Building a confident and repeatable golf swing is a goal for any golfer. But it often takes time to develop a swing that allows you to hit the ball accurately and with good distance. One of the most common problems most beginners and high-handicap golfers face is a slice.
Stance
To hit the ball straight and eliminate the slice -- a ball that follows a banana pattern to the right for a right-handed golfer -- start with the proper stance. Your left shoulder needs to be facing directly at the target and your feet should be a little wider than shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees so you can transfer your weight from your back leg to the other. With golfers who tend to slice, their left foot may be open and to the left of the target.
Grip Strength
Many new golfers have a hard time applying the proper grip pressure. Grip the club at about a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. That's about the same as a firm handshake with a business associate. If you grip it too tightly, you will likely hook the ball. But if you don't grip it strongly enough, the clubhead will move on contact with the ball and the sliding action will cause the ball to slice.
Full Follow-through
To hit the ball straight and avoid slicing, finish your swing and use a full follow-through. Many new golfers are anxious to see the results of their swing and stop early. This allows them to pick up their heads and follow the flight of the ball. Without a full follow-through, that will cause the ball slice to the right and go out of bounds or in the rough. Finish with your hands at shoulder height to hit the ball cleanly.
Practice
Head to the driving range and practice regularly to hit the ball straight. The more you practice taking the club back to shoulder height, driving through the ball and finishing high with your hands, the better chance you have of hitting the ball straight and keeping it in the fairway. Hit 50 to 60 balls every time you go to the driving range and concentrate on swinging fully to avoid slicing the ball.
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