Golf: Avoid Slicing

Step 1: Check your grip

Make sure you start your grip with your left arm hanging relaxed from your shoulder.

From here, put the club in the fingers of your left hand with the grip under the heel of your palm. You should be able to see 2 or 3 knuckles on your left hand.

To check your grip, stretch out your arm and see if the clubface stays square. Then put your left thumb into the groove of your right hand. Our video 'the grip' shows you how to grip correctly.

Step 2: Check your alignment

Lie a club on the ground parallel to the target and set up alongside it.

For most people this feels like aiming to the left, but if the club on the ground is parallel to the target, you must be too. Now, make sure your shoulders are parallel with your feet and hips.

Most people feel like their shoulders are pointing to the right, but you can have a friend put a club across your shoulders to check they are square with your feet.

From an open shoulder position, you would have to turn a lot more to complete your back swing.

Step 3: Check your body rotation

The later your shoulders turn into the ball making the club swing more from the inside, the lower the chance of hitting a slice.

Start turning your hips and abdomen at the start of your backswing. Let your body lead your shoulders and arms as you complete your rotation.

A good way to make sure you rotate your body is to concentrate on turning your belly button and belt to the right as you start your back swing. This makes it easier to turn your body back into the ball in the downswing.

Your shoulders should be square at impact, making the club swing straight into the ball for a straight shot.