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How To Hit A Golf Ball Straight

by: MickEuanTait
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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 order to keep this article short, I will describe what causes the slice and how to cure a slice; for the hook, the description and cure are the opposite of a slice. When the golf ball has a significant tilt of the spin axis to the right or in a clockwise direction, a slice will occur. With a slice, the ball ends up to the right of where you are aiming and the phrase is used when the flight of the ball is acute or inadvertent. The less severe version of the slice is called a "fade."

When you understand the basics of the golf swing you will know that you have to return to the original place at impact if you want to hit the ball squarely and straight. When the club face is open at the point of impact, a slice will occur and the ball will spin in a clockwise direction. Generally, the swing path is correct but the golf ball is not hit squarely at impact; this is normally caused by a "weak grip."

If you can not hit a golf ball straight, then the first thing to look at is your grip. It doesn't matter what type of grip you prefer (an interlocking grip, an overlapping grip, or a ten finger grip) the factor that can affect the balls flight path is the strength of the grip. If you want to fix a slice, try moving your hands around to the right into a stronger grip position.

If you want to cure a slice, then try changing some of the following factors: Don't grip the club too tightly so that your muscles tense up in your wrists and forearms. If you can work on increasing your golf swing speed then not only will you increase your distance, you should be able to reduce the amount of side spin and therefore cut down on the chance of slicing the ball. Check the flex of the shaft that you currently use; if you are a powerful hitter of the ball then use an extra stiff or stiff flex; if you are a medium hitter of the ball then use a regular or firm flex; and if you can't drive the ball more than 200 yards, then use a ladies or a senior flex.

If you want to hit a golf ball straight then you have to setup correctly. Line up your feet and shoulders square and parallel to the target line. Even though your right shoulder will be lower than your left, they should still be parallel to the target. The ball position is also important; with a driver, place the ball opposite the instep of your left foot. Stand the correct distance away from the ball so that the club is grounded properly; if it is tilted forward then you are too close to the ball, if it is tilted backwards then you are too far from the ball.

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.

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, sign up for his newsletter and receive a special free report on "Creating a perfect, consistent golf swing."

How To Hit A Golf Ball Straight

About the Author

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