Overview of common ball flight problems.

Slicing

Ball flight curves excessively to the right for Right-handers and to the left for Left-handers.

- Top hand grip tends to be too weak with “V” pointing to forward side of chin and grip of club across palm of hand.
- Ball position tends to be too far forward opening shoulders and causing an “outside to in” swing path.
- Alignment may either be open which promotes slicing or closed which promotes an “over the top” move
- Lower body inactive in transition from backswing to down swing causing upper body to start downswing and create an “outside to in” path
- Failure to release club, due to either tension or mistrust
 

Hooking

Ball flight curves excessively to the left for right-handers and to the right for left-handers.

- Grip tends to be too strong with both “V’s” pointing to the non target shoulder.
- Ball position tends to be too far back for better players promoting an “inside to out” swing path and too far forward for intermediate players promoting a pull-hook
- Lower body slides laterally locking up and causing an early release
- Swing plane is too flat producing an “inside to out” swing path at impact
 

Pulling

Ball goes straight left for right-handers & straight right for left-handers.

- Clubface pointing left of target at separation (right for left-handers).
- Alignment is open to the target causing what seems an “outside to in” club path
- Ball position is too far forward in stance
- Inactive lower body at transition causing upper body to start downswing, and promote “outside to in” swing path.
- Player takes club too far outside on backswing returning it on the same path
 

Pushing

Ball goes to the right for right-handers and to the left for left-handers.

- Clubface pointing right of target at separation.
- Alignment is closed to the target promoting an “inside to out” swing path.
- Ball position is too far back in the stance.
- Player in reverse pivot position at the top of the backswing causing upper body to be too far forward at impact.
- Lower body slides laterally toward target on downswing promoting late squaring of clubface.
- Swing plane too flat producing an “inside to out” swing path at impact

Fat shots

Player hits ground before hitting the ball.

- Poor posture resulting in failure to maintain a level body.
- Ball position too far forward resulting in club “bottoming” out early.
- Failure to transfer weight forward on downswing causing club to bottom out early
- Early release of club on downswing causing club to bottom out early and raising spine angle.
 

Topped Shots

Player contacts ball above the equator

- Poor posture resulting in failure to maintain a level swing.
- Ball position too far forward causing club to strike above the equator on way up or too far back causing club to strike above the equator on way down.
- Tension in the arms promoting shortness of swing arc which results in topped shots
- Trying to “lift” the ball into the air
- Unbending of knee or hip angle.
 

Shanking

Hosel of club contacts ball

- Standing too close to the ball
- Shoulders are aligned open to target line
- Excessive tension in arms and hands
- Weight too much on toes promoting club-head outside target line to impact
- Excessive tightening of arms resulting in failure to release the club
- Outside to in swing path leading hosel into the ball.
 

Information posted by Wayne Santorini, qualified golf coach and NLP practitioner