Have you ever watched at the driving area as ball after ball veered off into the wilds blue yonder while on the range? Your golf ball will likely slice if it consistently skips to the trees on your left. You know how sometimes perfecting your golf swing can feel like chasing a butterfly? Do not worry – we’re about to go on a golf swing doctor. But don’t worry, it isn’t brain surgery.

Let’s first talk about grip. You wouldn’t grab a cat or your coffee too tightly. Your grip must be firm, without being white-knuckle solid. Imagine yourself shaking hands with someone without cracking their fingers. This is what you want. Reassess your left club hand strength. Adjust the grip until you are able to hold it comfortably for several hours.

Have you ever tried to imagine your swinging motion as a circle? Your friend, I know you are probably asking, “What has geometry to do about golf?” This is a sign of trouble. Aim to achieve a continuous smooth arc. Imagine a vinyl record that is gracefully rotating. The path of your club should be similar.

Posture. Pilates? You don’t need it to prepare for your shot. Keep your back natural and your knees naturally bent. You should be like a gazelle running through the savannah. If you’re addressing the soccer ball, align your body to the target. Your feet and shoulders should form parallel lines, just like on an airport’s moving walkway.

And about the backswing. Flow. The flow is key! Be patient. We are not brewing instant-coffee here. Start slowly and with your shoulders. Imagine that you’re saying goodbye to an old buddy behind you. When you swing your club back, you make it difficult for yourself. You could end up with that annoying over the top swing.

As you move into the downswing imagine it as a graceful movement. Your hips will lead you, and your arms will follow. Hips first, then the arms. Hip, then hands. You can repeat it in the back of your head. Focus on the movement above, but also focus on what is going on below!

The ball position and the stance. The final piece in a culinary masterpiece, this is it! Do not wave goodbye to the driveway, but place the golfball closer to your right foot. This improves your aim and optimizes both the flight path and direction. Stop being an assembly-line slicer.

Confidence. Confidence. Remember, this is as much a game of mental skill as it is of physical skill. Relax. Tiger Woods is not the only one who has had mornings he wasn’t able to get it right. Sometimes, laugh even at your own Hollywood swing.

You must practice, even if your journey seems to be like searching for gold in the desert. The most important thing is to keep swinging. It’s not always a cure-all for a bad slice, but a good dose or stubborn persistence. So here’s wishing you a straighter, better drive. Good luck with your golfing.