Blocking - Push Slice Epidemic

Question
I have been golfing for close to 25 years; at one time I was a scratch player.  Now I hold a 4.5 handicap mostly due to my recent troubles with the driver.  I have been occasionally hitting a violent push slice/block to the right.  Generally when this happens I am hitting the ball solid, but with a severely open clubface.  This will happen sometimes 5-6 times a round causing my rounds to go from low 70抯 to low 80抯.  When I do hit straight drives it is probably because my timing is perfect.  I have always been a feel player so I have never been a student of the mechanics of the swing, but I cannot feel why this is happening.  What type of action could be causing this?  Improper hip turn or dipping my right hip through impact????  If I could get this driver straightened out I could be a scratch player again.

Answer
Michael,

There are several possibilities that we'll explore in this answer. The first would be ball position. If the ball placement is too far back in your stance, you would have the tendency to push/slice the ball because the club is traveling from the inside and open to that path and does not have enough time to square itself up. Irregardless where the ball is in your stance move it up dramatically and see if this is the answer.

The second possibility is that your shoulders are unwinding too quickly on the downswing with the clubhead lagging too far behind. This would also cause a push/slice.

The third thing to look at is that the path is too much on a inside path. This would cause the face of the club to be open to it's path resulting in the same directional miscue.

One last possibility. Make sure that your hands are not putting extreme pressure on the grip prior to or doing the swing. This would prohibit the club from releasing.

I know your frustrated about those low 80's scores and hopefully one of these will be the solution you've been looking for.

Let me know if this helps.

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional