My Persistent Slice - Can anyone make a suggestion while I wait for lessons???

I have just started golfing again after a long hiatus and have never really taken it seriously, but I would like to start. I am a former baseball player and quite athletic. I am 6'5" and 220 pounds with what I think is a fast swing speed, but I have a slice that I am having a hard time getting rid of. My ball speed with my previous driver (Taylermade r9) averages

around 170mph with a stiff shaft. I have just upgraded to an M5 with an x-stiff Hzrdous Smoak 70g but haven't hit it yet. Is there anything glaring about my swing that someone can point out while I patiently wait at home for lessons to open up again???

I know these images wont tell a complete story but thought I would put it out there.

Thanks!

Until you get your lesson try turning the knuckles of your right hand down through impact, but do get a lesson.

Steve

Magnum P.I. called and said he wants the Ferrari back

Only if I can have his moustache...

Thanks Steve. The lesson is happening for sure, but I appreciate the tip in the meantime.

Here's a lefty Dustin Johnson. Also a member of the 6'4 and up club. Hard to completely evaluate things with these stills and with only the face on view, but if you never said what the issue was, I would guess a giant slice. I can't really see the blurry clubface, but with a neutral grip your hands are setting it wide open. Slice ensues. Dustin is a great reference here because he bowes the lead wrist so early compared to most. I am not suggesting you do that just like him, but you will see the difference in the action in the photos below. Your shot is somewhat inbetween these, but notice when his lead arm is near parallel to ground, the glove, or top of the hand) is pointing straight out, if not even behind a bit. At the impact position the glove is pointing to the target. In between those two placements the glove has to point down some, towards the ball. Its like if you were trying to trace the logo of the glove as the person swinging, you wouldnt be able to see it with your eyes. Now look at your lead hand, the top of the hand or the glove is pointing up, right towards your eyes. You look like you are going to chop down a tree pretty damn well, but not hit a golf ball straight. Bow the right wrist. Cup the left wirst. Turn that glove down and I think you will see some immediate improvements.

You have to be careful with intents to just close the face. It can make it worse if the hands aren’t deep enough at the top, shaft is too vertical or in some cases, that face is too closed already and you’re opening in reaction. If in fact it is a good move for you, and we can’t really tell without a down the line, it needs to be done in transition.

Are you hitting a pull slice? If so you could try hitting a few out to left field. If you can hit the ball to left field and the ball is still slicing then strengthen your grip until you start hooking. Once you can hit a hook then practice hooking alternating with slicing until you start to get some control over the shape of your shots. It is possible for your body to respond to your intent combined with the grip change and maybe you will correct your swing that way. The tricky part is getting the right intentions.

Your impact position of your lead arm is one that a lot of folks struggle to achieve and never quite get so you have that going for you!

Thank-you for the detailed breakdown and the comparative image of DJ, in a similar position. Pretty great example to learn from indeed and your observation definitely make sense. I will definitely play with the wrist position and see what that does! Thanks again!

I had just started working on a stronger grip before the lockdown and saw some positive results so that is good advice for sure. Fortunately the courses are opening again so I will get to keep playing with it to see if I can get lucky and have a simple fix like that work for me. Thanks!

Start with a 6 or 7 iron and start trying to hit extreme draws. Strong grip, closed stance, ball back, start the ball to left field. Once you start turning them over move up to a longer iron and progress to the driver.

Unfortunately and confusingly, I tend to hit a natural draw with my irons. I have tried to convert that to my woods but I can’t seem to get the face closed consistently.

Well, hard to tell from the pics for sure, but one thing I'd try is to move the ball position back. It looks like a forward ball position, which can encourage a slice. Also, try pulling your left foot back a tad and decrease the flaring of your right foot some (i.e., close your stance a touch).

Get your left thumb off of the underside of the grip (at top of backswing)

Strengthen your grip. Cant emphasize this enough. Do whatever it takes. It will feel weird and you'll want to fall back to bad habits but you HAVE to stick at it. Get used to a stronger grip and everything will start falling into place. From someone who has been to the lowest ebbs of Slicedom I promise you this is your way out.