- Fixing a slice first requires you to fix your grip by positioning your hands properly.
- Stop your weak grip and rotate the hands to make a neutral or strong grip.
- How to fix a slice requires a closed club head during backswing and delivery.
- Strike the ball using the center or tip of the club head.
- A simple grip change is one of the fast and easy ways to fix a slice, using both a driver and irons.
A slice shot can really mess up your golf game—unless you’re hitting it intentionally. We want to help you learn how to fix a slice and other shortcomings in your game. This will help you become a better golfer and compete at a high level. We’ll be covering the causes of slicing and effective ways to stop it.
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What Causes a Golf Slice?
A slice occurs when a player hits the golf ball, and instead of following the right flight path, it swings from left to right (for right-handed golfers), and from right to left (for the left-handed players).
There are many factors that lead to a slice shot. They include:
- Open clubface: This is the most common cause of slicing in golf. The main trigger is an incorrect grip of the handle.
- Bad posture: A posture that’s too upright hinders your backswing, resulting in a slice path on the downswing.
- Not being flexible enough: Limited flexibility affects your rotation during a backswing which then messes the downswing, resulting in a slice.
- A left-handed playing righty (and vice versa): When you position yourself opposite to your dominant hand, the strength of the lead arm delays the natural release during a swing, causing a slice shot.
- Keeping the lead arm straight for long: When the lead arm is stiff for long, it makes the clubface stay open, hence producing a slice.
- Positioning the ball and tilt badly: Placing the ball too far back when using a driver leads to slicing.
What You Will Need to Follow Our Tutorial
Now, to get the most out of this tutorial on how to fix your slice, you will the following items:
Golf Driver
This is a golf club belonging to the woods category. The golf driver also known as 1-wood and has the longest shaft with the biggest head but has the least loft. It’s good for long-distance shots on par-4 and par-5 holes, but it’s the club that most commonly causes a slice, so it’s best to practice with this one.
Golf Balls
Seeing as you’ll be practicing how to fix your slice, you’ll need more than one golf ball.
Strike Spray or Foot Spray
This golf training aid helps you pinpoint the spot(s) where the clubface hits the golf ball. You apply the spray directly to the club before hitting the ball. Then, from the location of the ball marks on the club, you’ll notice a trend in the pattern. Use this to make the necessary adjustments to your golf swing.
How To Fix a Slice in Golf in 5 Simple Steps
Once you have the necessary equipment, you can head over to the golf course or the driving range and start fixing your shot in the following areas.
Step 1: The Grip
Your grip style, strength, and pressure on the golf club influence most, if not all, aspects of your game. Therefore, for a good swing and hit, you must ensure you position your hands properly in step 1. So what’s the ideal golf club grip?
Well, it has a lot more to do with your fingers than the palm of your hand. For the correct placement, hold the club at a distance away from you. Tilt the handle towards you, then position your lead hand (the left hand for right-handed golfers and vice versa). Place the handle on the hand in a way that cuts across from the base of the small finger through the middle of your index finger.
Wrap your fingers around the handle and ensure you don’t cover the base of the club. Rotate the hand (clockwise if it’s the left hand and anticlockwise if it’s the right hand) until you see two or three knuckles. Rest your thumb on top of the club.
Take the trail hand and place it on the side or slightly underneath the lead hand. Both hands form “V” shapes between the thumb and index finger. They should point towards the shoulder of the trailing arm (right hand for right-handed players and vice versa). This is a strong grip that helps to fix your slice shots.
If the strength is adequate, you won’t have to adjust the grip pressure. You should rotate the hands towards the trail hand in case the strength weakens. As for the grip pressure, ensure there is a balance in the two hands—not too tight or too loose.
Step 2: Club Face in Backswing
When swinging the golf club backward in step 2, bow your wrist and keep the face pointing down to the ground to make sure the head is square when it hits the ball. Most players slice the ball because they open the clubface during the backswing and fail to close it on time. Then there are those who close the clubface but fail to prevent it from closing further, thereby hitting a hook shot.
The challenge is to time your hit.
Step 3: Club Face Through the Golf Shot
You need to maintain control of the golf club through your golf shot. The reason for slicing shots is the tendency by golfers to open the clubface when completing the swing shot. You will notice the arms separating and creating a big gap between them.
