What am I doing wrong? Slice?

I've been hitting the driving range twice a week for a few weeks trying to learn how to play again.....About 8 years ago, I played about 2-3 times a week for a year or so. I shot low 90's and could somewhat hit my irons.

since then, I've played about once a year or so.....until the last few months. Now I'm playing once every 2 weeks and hitting the driving range a few times a week.....but.....I CAN'T HIT STRAIGHT!

I was having problems with an out to in swing path...Big SLICE.

I read some articles and have somewhat corrected that (kind of)...I now have a nice in to out/straight at target swing path. But I have NO consistency at all.....one shot is straight...next several go to the right and keeps drifting to the right kind of like a slice.

But these just start right and meander over a little farther to the right. They don't go left then right.....they don't go straight then turn sharply right like a big slice.

When I hit my irons...I have a inside to outside swing path straight divot but the ball almost always lands about 30ft to the right of the pin (on the driving range or on the course). Also, these shots usually seem weak and don't have much distance on them.

What am I doing wrong? Could I be hitting them on the toe? Hitting them with an open club face?

Also, even if I aim 30' left of the pin.......my ball lands in the exact same area as if I aim at the pin....30ft right of the pin.

Help...lol...

Well, if your swing path is okay but the ball still ends up going to thr right, then your club face is open at impact.

That could be caused misalignment at the setup or your hands do not square the clubface up at impact and through ...

Also check the length of your backswing: If you overswing this could cause the ball to go any where so have someone check your position at the top when your swinging normally.

Dont forget about your grip!!!! Check your grip with regards to grip pressure and your actual grip i.e where yout V's are and how many knuckles are showing. Make sure your gripping with your fingers as opposed to your palm!

check out this section of GTO to compare your grip if you think this might be a problem!

http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/grip.htm

__________________
Craig

My bag:

Taylormade r7 9.5* Stiff stock shaft
Sonartec SS2.5 3+ 13* Stiff Fujikura Tour Platform shaft
Taylormade Utility 2 16* XS Fujikura TP stock shaft
Titleist 904F 4 wood 17* Stiff Aldila NV85 shaft
Mizuno MP67 3-PW S300 shafts
Cleveland 588 47*, 53*, 56* DSG, 60*
Odyssey White Hot #4 putter

I agree with cct ; check your grip, set up, and your swing also ( a good grip helps you control the clubface throughout the golf swing. Letting your grip control of the clubface will help you achieve more consistent and accurate golf shots. A poor grip can cause you to have inconsistent clubface control that can lead you to make swing compensations. Common swing compensations that should be avoided are bowing / cupping of the left wrist and rolling over of the arms, wrists and hands )

Or maybe your club's shaft too stiff for your swing speed ???

Good Luck

The problem is your grip has your clubface square to your swing path. You need your clubface square to the target, which will create a draw. Check you grip with my drill to ensure your clubface is square at impact: http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/v...rticle.php?a=3

If all of that is okay, check the rest of your grip - as Craig said, grip with your fingers. Keep your grip pressure light - about as hard as you would hold a baby's hand. This promotes a quicker, fuller release because your forearm muscles are not as tense and therefor have more range of motion.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

Thanks for all the replies....I'll give all those things a look and see if it helps and report back my results.

i have this problem to SLICE mainly with my 1 wood but a little with my 3 and 5 woods, i have no problem with my irons which bugs me heaps... someone please help meeeeeeeeeeeee. i do notice if i swing faster my slice is worse than if i swing slower....but you want the ball to go far................what do i do

wezmyball,
Do you find that your irons fly slightly from left to right like a smallish slice??What shafts are on your driver and 3 & 5 woods?If they are too stiff for your swing speedthis could cause a slice!what degrees are your woods?

no, my irons go straight as a die. they are graphite on my 1 and 3 but my 5 is steel. so is my irons. i can hit my 3 wood ok but not all the time, i do hit my 5 wood straight as well as my 3 wood but my driver is the worst slice you could imagine.10.5 deg on my 1 wood 12.5 on my 3 wood and 15 on my 5 wood.

Check your shafts for writing on them saying what type of shafts they are like stiff or regular. I think they might be regular by the sounds of things.

If your slice occurs when your swinging faster it sounds like your not dropping your driver down the correct plane on the downswing. Swing with a slow tempo and focus on the image of dropping your right elbow into your right pocket...assuming your right handed!

Distance does come from swing speed but this speed becomes useless if your timing is not right. The problem is that when you swing fast your timing can go out the window. Work on getting a repeatable swing with your downswing on the correct plane and then you can increase your swing speed.

__________________
Craig

My bag:

Taylormade r7 9.5* Stiff stock shaft
Sonartec SS2.5 3+ 13* Stiff Fujikura Tour Platform shaft
Taylormade Utility 2 16* XS Fujikura TP stock shaft
Titleist 904F 4 wood 17* Stiff Aldila NV85 shaft
Mizuno MP67 3-PW S300 shafts
Cleveland 588 47*, 53*, 56* DSG, 60*
Odyssey White Hot #4 putter

1st Check your swing fundamental's : 1. the grip, stance, set up & swing path and .... Try these tips the next time you're having trouble hitting a fairway wood off the fairway ( if you can fixed your swing with fairway wood , I think you can make it better with your "Driver".... ):

Match your body to the slope. If you set up your body with the slope of the fairway, you won't have to change how you swing because it will allow you to swing the club along the slope.
Find the bottom of your swing. Take practice swings to determine where the bottom of your club makes contact with the ground. "Brushing" the ground a few times will help you determine where to play the ball in your stance.
Make a balanced swing. Swing at a speed that will allow you to maintain your balance from the start to finish. Balanced swings lead to solid contact and consistent golf shots.

ciocoach@rock.com

thanks guys, will practice a bit more on the correct ways. let you know how i get on later down the fairway. cheers wez