PinPoints                                         

with David Clay                                             August 23, 2010

Director of Instruction,

The Golf Academy

Sterling Country Club @ Houston National

 

Never Give Up

 

A gentleman booked a lesson this week who I had not met before.  After a very short time, he said, “David, I was a very good athlete when I was in high school and college, but I am useless now.  That’s why I’m here.  I am so bad I slice my driver and hook my irons, although I do hit some short irons straight.”

“Hold on a minute.  This may not all be as bad as you think,” I responded.  Because the driver has somewhere between 9° and 13° of loft and the face of the driver is very large, you have a deep face, wide, and with very little loft.  If the swing is steep and from the outside with the face open at impact, you will not have much force to hit the ball forward.  Most of the force is creating a lot of sidespin, and of course, a slice.

With an iron, especially a lofted iron, you hit at the bottom of the ball.  You are probably standing more upright as the club is shorter.  This will make the club travel more steeply in the downswing.  You will have more backspin, and less sidespin - mostly, backspin.  This will make the ball go straighter.  How often have you hit a wedge or 9-iron with a slice?

Make sure you turn your shoulders on the backswing as well as swing your arms.  Keep the club in front of your chest as you go back.  To help the steepness on your backswing and downswing, try to have the shaft of the club at the same angle as it is in your address position.  Remember you need to work on your swing plane.

                                                                  

                                                                   Good Golfing,

                                                        David Clay