How to Fix a Slice in Golf
Recently, GOLFTEC discovered that roughly 60% of amateur golfers struggle with a slice.
Resulting from poor golf swing fundamentals, hitting a golf slice routinely causes golfers to post high scores because they rarely can control the direction of the shot.
Producing the correct club path with a square club face takes time, planning, and patience for most amateurs to break down their swing and start building their shape from scratch.
In this article on how to fix a slice, we’ll give you a clear plan of action to take care of that ugly shot path that goes to the right every time.
Understanding a Golf Slice
A slice in golf is a shot where the golf ball curves sharply from left to right (for a right handed golfer) or right to left (for left-handed players).
This unintended curve is often caused by an open club face at impact combined with a swing path that cuts across the ball.
For amateur golfers, the slice is one of the most common mishits and can significantly hinder their golf game.
Characteristics of a Slice
Several telltale signs can help you identify a slice:
1. The ball curves excessively: A proper golf slice doesn’t travel straight; instead, the ball curves in the air, often veering off the intended target line.
2. Starts left and ends right (for right-handers): Most slices begin heading straight or slightly left before curving sharply to the right. Players may instinctively aim down the left to compensate, but this often exacerbates the problem.
3. Impact issues: An open club face, especially in combination with a swing path moving from the outside in, is a primary cause of a slice.
Common Causes and Fixes
A golf slice often occurs because of technical errors in grip, stance, or swing mechanics.
For example, the dominant hand can unintentionally overpower the swing, leading to poor face control.
Correcting a golf slice requires fundamental changes, such as improving grip pressure, adjusting alignment, and practicing a square clubface through impact.
By understanding the nature of a slice and addressing its causes, golfers can transform their most frustrating mishit into a consistent, straight shot, elevating their overall performance on the course.
Correcting Your Stance
Closing the Shoulders
Too many amateurs leave their left shoulder open at address. Whether they are cheating to look at the target or have a poor fundamental setup, closing that lead shoulder can help reduce the slice’s ill effects.
By squaring the upper body, you are not opening the left side of your body, allowing the shoulder to stay closed when bringing the golf club back to the ball.
Especially on the tee box, keeping that lead shoulder in check will help stay balanced.
Squaring the Feet
Along with the shoulders, chances are the feet and hips are open if you frequently hit a slice.
Now, you shouldn’t instantly work to overcompensate and close the feet, hips, and shoulders, but you should work on squaring all three areas at the address.
Even if you like flaring your lead foot out a bit to help with hip clearance, the tips of your feet should be even at address.
Using an alignment stick correctly on the range to check your foot position is a great way to ensure you are playing good golf.
Reducing Knee Flexing
Too much knee flex can also force the golfer on an outside-in swing path. Remember, you should lean forward from the hips at address with light flex in the knees.
Having too much flex can also get the weight over the heels rather than balanced over the midstep.
Adjusting Your Grip
So many swing flaws begin with a weak grip. Having the left hand in the wrong position can leave the face open at impact.
To correct that, one of the big adjustments amateurs can make is to grip the club with their fingers rather than allowing the club to rest in their palms.
By resting the club grip on the fingers, you have to counterintuitively rotate your hands to the right.
By doing so, you should see part of the thumb and the top two knuckles at address in the left hand. The left wrist doesn’t soften but rather stays firm with this grip.
A stronger grip can cause the face to close at impact, creating hard hooks that go low and to the left. If you are struggling with a slice, a hooking golf shot might be a welcome sight, but you are really trading one swing flaw for another.
Building a new grip that’s fundamentally sound allows your swing to function with a good grip for the first time in your golfing journey.
Finding the Right Swing Path
Struggling with an outside-to-in swing path often causes a frustrating slice. Correcting this requires focusing on an inside-to-square swing path while improving swing align and overall mechanics.
Backward Circle Drill
The backward circle drill is an excellent exercise to develop this skill.
Start by placing an alignment rod on the ground as a visual guide for your swing plane. Practice slow-motion swings, ensuring your club traces a backward circle during the takeaway.
This movement promotes a proper shoulder turn and helps you drop the club into the ideal inside position during the downswing.
Towel Under Arm Drill
Another valuable drill is the towel under arm drill, which emphasizes body rotation and keeps your arms connected to your torso.
Place a towel under your trail arm and practice hitting half-swings while maintaining the towel’s position.
This teaches you to engage the body more effectively, avoiding a disconnected motion that leads to slicing.
Wrist Mechanics and Clubface Control
Wrist mechanics are critical for controlling the clubface and achieving a square impact. A proper hinge during the backswing and release during the downswing ensures the clubface remains aligned.
Combined with a smooth 90-degree turn through the ball, these adjustments create a reliable inside-to-square swing path, improving both consistency and accuracy.
Closing the Open Clubface
More Hand Rotation
For most amateurs, leaving the club face open could be corrected by rolling the hands more in the downswing.
Of course, there’s more to the rotation than just the hands. If you are a righty, you’ll need the help of your left arm to move the golf club into position when hitting shots squarely along the face.
After reading the section above, you should get a sense of how you want an inside-out swing path when hitting shots with a high ball flight that goes straight toward the target.
