Thursday, May 17, 2007

A Slice is Good?

Golfers are frustrated with their slice. They will do whatever it takes to be able to hit a nice draw down the fairway. That's understandable. A slice is a nuisance. However, it’s important to ask yourself whether there is anything good about a slice; or if it is all bad?

Although there are not many positives about hitting a slice, there is one. Believe it or not, there is one thing if golfers would better realize it, that can actually be advantageous about hitting a slice. It’s the fact that you take the entire left side of the golf course out of play.With a slice, you almost always know the ball is going to end up on the right side. Therefore, hazards, out of bounds, rough, bunkers, or anything else on the left side is out of play. You have eliminated 50% of the golf course.

The ability to eliminate half the course is something that many good players try to do. Tour player Bruce Leitzke plays nothing but a fade, so as to avoid anything left. Likewise with Mark Calcavecchia. He aims down the left side of the fairway and works it back to the right with a hard fade. He never hits a draw.

Of course, these players are not "slicers." They hit the ball well. However, if this same course management is applied by slicers, then they can save many strokes.
As a matter of fact, they can save strokes in two ways: First of all, they can do it now even with their slice. They should accept the fact that they can’t hit it straight yet, and use their ball flight as an asset. They should aim the ball as far left as they need to, realize that it’s going to go right, hit it hard, and let it slide into the fairway.

Also, when slicers go about eliminating their slice, they should consider more of a power fade than necessarily hitting some fades, some straight shots, and some draws.

You are encouraged to get rid of your slice and we will do everything to see that you do. In the meantime, though, use good course management skills and understand that you only have to compete against 50% of the course. Also, before you turn that slice into a draw or hook, understand the benefits of a lesser version of a slice, which is a power fade.

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