Jackson Reid
Slicing is a common issue for golfers, causing the ball to start left and then cut violently to the right. The problem is caused by an open clubface at impact, with the club path cutting across the ball from outside to inside. A weak grip can also be a factor, with the clubface remaining open due to a lack of stability. However, there are several ways to correct this issue. Drills such as the Pump Drill can help golfers correct their swing path and release the club more effectively. Adjustments to grip and setup can also help, such as rotating the hands slightly to the right to square the clubface. With practice and a deliberate approach to building new habits, golfers can eliminate slicing and start hitting straighter shots.
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What You'll Learn
Ensure your grip is correct
The grip is one of the most important fundamentals in golf as it’s the only part of your body in contact with the club. A weak grip is the main reason why golfers hit a slice. A weak grip is when the left hand is more underneath the grip and the right hand is more over the club. The V's of your hands will point more toward the left side of your head. This type of grip position makes it harder to square the face at impact and leads to a slice.
To prevent slicing, you need a strong grip. A strong grip is when the left hand is more over the club and the right hand is more underneath it. The V's of your hands will point more toward the right side of your head. This type of grip position makes it easier to square the clubface and even hit a draw.
To achieve a strong grip, you will need to see three or more knuckles on your left hand. The V-shape created by the thumbs and forefingers of both hands should be turned toward the trail shoulder. You can also check that your grip is correct by looking at the logo on your golf glove. As you swing away from the ball, rotate the logo downward so it points at the ground. This rotation gets the club face in a closed position, and that closed position helps you correct the slice immediately.
If you grip the club in your palm, you limit mobility in your wrists and give yourself less control in both the backswing and the downswing. Instead, grip the club handle with your fingers. Hold the golf club out in front of you so the shaft is vertical, perpendicular to the ground. Tilt the club head away from your body about 45 degrees. Position your lead hand on the club handle at an angle. You want the handle to pass across your hand from the base of the pinky to the middle knuckle of your index finger.
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Practice the Pump Drill
Practicing the Pump Drill is an excellent way to stop slicing the ball and improve your downswing. This simple drill helps you learn the correct path the golf club should take when transitioning into the downswing. It is a great way of stopping golfers from coming over the top.
To practice the Pump Drill, grab your driver and flip it upside down. Get into a position with your lead arm and the club shaft forming a near 90-degree angle. "Pinch" your trail elbow against your rib cage and rotate your hips open to the target. Now, go back to the address and swing the club to the top.
From there, do a few pump fakes. With each pump, you will train your body to initiate the downswing and lessen your tendency to cast the club with your hands. Pause halfway into your downswing and check that your trail elbow is close to your body before continuing.
The club face is often the culprit when it comes to slicing. It is usually too weak or open at impact. To counter this, you can practice the Pump Drill by exaggerating how closed you get the club face. This will help you learn to hit the ball straight with a more neutral face.
Additionally, you can work on releasing the club by feeling like you are rolling your forearms through the impact. You can also try a split-hand grip drill, where you separate your hands on the club and make slow-motion swings to encourage a proper release.
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Try the split-hand grip drill
One of the most important aspects of golf is the grip. A good grip can help prevent slicing and improve your game. One way to improve your grip is by trying the split-hand grip drill.
To execute this drill, simply split your grip by a few inches and take your normal golf swing. You can split your hands apart on the grip of the club by 4 to 6 inches. The clubhead doesn't need to hit the ground when you do this, and you don't even need to use a ball at first. Try to hear a 'whoosh' on the forward swing, and because your hands are split apart, it should influence the clubface to stay squared and closed. If you are too tight, or you delay this release, you won't be able to hear the 'whoosh' noise.
You can also try to keep both elbows pointed at the ground, as if you're tossing a medicine ball underhanded. As you work on it, you will feel your left elbow just above your navel, and you will want to feel that right hand pass your left as your shoulders uncoil through the impact position.
This drill can help you feel how the clubface squares at impact. It can also help you add distance to your game by keeping your body connected and boosting power. By splitting your hands on the grip, you can keep the swing connected, and even hit some half shots with this hold. This is a great way to help golfers stay connected and use their whole body to generate power.
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Check your clubface alignment
One of the most important things to focus on when trying to prevent slicing in golf is checking your clubface alignment. The clubface has the most influence on the curve of the ball, so it's important to get it square as early as possible in your swing. Remember, the ball will deflect in the direction that the clubface aims, so if the face is open, the contact won’t be square, which will cause the ball to slice.
