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From Jared,
golfer: |
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I am 16 years old and a 5 handicap. When
I was younger I used to hook and draw the ball a lot because of my hips
flaring out and my arms lagging behind me. Recently I have been during the
worst shot in golf...the push slice. I am not a very flexible teenager and
have trouble getting my shoulders to 90 degrees, also I think my swing is
a little upright. If would be great it you could give me some tips on how
to achieve a better ball flight! Thanks. |
|
PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
California
"You are apparently swinging the club from the inside to
the ball, but holding on with the left hand and preventing the
clubface from naturally closing. Try hitting 30 balls with a split
grip.....hands about 6 inches apart." - John
DeSantis, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Jared,
a few words of wisdom form a master player and instructor. A push
is a pretty good shot. 1, go stretch or relax. 2, try playing the
ball farther up in your stance. 3, make a slower (transition)
swing from the top. 4, use a tee at first and don't care where it
goes until you get a sense of the club better in your hands. May
the force be with you!" - Sean
Gorgone, Teaching Professional |
Oregon
"Jared: there is nothing
wrong with your swing, the lower body must lead the down swing,
try one of two things here: start the down swing at the same time,
don't lead with the lower body, no matter what you have read
everybody interprets the swing in a different way, u seem like a
feel player so just feel it starting down together. As far as your
shoulders, they don't need to be at an 90 degree angle. The main
point is to stay connected, any over exaggeration is golf is going
to lead to bad shots. Many many golf pros do not get their
shoulders to a 90 degree angle. But (big but) start the swing with
the left side."
- Scott
Lusk, Teaching Professional
|
Pennsylvania
"Jared - First, I would get some impact tape and see
where on the face of the club your are hitting. You did not say
whether you trouble is with a specific club or all clubs. It
sounds like you are getting the club stuck behind you on the
downswing. Either you hip rotation is to fast or your arm swing on
the down swing is to slow. Try this: from the top of your
backswing, before you start to rotate your hip, drop the club to
around shoulder height then start your hip rotation. This should
help with your timing and allow the butt end of the club to point
at your spine through the impact area. My guess is that now it is
pointed left of your body at impact." - Don
Beardsley, Teaching Professional
|
Pennsylvania
"If
you are a honest 5 handicap, and have gotten to that point with
hooks, draws, hips flaring out and a push slice...don't worry
about getting your shoulders to 90 degrees...go practice
putting!"
- Bob
Sheppard, Teaching Professional
|
South
Carolina
"Jared: At our junior academy, this is not
an isolated problem. It is more common then you realize and
can be fixed. First off, a slice is not such a bad shot. Jack
Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, two of the world's greatest golfers
predominantly have played a fade or slice. I think the item that
you should be concerned about right now is that both sides of the
golf course are in play with your game. Choose which side of
the course would be easier for you to play from and try to repeat
a swing that will eliminate the other side. If you are not
flexible at 16, that is not a good thing to be. Work on your
flexibility, so you can complete a full rotation through the golf
ball. If you are not completing your swing, you will be more
likely to hit a fade or slice. Make sure that your chest and belt
buckle are
facing your intended target once you have finished the swing. This
in itself can help eliminate some of the push. It also sounds like
you have gone to more of an arms and hands swing. This can be
good, so long as the lower body is still active. Make sure that
you are transferring weight to your front side as you swing
through the ball. If both feet are remaining on the ground
after finishing the swing, make sure that you get off of the back
foot and leg. Don't get frustrated. It is a cycle of the game most
all golfers go through. If you need any more help, please
make sure you get back with me."
- John
Hughes, Teaching Professional |
South Carolina
"Consider This Jared : Why
do I push ? CLUB is lagging
behind in your downswing therefore swinging out at
impact ...... Why fade ? Clubface is open
at impact . Even open to
the swing going right .. Doug
Weaver suggest 2 drills . # 1 Hit
balls off your knees with your driver
.Feeling the forearms RELEASE thru
impact because off your knees your
hips cannot spin out on you . After
getting the feeling practice by 2
balls off knees - 5 balls regular ..
# 2 your body and arms
are not working together properly ..
THEREFORE I suggest you become
connected . Place a long towel under
both arms in the set-up position .
The weight of your arms will keep the towel in
position . NO EXTRA TENSION . Swing
wedges 1/2 swings to get use to
hitting solid straight shots Increase your
backswing ONLY as you are making
solid straight shots ....THIS will give you the
feel of arms and body working
together properly."
- Doug
Weaver, Teaching Professional |
Virginia
"Hi Jared: The fact that you're concerned about your
shoulder turn suggests that you might be overdoing the turn,
rather than not getting enough. When you turn your shoulders too
far, you get too much of an inside-out swing, and thus push the
ball. As for the slice, check your grip. No matter whether your
swing path is inside-out or right down the line, the ball will
slice if the clubface is open through impact. And the open
clubface can be corrected by using a stronger grip, i.e. setting
the left hand so that three or even four knuckles show at address,
AND the right hand is also in a "strong" position, with
the right palm facing up at address. If you start hooking
too much, then modify the strong grip a little. And if these
things still don't work, see your local PGA professional and
invest in a lesson.
Good luck." - Bob
Benning, Teaching Professional |
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