Suffering from a fade or slice
Keeping your weight predominantly behind the ball (notice the back heel) causes the body to spin or over-rotate and the club to come over the top.
The photo at right illustrates the most common error when it comes to impact, and the biggest reason why the majority of golfers tend to slice the ball.
In this type of impact error, the weight is predominantly behind the ball (notice the back heel), which causes the body to spin or over-rotate and the club to come over the top.
Notice how the golf club is outside the ball and in order to make solid contact it must work aggressively across the target line. For a right hander, the ball launches left, and either stays there or curves too far to the right and trajectory tends to be too high.
With the irons, divots tend to be infrequent (with the majority of them occurring prior to impact), and the best shots are picked off the surface of the turf.
If your weight hangs back and your body spins through impact, you are destined to hit pulls and weak fades.
To improve, tee the ball up and place an empty water bottle just outside your golf ball. Work at it until you can start the ball to the right of the target and draw it back.
The actions of the hands
The hands are the major speed producers in this type of golf swing, they are actuated by the forearm muscles in an entirely different way than in the common swing. As you have read in my books, we will be using the hands and the forearm muscles to twirl the club in a circular manner rather than in a chopping down and rolling over fashion as is commonly taught.
Through impact, the right hand tosses the club head through the ball as the left hand flexes at the wrist. When this happens the club head travels from behind the point of the arm shoulder triangle and catches up to it during impact. Done correctly the club head swings past the point of the triangle after impact without the club face closing.
This can be learned by teeing up the ball and hitting easy 3/4 wedge shots and tossing the club head past the left arm through impact. Be sure to not rotate the left forearm in a rollover type movement, instead feel the left palm face down after impact.
A good way to feel this type release is to feel as if you turn your left fist knuckles up after impact, this would get the left palm facing down. Do this while swing easily and you will soon feel the release. This action allows the inner forearm muscle of the right hand to slap through, assisted by the left outer forearm as it fully releases the left wrist.
Much additional speed can be gained without negatively affecting club head alignments if the forearms are wound up during the back swing and unwound throughout the entire release sequence. This winding and unwinding of the forearm muscles allows the use of the complete set of forearm muscles, including the ones that rotate the forearm bones, rather than just the ones that flex the wrists in the fore and aft plane. Use your little club to see this action up close and personal.
Do not over look the full completion of the release, the club must have a square club face as it passes through the ball. A less than full release will often leave the club head trailing the hands, rather than catching up to the left arm at impact and passing it. This error creates a soft block type shot that gives up some power and falls short and to the right of your objective.
A little time spent learning this release feeling will pay big dividends later. The correct use of the hands, will allow the player to use a less violent hip slide in the pivot, without giving up too much power.
Sand Tee Drill
Put a tee into the sand with a ball on top of it. The top of the tee should be just lower than the top of the sand. During the swing you are going to try and clip off the top of the tee. To do this you have to hit behind the ball at a shallow angle.
You are in effect slipping the club through and under the sand. Visualize this the next time your ball lands in the sand. Take a long shallow divot of sand and keep your left arm moving through the ball. Control distance by the length of your backswing. Do not quit on the shot.
Purpose
To develop confidence getting out of the sand. Most pros would rather be in a greenside sand trap than in the rough. Sand is much more consistent and predictable. With a little practice sand shots can become something to look forward to, rather than dread.
To learn the mechanics of the basic sand shot. This basic sand shot will work for you in 90% of the sand situations you face. Once you learn the basics the rest is mental planning, and concentration.
To learn the "constants" of sand play.
- The length of the swing determines the distance you hit the ball.
- The perfect sand divot is long and narrow.
- Always dig your feet into the sand and choke down on the club to compensate.
- Open the clubface to avoid digging too deeply into the sand.
- Always follow-through and finish high.
- The closer you hit to the ball the more spin you are going to put on the ball.
Do and Don'ts
The most important thing is to find a place to practice sand shots. Be creative!
Extended Club
This drill will reduce the use of your wrists during chipping. Using a split grip, hold an extra club against your primary club so the 2nd club's grip extends two feet past the top of your first club extending up your left side behind your shoulder.
If your wrists break down during the follow-through thereby throwing the clubhead forward, the extended shaft will tap you on your left side, giving you a friendly reminder about firm wrists when chipping.
Purpose
To reinforce the concept of firm wrists when chipping. The most accurate and consistent chippers are those who keep their wrists firm. The purpose of the firm wrist is to prevent you from popping the ball up or getting too much backspin. The goal when chipping is to keep the ball low and get it rolling on the green as soon as possible.
To ensure that your hands are ahead of the ball at address and at impact when chipping. This drill guarantees your hands will start ahead of the ball and finish there . It is impossible with an extended club to keep your hands even with the ball at address. You will get a quick reminder if the hands get ahead at impact.
To learn the feel of a correct chip. This is a reminder drill. After repeating a few times you will get the idea and feel of the correct mechanics, and you may never have to do it again.
Do and Don'ts
Using an extra club is the most convenient way to extend your shaft. However, you might use a long rod or even a broom handle.
Chipping Stroke
The chipping motion is similar to the putting stroke. Keep weight left, wrists firm and in front of clubhead. The goal is to get the ball on the green as soon as possible, rolling toward the hole.
With the ball back in your stance take a short backswing with no wrist movement. Make a descending blow and brush the ball from the turf. Maintain flex in your knees at all times.
The follow through should always be longer than the backswing. The stroke is dominated by the left arm. The right hand/forearm does not cross or roll over the left.
Purpose
To understand the mechanics of the chip shot. Chipping requires a slow tempo and a crisp swing. Stand close to the ball for a more direct swing path. Keep your weight left, body leaning slightly left, with hands ahead of the ball. Chipping is mostly an arm movement. You are trying to brush or sweep the grass, hitting through the ball. Your left arm will dominate the shot. Your arms and wrists work as one unit. Keep your lower body action to a minimum. Grip down slightly for the short chips will give you more feel (control) because your hands are closer to the ball.
To understand the limited role of the lower body in executing chip shots. Lower body movement is extremely limited in the chip shot. However, there is movement. Chipping is all upper body, right up to the point of impact, then the right knee leans in, bending and moving forward down the target line. Do not force this movement. It is natural and barely noticeable. Your hands are still ahead of the ball at impact and the left arm leads the way.
Do and Don'ts
Always chip to a target (landing spot). It is your intermediate target where the ball flight ends and the roll begins.