Using quick fixes in golf is a bit like using sandbags during a flood. They'll stop the problem for awhile, but eventually something more stable must be instilled. Sometimes though, if a golfer is having the same swing fault during a round (topping, slicing, etc.) they need to make an instant change in order to salvage their score. Here are some quick fixes for common problems on the course:
Slicing (ball curving to the right):
> Aim further left: This is the easiest fix because the golfer need not change their swing, however distance will still suffer and judging the amount of slice can be difficult. Also, setting up for a slice can make a ball slice more than the golfer intended.
> Take a stronger grip: Rotate the hands clockwise on the grip. The further clockwise they rotate, the more the clubhead will rotate through contact, closing the clubface and decreasing the likelihood of a slice. The danger in this one is that the duck-hook is often the result.
> Close the stance: Turn the entire body clockwise at set-up so that the right foot is further back than the left. This will encourage an 'inside the target line to outside the target line' swing path. Since most slicers have an 'over the top' move in their swing and tend to bring the club down on too steep of a plane, closing the stance will flatten it out.
Hooking (ball curving to the left):
> Aim further right: Again, easy fix because the golfer need not change their swing, but sometimes setting up to hit a draw can turn a shot into an ugly hook because too much side-spin is imparted on the ball.
> Take a weaker grip: Rotate the hands counter-clockwise on the grip so that the 'V's' are pointing more towards the chin than the right shoulder. The further they rotate this way, the less the clubhead will rotate through contact, preventing the face of the clubhead from closing and decreasing the likelihood of a hook. A golfer used to taking a strong grip may feel like they are losing control of the clubhead while doing this though, and they must be careful not to change their swing path lest a slice occur.
> Open the stance: Turn the entire body counter-clockwise at set-up so that the left foot is further back than the right and the body is more 'open' to the target. This will encourage an 'outside the target line to inside the target line' swing path (steeper back and down). A lot of folks who hook the ball excessively swing the club on too flat of a plane, and opening the stance will get the shaft on a steeper plane because it will be more difficult to bring the club behind the body.
Topping (hitting too high on the ball and not getting it up in the air)
> Keep the eyes down longer: Topping is often the result of lifting the eyes and body up too early, bringing the clubhead up out of the natural swing plane and contacting the ball too high. One should make sure the eyes stay down on the contact point until well after the ball is struck.
> Hit down on the ball: A golfer must make sure they contact the ball while the clubhead is still on the downswing (for all shots except putting and driving). If they don't, they are hitting it on the upswing, and the clubhead will have already bottomed out on its swing arc. The ball will not get air born when hit in this manner. Moving the ball back in the stance can help with this.
> Make a correct weight transfer: When the golfer tries to 'scoop, lift, or help' the ball in the air, they are falling victim to the 'reverse pivot' (body weight moving towards the front foot on the backswing and towards the back foot on the downswing and follow through, often resulting in the golfer backing away from the target after contact). This move discourages hitting down on the ball and encourages a topped shot. The body weight must come back on the backswing and forward on the downswing/ follow-through in order to achieve proper contact and trajectory. At the end of the swing, the right heel should be raised up, this will indicate body weight has moved to the left.
Chunking (hitting the ball fat/ club contacting turf before the ball)
> Choke down on the grip: This will bring the clubhead down so that it brushes the turf rather than chunks down into it (providing the golfer keeps the same posture). The unfortunate result of this can be topped shots though, so one might choke down just a little rather than excessively.
> Move the ball back in the stance: Will encourage getting the clubhead on to the ball before it contacts the turf. If the golfer keeps hitting fat shots, then their clubhead is contacting the turf before the ball. The ball should be moved back towards the rear foot because that will put the ball in a position that will match the golfers pattern.
> Don't 'dip': Often times those that hit fat shots dip their head down during the downswing, which brings the entire body down and the swing arc under where the clubhead was at address. Every effort should be made to keep the head as still as possible during the backswing and downswing in order to prevent the 'dip'.
These tips should temporarily put a band-aid on a golfer's on-course swing wounds, but after their round they should probably consider a series of lessons with a qualified instructor.
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