The slice. The bane of existence to most golfers that contributes to high scores, ruined rounds, and lost balls.
If you’re a slicer, I’m sure you’ve probably searched for tips and drills online to get rid of that slice. Or maybe you’ve taken lessons with a golf pro. If you’ve successfully gotten rid of your slice from those measures, congratulations!
But if you’re like most golfers who still can’t seem to figure out how to get rid of that slice despite all of your attempts at fixing it, it could very well be coming from a limitation in your body.
Say what? Yes, if you’re lacking mobility or strength in certain areas, it could be contributing to your slice!
If you’ve done any research to get rid of your slice, I’m sure you’ve come across the phrase, “over the top.” Without getting too deep into the weeds, that basically means your clubhead comes “over the top” of your ideal swing path, causing an out to in swing path, which combined with other factors can cause a slice.
However, if you’re lacking appropriate pelvic mobility, shoulder mobility, or core strength, your body may lend itself to an “over the top” swing path. Let’s break these categories down to help you better understand how they can cause you to come “over the top.”
Pelvic Mobility
In an efficient golf swing, the downswing begins with your legs and pelvis rotating towards the target. If you lack the ability to begin the downswing with your lower half, you may be overpowering the downswing with your arms, which can easily lead to the out to in swing path.
Shoulder Mobility
You need to have an appropriate amount of shoulder external rotation on both sides for an efficient golf swing and to avoid injury down the road. If you want to be on the correct path to the ball during the downswing, you need to have enough shoulder external rotation so that your trail arm can deliver the club on an in to out swing path.
Core Strength
Before we start here, let’s define exactly what the core is since there are so many definitions. Your core is made up of all the musculature from underneath your rib cage down through your hips and pelvis. So if you’re lacking core strength you could lose posture during your swing, causing you to begin your swing with your arms or it may just generally alter the path of the club causing a mishit.
If you feel that one or more of these categories may be causing you issues on or off the course, I would highly suggest that you reach out to a trained professional that can help you improve them. If you have any questions or need help, I’m more than happy to help you figure out what’s going on and get you on the right plan to play your best golf. Just send me an email at joe@puredrivephysio.com or click HERE to schedule a FREE strategy session (in-person or phone call) and I’ll be in contact with you ASAP!