To avoid slicing the golf ball, your grip needs to be spot on. This means your lead hand is held properly in your fingers and not in the palm. Many golfers who slice tend to put their thumb straight down the middle of the grip. Instead, put the lead thumb just off-center to the right if you’re a right-handed golfer, and just to the left if you’re a left-handed golfer. A strong grip will help cure a slice. A weak grip, specifically with the left hand for right-handed golfers, is one of the main reasons golfers hit a slice.
If you want to change your clubface at impact, start by evaluating your grip. The grip is one of the most important fundamentals in golf as it’s the only part of your body in contact with the club. Change your grip, change your game. A strong grip is when the left hand is more over the club and the right hand is more underneath it. The V’s of your hands will point more toward the right side of your head. This type of grip position makes it easier to square the clubface and even hit a draw.
To help diagnose a slice, you can try a simple drill at the driving range. Determine the desired line of travel, and draw a line or place a club along that line. Put your toes right up to that line (a "square stance"), address the ball as you normally do, take your normal swing (ensuring you make solid contact), and find the symptom that best describes the ball's flight. If the shot launches on a line off to the right of the intended line, then curves even further right, the problem is an open clubface with a straight swing.
Tension can also greatly influence your slice. To help combat this issue, try a drill where you split your hands apart on the grip of the club by 4-6 inches, and make your normal golf swing. The clubhead doesn’t need to hit the ground when you do this, and you don’t even need to use a ball at first. Try to hear a bit of a ‘whoosh’ on the forward swing, and, because your hands are split apart, it should influence the clubface to stay either squared and closed.
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Practice deliberately to build new habits
Golfers who slice the ball tend to have an open clubface throughout their swing, which causes the ball to deflect to the right. To avoid slicing, you need to square the clubface at impact. This can be achieved by adjusting your grip, stance, and swing.
The Baseball Swing Drill
If you have any past baseball experience, this drill can help you cure your slice. Grab a 7-iron and practice a baseball swing, wrapping the club behind and around your body as if you were hitting a baseball. Keep the club level and feel the hands rotate and turn over, which will help you hit more draws. After a few swings, roll your hands over sooner to promote the feeling of squaring or closing your hands at impact. A square clubface will create a straight shot, while a slightly closed clubface will help produce a draw.
The Circle Drill
Place the clubhead in front of the ball and draw a big backward circle, starting toward the target, then over your head, and then down and over the ball. Check your grip and stance, and make sure the clubhead is set in front of the ball. Then, make a slow circle with your hands, swinging the club toward the target and continuing above your head and then down and over the ball. Focus only on the loop. As you swing, the club will naturally drop onto a shallower plane, and your hands will start to release and roll over.
The Motorcycle and Headcover Drills
These drills, recommended by HackMotion, can help you hit straighter, longer tee shots. Consistently practicing these drills will help you develop a square clubface at impact.
The Split Hands Drill
Split your hands apart on the grip of the club by 4 to 6 inches and make your normal golf swing. You don't need to use a ball at first. Try to hear a "whoosh" on the forward swing, which indicates that the clubface is squared and closed. Once you add a ball, put your hands back together, trying to release the clubface.
The Half-Swing Drill
Place your ball on a low tee and take a half-swing with a short-to-mid iron. On your forward swing, exaggerate the release of the clubface by having the face look down to the ground.
The Transition Drill
This drill helps you transition from a practice drill to a real golf swing. Lift the club into a two-thirds backswing position, with your left arm in front of your chest. Then, make your full backswing turn and graduate from swinging over the ball to actually hitting shots. You will continue to feel the backward loop from the first part of the drill, and you should immediately see a right-to-left ball flight.
Remember, fixing your slice takes time and practice to build new muscle memory. Choose a few of these drills and practice them consistently to help you develop a square clubface and improve your swing path, ultimately reducing your slice.
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Frequently asked questions
Slicing is when the golf ball starts left (for right-handed golfers) and then suddenly cuts to the right.
A slice is caused by an open clubface at impact relative to the club path. If your clubface is pointing to the right of your swing direction at impact, the ball will curve to the right.
Most slicers have an over-the-top move, meaning their club path cuts across the ball from outside to in.
The Pump Drill is a great drill to prevent slicing. Pause halfway into your downswing and check that your trail elbow is close to your body before continuing.
Set up two tees just wider than your clubhead and practice swinging through them without hitting the outer tee. If you consistently clip the outer tee, you're swinging over the top.
