Hit A Golf Ball Straight Down The Middle Of The Fairway

If you have a swing fault that makes you hit slices or hooks then you need to learn how to hit a ball straight of the tee. Apart from the satisfaction of hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway, you will also increase your distance of the tee. What's more, you will find yourself with an easier second shot to the green when you are nicely positioned in the middle of the fairway.

Why is it that many golfers find it difficult to hit a golf ball straight? First it is necessary to comprehend what causes the ball to move from left to right (a slice) or from right to left (a hook). If you know how to fix a slice or hook, you can then practice how to hit a draw or a fade which are useful skills to know so that you can shape your shots around hazards or dog-legs.

In this article, I will be describing the causes and cures of a slice; the hook is basically the opposite of the slice, so just reverse the descriptions and cures. A slice occurs when the axis of the ball spins to the right or in a clockwise direction. A slice will end up to the right of the target you are aiming for, and the expression refers to an extreme or unplanned curve in the trajectory of the ball. A "fade" is a less severe version of the slice and is usually intentional.

In understanding the basics of the golf swing, in order to hit the ball squarely and straight every time, you must return to the original spot at impact. A slice is caused by the club face being slightly open at the point of impact, thus causing the ball to spin in a clockwise motion. In most cases the swing path is correct, but the golf ball is not being hit squarely at the point of impact, commonly caused by what is known as a "weak grip".

The first thing to check is your grip when you find that you can't hit a ball straight. The one cause that can shape the path of the balls flight is the strength of the grip - it doesn't matter if you use an interlocking grip, an overlapping grip, or a ten finger grip. To fix a slice, experiment with moving your hands around on the grip, over to the right, into a more strong grip position.

There are several other factors you can try to cure a slice. The first is not to grip the club so tightly that you tense up the muscles of the wrist and forearms. Also, work on increasing the speed of your golf swing as a faster swing speed will give you more distance and, most importantly, it will reduce the amount of slice that you pass on to the golf ball. You may be using the wrong flex of shaft which can affect your shots; if you hit over 250 yards then use a stiff or extra stiff flex, from 200 to 250 yards use a firm or regular flex, and under 200 yards use a ladies or senior flex.

The setup position is also important if you want to hit a golf ball straight. Keep everything square and parallel to the target. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should all be parallel to the target line. With a driver, place the ball opposite the instep of the left foot and don't stand too close or too far away from the ball - the sole of the club should be grounded and not tilting forwards or backwards.

If you occasionally hit a slice or a hook, then go back to the basics of the golf swing. place your feet shoulder width apart, keep your eyes on the ball, knees slightly bent, and back in a straight position with your chin up. In this article I won't get into details about the golf swing; but just start your back swing straight back and keep your downswing on the same plane. Your swing speed should stay constant throughout the backswing to the downswing and don't ever try to over swing at the ball.

There are two more swing faults that can stop you to hit a golf ball straight down the fairway - the push shot and the pull shot. Not like the slice, the push shot is when the ball flies of the club face to the right and the pull shot to the left. The push shot is a direct action of the golf swing that is caused by an in-to-out swing path and the pull shot is caused by an out-to-in swing path. Both the push and the pull are effects of an improper golf swing and not remembering the basics of the golf swing.

Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com

About the Author: At Mick Euan Tait's website you can find more tips on how to hit a golf ball straight and fix a slice.
Also, if you sign up for his newsletter you will receive an exlusive free ebook on "Creating a perfect, consistent golf swing." 

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