Ava Romero
A push slice is a golf shot that starts to the right of the target line and then proceeds to curve even further to the right. It is caused by a clubface that is open to both the target and the swing path at impact. To fix a push slice, you can make some small setup and swing changes such as moving the ball slightly forward in your stance, keeping your lead wrist flatter at the top of the backswing, and turning your hips instead of sliding. Additionally, fixing your grip and understanding the simple ball flight laws can also help to correct a push slice.
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What You'll Learn
Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned parallel to the left of your target line
Ensuring that your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned parallel to the left of your target line is crucial for achieving accurate and consistent golf shots. Here are some detailed tips to help you master this technique:
Feet Alignment:
Before stepping up to the ball, stand behind it and direct your gaze towards the desired landing spot. Visualize an imaginary line from the ball to your target, which is your target line. Now, position your feet parallel to this target line, not directly at it. A good alignment will help your swing path follow the intended line, resulting in straighter shots.
Hip Alignment:
The hips play a pivotal role in setting up your swing path. Proper hip alignment is essential for a powerful and consistent swing. Your hips should be aligned slightly open to the target line, which means they are parallel to the left of the target line. This setup will encourage a full hip turn and help you generate more power in your swing.
Shoulder Alignment:
Shoulder alignment is one of the most challenging aspects of the golf setup, but it is also the most important. Your shoulders should be aligned parallel to the target line, not closed or open. For right-handed golfers, this means your shoulders should be aligned slightly left of the target line. This setup will ensure your swing path is on the intended line, preventing slices or hooks.
Practice and Consistency:
Developing a consistent pre-shot routine is vital for successful alignment. This routine can include visualizing your shot, setting up your stance, focusing on your target, and taking practice swings. The more you practice with proper alignment, the easier it becomes to repeat. Alignment aids, such as Swing Align devices or alignment sticks, can also help you develop muscle memory for proper alignment.
Grip and Wrist Position:
Your grip and wrist position also play a role in achieving solid contact and the desired ball flight. A neutral grip, where you can see two knuckles on your left hand (for right-handed golfers), is a good starting point. Additionally, ensure your lead wrist is bowed (flexion) rather than cupped (extension) before impact, allowing the clubface to square up at impact.
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Strengthen your grip to promote less opening of the clubface on the backswing
To fix a push in golf, you need to focus on the club face, not the left wrist. A pushed shot is one of the most frustrating misses in the game. A push shot might be flying directly where you're aiming if your feet or shoulders are aimed too far right.
A neutral grip, where the "V" shape between your thumb and forefinger points toward your right shoulder, is ideal. A weak grip can cause the club face to open on extension, while a stronger grip can promote less opening of the clubface on the backswing.
To achieve this, you can try Ben Hogan's grip, where the grip runs diagonally across the left palm, promoting delivering the club at the proper lie angle. You can also try to strengthen the grip on your bottom hand slightly.
Another tip is to use a lighter grip than you would with your putter, as fairway or hybrid clubs are considerably lighter than your putter. Take a few practice strokes with a lighter and lighter grip until the fairway or hybrid "feels" as heavy in your hands as your putter.
It is key for golfers to make sure they are in the correct position at the top of the backswing. To do this, audit the club face and let the left wrist seek the condition it must have to have the club face at the proper square 45-degree position at the top of the backswing.
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Avoid taking the club back inside
One of the most common swing faults in golf is taking the club back inside, which can cause the club to get "stuck" behind the golfer's hands and body. This often happens when golfers try to keep their left shoulder working across their body or want to gain more power by overturning their torso.
To avoid taking the club back inside, it is important to first correctly diagnose the problem and understand the difference between a square takeaway and an inside takeaway. A square takeaway occurs when your hands block the view of the clubhead when the shaft of the club is parallel to the ground, as the entire club is pointing directly at the target.
To fix an inside takeaway, you can try the following:
- Use a mirror to audit your backswing feel and position. This will help you identify where the problem originates, whether it is an over-rotation of your torso or an overactive lead forearm.
- Choke up halfway down the shaft of your driver. At "belt high," the correct position is to have the club shaft parallel and on top of the tip of your toes.
- When practising your swing, pay attention to how your club looks and feels when the shaft is parallel to the ground. Ensure that the club is pointing directly at the target and that your hands are not rolling over.
- Focus on not allowing your right shoulder to get "behind" your torso.
- Avoid pulling your lead arm against your chest too much on the backswing.
- Set up with your hands slightly ahead of the clubhead (forward shaft lean) to help initiate the swing and keep your hands leading.
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Focus on rotating your body more
To fix a push golf shot, you can try focusing on rotating your body more. This can be achieved by visualising turning your belt buckle away from the ball at the start of your swing. As you pivot back and transfer weight, the rotation will continue.
A proper shoulder turn involves rotating your hips and torso. This allows your front shoulder to rotate downward, helping you maintain your posture and stay on the proper swing plane. Your shoulders should turn down and under your chin, not out and around. This will help you return the club squarely to the ball with more power.
To increase your body rotation, ensure you are starting with enough rotation on the takeaway of your golf swing. If you are not starting with a turn, it is harder to add one on the downswing. You can also try to add a bit more flexion at the top of your backswing, which will open up space for your legs to rotate through the ball.
A good backswing necessitates rotation back, and you will not be able to make a reasonable swing and hit the ball without rotating down.
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Check your wrist flexion before impact
The wrist position at impact is key to achieving a consistent golf swing. The lead wrist should be in flexion (bowed) at impact, while the trail wrist should be extended. This is because a bowed lead wrist at impact can compress the ball, increase distance, and result in a straighter and more penetrating ball flight.
To check your wrist flexion before impact, you can use a training aid like HackMotion, which provides real-time feedback on your wrist angles and path. This can help eliminate guesswork and ensure that your lead wrist is in the correct "in-range" zone.
You can also perform drills such as the 9 to 3 drill, which helps to fix cupping or flipping at impact. This involves taking a backswing to 9 o'clock, allowing a slight wrist hinge while keeping your lead wrist flat, and then initiating the downswing with body rotation, ensuring your hands stay ahead of the clubhead.
Another drill is the Release Drill, which is great for golfers who struggle with their wrist position at impact. This drill trains your release on a short swing before adding more power and length to the golf swing. Start with a shorter swing, swinging from club parallel in the downswing into impact, and aim to keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball at impact.
By focusing on your wrist flexion before impact and incorporating these drills into your practice routine, you can improve your swing path, achieve a more consistent strike, increase clubhead speed, and obtain the desired ball flight.
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Frequently asked questions
A push shot in golf is when the ball starts to the right of the target and continues in that direction without any lateral spin. This is caused by the clubface hitting the ball at an angle that is square to the club path, resulting in a pull.
To fix a push shot, you need to work on your golf swing and the club path it produces. Take your club back square instead of taking it back inside. You can also try to strengthen your grip to promote less opening of the clubface on the backswing.
The headcover path drill is a great visual aid to correct club path issues. Place a headcover just inside and behind the ball and swing without hitting it. This forces you to shallow your path and avoid an inside-out path. You can also try the Alignment Stick Extension drill to help you align your shoulders properly.
