-5 times a year since. This spring so far ive probably played 20 times. Im trying to make an effort to bring the game back.
Over the course of the last few years, somewhere in my swing ive developed a nasty slice. i mean, its gross. I find myself aiming straight for treelines just so i can hit fairway. I lose probably 50-90 yards of my drives off of these slices too. My approach and putting are still alright. just my driving, its gone.
Since ive noticed the slice, ive tried everything from rolling the club face, to adjusting my grip, to putting the ball more further back in my stance. and so far, nothing has worked. I wanna know if anyone has had the infamous slice but recovered from it. Im so frustrated, and i know i could probably save 4-5 strokes a round just from straightening out my drives and fairway woods. which would put me back at about 4 - 6 over average. right now i average around low to mid 80's. sorry for such a long post but i need help. BTW, im left handed ;). Thanks
-Dan

I'm in the process of recovering from a nasty slice myself. My advice would be to get professional help. You need someone who can see the swing in person, and get it corrected.

Nice to see another lefty here too :)

I can get mine to turn into just a fade occasionally now and I sometimes hit a draw with my short irons and my fairway woods, but I'm far from being completely recovered.

[BdaGolfer]

Start with 2 easy-to-do things:

1. Make sure your takeaway is not to the outside. To get the feeling of this, take the club back until the shaft is parallel with the ground, just above knee height. The sole should be perpendicular to the ground, and the clubface, if viewed from behind, should "cover" the hands. From there a simple shoulder turn completes the backswing.

2. Control your tempo. Rhythm is crucial to a repeatable swing, and I see a lot of people who are too slow going back and then jump at the ball coming through (notice I said through, not down). Get a rhythm of 1...2.3 where 1 starts the backswing, 2 is the start of the through-swing and 3 is impact (check out www.tourtempo.com (http://www.tourtempo.com) for a better idea).

I would also advise not aiming for the trre-line. I know it seems necessary, but typically you know you slice, so you aim further right, your mind compensates for the fact you're now aiming at the trees and you end up hitting an even bigger slice (how many times do you aim waaay right only to find the left rough?) Develop some trust, relax and swing away.

Alan

[thecoach]

Yea - another lefty!

Get a 3 foot long 2x4 and place it 3 inches away from your ball parallel to the target - with the end of the 2x4 right at the ball (and the rest pointing back to the left). Then hit balls but don't hit the 2x4. This will force and inside to outside swing path - a good way to hit a draw. You have to attach the ball from the inside to rid yourself of the banana ball.

Also, check your driver shaft - it may be part of the problem.

[Boagz]

does the shaft really matter that much? sometimes i hit slices and i have a regular shaft, just because i bougtht it used that way, was thinking maybe i should switch it to stiff flex. im young aswell and have a rather fast swing, whats the difference?

Boagzzzzz

[hammer]

I would also advise not aiming for the trre-line. I know it seems necessary, but typically you know you slice, so you aim further right, your mind compensates for the fact you're now aiming at the trees and you end up hitting an even bigger slice (how many times do you aim waaay right only to find the left rough?) Develop some trust, relax and swing away.

Alan
I strongly agree with this statement. While I in no position to be giving out swing advice I know this makes a difference from experience. I used to tee up on the right, aim at the left trees and hope it landed on the fairway. (right handed) The more I did this the worse it got. You are telling yourself its ok to hit a slice. As soon as I started to aim down the center even a little to the right I with a closed stance I started hitting straighter. I know I will still hit a few right but most are small fades and its automatic now. I never even consider what would happen if I slice it cause then you will compensate and the compensation will generally cause a slice.

[Mule56]

somewhere in my swing ive developed a nasty slice. -DanDan,
First tip, don't take advice from people that have not seen your swing. Second tip get to your local pro and let him have a look.
Mule

[thecoach]

Dan,
First tip, don't take advice from people that have not seen your swing. Second tip get to your local pro and let him have a look.
Mule
Probably true Mule56 ... but why then do we have an instruction forum?:confused:

[thecoach]

does the shaft really matter that much? sometimes i hit slices and i have a regular shaft, just because i bougtht it used that way, was thinking maybe i should switch it to stiff flex. im young aswell and have a rather fast swing, whats the difference?

Boagzzzzz
The shaft is the most important part of the club - yes it does matter. "Generally", the faster you swing, the stiffer the shaft should be. Go to a pro who can measure your speed and they'll tell you what shaft would be the best.

[962B]

Dan,
First tip, don't take advice from people that have not seen your swing. Second tip get to your local pro and let him have a look.
MuleThe TGN Forum should have 10 Commandments, and this should definitely be one of them. Golf is a strange game. Beginners often take advice from people that are all out to break 100 themselves! Personally, I think the "Golf Instruction" area of the Forum should be changed to "Ask The Pro". MOK is well connected and can find a legitimate CPGA member to answer basic swing questions. Mule is bang on. Even if someone is a 3 handicap, how does he know what Lefty R is doing without seeing him? There are members of this Forum that are Class A Professionals (Some are in hiding). They can help these guys. Let's get rid of the David Leadbetter wanna-bees, he's got greasy hair anyway!!!!!:help:

[hammer]

I agree that no one can give anyone proper advice having not seen thier swing and that 99% of us are not qualified either. My swing is terrible but its generally not what cost me strokes. I find certain things are consistant for almost all golfers like mental and equipment problems. I don't see anything wrong with sharing a tip that worked for me if the person says they have the exact same problem. I found out first hand that playing a slice will only make it worse. I think that is a more of a mental problem than a mechanical one.

I would never try to give a person instructions on how to hit a draw or swing inside out cause these are things I can barely do myself. If someone asks for help concearning shafts I think anyone with correct knowledge should be able to respond regardless of the ability to play.

There should be an ask the pro section, if possible, and a golf tips section. One being where you would get help for core swing problems and major game issues and the other where you can find out little tips like which side of the tee box to hit from or what to do when hitting uphill or downhill.

[thecoach]

By all means ... get the qualified people in here ... maybe a quick tip or useful info will lead them get together for a real lesson - then the pro can make some $$ and the player will get good advice ...

Are there any pros out there willing to give it away for free ... it's business so I'm sure they don't really want to ... they have to eat too ...

Most people who ask for free advice cannot afford lessons or are not commited enough to part with their $$ to get the good advice - it's the same in any industry - people are always buying books and reading articles and seeking the free advice ...

And while we are at it, let's put a stop to all TV instructional shows and magazine articles ... the writers have not seen everyone play so how on earth could they help anyone?:rolleyes:

My appologies for trying to help out - I will refrain ...