How an Incorrect Setup Can Make You Slice

One of the first things I look at when a golfer comes in for a lesson struggling with a slice is their setup.

A lot of golfers immediately think they need to change their swing, but sometimes the problem can begin before they even start the takeaway. If your setup is incorrect, it can make it much more difficult to return the club correctly through impact.

One of the biggest setup issues I see with golfers who slice is having the left shoulder positioned too far forward of the left hip. Along with this, the ball is often positioned too far back, the head is too far forward of the ball and the grip is typically too weak.

The first thing we want to do is get the fundamentals right.

For your irons, the ball position should be just forward of centre. You also want a slight bump of your left hip so that your left hip and left shoulder are lined up, while keeping your head just behind the ball.

This is really important because having your head too far forward can make it difficult to create the correct movement through impact.

You also want to make sure your body is correctly aligned to the target. Your feet, knees, hips and shoulders should all be parallel left of the target (For a right hander).

The final thing we want to check is your grip. A simple checkpoint is to look at the lines created between your thumb and index finger on both hands. Ideally, these lines should point towards your right shoulder for a right-hander (opposite for a left-hander).

Getting these fundamentals right gives you a much better starting position and allows the clubface to rotate correctly through impact.

If you are struggling with a slice, don't immediately assume that you need to make a major change to your swing. Start by checking your setup.

Getting your ball position, posture, alignment, head position and grip right can be a great starting point for fixing your slice.

If you'd like any help with your golf swing or are struggling with a slice, contact me at David Waters Golf Coaching, located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre in Carrara.