Golf swing problems arise from a number of issues that relate to your initial setup, club takeback and forward swing. You can perform almost every aspect of the swing correctly, but one wrong element will cause a slice, hook, top or other error. In order to correct swing problems, you'll want to learn the causes of the problem, find the corrections and properly practice the corrections to make them last.
Step 1
Place the ball farther up in your stance to fix a slice. Stand farther away from the ball if an outside-to-inside swing path is causing your ball to slice. Turn your wrists forward earlier to close your club face; the palm of your trailing hand should be facing forward at contact, not up.
Step 2
Place the ball farther back in your stance to fix a hook, which sends the ball to your left if you are a right-handed golfer. Stand closer to the ball if an inside-to-outside swing path is causing your ball to hook. Spread your legs farther apart to create a wider stance and lower your center of gravity, which will prevent you from standing up during your swing.
Step 3
Turn your shoulders backward as your initial move during the backswing to help create a straighter swing path going forward. Starting your takeback by moving your arms backward and pulling your shoulders can lead to improper alignment.
Step 4
Move your hips forward as your initial movement during the forward swing. Opening the hips to drive the shoulders and arms forward creates more club head acceleration, according to biomechanist Dr. Ben Kibler of the Lexington Clinic Sports Medicine Center.
Step 5
Practice your correction in a four-step routine: swing as you currently do to see the problem; practice the swing with the new correction using the same club from the same lie; switch clubs every six to eight swings to see if you can retain the new skill using different clubs; practice the new technique changing clubs and lies after each swing, just as you would on the course.
Step 6
Perform pre-swing rituals, such as tapping the ground twice with your club, before each swing. If you perform the same pre-swing ritual before each shot, the movement will send a message to your brain to use the stored motor memory for that shot. Use these rituals on the driving range to make them a part of the swing. Create different rituals for woods, long irons, wedges and your putter.
References
- "Physical Educator"; Practice and Motor Learning; Joanne Margaret Hynes-Dusel; 2002
- "Journal of Applied Psychology"; Effect of Overlearning on Retention; Driskell, Willis, Copper; 1992
- Golfsmith: Getting into Position
- Golf Tips Digest: Proper Golf Swing Begins with Ball Placement
- SirShanksAlot: Fundamentals of Putting
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