Table of Contents
Introduction
Amateur golfers, most especially right-handed ones, often have the tendency to hit the golf ball to the right side, this is called a slice. Left-handed golfers also slice the ball but towards the left.
In most cases a slice occurs when a golfer makes impact with an open club face. Against this, this write-up will expound on what causes a slice and how to fix them.
What is a slice in Golf?
A common meaning of a slice is that, it’s a type of golf shot in which the golf ball while in flight curves from left to right, for right-handed golfers. A slice might be played intentionally but it’s usually a result of incorrect hitting of the golf ball.
Types of Slices in Golf
There are majorly 3 types of slice namely: Pull slice, Push slice and Standard slice.
A pull slice start from the left of the target and slices back to the right, while a push slice start right the target and slices even further. On the other hand, a standard slice goes down the target line and then goes right.
What Causes a Slice?
A sliced shot is caused when the club arrives at an impact with the golf ball in an open face. This usually a problem for amateur and recreational golfers. Below are six other physical factor that causes you to make a slice shot and how to fix them.
1. Weak Grip
This does not mean you held the club loosely but the position of your fingers while holding the club at address. When you hold the club your hands forms a “V” shape where the both fore fingers and last digit of each hands meets.
A feeble grip is known by your hand position on the club, if those “V’s” points towards the chin, you’re holding a weak grip.
How to fix weak grip
If you’re holding a weak grip, conversely rotate your hands to the right while holding the grip, this “V’s” will point towards the right of your collar bone , this will create a powerful grip and you’re more likely to make impact on the golf ball squaring the club face.
2. Grip Pressure
The pressure you apply while holding the club determines whether you’ll make a shot or a slice. A firm grip can hinder you from closing the club face at impact which makes you to play a slice shot.
How to fix tight grip
Maintaining a light grip pressure is essential for you to make a good golf swing.
Start by reliving those pressure in your fingers and shoulders and hold on to that light grip pressure through the whole swing this enables the club rotation to the closed face while in swing motion before making an impact with the ball, there by producing the desired spin.
3. Shoulder Aligment
While standing at address it’s neccesarry to check your shoulders aligment. You must know that your swing path is mostly determined by your shoulder line.
If your shoulders are pointing left of your line it’s mostly likely your swing will go to left.
How to fix shoulder alignment
Always check where your shoulders are pointing by taking your club and placing it a straight line on your chest, this will point where your shoulders are aligned to, on the sides of the line.
You should make sure your shoulders are properly aimed towards down the line.
4. Weight transfer
Most golfer don’t transfer their weight correctly during a golf swing and this sometimes results to a slice shot.
Amateur or recreational golfers usually make the mistake of transferring their weight onto their back foot during the back swing and leaving it there throughout the downswing and follow- through.
Leaving your weight to your back foot causes you to open your club face at impact. See how to control the club face at impact. ‘.
How to fix weight transfer
Always move your weight towards your back foot as you swing back, then return your weight towards your front foot as you begin your downswing to the follow through.
An easy way to practice this, is to place an upright object beside your front foot that it touches your left thigh. As you swing back,your thigh will slightly move away from the object, meaning you’ve transfer your weight to the back foot, as you begin your downswing your thigh would come back to connect with the object, that’s only if you have properly transfer your weight back to the front foot again. See how to practice golf‘.
5. Wrong swing path
Most amateur and beginner golfers hit their drives with the wrong swing path.
A right to the left swing path, accompanied with an open club face would effect a slice.
How to fix a outside-to-inside swing path
You should always route your club from an in-to-out swing path.
You can practice inside-to-outside swing path by placing a light object about 7 inches at the back of the ball straightly on path of the line. You should try to hit your drives and avoid hitting the object.
If you properly miss the object, you have just performed an in-to-out swing. If you do this regularly you’ll re-train your swing path to a correct in-to-out swing path.
6. Equipment settings
It’s neccersary to evaluate the kind of driver you’re using, because a wrong setting can effect a slice. Loft and face angles are major factor that determine whether you’ll make a shot or a slice.
How to fix your equipment flaws
Latest drivers available now, has made it easy for golfers to reduce or fix their shot flaws. You can adjust the clubface angle on the modern drivers, so it could be more closed.
You should also modify the loft angle so it does not exaggerate the slice. The greater the angle of the clubface on a driver, the greater the backspin and the lesser the sidespin which induces a slice.
Conclusion
Golf is played for fun and not to frustrate you, slicing the ball can lead to frustration and overly abandonment of the game.
As you see in this article, slicing the ball doesn’t have to last forever, you only need to understand why your golf slice and how to correct them.
Hopefully with this article you now have a full understanding of causes and fixes of a golf slice. See golf workouts‘.