In this webinar, the first in the “Making You a Better Coach” series, Dr. Alison Curdt walks through her approach to one of the most common issues coaches see: the slice. Using real student videos recorded with Onform, she breaks down three distinct causes and shows the specific drills and cues she uses to fix each one.
What You’ll Learn
Why the club face matters more than the path. On a driver, the face determines 85% of the ball’s initial start line, with the path responsible for only 15%. On a 7-iron, that split is closer to 75/25. Dr. Alison Curdt explained why she prioritizes face over path when working with club golfers who may only come in for a single lesson.
How to spot an over the top swing. Look for a steep angle of attack, a lead arm sitting well above the angle of the shoulders, and a divot pattern that moves left. Dr. Alison Curdt shared a case study where she used a swimming paddle attached to the club face and a tennis analogy to help a student reroute his swing plane in a single session.
How to identify and correct an open club face. An open face at P6 relative to the spine angle is a key marker. Dr. Alison Curdt uses tools like a magnetic pointer attached to the club face to give students an external cue, letting their own nervous system find the fix rather than prescribing a mechanical correction.
Why heel contact can cause a slice even with a good face and path. Gear effect from striking the ball closer to the heel can spin the ball right regardless of otherwise strong swing mechanics. Dr. Alison Curdt uses a 2×4 placed just outside the ball as a constraint to help students find the center of the face.
About Dr. Alison Curdt
Dr. Alison Curdt is the Director of Instruction at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Los Angeles, a licensed clinical psychotherapist with a doctorate in clinical psychology and an emphasis in sports psychology, and a competitive golfer playing at a plus 4.7 handicap. She partners with Callaway, Nike, and Onform, and serves as president of the Southern California PGA section.