The Golf Swinger Doctor

Updated: March 27, 2025

Eliminate Slice in Golf Swing: Proven Tips for Straighter Shots

A slice in your golf swing can be frustrating, sending your ball veering off to the right (for right-handed golfers) and often costing distance and accuracy. Fixing a slice requires understanding what causes it, so you can apply simple techniques to correct your swing and enjoy straighter, more consistent shots. Here’s a guide on how to eliminate a slice in your golf swing effectively.

Understanding What Causes a Golf Slice

A slice occurs when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact, causing sidespin that curves the ball off target. Common causes include an incorrect grip, an outside-to-in swing path, or an improper stance. Here’s a closer look at each factor:

1. Grip: A weak grip can open the clubface at impact, leading to a slice.
2. Swing Path: Slicing often happens when golfers swing from outside the target line to inside, causing side spin.
3. Clubface Alignment: An open clubface at impact creates the left-to-right spin responsible for slicing.

1. Fix Your Grip for a Square Clubface

A proper grip can make a significant difference in squaring the clubface. Here’s how to adjust it:

• Strong Grip: Position your hands so that more of the knuckles on your left hand are visible. Rotate your hands slightly clockwise on the club if you’re a right-handed golfer.
• Pressure: Keep your grip firm but relaxed to avoid tension, which can open the clubface.

A strong grip helps naturally square the clubface, reducing the chances of an open position at impact.

2. Adjust Your Swing Path

An outside-to-in swing path is a major cause of slicing. Here’s how to train yourself to swing from the inside-out:

• Focus on the Takeaway: Start the clubhead slightly inside the target line during your takeaway. This inside path will encourage a more natural in-to-out swing.
• Practice the “Drop”: At the top of your backswing, feel the club “drop” down instead of coming over the top. This helps keep the club on an inside path as you transition into your downswing.
• Visualize an In-to-Out Path: Picture the clubhead moving slightly right of the target at impact. Practicing this visualization helps create a subtle draw, which counteracts the slice.

3. Square the Clubface at Impact

Ensuring that the clubface is square to the target line is essential for eliminating slices. Try these strategies to keep your clubface on point:

• Use Alignment Aids: Set up alignment rods or tees on the ground to ensure your clubface and body are square to the target.
• Rotate Through Impact: Focus on rotating your forearms and hands through impact. This movement helps keep the clubface square, promoting a straight or slightly draw-biased ball flight.
• Practice Slow-Motion Swings: Slow down your swing to feel where the clubface is pointing through each part of the swing. This awareness will make it easier to adjust when you swing at full speed.

4. Adjust Your Stance and Ball Position

Sometimes, a minor adjustment to your stance can make a big difference in eliminating your slice:

• Ball Position: Position the ball slightly further back in your stance if you tend to slice. Placing it too far forward can lead to an open clubface at impact.
• Shoulder Alignment: Ensure your shoulders are square to the target. Open shoulders can contribute to an outside-in swing path and exacerbate slicing.
• Weight Shift: During your downswing, shift your weight to your front foot to promote a more inside-out path and prevent the slice.

5. Practice with Drills to Correct Your Slice

These drills will help reinforce the changes needed to correct a slice:

Inside-to-Out Drill

Place a headcover or small object just outside the target line, about a foot behind the ball. Practice swinging so that the clubhead misses the object on its way to the ball. This drill helps reinforce the feeling of an inside-out swing path.

Swing Path Gate Drill

Place two tees slightly wider than your clubhead about 6 inches in front and behind the ball. Your goal is to swing through the “gate” without hitting the tees. This drill helps ensure a straight path and proper clubface control.

Toe-Up Drill

To promote a square clubface, take practice swings where you pause halfway through your backswing and ensure the clubface is toe-up (square to the arc of your swing). This drill helps prevent an open clubface at impact.

Final Thoughts on How to Eliminate a Slice in Your Golf Swing

Eliminating a slice takes time and consistent practice, but by adjusting your grip, swing path, clubface control, and stance, you can start hitting straighter, more controlled shots. The key is to be patient and incorporate these changes gradually so they become second nature. With focus and persistence, your slice will become a thing of the past, and you’ll enjoy greater accuracy and confidence on the course.

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