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Fix your game with CNN's golf guru
 Chris Meadows -- 25 years experience as a golf coach. GOLF MAILBAG
ON 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, Is it correct that I can prevent slicing by keeping my right elbow in contact with my body at backswing? A: Dear Klaus, There are many golfers who believe that keeping the right elbow (for the right-handed golfer) close to their body will be the "cure all" for slicing. Unfortunately if it was this easy there would be no slicers -- and we both know that this is far from the truth!! That said the principle is a good one because by keeping the right elbow close to the body you are more likely to create an in to out swingpath thus reducing the slice. But it's important you understand what you're trying to achieve. Here are some pointers: 1. Feel the right elbow is relaxed at address with the left arm fully extended. This will help give you the feeling of a light connection between the right elbow and body before you even begin the swing. Remember how that light connection feels! 2. Check that your upper torso rotation is synchronized with the movement of your arms. In other words keep the arms and body moving at the same speed throughout the backswing. Don't let "the tail wag the dog." This will make you not only less likely to slice but much more consistent overall. 3. At the top of the backswing try to recall the feeling you had at set up of that light connection of the right elbow to the body. It should feel the same at the top of the backswing. If you follow the step above you'll achieve a serious reduction in your slice without developing a very flat golf swing that will lead to its own problems. Q: Hi Chris, I play 17 handicap at Tolcinasco Golf Club in Milan. My swing looks reasonably ok, but I cannnot get rid of a hesitation at the top of my backswing. If I try to avoid the hesitation I normally end up coming down from the outside in, resulting in a fade/slice. What exercise do you suggest? What should I be thinking of when starting my down swing? Thanks! A: Dear Dan, Normally a hesitation in the downswing is because you are subconsciously trying to correct a fault and thus you need some extra time to do it. That's why when you remove the hesitation you end up coming across the ball from outside to in. So the first thing you need to do is look at your backswing. Check the following: 1. Is your weight transferring to your right foot at the top of the backswing? Remember you should transfer around 90 percent of your weight to the right leg by the time you reach the top of the backswing. 2. Have you got full extension in your left arm at the top of the backswing? 3. Are your shoulders fully rotated? If the answer to any of the above is NO, then you've found your problem! 
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