By holding the hands firm, pro golfers can dial up a fade or golf slice fairly easily, but as amateurs, we want to go in the opposite direction, creating a swing that flows smoothly with plenty of rotation when we hit long golf shots.
Take a few practice swings on the range, feeling just the hands as they pass through the impact zone. Can you feel the hands keep the club open?
When you play good golf, you can feel where the ball is going at impact. That trait comes through repetition and practice.
Now, start hitting balls with half-swings, working solely on the hands. Deliberately hit shots with your hands firm to feel that face open at impact.
Now, hit shots with hand rotation.
Are you hitting to the left? Or even straight?
Continue to work on half swings until you grab a better sense of how important your hands are when slicing a ball.
Ball Positioning
Proper ball positioning plays a crucial role in avoiding a slice, as it directly impacts your swing path and overall shot control.
Understanding how to position the ball for drivers and irons can improve consistency and accuracy.
Ball Positioning for Drivers and Irons
When hitting with a driver, the ball should be placed in a forward ball position, just inside the heel of the lead foot.
This allows for an upward strike, encouraging a straighter ball flight and reducing the chances of an over the top swing.
For irons, a more central position relative to your lead foot promotes a downward strike and cleaner contact, key to preventing a slice.
Impact on Swing Path
The ball’s position affects your upper body alignment, lower body, and the overall weight shift during the swing.
Incorrect positioning can cause a backward loop, leading to an over the top swing that produces a slicing motion.
Proper positioning, combined with a wide stance, helps maintain a neutral swing path for more consistent shots.
Visual Aids and Drills
Using an alignment rod or alignment stick during practice can provide instant feedback.
Place the stick parallel to your target line to ensure proper upper body alignment. A ball position check drill involves drawing lines on your practice mat to mark the correct placement for drivers and irons.
Another effective drill is to focus on your weight shift and monitor how your lower body leads through the swing. This ensures the ball remains in the optimal position throughout the motion.
Mastering ball positioning creates a solid foundation for straighter, more controlled shots, helping you avoid the dreaded slice.
Tips from Pros
How to Fix a Slice with Driver
Hands Inside on Takeaway
When swinging the driver, a great rule of thumb is to keep the hands inside the club head on the takeaway. When the club gets level to the waist, you also want the face slightly closed.
So, work on slowly getting into this position repeatedly during your practice until you feel comfortable with this move.
Hands Back to Belt on Downswing
On the downswing, you want to tuck the right elbow back into the ribs and hip, bringing the hands back towards the belt buckle. By making this move, you get the club on an inside path to the golf ball.
If you can repeat this move during your practice time on your golf swing, you’ll provide the best answer to the question of how to fix a slice.
How to Fix a Slice with Iron
My students often ask me, “Why do I slice my driver but not my irons?” And the answer typically comes from poor weight transfer.
With the best golf irons, you want to feel the weight over the inside of the left thigh. With the driver, the weight moves more onto the back leg.
Most amateurs stay stuck with their weight onto the back half of the driver swing.
Unlike hitting shots with a sweeping motion with the driver, hitting the ball straight with a golf iron requires a steep swing that forces the club to enter the turf, and golfers transition better with their irons since they are hitting down onto the ball.
If you are struggling to hit your irons straight, work on getting the club along the correct path, approaching the ball with the iron from the inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix my slice?
Typically, golfers need to correct several swing flaws by correcting their slice.
From strengthening their grip, creating an inside-out swing path, and getting that elbow tucked on the downswing, these amateurs need time and proper golf instruction to promote the proper swing habits for killing their slice forever.
What causes a slice with driver?
Most golfers that hit slices with their driver have an outside-in swing path.
This type of path brings the club head from the outside to the golf ball rather than bringing the face from the inside to the ball.
The outside-in swing path typically leaves the face open at impact to create the side spin that causes a slice.
How do you fix a slice grip?
If you are interested, many golf equipment manufacturers make a grip trainer that provides the mold for creating a neutral grip.
The golf grip training device snaps on top of the real golf club grip to show natural hand placement.
Golfers can use the training grip during practice sessions to create the muscle memory necessary for hitting the ball with a neutral hand placement.
What causes a slice?
A golf slice is caused when a player returns the club head to the ball with an open face.
The open face creates side spin on the golf ball, promoting a ball flight that goes far to the right side of the hole.
Some golfers will hit low line drive slices, while other players will hit slices that fly high and to the right, otherwise known as a push slice featuring diminished velocity.
Final Thoughts
Fixing a slice requires dedication to regular practice and consistency in addressing swing faults. Spending time at the driving range allows you to focus on fundamental changes that promote slice improvement.
Incorporating specific practice drills, such as those targeting swing alignment, helps identify and correct issues like an open clubface or improper grip.
Developing a personalized practice plan tailored to your golf game ensures steady progress. Start with small, manageable goals, and gradually build confidence as you see improvement.
Regular feedback, whether from a coach, a friend, or video analysis, is essential for recognizing areas of growth and avoiding new problems, like a hook.
Consistency is key. Set aside time each week for focused practice and commit to reinforcing positive habits.
By prioritizing practice and feedback, you can make measurable strides in your slice improvement and overall golf game.