Tour Technique
Try Davis Riley's handy drill to stop coming over the top
Dom Furore
Like many golfers, I have a tendency to lift my arms too much during the backswing. This forces my arm plane to get too high and steep, often causing me to swing down with the club outside my target line. That’s how you turn a baby cut into a high, weak slice.
To plug this major power leak, I’ll often start my range sessions by hitting balls with a golf glove tucked under my trail armpit (above). This helps exaggerate the feel for the backswing I want, which is one in which my arms stay connected to my body and the shoulders move more level to the ground. It’s the only way you can swing the club to the top and keep the glove in place. If the arms get too vertical, the glove drops. Provided my arms swing back on plane, I can shallow my club’s path into the ball (below) much more easily and rotate as hard as I want for some extra pop. I don’t waste valuable time and speed having to reroute the club.
Dom Furore
If you slice a lot, give my glove trick a try. You can also use a headcover or make backswings with your shirt tucked under your armpit (something I often do during play). Shallow out your backswing, and you’ll turn that ugly slice into a reliable fade or draw—and vastly improve your distance off the tee. —With Dave Allen
DAVIS RILEY teamed with Nick Hardy to capture his first PGA Tour title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in July.
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