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Why You Hit Slices with a Closed Clubface at Address?
The reason why you slice is because you have your clubface open at impact. This adds side spin (slice spin) on the ball, and the ball curves to the right.
So to fix your slice, you are going to have to close your clubface at impact.
One way to fix the open clubface at impact is to set your face closed at address. But some slicers still hit slices with a closed clubface.
Here are the reasons why it happens and how you can fix it.
1. The correct way to set your clubface closed
When I ask players to set their clubface closed at address, most of them try to grip the club first and then close it.
But that's not the right way to do it because when you come to impact the clubface opens.
Here is the correct way to do it.
First, set your clubface closed. The clubface should be looking left of your target. The more you closed it, the more you can hook the ball.
Next, you should grip the club. This is important. This is just the opposite of what you do with your bunker shot.
You need to close the clubface first and then re-grip it. This should feel really awkward at first. That's the sign that you are doing it right.
2. Weak grip
Even if you take a grip like above, you can still slice the ball if you have the weak grip.
When you grip the club like above, make sure you can see more than 3 knuckles of your left hand when you look down to see your grip.
Don't forget to turn your right hand to the right to match your left hand as well.
3. Relax your arms and hands
If you grip the club tightly, you might hit a slice. To hit a hook shot, you need to rotate your hands through impact.
To do that, you want to avoid tension. I know the player who fixed his slice just by changing his grip pressure. He told me he was griping it too tightly.
4. You must hit a hook
Some players start to try hitting straight shot with this type of grip (closed face at address).
But because you have your clubface closed at address, you must return your face closed at impact as well.
If you return your clubface square at impact, that means you opened your clubface during your golf swing. This can cause slices and push-slices.
So with this special type of grip and set up, you must hit a hook. I want you to hit hooks every time. After you gained confidence, you should adjust your clubface angle at address and try to hit a draw that curves slightly to the left.