Trevor Ng
Golfers often refer to a slice as a swing flaw, but it is usually the result of several swing flaws working together. A slice is when the ball curves away from the player's dominant hand. For right-handed golfers, this means the ball curves dramatically to the right. To fix a slice, it is important to understand the cause. Common causes include a poor grip, an open clubface, and an outside-to-inside swing path. To correct a slice, golfers can try changing their grip, ensuring the clubface is square at impact, and adjusting their swing path.
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What You'll Learn
Understand the cause of the slice
Slicing is a common issue in golf, and it is important to understand the cause of a slice before attempting to correct it. A slice is when the ball curves away from the player's dominant hand—to the right for a right-handed golfer, and to the left for a left-handed golfer. The amount of curve on a golf shot increases with club length and less loft, so drivers and fairway woods tend to slice the most, but irons can also cause slices.
The primary cause of a slice is an open clubface relative to the path the club is travelling as it impacts the ball. This causes sidespin and a glancing blow, which results in issues with direction and distance. An open clubface can be caused by a poor grip, improper wrist angles, and/or a poor release pattern. A weak grip is a common problem, as it can prevent players from squaring the clubface, and lead to an out-to-in swing path.
Another common issue is alignment. Slicers often point their shoulders, feet, and hips to the left of their target, which can cause an out-to-in swing path.
Compensation for a slice can also cause issues. For example, a golfer might aim their shoulders to the left to compensate for a slice, but this can cause their swing path to go to the left, resulting in pulls to the left.
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Change your grip
The way you grip your golf club can have a significant impact on your game, so it's important to get it right. Changing your grip can feel uncomfortable at first, but it will improve your distance, ball striking, and control in the long run.
If you're slicing the ball, you're likely gripping the club with your palm, which limits mobility in your wrists and gives you less control. Instead, grip the club handle with your fingers. Hold the golf club out in front of you so the shaft is vertical and perpendicular to the ground. Tilt the club head away from your body at a 45-degree angle. Position your lead hand on the club handle at an angle, so the handle crosses from the base of your pinky finger to the middle knuckle of your index finger. This will give you a stronger grip and help reduce the amount the clubface is open at impact, lessening the left-to-right curve of your shots.
For right-handed golfers, a strong grip will have two V-shapes. These V-shapes are created by the forefinger and thumb of each hand and should point to the right of your right shoulder. You should be able to see three or more knuckles on your left hand. This grip will help you close down the club face and decrease the slice effect.
If you're still struggling with your grip, consider trying a reminder grip. These grips feature a long rib on the underside and inside, creating a built-up section that is detectable by the fingers. This helps golfers remember the ideal hand placement when gripping the club and can assist in hitting the ball straighter.
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Improve your alignment
Alignment is vital to your golf game. Misalignment can cause you to misinterpret the target and lose distance. A good golf game can only be built on the solid foundation of proper alignment.
To improve your alignment, you can use alignment sticks. Set the first stick along the target line, placing it on the ground along your target line. Position a second stick angled outside your target line at a 45-degree angle, creating a gate about two feet in front of you. When you take your swing, focus on keeping your club inside the angled stick. This promotes an inside-out swing path, which helps eliminate the slice.
You can also use an alignment stick as a drill to improve your swing tempo. Swing the stick, focusing on a smooth, even tempo. The goal is to make sure your backswing and downswing are equally timed, with no rushing. Once you've developed the right tempo using the alignment stick, try making full swings with your club.
Another way to improve your alignment is to correct your grip. If your grip is too weak (hands turned too much to the left for a right-handed golfer), it can result in an open clubface at impact, promoting a slice. Adjust your grip to a more neutral position by ensuring the "V" formed by your thumb and forefinger points towards your right shoulder (for right-handed golfers). This change can help square the clubface.
Finally, ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are properly aligned with your target. If you're attempting a straight shot, your feet should run parallel alongside the target line.
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Adjust your takeaway
The takeaway is the first part of your swing, where the club is moving away from the ball. A good takeaway is crucial to avoiding a slice.
Many slicers tend to rotate their hands and fan the clubface open during the backswing, increasing the chance that the clubface will remain open at impact. To fix this, swing a mid-iron back until your hands are at hip height, then pause and check the position of your glove hand. If you can see the logo on your glove, you've fanned the face open. Repeat the takeaway, but this time, try to keep your right hand more on top of the grip, rather than underneath. This effectively hoods the face so that it's pointing down at the ground and not up at the sky.
Another common issue is taking the club back too far inside, which leads to the upper body getting disconnected. To fix this, try the following drill: place another club a few inches behind the ball. You want to feel yourself pushing the club back in the takeaway. Use your back, chest, and arms to initiate the backswing for a more connected, proper takeaway.
If you have trouble determining where the club face is pointed, a lie angle tool can help. Practising takeaways with your right or left hand only can also help to train a new movement. The key is to keep the logo on your glove (left hand) or your palm (right hand) facing slightly towards the ground when it gets to hip height.
Finally, it's important to understand the role of your grip in avoiding a slice. A weak grip is one of the leading causes of slicing. When you start with your hands in a weak position, it's nearly impossible to turn it more in the downswing, leading to the face being wide open at impact. Try to get your lead hand over the club more, not underneath it. This will make it easier to square the face and avoid an inside takeaway.
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Try a different club
If you're slicing the golf ball, it's likely because of your club path. Slices occur mostly with longer clubs like a driver and fairway woods, but they can also happen with irons. If you're using a driver, it's worth noting that some drivers can help cure a slice by being put in the upright setting or adjusting the face angle to be more closed at the address position.
If you have an adjustable driver, adding more weight to the toe of the club makes it heavier and easier to square at impact. You can also adjust the hosel settings for a draw-biased setting. Switching to a lighter shaft or one that has more flex can make it easier to reduce a slice.
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 strong grip will have two V-shapes created by the forefinger and thumb of each hand, pointing to the right of the right shoulder. You will also be able to see three or more knuckles of the left hand. This grip will help you close down the club face to reduce the slice effect.
A custom club fitting can dramatically improve the accuracy and distance of your drives. A Master Fitter and Builder will explore various options, including the 65,000 head and shaft combos at their fingertips.
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Frequently asked questions
A slice in golf is a ball that curves away from the player's dominant hand. For a right-handed golfer, this means the ball curves dramatically to the right, and for a left-handed golfer, it curves drastically to the left.
The number one cause of a slice is an open clubface relative to the path the club is travelling in when it impacts the ball. This causes sidespin and a glancing blow, resulting in issues with direction and distance.
To stop slicing, you need to ensure the clubface is square (or slightly closed) to the direction of the swing path. This can be achieved by adjusting your grip, wrist angles, and release pattern. You can also experiment with different club head settings to find the right combination for you.
Yes, one drill is to take the club away in slow motion until it's parallel to the ground. Another is to practice hitting controlled hooks and then go back to the slice motion, allowing you to gain a better understanding of the golf swing and find a happy medium between the two extremes.
