golfrewind.com

Hello fellow golf rewind members --

I was out on the resort course here in Outer Banks, NC, for the last day on my vacation; school starts on Tuesday.

I played horribly, and almost literally every shot I hit was a horrible fade/slice, that I just CANNOT fix. I managed to fix it sometimes somehow, but I do not really know how I did it. Maybe I slowed down my backswing which towards the back 9 I was trying to do anyways, since I think it's too fast, meanwhile accelerating my downswing on initiation of it.

I am a lefty, and therefore my shots started out straight for a while, then instantly curved left and literally went into the woods to the OPPOSITE side of the fairway!!! I even tried to account for the slice and it STILL went in.

On a side note, I got a birdie on a par 3, which was nice, and no fade/slice whatsoever.

Please, I am desperate, depressed, and ready to quit golf, which I really do not want to do.

this has been happening the last few times I have been playing, and it's only been worsening.

Another thing which concerns me is the distance which I hit my clubs. I'm not sure if it's the clubs (I would like to think so) or me, but I think it's me. For instance, I used an 8-iron, a club which because of my strength seems apt to use, on a par 3 135 yarder. Perhaps I'm not swinging hard enough? People have told me I swing TOO hard, so I'm VERY confused and discouraged.

Any help would be so gladly appreciated and implemented within the next couple days when I go out and play.

I cannot afford a lesson at the moment, even if it would be the optimal solution.

Thank you very much.

Do not quit or be depressed. These problems look horrific but can be cleared up quickly as long as you do not 'try to fix' them. A lesson seems called for because it is almost impossible for verbal instruction to work. It is too open to misinterpretation. And one cannot see what it is you are doing.

Golf is a game of paradox. Swinging harder is counterproductive unless your swing is synchronous. Practice your short game and become aware of teh factors that allow you to hit square shots. Use a key such as balance, relax, rhythm and maintain the rhythm and lack of tension through the swing. Practice this till you understand it. Practicing on the course is counter productive until you feel you can swing properly on the range. What is your practice swing like??

All tension in the swing is imparted to the ball usually resulting in a slice as most people want to hit the ball rather than swing through it. Learn how to be more relaxed and less 'trying'. That will help all aspects of your game.

Keep at it robertg! The progression of a golfer is never in a straight line but full of challenges to be overcome...with relaxation!

I used to have a horrible slice too. The problem is the more to try to correct it the worse it gets.

Being a lefty, you probably try to steer the ball to the right which puts more left spin on it causing it to tail MORE left.

Golf it a game of opposites. You want the ball to go up, you swing down.
You want the ball to go right, you have to swing to the left (to same place you are trying to avoid!).

What did it for me was standing behind someone who continually hit a draw.

It clicked as I saw the path his club was on. I'm a righty so I understand it like this:
if I want to fade the ball, I need to rip it to the left field alley and to draw to the right field alley. It's just the opposite of what I am inclined to think.

First, the mental: Could it be that the impending start of school/end of vacation is creating pressure to perform?

And the physical: ENYO's advice is sound...you're cutting the ball so you must learn to swing out...aim at center field and swing to left-center...in order for this to work you must take the club back inside the imaginary line from center field through the ball.

Have someone take a few video shots of your swing from different angles...when you see yourself on video you will immediately see what you're doing, just try not to be too critical and don't try to fix too many things at once. Much cheaper than lessons and besides, you have the advantage of knowing what the fellow on tv is feeling.


Shade

Thanks for all your advice!

I don't believe that trying to hit the ball rather than swing is a major problem for me on the fairway/rough, but maybe it is on the tee. I dunno...

I really have to get out on the range, I know. I just love playing on the course, and when my uncle wants to play it's usually on the course, not on the range. :P I should head up there this week and practice, I really need to cure this slice.

I wouldn't know exactly how my practice swing is, but my uncle says that I am going too fast on the backswing, and hesitating somehow (?) on the downswing. I have no idea whether these suggestions are valid or not.

Hmm, this is interesting advice. So I should try and swing towards left, eh? I'll try this tomorrow out on the course.

That's good advice. I have been trying to get my hands on a camcorder (ours is totally broken) for some time to get some shots of my swing, but I just remembered my dad's digital still camera has a video mode, so I'll just use that. It will suit my needs fine.

I don't think it's the fact I have to go back to school, I don't think about that when I'm on the course.

*Sigh* I don't know if there's any hope for me in golf... Oh well.

I went out today and played absolutely HORRIFICALLY. I was slicing EVERY wood and long iron I attempted to hit, no exceptions.

I am now beginning to think it's my out-to-in swing path; actually I know it is, because my divots are pointing right of the target (I'm a lefty, for you righties it'd be left of the target).

So I have to now consciously start swinging in-to-out.

I guess I'm not a tour player.

you do this, MOST LIKELY, because you intiate the downswing with your shoulders. It can also be/be aided because your backswing is very flat. THere are many different drills to cure this. THere is the pump drill, baseball drill, pause at the top drill and the Jim furyk drill (sorry i dont know the name of it) While all these drills are good for curing that problem, my favorite drill is the Go find yourself an instructor drill. THis drill consist of finding an instructor and seeing him/her once every two weeks and working on the drills they perscribe in between. The cool thing about this drill is that if you dont have the money all you have to do is skip a round of golf and take that money to purchase a lesson

"Go find yourself an instructor drill" Thats the best advice I've heard yet.!

Seriously though robertg, I've been following your posts the past few days and you've gotten lots of good advice. Nothing comes quickly in this game so try to be patient, find something (or someone) that works for you and stick with it. It will come to you in time.

This is good advice, but unfortunately I won't be able to do this, as I don't pay my greens fees anyways; my uncle does, and he doesn't believe I need lessons, nor do I wish to ask him. He picks me up every Friday afternoon/Sat. morning to take me out, plus he's gotten me some nice golf accessories, so I don't want to ask him for this.

But maybe I'll scrape together the $30 for a half-hour lesson and try to see my local pro, who's not to expensive. *Sigh* I also need a driver.

Thanks for your support by the way, leaguegolf!

If you think this game is frustrating now....just wait until YOU have to pay for your own greens fees! Then you're frustrated and footing the bill!

You have figured it out. Great!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can make this change stick with it. It may take some time but if you stay with in-to-out you can better your swing path.

I don't even want to think about that.

Yep, now the hard part: fixing it.

robert,
I've been where you're at. Before I committed to fixing the "indian" as opposed to just trying to changes "arrows", I sliced the ball to **** and back with EVERY club.

Lots of good advice given thus far, and a slice like you describe is likely due to the dreaded "outside-in" swing path and add an open clubface at impact, and you have an 8 iron that goes 130 yards.

Bottom line, fix the shaft/club mechnics, i.e. your swing, it doesn't matter what clubs you hit. Fix the swing mechanics, the game becomes much simpler.....

For me, not even 130!!!

Yes, I've been trying, but when I went out on Saturday, I played horribly! It is so FRRRUUUUUUUUUUSSSSTTTTTTTRRRRRRAAAAATTTTTIIIIINNNN NNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!

I could not hit at ALL, if my life depended on it. Alright, I Was hitting some nice shots, but nice is literally completely relative in my situation. Nice for me = 4 iron 180 with a little bit of fade.

I don't know what the story is; it felt like when I calmed down and swung a certain way it was *better* but not completely, as I still had a trace of fade/slice.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Golf gods, I need you!