The Pull Slice (Any drills, tips to fix the pull slice?)

[JOSEPHLB]

Updated with video

I've noticed out on the range I have a case of the pull slice. This is with the driver and 3 wood. All other clubs, I'm straight.

Next trip to the range, I'll take a camera and try to get some video.

Important details:

Its a constant pull slice. No other type of bad shots happen with my driver and 3 wood.
Ball starts off slightly left of target line (sometimes on target line) and slowly fades right (20-30 yards).
Its pretty constant; I may have hit one or two out of fifty straight, so my memory kind of forgot what it felt like.

I do notice I cup the left wrist slightly at the top of my backswing. I think I may also be chicken winging my left arm slightly. I don't belive I can feel the left arm sweeping close to my body like it should. This of course will show up better with video, but for now I'm just trying to recollect on past memory from my previous trips to the range.

When I say I cup the left wrist, its a slight cup. It just feels natural and it doesn't seem to effect any of my iron shots or hybrid.

[oregongolf]

i had this same problem when i started playing golf like 12 years ago.

 

i was told to try putting a headcover a outside the ball and eight inches behind it then to make my swing.

[mikpga]

Hit a push hook.

[JOSEPHLB]

Here is my embarassing driver swing. Haven't played in about 12 years.

 

Its a consistant fade (20 yards).. carries about 200-210 yards

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8PBsMw6x60

[JeffMann]

I really need a down-the-line video to confirm my initial impressions. However, my initial impression is that you seem to rotate your shoulders too horizontally. At the end-backswing position, your shoulder turn angle seems to nearly be parallel to the ground. Then, during the downswing, your shoulders turn very horizontally. This will cause a flat/rounded clubhead swingarc, which will likely be slightly out-to-in in the region of the ball. That can produce a pull-slice.

 

You need a much steeper shoulder turn angle in the donswing - along the right shoulder plane line - as demonstrated in this image from a swing video of Sergio Garcia.

 

 

Image 1 shows Sergio Garcia at the end-backswing position. The green line represents the shoulder turn angle in the backswing. The yellow line was drawn from the ball to the right shoulder and this line represents the "right shoulder plane" line (RSP line). In image 2, I have drawn a yellow line across Sergio Garcia's shoulders as he rotates his right shoulder under his chin in the late downswing/early followthrough. Note that this line is at the same inclined angle as the RSP plane drawn in image 1, and this image demonstrates that Sergio Garcia has a steeper shoulder turn during the downswing than the backswing, and that his right shoulder descends down along the RSP.

 

A second observation.

 

This is a capture image of your posture at impact.

 

 

Note that you are on the tips of your toes on BOTH feet, and that the heels of BOTH feet are unweighted. You are essentially falling forward towards the ball. A common cause of that problem is starting the downswing with a rotatory right hip movement that pulls the right buttocks away from the tush line prematurely. That movement causes the right shoulder to ALSO rotate forward over the toe line prematurely and causes an out-to-in clubhead swingpath. A correct downswing hip pivot movement should keep the right buttock on the tush line while the pelvis slides slightly to the left before the left hip clearing action pulls the left hemi-pelvis back to the tush line. That action will have the added benefit of dropping the right shoulder downwards to the RSP line.

 

See the following paper on the correct downswing hip pivot action.

 

http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/pivot.htm

 

Jeff.

[leekgolf]

I've noticed out on the range I have a case of the pull slice. This is with the driver and 3 wood. All other clubs, I'm straight.

 

Next trip to the range, I'll take a camera and try to get some video.

 

Important details:

 

Its a constant pull slice. No other type of bad shots happen with my driver and 3 wood.

Ball starts off slightly left of target line (sometimes on target line) and slowly fades right (20-30 yards).

Its pretty constant; I may have hit one or two out of fifty straight, so my memory kind of forgot what it felt like.

 

I do notice I cup the left wrist slightly at the top of my backswing. I think I may also be chicken winging my left arm slightly. I don't belive I can feel the left arm sweeping close to my body like it should. This of course will show up better with video, but for now I'm just trying to recollect on past memory from my previous trips to the range.

 

When I say I cup the left wrist, its a slight cup. It just feels natural and it doesn't seem to effect any of my iron shots or hybrid.

 

I believe the first thing to do is fix the clubface. Your path is a way you found to keep the ball in play. The easiest way to address this is with Brian Manzella's video "Never Slice Again"

 

It's available at www.brianmanzella.com

 

You can buy it at: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_...charset=UTF%2d8

[JOSEPHLB]

I really need a down-the-line video to confirm my initial impressions. However, my initial impression is that you seem to rotate your shoulders too horizontally. At the end-backswing position, your shoulder turn angle seems to nearly be parallel to the ground. Then, during the downswing, your shoulders turn very horizontally. This will cause a flat/rounded clubhead swingarc, which will likely be slightly out-to-in in the region of the ball. That can produce a pull-slice.

 

You need a much steeper shoulder turn angle in the donswing - along the right shoulder plane line - as demonstrated in this image from a swing video of Sergio Garcia.

 

 

Image 1 shows Sergio Garcia at the end-backswing position. The green line represents the shoulder turn angle in the backswing. The yellow line was drawn from the ball to the right shoulder and this line represents the "right shoulder plane" line (RSP line). In image 2, I have drawn a yellow line across Sergio Garcia's shoulders as he rotates his right shoulder under his chin in the late downswing/early followthrough. Note that this line is at the same inclined angle as the RSP plane drawn in image 1, and this image demonstrates that Sergio Garcia has a steeper shoulder turn during the downswing than the backswing, and that his right shoulder descends down along the RSP.

 

A second observation.

 

This is a capture image of your posture at impact.

 

 

Note that you are on the tips of your toes on BOTH feet, and that the heels of BOTH feet are unweighted. You are essentially falling forward towards the ball. A common cause of that problem is starting the downswing with a rotatory right hip movement that pulls the right buttocks away from the tush line prematurely. That movement causes the right shoulder to ALSO rotate forward over the toe line prematurely and causes an out-to-in clubhead swingpath. A correct downswing hip pivot movement should keep the right buttock on the tush line while the pelvis slides slightly to the left before the left hip clearing action pulls the left hemi-pelvis back to the tush line. That action will have the added benefit of dropping the right shoulder downwards to the RSP line.

 

See the following paper on the correct downswing hip pivot action.

 

http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/pivot.htm

 

Jeff.

 

Hey Jeff.. Thanks for the explaination. Its amazing what flaws a simple clipping of a video can point out in a swing.

 

I have a lesson scheduled with a pro on the 12th of July. Hopefully we can get these things sorted out. I honestly feel like I have a pretty decent swing for someone that hasn't picked up a golf club in 12 years. Hopefully with a few of these flaws eliminated, I can keep my drives in the short grass. :bad: