Improve your golf with Matt Rumble

Published on 28th June 2007 in Sport

THIS IS THE FIRST of three articles over the coming weeks.

TOP 5 Anti Slice Tips with PGA Teaching Professional Matt Rumble at Spaldington Golf Centre.

If you find the ball sliding away right, now is the time to loose that score-crippling SLICE and produce straighter shots, maybe even the odd DRAW.

Solid Stance - If your stance is narrow and unstable, the chances are you will sway and fail to square the clubface at impact. Set up wide, so you could put your shoulders between your shoes. You can now generate power without losing control, using a full body turn.

Swing Path - Check whether you are cutting across the ball by analysing your follow through. Make a normal swing and stop just after you would have hit the ball. In the ideal position the club will point to the right, not left, of your target. As you follow through better, you will finish forward with the club over your front shoulder. Practice until you can trust swinging to the flag and not aiming left. The photo (left 28-06-34 SU) shows a poor position when the swing is away to the left and you power falls backwards and is wasted.

Body and arms together - Power and accuracy are by products of a well syncronised swing. To avoid slice the hands need to out perform the body. In the photo you will see my body has remained quiet, yet still moving and how the hands and forearms have rotated during the downswing and follow through. Not like a straight bat at cricket, more like a gate opening and closing.

Release - You must learn how to release the club correctly through impact. Practice allowing your clubhead to pass your hands, and your hands to lead your body turn. Practice like the photo (right 28-06-35 SU) using a covered racket and feel the face and leverage.

Grip - You must have a neutral grip that gives you a square clubface at impact. Try to hold the club in your fingertips, not the palm and allow your top hand to come over onto the top of the grip more. Now see 3 knuckles and the back of your palm to reduce your SLICE. This will help the forearms and club rotate through the swing. Try not to strangle the club, feel the weight of the club at the head end, when you grip as LIGHT as possible.

For tuition call 01430 432484, lessons start at £12 for 30 minutes.