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Fix your game with CNN's golf guru
 Chris Meadows -- 25 years experience as a golf coach. GOLF MAILBAG
RELATEDON CNNI TV
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Golf Mailbag gives you the chance to put your golfing questions to CNN's resident professional, Chris Meadows. Whether it's a putting problem, an etiquette issue or a query about the professional game, Chris can help. E-mail him at golfmailbag@cnn.com. Q: Hi Chris, I play left handed to a handicap of 20. I am always struggling with completing my swing fully (I'm often told I don't finish my swing), which means I lose a lot on distance as well as getting huge fades with my 3 and 4 iron. I'm also accused of looking up as I hit the ball. Please suggest a remedy/drill. A: Hi Dharam, Many golfers suffer from the kind of faults you are experiencing -- let me tell you why and give you some simple remedies. For most players keeping their head "down" is the number one priority of their technical understanding. Unfortunately this is just about the worst thing you can do to your swing. You'll find that everytime your friends tell you, that you "looked up" -- you'll lower your head reducing the gap between the chin and the chest. When you do this you'll prevent your left shoulder (for the right hander) from rotating back (on the backswing) making it impossible to complete the backswing, and your right shoulder from passing forwards -- thus loss of power is inevitable. So what should you do? 1. Take a good posture ensuring that you have a big gap between your chin and your chest. 2. Think head up throughout the golf swing -- do not be drawn down towards the golf ball. 3. Keep your left arm extended throughout the backswing. 4. When you finish your swing ensure your body is facing the target and you have good balance. 5. Don't listen to friends who tell you to keep your head down. 6. Imagine yourself swinging dynamically with width and rhythm. Good luck! Q: Hi Chris, After fighting a slice for years I have now developed a nasty hook off the tee. I am getting really tentative now since I am sure my drive will go one way or the other but not straight! Actually when I don't hook, the ball flight is a very nice draw to it but how do I keep from hooking? Thanks! A: Hi Charles, Most golfers I suggest are "bouncing of the kerbs" -- they're like a car swerving from side to side on the road -- just occasionally hitting the middle. As you know most players tend to slice the ball, but as a player acquires a little more knowledge they begin to understand the dynamics of what causes the slice (the club moving across the ball from outside to inside the ball to target line) What I believe you've done is altered your swing from this out to in swing line to a much flatter motion ensuring that your club now swings from inside to outside the ball to target line. Unfortunately you've over done it and now there's a tendancy to hook or maybe even push the ball. To correct this practice the following: 1. Take your address position with the club push against a skirting board. Then take the club back keeping the club lightly touching the skirting board for around 30cms. At the same time ensure that your body is freely rotating turning away from the target. By combining these two movements you will soon widen your backswing ensuring that your swingpath through the ball is neutralized and your hook will disappear. 2. One other check point -- take note of your weight transfer. On your backswing make sure your weight has got over to your right foot (for the right hander) and on the follow through to your left. 
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