Playing with a wonky club

[PAGEBREAK]WHAT IS A SLICE:

A slice is when the ball starts straight down the middle of the fairway, but curls right after 50 yards disappearing into the thickest rough or down the deepest ravine.

The clubhead cuts across the ball, as though you are hit a tennis sliced forehand with your golf club, imparting side-spin that spirals the ball out of control.

[PAGEBREAK]INSTANT CURE 1: THE GRIP

The most basic mistakes cause the majority of golf swing problems. A slice often comes from a faulty grip, which hurts your hand action in the swing.

Don't let the club sit in the palm of your left hand when you address the ball - make sure it runs across the base of your fingers.

When you look at the grip, you should see two knuckles on your left hand - less than this and you could lose it out right.

[PAGEBREAK]INSTANT CURE 2: THE STANCE

You need to make sure you are lining up to the ball accurately to hit it straight. If you have sliced a few, you may be aiming too far left, to compensate for the curl right - this will only exaggerate the problem.

The key is to line your shoulders parallel to the ball-to-target line - make sure everything is square. Here my shoulders are parallel to the line I want to hit the ball - this is a simple adjustment that could make all the difference.

[PAGEBREAK]INSTANT CURE 3: WEIGHT SHIFT

A common problem that slicers suffer from is a difficulty in moving their weight from one side of the body to another. This causes powerless shots that usually disappear right.

As you take the club back, most of your weight must be on your right foot. When you start your downswing, shift the weight onto your left.

To help with this and to see how well your weight transfers, put an umbrella in the ground, angled towards your right hip. If you do not touch it as you take the club back, your weight is stuck on your left and you are in trouble!

Concentrate on touching the brolley with your right hip as your take the club away. Try to turn your upper half as you swing back and it will become easier to hit it straight.

[PAGEBREAK]INSTANT CURE 4: RIGHT LEG PRACTICE

To find out what it feels like to hook the ball try this practice. Take your address position and pull your right leg back, while keeping your shoulders square to the target line.

Take the club back, trying to swing as normally as possible along the line of your feet - this will take the club to a position that makes it hard to slice.

As you swing through, you will attack the ball from the angle of your feet - this is an in-to-out swing path. As you swing through, you will feel as though you have wrapped the club round your body, a good movement that will stop the slice. Replicate this feeling with your normal stance.

[PAGEBREAK]INSTANT CURE 5: FEET TOGETHER DRILL

Place your feet close together as you address the ball, so they are almost touching. Now hit practice shots in this position. Many golfers who have problems with the slice will find this tough, but persevere.

Keep trying different swings and ways of keeping your balance as you strike and soon you will swing the club along the correct path. Straight shots will be easier, when you replicate this feeling as you address the ball for real.