Golf Slice: Correct your Slice Right Now

The golf slice is one of the most common swing faults.  The golf slice most commonly occurs when the clubface is open relative to the swing path and/or when the swing follows an "out to in" or "over the top" swing path.  To fix the golf slice, here are the common faults that cause the golf slice and quick tips to fix the golf slice.

What Causes the Golf Slice

The golf slice is a shot that starts left, but finishes right of target, often far right.  The golf slice is one of the most detested golf swing faults in golf because it often results in a very poor position for the next shot and is not easy to fix.  The reason that the golf slice is not an easy to fix golf swing fault is that it can result from several different swing faults which will need to be addressed.

Typical causes of the golf slice include one or of the following – poor body alignment; weak grip; open club face; and/or out-to-in swing path. One or all of these swing faults can contribute to a golf slice.  For instance:

1. Your body is aligned too far left of the target (which may cause you to swing the club from out to in or "over the top" causing the golf ball to start left, but spin far right after impact – due to clockwise spin imparted on ball)

2. Irrespective of body alignment, you swing path can be out-to-in or worse, out-to-in with an open clubface again starting the ball left but spinning it far right.

3. Your grip could be too "weak" which means your grip position is left of neutral which tends to open the clubface.  If everything else is correct in your golf swing and you have a weak golf grip, then you may simply push the ball to the right of the target – not a big deal.  But combined with improper alignment or swing path, an open club face can result in a killer slice.

How to Fix the Golf Slice

So how do you fix your golf slice? For some, one or two adjustments is all that is needed.  For others, it will be a process of elimination.  What is clear, however, is that your ability to fix the golf slice is greatly enhanced if you execute the following golf slice fixes.

1. Align parallel to the target line. To help visualize, think of standing on a railway line where the ball is placed on the furthest rail (the "target line") and your body is set up parallel to the target line along the closest rail (the "body line").

2. "Strengthen" your grip to a neutral position with a square clubface.

3. Take a slow motion practice swing and ensure that your swing path is not "over the top" or out to in, but rather down the target line toward the target.

4. Check your impact position and make sure that your clubface is square at impact.

Perform a few slow motion practice swings with the above golf slice fixes in mind until the proper movements feel natural.  Then hit a few half swing golf shots building up to a full, fluid swing.  If you practice and ingrain these fundamentals, your golf slice will be history.