Finish Properly to Reduce Slicing!
Finish Correctly to Kill Your Slice Today!!
I’ve always believed that a LARGE majority of the teachers out there have fallen into the trap of over teaching or allowing the student to convince them to give them too much. Earlier in my career I fell for it as well! Don’t get me wrong, I love talking golf swing and all the complexities of it, but I believe the student should know as little as possible about the intricacies and more about the simple Ball Flight Laws and simple ways to fix it. Learning the proper visual images allows the learning to come faster and the golf swing to be more natural. Let me explain deeper. Focusing on the target allows your brain to communicate with your hand or foot to produce the most efficient mechanics possible in order to accomplish the desired motion. Just try to shoot a basketball in a hoop saying this * take arm back slow * bend elbow 20 degrees * full wrist cock * ball rests on 1st and 3rd finger tips * elbow in line with basket * left elbow at 45 degree angle….ect. Then you have to shoot the ball using the right trajectory and distance? Than isn’t going to happen and you’d be lucky to draw iron. The proper methodology is – You look, allow your eyes to judge distance and trajectory then through repetition, experience and athletic ability you will improve. The more athletic you are the faster you’ll progress. The same should apply in golf!
Learning golf shouldn’t be any different and I’ve been using visuals in the finish position to promote that same idea. The results have been AMAZING! If given a chance to use the proper images the student will learn faster, but some will still struggle with a piece of the swing. Only after allowing the student the opportunity to use the images should the teacher adjust the motion the student has constructed.
READ THIS BEFORE CONTINUING
Jon Cote on the Ball Flight Laws > Slicing is caused by #1 OPEN CLUBFACE! Many amateurs believe that the swing path is the main cause of a slice when truly the swing path just exaggerates the slice. Let me explain a little! You can swing the club from inside out, straight in line or outside in, but if the face is open to the line your swinging……you will slice. That said, we need to understand the emphasis needs to be placed on getting the clubface square to closed at impact first, then we can worry about the path.
The Finish Drill: A Cote Golf Instruction Signature Drill!!
* In the Finish Drill we will focus on the visual image of swinging the club to a finished position that is designed to produce perfect swing path and clubface angles removing the errant ball flight. In this case it is a slice.
1) Using a 7-iron place the ball 1” left of center
2) Feet and shoulders ( don’t disregard shoulder alignment please) aiming 10 yds to the right of your target
3) Grip showing 2 knuckles on the left hand; right hand covers up 90% of the left thumb with the right hand “v” formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing up to your right shoulder. You now have your hands on the club to promote a draw.
4) Make practice swings finishing with shaft pointing directly at your target ( as if you were going to poke target with clubhead) and toe of club pointing to 10 o’clock. Visualize a clock and the position on 12 on it…now turn the toe to point to 10.
5) You should also be completely straight with arms, with weight on the left and hips turned.
6) Start with 30-50 practice swing until you can produce this “finish” exactly perfect and in rhythm.
7) Add a golf ball making sure you hold the same finish as described above. Once you can hit 10 in a row fairly solid and with draw then you can try some full speed swings.
Summary- If you follow this visual image you will be making a great backswing, develop an inside out path and a clubface that is closing promoting and draw rather then a fade. You now have the information…..so stay athletic, rhythmical and what your shots soar. p.s. During this process your never once thought about the backswing and that is the way it should be. Less thought and more fun!!
Jon Cote Bio
Jon Cote is a 13 years PGA Teaching Professional and owner of Cote Golf Instruction in the Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa located in Stamford, ct. Blending ball flight simulation, multiple video cameras and 13 years teaching experience he helps people fix there swing problems faster and shoot lower scores quicker.
Jon Cote, PGA Member
(YouTube golf lessons in below link)