Especially for beginners and high-handicap golfers

Forgetting for the moment about slices that are caused by a faulty grip or a faulty stance, let us look into the third chief producer of the slice: the loop at the top of the swing brought on by faulty backswing. A faulty backswing is usually the result of one of two errors: 1) the player dips his left shoulder, in which case the club head is pulled inside the line of flight; or 2) he dips his left knee, in which case the club head is pulled inside the line of flight. Both mistakes place him in a weak, off-balance position at the top of the backswing. Then, in his efforts to gain some power, he "throws" the club head from the top of the backswing in a looping movement that practically insures a slice.

In Scotland, where the boys often learn the game without the benefit of pros, they say, "Let your hands take it away, laddie, and feel the grass." This is just what the golfer should try for—a long, flat start to the backswing with his hands going straight back. If he remembers this, and also remembers to keep his head steady, the mechanics of the pivot will take over from there and insure proper completion of the backswing and the downswing.

from BILL GORDON, Chicago, Illinois

TWO PHOTOS

ILLUSTRATION

Above: one of the two main errors that leads to looping—bending the left knee and taking the club back inside the line.

ILLUSTRATION

Right: following the loop at the top of the backswing, the golfer cuts across the ball from outside the line of flight

NEXT WEEK: WILLIE HUNTER ON CHIPPING FROM TRAPS