The slice in golf might be one of the most frustrating swing results in all of golf. There is nothing worse than standing over a ball, knowing that there is a very good chance that the ball is going to curve violently to the right for the right handed golfer and the opposite direction for a left handed golfer. So what can you do about this slice that you might be fighting? Below we provide our 6 simple steps to cure your slice forever.
Golf can be an amazing game, but we have all been at the point of great frustration due to a swing fault. However, all we can do is fight through it, get better, find a solution and go practice. If you are feeling frustrated, I would recommend to stick with it and just maybe we can help you with this frustrating swing fault that is causing a slice.
Before we get into the 5 simple steps let’s first talk about what is a golf slice and what causes a golf slice.
What Is A Golf Slice?
A shot, for the right handed golfer, that starts out and then curves sharply to the right, causing a significant loss of distance and curve on the ball that makes it difficult to play the typical golf course. Many times this is a pull slice that starts hard left and curves hard to the right.
A fade also curves to the right, but it much more manageable and doesn’t cause a significant loss of distance. For any golfer to play well, he or she must be able to number one, have enough distance to play the course and number two, be able to control the curve of the ball. The slice makes both of the above really difficult to do. There is nothing worse than standing on a tree lined hole and not having an option to hit your driver because you slice the ball 30-40 yards on every shot.
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What Causes A Golf Slice?
Understanding what causes a golf slice can help you better understand the solutions we provide below in more in depth. Some basic physics here to explain the relationship between the club head and your swing path. If your club face is open to the swing path, you will curve the ball to the right. The greater the difference between the club face and the swing path, when the club face is open to the swing path, will cause a bigger and bigger curve as the difference widens. Here are some examples:
If your swing path is 10 degrees left of the target line and your club face is 3 degrees left, you will have a 7 degree difference which will cause a significant curve, resulting in a slice. Another example is if your swing path is right of the target 1 degree and your club face is 7 degrees right of the target you will hit a major push slice. A slice can occur either way, with a path to the left or right when your club face is open to the path.
The opposite is true for the hook. When is clubface is closed to the path significantly you will hit a hook that curves to the left. For example: If your swing path is 10 degrees right of your target and your club face is 3 degrees right of the target you will hit a shot that curves to the left. The same thing is if your path is 5 degrees left of the target, but your path is 2 degrees left, you will hit a shot that starts left and curves left.
These principles above are known as the ball flight laws which have been pretty commonly known over the past decade or so as a result of devices such as the trackman. Keep in mind that the ball will generally start in the direction the club face is pointing at impact and then curve away from the swing path.
New Ball Flight Laws Video
Some Common Swing Faults that Cause A Golf Slice
Common Fault 1 – Over the Top and Your Golf Swing
This is a move where the golf starts too aggressively from the top, resulting in a path way to the right and the face can’t possibly close relative to a swing path that is 10 degrees left. Instead feel like your arms beat your body to the ball and that you start your downswing with your arms, instead of firing your hips. Sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
Common Fault 2 – Your Grip Is Way Too Weak
While not a direct cause for a slice, if your club face always stays wide open, you have no chance of curing your slice. You can be swinging 5 degrees right, but chances are your club face might still be 7 degrees right, this would result in a push fade.
Common Fault 3 – Your Alignment at Setup is Too Far Left
This can also cause a path that swings too far left, which can leave your club face wide open resulting in that ugly slice that we all dread. Instead setup square or as you see below, even close your shoulder line and hip line a bit.
Myths About the Golf Slice
Myth #1 – About the Golf Slice – You Must Close Your Club Face
This is somewhat true, but in all reality your club face can be open to the target line as long as your path is further right of the target line. Too many amateur golfers, try throwing their hands through the ball and all it does is make you come more over the top and really hit the shot that starts left of the target and curve back to the right.
Myth #2 – About the Golf Slice – Slow Your Swing Down
This isn’t necessarily going to help you. All it is going to do is cause a greater loss of distance. Instead slow your body down, which will keep the club more on a rightward swing path requiring your to close the club face less and less.
Alright, enough about the slice, you came here to learn how to fix your golf slice. So here are the 6 simple steps to help you not only stop your slice, but to hit a draw. Yes, this might become reality for you.
- Set up your weight 60/40 with 60% on your front foot (Right Golfer).
- Aim your club slight right of the target line.
- Close your feet and shoulder line to the target line.
- Swing along your feet and shoulder line.
- Do not worry about “closing your club face.” Your pre positioning should result in a slight push draw that doesn’t require manipulation of the club face.
