Golf Grip to Cure Slicing

Golf Grip to Cure Slicing
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Most golfers' swings result in a slice, which is a severe left-to-right ball flight for right-handed players that usually heads for trouble. Only about 15 percent of players don't slice, according to ESPN Golf Schools instructor John Stahlschmidt. Because the hands are the only part of the body touching the club, it makes sense to change your grip to stop slicing and generate the kind of ball flight you can count on throughout the round.

Strengthen the Left-Hand Grip

Your grip might be too weak. Your left hand controls the face of the club, so check where you position it. If you can only see one of your left-hand knuckles when you address the ball, turn your left hand clockwise on the grip (for right-handed golfers) until you see 1 1/2 knuckles. This strengthens your left-hand grip. Hit a few balls this way to see the results. If necessary, gradually strengthen your grip more until your slice goes away.

Get the Club Out of Your Palm

Check where the club rests in your hand. Ben Hogan said the base of the grip should rest against the pad on the heel of your hand, move diagonally across the palm to the base of the index finger. Gripping the club too much in your palm could keep you from being able to square the clubface, resulting in a slice.

Are Your Grips Too Big?

Your grip size could be too large for your hands. Grips that are too thick force you to hold the club more in your hands, making it hard to square the clubface. Check your grips with a club-fitter.

Check Grip Pressure

Grip the club with consistent, neutral pressure. Stuart Smith, a top golf instructor to European Tour pros, says if you're holding the club too tight or too loose, your grip pressure can easily change in the transition between the backswing and downswing and might be causing that banana ball.

Overswinging

Swinging too hard could be another cause of your grip changing at the top of your swing. Try hitting shots at 80 percent of full power.

References

Article reviewed by DonaldM Last updated on: Aug 6, 2010

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