Split The Grip - Split The Fairway
A Cure for that Dreaded Slice
By: Todd Keirstead
The slice has been around since the days when golfers were still a curiosity to groundhogs. And since the slice hasn't been made obsolete by technology, in fact, as clubs get longer and as players swing faster, golf balls are slicing with amplified severity and regularity. Slices are impossible to control and the largest wrecker of scorecards in the game. There is no magic club that will make your slice go away for good, but there is a way to fix your swing to make banana balls disappear.
If you've endured a "slice attack," here's an immediate and simple remedy. With this simple drill, you just might find a way to get back on track and on the fairway in a hurry.
A slice is caused by not releasing the clubface through the hitting zone causing an open clubface at impact.
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| The non-release |
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The split hand set-up |
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To create the proper feel for releasing the clubface, try making some practice swings griping the club so there is a gap between the hands. Take your set up as if you're going to make a normal practice swing. Lower your bottom hand on the grip, about two to three inches below your upper hand. This will cause you to have a split grip.
Proceed to then take half swings, back and through. Allow the rotation of the bottom hand over the top hand through the impact zone. This is what is called the RELEASE. This action squares the clubface at impact. Failure to return the clubface to square is the major cause of the slice.
Now, in a smooth and slow motion, simulate a three-quarter golf swing and pay attention to these three critical positions:
Position 1: On the backswing, once the arms reach chest high, the back arm should bend with the elbow pointing inward, and the lead arm is to remain straight. The shaft should be pointing vertically. These three lines should form a triangle between your lead forearm, the shaft and your back forearm. See the photo for help.
Position 2: Through the impact zone, the hands should be rolling into a closed position. Because of the split grip, the closing of the clubface will feel more pronounced, which is the desired effect to counteract that slice! At impact, the lower hand is directly below the top hand, indicating hands are in the process of closing the clubface through the hitting zone.
Position 3: About halfway through the follow-through, the hands should act as a mirror image of the hands in Position 1, where the forearms and shaft once again form a triangle. If they don't, that means you're not releasing and rolling the hands properly! Practice this drill as often as needed to counteract a slice, and don't forget it when it comes time to battle the effects of an unexpected banana ball.
After some practice swings, begin hitting half shots. Concentrate on feeling the release and try to duplicate that action when you hit balls with your normal grip. Let your arms roll naturally. In this position you should be hitting hooks. Now the ball is curving in a way foreign to most. When comfortable with that hand position start moving your hands closer and closer together until you are hitting your desired shot.
Good luck and enjoy the centre of the fairway.
For anyone interested in contacting Todd for private golf lessons or corporate outings email him at gwagolf@hotmail.com
08/10
