by Andre Sanchez

Most golfers would give their right arm to be able to drive straight to the hole (well not literally!) because the majority find it difficult to drive their golf ball in a straight line.  There is obviously a reason for this, but without paying for the services of an expensive golf coach, you are unlikely to find it yourself. However, you can find out a lot through observation of where your ball is going.

First, note in what direction the ball is drifting, and how long it takes before the drift becomes noticeable.  If the ball heads off left or right immediately then it is possibly your stance that is at fault.  Perhaps you just don’t know how to aim for the target using your stance and your grip.  Your feet should point towards the target.  In other words a line through both feet should aim exactly to where you want the ball to land.

If your front foot is pointing to the right of the target then that is where your ball will naturally tend to go. If all else is correct, you will straighten your swing up in the direction your feet are pointing. You can try it out on the practice range by placing your front feet in various positions relative to your back foot, and watching where the ball goes. Once you find yourself driving straight to the target then check out where your feet are in relation to each other and the target, and use that stance all the time.  Check it out again a few times to be sure.

That should cure the problem because if your ball goes left or right immediately without curving, then a change of stance will generally cure it for you.  If not then there is something amiss with your swing mechanics; either that or you are swinging inconsistently, and need practice to develop a more consistent swing.  That is the most important part of your game, and it doesn’t matter what else you do: if your swing is not the same repetitive action shot after shot, then you are never going to be able to play a consistent game.

Your best bet is to practice, practice, practice.  If can afford a coach then get one, or try a golf school.  That can be a lot cheaper than hiring a private coach, and the good schools offer you swing coaching exclusively during your visit if that is what you want.  Why not tie it in with your annual vacation and have a golf school vacation for a week or so.  By the time you return home your buddies will be amazed as you bang that ball 300 yards down the fairway, as straight as a die. Try to get a small bet on the game first, before you show them your new found skills!

Going back to the beginning now, if the ball takes some time before starting to curve, say 50 to 100 yards or so, then you are likely not hitting the ball with a properly closed club face.  If the ball goes off to the right after seemingly heading straight to the target, then you are slicing it, and if it turns to the left then you are hooking it.  If we discuss the slice first, then the hook is the exact opposite.  Everything is the same, but in the opposite direction.

The ball is being sliced because you have put a clockwise spin on it when you hit it.  You do that because the clubface is not straight on to the ball at impact, but lagging behind.  It is still open, with the toe behind the heel when you hit the ball.  This occurs because you have hit the ball to early, and although your shot is initially on target, the spin makes the ball turn right.

You can overcome a slice by brining the golf club round to the ball faster.  To achieve this, strengthen your grip.  That means turn your hands more to the right, or clockwise, round the grip on the club.  That will bring the clubface round quicker so that it is straight to the ball when you hit it.  There are other things you can do if that fails, but that simple adjustment will work in the vast majority of cases.  Try it out on the range, and keep making small adjustments until you have solved it.

You could also move your front foot a bit back towards your back foot.  That achieves the same thing.  The same is true of a hook.  In this one case, you can apply the same cure to both hook and slice. It works in both cases.  If these fail then you will have to work on your swing mechanics because you are either swinging across the ball from right to left, or your chest is rotating too quickly when you drive.  Try to straighten your stance up slightly when you adjust your grip and that might do the trick, or swing your body round a bit slower and give your arms time to catch up.

If you practice these on the range until you are able to repeat your drive successfully a few times then you will have taught yourself how to drive straight to the hole without having to employ a professional coach.  I prefer the idea of the golf school vacation, however.  It sounds a lot more fun!

How to Drive Straight to the Hole was originally published at http://www.golfplayernow.com