You’ve probably seen the balls at the range veering off in the direction of the wild blue sky. If you find that your ball keeps bouncing towards the trees in your right direction, it’s likely a slice. Sometimes, perfecting your swing can be like chasing after butterflies. You and I will soon find the golf swing doctor. This is not brain surgery, even if sometimes it feels that way.

Let’s begin with grip. Would you hold your morning coffee or a new born cat like a rock? Your grip should not be white-knuckle firm, but it should still be firm. Imagine shaking someone’s hand – without trying to crack knuckles. Your goal is to achieve this. You should reassess if your left hand on the club is too strong or too weak. Adjust your grip until it feels as though you could hold the club for hours.

Imagine your swinging as a huge circle. What does geometry have to do golf? Everything, my friend. Your swing should feel like an ellipse. Strive for that smooth continuous arc. Imagine a gracefully spinning vinyl record. Your club’s path must be as rhythmic.

Posture. Pilates is not necessary when you are prepping to make a great shot. Keep your legs slightly bent, and your spine angled in a natural way. You want to appear like a gazelle grazing on the savannah and not like a bear hunched out of hibernation. Your body should be aligned to the target when you are addressing the ball. Imagine yourself on an airport moving walkway, with parallel lines coming from your feet and shoulders.

Backswing. Flow. Flow is everything! It’s important not to rush. Here, we’re not making instant coffee. Slowly turn your shoulders to the side, as though you were saying “See You Later” to an older friend. By whipping your club back too fast, you are making things difficult for yourself. It can lead to an over-the-top, slice-inducing swing.

Imagine yourself doing a graceful downswing. Let your hips be the leader, and then watch your arms follow. Hip, then arm. Hip, then arm. It’s good to repeat it in your mind. Pay attention to the movement of the body, not just what is happening above.

How about the ball’s position and your stance? It’s like the final touch to a culinary masterwork! You should place the ball nearer to your left foot without waving goodbye. This position optimizes flight and direction to ensure tighter aim. Stop being a wayward slicer, get off the assembly line.

Confidence. Confidence. This game is both mental and physical. Relax. Tiger Woods, too, has experienced mornings in which he could not get the shot just right. It’s OK to laugh about it sometimes, even if that means laughing at your own Hollywood swing.

Do not give up, even if it feels like you are mining for gold when there is none. Keep swinging, and most importantly. A healthy dose of persistent persistence can sometimes be the best cure for a slice. Let’s all toast to a straighter drive and a more spectacular drive one swing at time. Have fun playing golf!