Range Practice - Push Slice
Today’s focus for practice: fixing push slice, in longer irons and driver.
Drill #1: Knuckles to forearm
Chris Ryan Golf practice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGA6J43Go8A
With driver, take the club back, and then on a slow simulated downswing focus on bringing your trail arm knuckles (right hand) back towards your forearm, forming a sort of right angle between your arm, wrist, and hand.
This will help keep the club head square instead of opening up. This will also encourage the proper alignment of your leading wrist which will help as well.
Drill #2: Club parallel to ball path
Chris Ryan Golf pracitce video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9qE1WZKhNI
On the downswing, pause when the club is parallel to the ground. Look at where the club is pointing from clubhead through the grip, and how this relates to your feet and to the ball path. The club should be pointing down the ball path, or even slightly to the right. If you are fading the ball, it is likely that the clubhead is to the right of that path and the grip is to the right, which is encouraging you to come over the top.
Drill #3: Don’t fan the club
Golf.com article: https://golf.com/instruction/how-to-slice-proof-your-takeaway/
On the take-away keep yourself from opening up the club face by watching you glove. On takeaway you shouldn’t see the logo on the back of your glove after you’ve brought up the club halfway. If you do, then take it back again and focus on keep the club square. Keep your hand on top of the grip instead of underneath. Focus on hooding the golf club on the way back.
Practice Results
At the range I hit 7 iron, driver, 3 wood, 5 iron, pitching wedge, driver, 9 iron, and my 52 degree. I got the majority of shots through my driver which is what I was hoping for - really working on that push slice.
Knuckles to forearm
I did elements of each drill, but worked on this one the most. I noticed that my club head was definitely opening up on the down swing which has been killing my longer clubs.
This definitely did not feel natural but making a conscious effort to roll my leading hand over the grip significantly improved the club head at impact. I had a hard time making this movement on my downswing and found myself with better results when I focused on this with my backswing. Taking it back with my knuckles into my forearm led to a more closed face on the downswing.
Instead of push slices, I mainly was dealing with fades, slices, and pulls, in that order. I’d say I would hit my target channel 1 out of every 3 shots and would be OB 1 out of every 5, which is drastically better than I was before today.
Definitely have some more work to do, but feeling much more confident.
I also noticed my 5 iron was way better. Almost dead straight, whereas Saturday I couldn’t keep that thing from push slicing. I’m hoping these efforts have drastic improvements for my long irons and small to large improvements on my driver.
Going to be playing on Friday with my dad at the Crossings. I’m hoping to get out on Thursday for one last practice to see if I can’t really get some confidence throughout my bag going into the round!