Weak Grip and Slices: The Domino Effect with the Driver
What if your slice were actually caused by your left hand? Guillaume Biaugeaud, who has been teaching for 25 years, shows how a weak grip opens up the shoulders and restricts the swing, then walks you through, step by step, how to build a drive that comes from the inside, just like Rory McIlroy.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Guillaume Biaugeaud draws on the model of Rory McIlroy: With the driver, the clubhead approaches from the inside (4.4° outward) and strikes the ball on the upswing, with the clubface slightly closed. The slicer does the opposite, and it often starts with a grip is too weak: The left hand doesn't cover the shaft enough; the clubface is facing to the right; the shoulders open to the left; the body straightens up; and the club swings over the top as it comes down on the ball.
The correction follows the swing order: a tighter grip (right hand underneath, right shoulder lower and back), a fairly narrow stance, and a open pool, followed by a downward movement as the hands fall vertically and a right elbow passing under the left elbow. All that's left is to relax the clubhead at impact to finish in balance.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Hold the club more firmly in your fingers and wrap your left hand more tightly around the shaft, with your thumb resting on the right side of the grip.
- Place your right hand on the underside of the grip, wrapping your fingers around it so that they overlap slightly.
- Check your posture: your right shoulder should be lower and behind your left shoulder.
- Adjust your stance to suit your flexibility: keep it fairly narrow if you lack rotation, with your toes slightly turned out, and no tension in your lower body.
- During the backswing, let your right hip and pelvis rotate, even if it means letting your right knee straighten.
- With your hands raised, lower them vertically and feel your right elbow pass under your left elbow.
- Upon impact, release: the right hand passes slightly above the left hand, the elbows cross, until the finish is fully completed.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- A left hand that doesn't cover the grip enough.
- Shoulders and body turned toward the left at address.
- A locked pelvis that forces you to straighten up during the backswing.
- Shoulders that turn too early on the downhill and hands pulled outward.
- A “chicken wing” on impact, due to a lack of relaxation.
- Don't release it too early: the face should never be pointing toward the ground, or the ball will dive.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Check your grip and lower right shoulder before each shot
- Narrow stance, relaxed pelvis
- Top: Hands vertical, right elbow under the left elbow
- When relaxing, point the clubhead to the left, never toward the ground
Your Questions
How can I tell if my grip is too weak?
For a right-hander, the left hand doesn't cover the shaft enough, so the right hand ends up on top. Guillaume Biaugeaud explains that this grip causes the clubface to turn to the right—or even open up—at impact.
Should you keep your hips steady during the swing?
No. In his view, locking the hips and rotating only the upper body is one of the biggest mistakes: it compromises the swing and puts strain on your lower back. Keep the hips loose, even if it means letting your right knee straighten, like Jordan Spieth does.
Why is the right elbow so important?
As he swings the club under his left elbow on the downswing, he lays the club face flatter in the plane. The club comes from the inside and makes contact with the ball on the upswing—exactly what you want with a driver.
With a tighter grip, isn't there a risk that the ball will veer to the left?
The video provides a guideline to avoid overdoing it: when you relax, the clubhead points to the left but never looks at the ground. If the clubface closes too much, the ball will dive.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Guillaume Biaugeaud). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.