| While there is only one type of swing in | | | | achieve because the ball turns to the point |
| golf, there are three variations of golf | | | | of almost coming back to the one who hit it. |
| shots: Right curving, high-flying shots that | | | | |
| inevitably turn into slices; Low-flying shots | | | | A more severe form of slicing is known as |
| that curve to the left causing a hook; and | | | | "shanking," in which the ball is hit on the |
| the perfect straight shot, which is neither | | | | heel of the club and shoots off wildly to the |
| too high nor too low, and always manages to | | | | right. Learn how to properly perform a slice |
| stay right in the middle of the fairway. | | | | so that it can be used to your advantage. |
| | | | First, play the ball slightly ahead of the |
| You may think a straight shot is all you'll | | | | left foot. Place the club so that the toe is |
| ever need to master the game. But, the | | | | slightly turned in and the shaft is not |
| ability to perform a hook or slice at will | | | | tilted forward, but rather, perpendicular. |
| gives you an edge over other players when you | | | | |
| all stand there facing a fairway with a sharp | | | | Learning a hook is just as easy. For this |
| dog-leg to the right. | | | | type of shot, the club is positioned back |
| | | | towards the right foot - just as you'd do for |
| What's the secret to intentionally shooting a | | | | a bad lie. The clubface, however, is kept |
| slice or hook? It's all dependent upon how | | | | square to the ball, with the shaft tilting |
| you set the club before you begin the | | | | forward. Your right foot is drawn back to |
| backswing. If the club is set in an open | | | | the right of the intended line of the shot. |
| position, then the ball will veer off to the | | | | |
| right. Closing the clubface will reverse the | | | | Sometimes, the lie of the ball will affect |
| effect, and cause the ball to turn left in | | | | the body's pivot, and result in a hook or a |
| flight. Keeping the clubface square will | | | | slice. If the ball lands on ground that is |
| result in a straight shot, down the middle of | | | | higher than the player, it results in a hook. |
| the fairway. | | | | Likewise, a low ball position results in a |
| | | | slice. To offset these tenancies, the player |
| In order to master these techniques, you must | | | | can adjust the aim of their stance and play |
| first have a thorough understanding of each | | | | with an open or closed clubface. |
| type of shot and its effects on the ball | | | | |
| itself. A slice almost acts like a boomerang | | | | How do you use the eight steps if you're a |
| - flying high to the left and making a sharp | | | | left-handed player? Simple. You just |
| turn to the right. | | | | reverse both of the four step sections for |
| | | | positioning and swing. It's the same as if a |
| Slices can be helpful when you have a fairway | | | | right-handed player finds himself up against |
| that curves to the right. However, people | | | | a tree or other fairway obstacle that |
| who slice each and every shot are faced with | | | | prevents him from taking a full right-handed |
| the dilemma of limiting the distance they can | | | | swing. |