Forum > General golf topics

Matt Holbrook

I'll keep this very simple.

 My drive hook, horribly, right.....EVERY time.
I aim so far left now just so it will end up ok!

Any advice?? Or anyone had the same problem?

Probably a quick fix but I cant seem to find it.

Russell Middleton

Aim straight down the middle of the fairway and swing smoothly, don't hit at the ball!

Russ

David Lythgoe

I presume you are left-handed?

Classic problem here, in trying to solve a bad shot, you make it worse. By aiming further left, it mostly makes the ball go further right.

IDIOTS WAY TO STOP A SLICE - try and slice it. Same with a hook, check your alignments and you should see an improvement.

TheLyth

Matt Holbrook

Just for the record I'm right handed.

Wayne Santorini

Then it's a slice but as "TheLyth" say's;

 IDIOTS WAY TO STOP A SLICE - try and slice it. Same with a hook, check your alignments and you should see an improvement

Matt Culling

Matt, I had a terrible slice with my driver. I still get it sometimes but 90% of the time the slice has gone, when it creeps in I can usually work out why. Here's what I've done to cure mine - yours might not be the same but it might give you a pointer:-

-Take a slightly wider stance, feel nice and solid before you start your takeaway 

-Make sure the ball is forward in your stance, just inside your left heel or under your left armpit

-have your weight slightly on your back foot. I was told a 60/40 split and this feels about right to me

-I have a slow takeaway, it stays low to the ground a long way back. Someone told me to aim for a leaf that was on the ground which was outside my left foot.

-Make sure you get width back, almost feel like it is being tugged pulling you so you get a full turn in

-I like to feel like I'm looking over my left shoulder down at the ball before i start down

- Think of the ball in four quarters with North being the front point. I try and hit the ball on the south west to push it out to the right

- Get your wright wrist to roll over your left as you come through. I have a couple of warm ups with the 'baseball bat drill' before my first drive, this helps me promote a natural roll. Think about hitting a tennis forehand with topspin, or bending a free kick around a wall, hit it out to the right and bend it back in.

- finally, for me when i still hit a slice its normally because I have lent back into the shot and ended with my weight over my right foot. If I get my weight travelling forward with the club and end up with my weight over my left I tend to hit it straight. Again I was told that your weight should travel in the same direction as the club, and this sits true for me

Like I said, these may not be technically correct but its what has worked for me, I'd also say get a pro to give you a lesson on it, it'll make such a difference to your game if you can get in play off the tee.

Hope this helps.

Bob Freeman

SLICE caused by throwing the shoulder and or out to in swing.

Hook go left for right handers and slices go right.

David Ferris

Matt Holbrook

Steve Cowle

Hi Matt,

Take a look at this pdf I created, there are a few great drills in there to help cure the slice. Good luck!

http://www.stevecowlegolf.co.uk/products.html

Matt Holbrook

Guys....

Just want to say thanks for all the advice...

Went out today for the first time in a few weeks and hitting my drive straight and longer 90% of the time!

Unbelievable the difference this has made to my game!!

Thanks again!

David Homer

Hit my best ever yesterday...324 yards. Club face nice and open, smashed down the middle. (yes I made par)!!

Trying to cure a problem by aiming further away from your intended target is a recipe for disaster as hitting across the ball creates side spin, a bit like kicking a football with the inside or outside of your foot.

Matt Simmons

I tried concentrating on my alignment but trying to work out whats bent is pointless, think I need to be shown.

Tried aiming right and closing the face at address but it just went right in a bloody straight line. So today Ive sorted myself and closed the clubface. Worked for me. God knows... Lesson on Thursday so all be fine soon...

Greg Hughes

Matt Simmons

Wow Greg, Thats a full blown no beating around the bush statement!!!!!.

In all seriousness I've spoken to a few people on here about my golf (but not Steve Cowle yet) and Ive used little bits (and lots in other cases) from all of them. My game and understanding is improving all the time. Thanks for your time and effort Gents, it's beer O'Clock next time I'm at the bar.

Paul Everett

John Pettitt

Wayne Santorini

I'm not replying to Greg's comment he sounds like he knows more than I do, or is it that he thinks he does

Either way he's entitled to his opinion for whatever bad advice he's been given

Matt Simmons

Greg Hughes

I am sure you all know alot more than me. I have never made out I know anything about golf. But I do know if I wanted advice on my golf game I would ask my PGA pro.

As for advice in the golf buy and sell bit I have received some excellent advice, exspecially off Wayne.

Please note I wasn't being nasty but it seems the poor lads already been told a 100 different things to do with his driving on this thread. if it was me it would be to much for my little brain to handle all at once. 

As for Mr Pettitt my understanding of the theory of the game is to get the little white thing in the little round hole in as least shots as possible? Not really complicated hey? 

John Pettitt

Greg, there are many PGA pros who have never played the circuit yet have learnt how to teach a certain method, when we all know that there are many ways to achieve the same thing.

Indeed the object of the game is to get the little white thing into the hole in as few shots as possible. Perhaps if you did decide to study the many theories on this game you would be able to significantly reduce that handicap of yours. Not really complicated hey?

Knowledge is an invaluable tool.

Matt Holbrook

Gary Hand

The problem is that from the information provided it is near impossible for anyone to give good advice. I'm not having a go at Matt for his original post he asked a sensible question and as a beginer is proably not aware of the multitude of sins that could be causing a slice.

The one point that was a clear indication of a fault was the original posts from the lyth and santo in respect to the fact an open stance is going to promote an in to out swing so aiming further left is going to amplify the problem but this information was provided. Steve Cowel offered a tips page which may help, but without anyone seeing this guy hit the ball the only advice available are broad generalistations for curing a slice and as Mr Petit says frequently there is more than one way to skin a cat so what works for one doesn't work for another.

The only advice to someone like this is see a pro or post a video for people to look at and then people can give advice. The best advice is not just the correct way of doing things but advice on why it is done that way, it is impossible to play good golf without undertsrtanding YOUR swing otherwise how do you correct a little glitch during a round for instance there isn't a pro there to save you and tell you exactly what is happening.

John Pettitt

Gary I suggest that you change promote an in to out swing to promote an out to in swing. easily done though.

Golf teaching today is based on the principle of repetition, which, although admirable in itself, only promotes a small variation in shotmaking ability.

Personally I prefer the older style of using flair and imagination in conjuring up a shot for the occasion. In fact one of my favourite shots with a driver was an open stance draw.

When I practice, although very rarely these days, I always run through attempting to produce the nine different ways of producing a golf shot.

This is basically attempting to hit the ball with a low fade, a normal trajectory fade and then a high fade repeating this for producing a draw as well as the hardest shot in golf, a straight shot.

Learning how to hold a ball into a severe cross wind by either drawing into it or fading into it is another skill that only practice can produce.

By doing this one learns all about ball position and trajectories, which should stand anyone in good stead to progress in this fine game. It is not just mechanical.

How many of you have really studied what one can achieve with a golf club when the knowledge is available. How many of you really wish to progress in this wonderful game, or is it just a social thing to enjoy with your mates, as it seems to appear to me these days.