Hit A Golf Ball Straight Down The Middle Of The Fairway
If you have a swing fault that makes you hit slices or hooks then you need to learn how to hit a ball straight of the tee. Apart from the satisfaction of hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway, you will also increase your distance of the tee. What's more, you will find yourself with an easier second shot to the green when you are nicely positioned in the middle of the fairway.
What causes so many golfers the inability to hit a golf ball straight? The first thing to understand is why the golf ball moves to the left (a hook) or to the right (a slice) of the tee. Once you know how to fix a slice or a hook, you will then be in a position to learn how to hit a draw or a fade - which are basically just controlled versions of the hook and the slice but with less movement on the ball.
In this article, I will be describing the causes and cures of a slice; the hook is basically the opposite of the slice, so just reverse the descriptions and cures. A slice occurs when the axis of the ball spins to the right or in a clockwise direction. A slice will end up to the right of the target you are aiming for, and the expression refers to an extreme or unplanned curve in the trajectory of the ball. A "fade" is a less severe version of the slice and is usually intentional.
In understanding the basics of the golf swing, in order to hit the ball squarely and straight every time, you must return to the original spot at impact. A slice is caused by the club face being slightly open at the point of impact, thus causing the ball to spin in a clockwise motion. In most cases the swing path is correct, but the golf ball is not being hit squarely at the point of impact, commonly caused by what is known as a "weak grip".
The first thing to check is your grip when you find that you can't hit a ball straight. The one cause that can shape the path of the balls flight is the strength of the grip - it doesn't matter if you use an interlocking grip, an overlapping grip, or a ten finger grip. To fix a slice, experiment with moving your hands around on the grip, over to the right, into a more strong grip position.
There are several other factors you can try to cure a slice. The first is not to grip the club so tightly that you tense up the muscles of the wrist and forearms. Also, work on increasing the speed of your golf swing as a faster swing speed will give you more distance and, most importantly, it will reduce the amount of slice that you pass on to the golf ball. You may be using the wrong flex of shaft which can affect your shots; if you hit over 250 yards then use a stiff or extra stiff flex, from 200 to 250 yards use a firm or regular flex, and under 200 yards use a ladies or senior flex.
The address position has to be correct if you want to hit a golf ball straight. You should line up for your shot with your shoulders, hips, and feet all square and parallel to the target line. When teeing off with a driver, the correct ball position is opposite the instep of the left foot. Also, the sole of the club should be grounded and not tilting forwards (standing too close to the ball) or tilting backwards (standing too far from the ball.)
If you occasionally hit a slice or a hook, then go back to the basics of the golf swing. place your feet shoulder width apart, keep your eyes on the ball, knees slightly bent, and back in a straight position with your chin up. In this article I won't get into details about the golf swing; but just start your back swing straight back and keep your downswing on the same plane. Your swing speed should stay constant throughout the backswing to the downswing and don't ever try to over swing at the ball.
Lastly, there are an other two types of swing faults that will prevent you to hit a golf ball straight - the push and the pull. As opposed the slice, the push shot happens when the ball shoots straight off to the right, and the pull is when the ball goes straight off to the left. The push is a result of an incorrect golf swing when the club goes through an in-to-out plane, and the pull is an out-to-in swing plane. The push or pull shot comes about due to an improper golf swing action and forgetting the basics of the golf swing.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
At Mick Euan Tait's website you can find more tips on how to hit a golf ball straight and fix a slice.
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by: MickEuanTait
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