To prevent this from happening, you need to allow the clubface to rotate. Next is to create the feel of your trail hand forearm crossing over the lead hand forearm.
Step 4: Changing Your Path
You must change your swing path to help correct the ball flight. Focus on getting an inside-square-inside swing—the square refers to when the clubface hits the ball.
The best way to achieve this is to place an obstacle on the path that you’re trying to avoid, i.e., outside and behind the ball. Use a headcover or towel you have handy. To avoid hitting the obstacle, you should swing from the inside. This will take time and lots of practice to perfect to be able to take your golf swing without touching the obstacle.
Step 5: Striking the Club Face
For this step, you’ll need the strike spray or foot spray. Spray it on your clubface, and it will leave a mist. This will help you determine the part that hits the ball the most. Slicers tend to hit the ball with the heel side of the head. That’s because the heel is open, and you’re swinging the club more towards the left side (or right if you’re left-handed).
You should focus on hitting the ball with the middle or toe side of the clubface in order to fix your slice.
How To Fix a Slice With a Driver
To avoid slicing with a driver, you just need to follow the steps outlined above. From adjusting your grip so that it’s neutral or slightly strong to making the clubface square or closed during impact.
A good piece of advice is to start hooking on purpose, to change your brain’s idea of the swing path as you practice. Once you feel you’ve fixed your clubface, start hitting the ball on a straight path.
How To Fix a Slice With Irons
If you want to fix your slice with irons, you must identify the cause of your slicing first. Even though irons have shorter shafts and people use them for teeing off, the cause of slicing is similar to the other golf clubs.
Try rotating your body in the backswing to add some depth to the grip. By trying to place your grip outside and behind your heels, this will improve your downswing and delivery on impact.
It’s easier when you know the flaws in your game because you will know exactly what to work on. You can use our guidelines and be sure to practice as much as possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes a Slice off the Tee?
The reasons for slicing your shot off the tee include a bad stance, outside-in swing, and a bad grip on the club. They all contributed to the clubface opening during the backswing, on impact, and after the hit. As a result, you end up with a slice.
Does a Strong Grip Fix a Slice?
Yes, a strong grip can help fix your slice shot. Turn your lead hand clockwise (or anticlockwise for left-handed players) to improve your grip. Keep the trail hand in a neutral grip.
Make sure your fingers do more of the gripping instead of the palm. You should see three knuckles of the lead hand. This helps prevent the clubface from opening when it gets in contact with the ball.
Why Do I Slice My Driver but Not Irons?
The iron and driver club have different designs. Therefore, their impact on the ball varies. The driver has a more upward angle of attack, which is a lot harder to control. It’s more likely to open during the downward swing and alter the ball flight. An iron club, on the other hand, hits the ball in descending motion.
You should know when to adjust the two types of swings, especially when switching from using irons to drivers.
Will a Stiff Shaft Fix My Slice?
No, it won’t. In fact, it’ll likely worsen your slicing problem. A stiff shaft is hard to load properly during a downswing. This causes the clubface to remain slightly open when it gets in contact with the golf ball, hence causing a slice.
How Do You Fix a Left-Handed Golf Slice?
Start by checking the golf club and ensuring the shaft is not too stiff. Next, adjust your grip to the left to make it neutral or a little stronger. You can then work on your positioning. The hips, feet, and shoulders should point in one general direction.
You also need to work on your swing and release. A good idea would be to record yourself and check the video later to identify mistakes and adjust accordingly.
How Do You Fix an Iron Slice?
For one, don’t aim left if you’re right-handed (and vice versa). Secondly, fix your grip by making it neutral or a bit strong. You should also ensure the ball positioning is perfect and try to keep the elbow tucked in during the backswing while rotating the body and keeping the grip back behind your heels. Lastly, work on how you swing the club, release, and swing path.
Conclusion
With this tutorial, we hope you’ve learned some vital lessons about how to fix your slice. Now, you can work on improving your game. It’ll definitely take a couple of practice sessions and some determination.
Let us know what you think in the comment section. Plus, you can share your progress and some of your findings.
