Check arm alignment if you hook or slice

New fault fixing series with European Seniors Tour pro

Check arm alignment if you hook or slice
golf instruction

Balancing a tray of drinks or ball between two shafts, is a test for good alignment



In his new occasional series, Golfmagic recruit John Hoskison, who plays on the European Seniors Tour, offers some quick tips to help golfers understand their faults.

Everybody knows that the grip is important but it’s not only because of the way it influences the club head. The grip also has a dramatic effect on the stance, which in turn influences the shape of the swing. Here's a tip to find out if your grip is adversely affecting your swing shape

Take up your stance over a ball. When you have finished, and being careful not to adjust your grip, lift up your arms in front of you to shoulder height. Doing so will mean you have to straighten your back slightly.

Look at your arms in front of you, about four inches above where your watch would be. Now, imagine if I walked across with a tray of drinks, and tried to balance it across your arms at that point. Would it stay there or would it fall off? If it would fall off to the left you are setting up for a slice, to the right a hook.

The experiment work equally well with a ball balanced between two club shafts pointing down the target line

A good grip would mean the arms are set almost level and it would be easy to balance the tray or ball. If the left arm is too low there will be a tendency to take the club outside on the back swing. If the right forearm it too low you will whip the club away on the inside.

At address, make sure a line across your forearms is pointing directly at the target to help straighten out your shots.


John Hoskison is attached to the Newbury Golf Centre and plays on the European Seniors Tour, having earned a conditional card after finishing 10th at Qualifying School at the Pestana. He returned to the UK to rebuild his career in tournament golf after spending time in China, where he was instrumental in the building a driving range for underprivileged children Fuzhou. He won the 2005 Jamega Tour Order of Merit with six victories from 12 starts. For further information visit John's website at www.johnhoskisongolf.com.

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