SLICING (over the top)

Slicing is the opposite to hooking and a result of hitting the ball clockwise rather than a counterclockwise spin. Which force the ball to move both in the air and the ground from left to right. Surveys have shown the approx. 80% of all golfers slice the ball. It is interesting to note also from a doctor of chiropractic's point of view that 8 out of 10 people have one leg slightly shorter than the other. So I believe that one of the major factors effecting slicing is a biomechanical fault that causes a rotation in your pelvis effecting your posture, your spine angle, and thus your swing arc.

If you are a right handed golfer and you have an apparent left leg shortening due to a lateral rotation of the pelvis can be the result of a flexion- extension of the pelvis at the s-i joint. We can determine this with an examination. With your poor biomechanics the club is being forced into an out to in swing so you will hit the ball with a clockwise spine. Correcting you hip and spine angle will square the club face at impact so you can hit the ball with an anti-clockwise spin. Hips and shoulders must return to a square position this will not only cure your slice but you allow distance from more power being generated from the correct body turn and the square club face. If your hips are rotated at address you will not be able to align your feet, hips and shoulders square to the target. If your posture is corrected your muscles will groove your new swing so you will naturally return to a stance with a square club face.

Also if your hips are rotated your centre of gravity will not be right this will force your shoulders to turn too quickly with an open stance due to a poor hip rotation the body will be in front of the ball. If your spine angle is wrong you will not setup with your head behind the ball you will begin your downswing before you have complete your back-swing with your arms.

The diagram (above left) shows the typical slicing posture at impact with the red lines indicating the shoulder and hip relationship and the green line indicates the centre of gravity. The green shading indicates that the weight at impact is on that side of the body.

Note: The centre of gravity (COG) refers to the line in the midline from your forehead to the centre of your stance. Changes in the centre of gravity, as indicated by the green line, will alter your centre of balance (COB).

The diagram, (above right), shows the typical slicing posture with the centre of balance indicated by the yellow line. The swing arc is indicated by the blue line which travels in and out of an upright swing plane. Point your mouse over the image to see the golfer dressed in blue which is the correct posture (red lines indicate the centre of balance) and a straight and correct swing arc is indicated by the purple line which travels along an ideal swing plane. The correct posture should have a spine angle of 30 degrees, or as demonstrated in the diagram by the red lines (red lines also indicate the centre of balance), at 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock depending if you are right or left handed.

Swing Summary: The head is not in the correct position at set-up – it is too far forward and more ‘over the ball’ than ‘slightly behind’ it. A hip weakness causes the hips to tilt, at address, and a subsequent compensation during the swing causes the arms to begin the downswing before the back-swing has been completed. The down-swing cuts across the ball (towards the player’s body) - coming from outside to in. This shot is typically referred to as over the top.

Note: The clock diagram indicates a general swing arc for slicing and both diagrams illustrate the posture at the point of impact.

To see the definitions of swing plane, swing arc and swing path please CLICK HERE