- Visualization is a Major Key
1 – Set up your weight 60/40 with 60% on your front foot (Righty Golfer).
This will help you get into a better impact position, one where the weight is far enough forward to help you compress the ball and get your path to the right. When the weight gets stuck on the back foot, it can cause an “over the top” move which causes you to swing too far to the left of the target line. Stop worrying about moving your body or firing your hips. Simple setup at the driving range with an 8 iron. Put your weight a bit foward (60% on front foot), close your stance line a bit and swing with only your arms. This will help you feel an out to in swing that gets your swinging to the right of the target line.
2 – Aim your club square or slightly right of the target line.
I know what you are thinking. You want me to aim my face to the right of the target line. Yes! As long as in step one you can get your path going to the right of the target line, a slightly open club ace can still result in a slight draw. Remember, you want your club faced close to the swing path, but that doesn’t mean it has to be closed to the target line. A swing that results in a path 5 degree right, but with a club face that is only 2 degrees to the right will result in a draw! Yes, it can be that simple!
3 – Close your feet and shoulder line to the target line.
This will help you produce a swing that has a path to the right of the target. Once again, weight forward, club slightly open, now swing out to the right. This will help balance your swing up and get a match up that works for you. If you are struggling at first, square your face up to the target line and now swing out to the left. Do not think about closing the club face.
4 – Swing along your feet and shoulder line.
Remember the key here is that you have closed your feet and shoulder line, but your club is just about square to the target line, maybe a bit open. Now swing along your shoulder line focusing on nothing other than swing along that line, which should produce a swing that goes right of the target line. This should produce a shot that is between 4-7 degress to the right with a face that is around 1-2 degrees to the right, which will produce for you a slight draw, or in my opinion, the most beautiful shot in a golf, a push draw!
5 – Do not worry about “closing your club face.” Your pre positioning should result in a slight push draw that doesn’t require manipulation of the club face.
As we talked about in one of the swing myths above, you do not need to feel like you are closing the club face. It is amazing what a perfect push draw you can hit with a face that is open to the target line, but closed to the swing path. The physics truly are simple, and we understand the swing can be difficult to produce, but please start small. Get that 8 iron out, close your shoulders and hip line, weight forward and hit some half swing push draws.
6 – Visualization is a Major Key
The human body is an amazing system that is driven by what you can imagine. Stand behind the ball and picture a shot that starts right and draws back towards the target. This may be difficult at first, but work hard to picture the swing to the right, a ball that starts right and then curves slight back towards the target.
The first couple of times you do this successfully, take it all in and engrain the feel and the visualization into your mind. Stay slow and calm and let the arms work. It truly is all physics and the visualization part will help you engrain the feeling that you need to cure your slice.
What Is Next To Help Cure Your Slice
Be patient and understand that it is going to take some retraining of your body to produce the swing that gets rid the slice and produces a draw. Most likely as your swing gets longer with the longer clubs, you will have a tendency to fly your shoulders open and cut across the ball. Remember, we want you swinging out to the right. Set up your body and swing along your body line out to the right.
Best Online Swing Instructors To Help With the Slice
- Jim Venetos
- Shawn Clement
- Mike Malaska
The Jim Venetos swing method might be the easiest way to learn how to hit that push draw. The shot that is most desirable and can make playing the game of golf actually enjoyable. His simple method is all based on the setup and then allowing your body to remain still and follow your preset positions, resulting in a draw that starts right and curves slightly towards the target
Shawn Clement spends a significant amount of time on visualization and allowing our human anatomy to operate as the gravity genius that it is. He also works on the pre shot setup and encourages the golfer to allow gravity to work. Do not force the swing, instead let gravity be your friend and your mind and body to work together through visualization.
Mike Malaska spends a good amount of time talking about directing the momentum and having quality awareness of the clubface. He says your clubface is controlled by the right hand. Whatever angle the right hand is at impact, the club will be in a similar position.
Overall
It is going to take patience and some hard work, but it can be done. I was a baseball player before golfing and as a kid, had to teach myself to hit the draw. Once I started with more weight on the front foot, as encouraged by the Stack and Tilt Method, Jim Venetos Swing and even Shawn Clement, it makes it much easier.
We have heard too much golf instruction that the weight must shift to the back leg and then back to the front foot. I believe this just causes the over the top move that is the most popular swing fault amongst the high handicap players. Instead anchor that weight forward, stay patient and let the arms drive your swing. Don’t worry, your body will react and you will have a swing that your friends envy.
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
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Gain 30-40 yards in 30 Days – Swing Man Golf
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