by Thomas Franz

Created on: January 24, 2007   Last Updated: February 29, 2012

Finding the fairway is the easiest way to improve your score...bottom line. Missing fairways due to a hook or a slice is the cause for many double bogeys on the course, but it can be corrected by a few changes on the tee.

1) Check your grip. Grip is a big problem that often goes unnoticed. Check your bottom hand. A strong grip shows more knuckle on the low hand at address. A strong grip can lead to a hook because it will turn your club head over at impact, causing spin. Try backing off the grip a bit and see what happens with a neutral grip.

2) Check ball position. When hitting driver, your ball should be forward, towards the front toe. This will promote contact on the upswing and not topping it into the ground.

3) Your hands. Some golfers move their hands forward at address. Try letting your arms hang naturally at your waist. This is a good starting point for a clean takeaway.

4) Use your shoulders. A struggling tee shot comes often from lifting with the arms and not swinging with the shoulders. Take away with a good shoulder turn. Practice this without a club with your arms crossed. Lifting the arms will promote the dropping of the arms, straight into the ground.

5) Swing path. Try to keep it simple with the swing at the top. Try an easy paced, three-quarter swing on one plane. This means take the club away on the same line that you drop it back down on. Rotate the shoulders straight back on the inside, shift your weight and turn through on the same line. Here are a few swing examples. Tiger has a two-piece swing. Notice the different path back then the path through. He's Tiger. He has great timing. Look at Jim Furyk. He takes the club head away outside and moves inside at the top. Two planes. Look at a good tempo player like Davis Love or Ernie Els. Smooth tempo, same way back, same way through. On plane.

6) Impact and timing. This is the tricky part. Where is the club at impact? Based on when you release the club head at the top, you will either hit it straight or all over the place. If your hands fall behind your hip turn on the way down, you will block the shot or slice it. If your hands are ahead at impact you will hook the shot. Work on finding what instructors call "the slot" at the top. Let the club set, then drop right before you turn through, rotate the hips and extend the arms at the ball.

7) Balance. Keep your shoulders level at all times. If you finish with a dipped back shoulder you will generate a slice spin. If your lead shoulder drops, you may top the ball or generate a hook swing. Keep the shoulders level as you shift your weight through the ball. If you feel like falling over after hitting the ball, you need to work on your balance. If you can lift your back foot after your shot and not fall over, the weight is on the front where it should be and your balance is okay.

8) Rhythm. Swing easy. If you go after it you tend to over swing, causing the club to get stuck behind your body in the over swing, causing a block. Go slow. Get your tempo. Look at Ernie and Davis. Nice and easy. Proper tempo will keep your plain the same. It will allow your weight to transfer properly and will keep you square at impact.

Check yourself at the range, and get a buddy to tell you what he sees. Practice, keep at it and remember what you are working on. Don't just smash balls. Focus on where you are coming up short.

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