Few things are more frustrating for a golfer than watching your ball slice off dramatically to the right (or left for lefties).
That ugly, banana–shaped shot path can wreak havoc on your scores and spoil an otherwise great round.
The good news is slicing is a very common issue that can be corrected with some focused practice and the right swing adjustments.
Today, I’m going to walk you through 3 simple steps to help eliminate slicing once and for all.
Step 1: Close the Club Face
The number one cause of slicing is an open club face at impact.
If the face is pointed even slightly to the right of your target line, it will impart severe right–to–left sidespin that sends the ball slicing off course.
To counteract this, you need to focus on keeping the club face closed throughout your swing.
This means getting the face closed at address and then maintaining that closed position all the way to impact.
A good drill to ingrain the proper feel is to practice taking swings while keeping the clubface pointed decidedly to the left of your target.
You may even want to experiment with an extremely closed face position – like looking down and seeing the logo of your club clearly visible.
This exaggerated closed face will encourage your body and swing to work in sync to square up the face at impact.
Over time, you’ll start to instinctively deliver the club squarely, without that dreaded open, slicing face.
Step 2: Keep Your Body Closed
Once you’ve got the club face in the right position, the next key is to keep your body closed and facing the target throughout the swing.
Many slicers have a tendency to over–rotate their hips and upper body, which can undo all your good work on the club face.
As you swing back, maintain a feeling of your back staying to the target.
Your hips should turn, but avoid letting them open up too quickly.
This closed body position will help ensure the club face stays square or slightly closed through impact.
An easy drill to ingrain this is to set up with an alignment stick or similar training aid placed just behind your back.
Focus on keeping your back to that stick as you swing.
You can also try swinging in front of a mirror to monitor your body rotation.
The goal is to have your back still facing the target as you complete your follow–through.
This maintains that closed club face position that is essential for eliminating slices.
Step 3: Glide, Don’t Unwind
The final piece of the puzzle is your weight shift and lower body motion in the downswing.
Many slicers have a tendency to unwind their hips too aggressively, which can cause the club face to open up.
Instead, focus on a smooth, lateral weight shift to your front foot.
Glide your mass over to that left side, without letting your hips spin open.
Keep your lower body quiet and stable as you swing down and through the ball.
This controlled, gliding motion helps preserve the closed club face position you’ve established and promotes an on–plane, inside–out swing path.
Avoid the temptation to lunge, sway or rapidly unwind your hips – that will only undo all your previous good work.
Putting It All Together
Eliminating that pesky slice really comes down to these 3 key elements:
- Ensure the club face is closed for every frame of your swing
- Keep your body closed, with your back to the target
- Glide your weight to the front foot, without excessive hip rotation
With consistent practice and reinforcement of these fundamental swing adjustments, you’ll start hitting straighter, more controlled shots in no time.