! Scigolf presents Scott Hazledine Answers Your Golfing Questions On Your Golf Game.

Question 97

Scott,
I got your full swing video tape about three weeks ago and I love it! I did the impact backwards drills for three days then took it to the course. Not expecting a lot - I hit 14 out of 18 greens in reg!!! My iron shots were like darts and my fairway woods also were much better than normal.
I tried natural golf and you did what they could not! Deliver the goods!!!
The only club I could not get on track was the driver. I keep hitting a slice. On your tape you say if you slice to make sure the top part of the body stays back while the lower half moves foward. Is there any thing else I could do to fix this?
Also could you please explain how to go about working the ball (fade & draw) you didn't touch on this in your video.

Thanks for making golf fun again,
Donny

Dear Donny,

Usually slicing the ball happens because of your body position at impact.

In the first photo my hands are ahead of the ball and my hips are open. The club face is open causing a slice.
Click for larger image.

Now look at the second photo. Yes, my upper body has stayed back - my nose is over my right knee. But, my hips are square to the intended line of flight. There is almost a straight line from my left shoulder to the club head. Now the face is square and the ball flight?, it's down the pipeline.
Click for larger image.

Now I'll answer your second question. How do work the ball to get a draw or fade?

In photo #1 I finished my swing and then brought the club face down to eye level. Do that - take a full swing and bring the club down so it's level with the ground. The face of the club should be vertical just as mine is in the photo. This is what I call the balance of the club.

Next balance the face to the left for a draw. If I were teaching you I'd have you hold the position in photo #1, and then I'd have you relax or loosen your fingers enough for me to turn the club face about 2 degrees closed or to the left. In photo #2 I did that while keeping my hands and arms in the same position relative to my body as in the first photo.

Setup with the club face pointing at the target. In photo #3 I'm aiming the face straight ahead at the camera. Notice that I haven't set my feet yet, just the club face.

Now get your feet and body aligned for the swing path you want the ball to start on. The closed club face will bring the ball back in to the target This is photo #4.

Your shoulders are going to be pointing to the right for an intentional draw. That is the path I'm going to swing on. I show this in photo #5. You can see that the club I held against my shoulders is pointing to the right while the club face is would stay lined up straight at the camera.
To play a fade it's the opposite. Swing through. Bring the club down to horizontal. The club face should be balanced up and down. Change the balance to the right or open about 2 degrees. Aim the face at the target and take your address. But this time you want the swing path to start the ball left and let the face balance bring it back in.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5
Good luck.