How to Stop Slicing the Golf Ball: A Step-by-Step Guide
Slicing the ball? Fix it fast with this step-by-step guide covering grip, swing path, and clubface drills proven to straighten your shot.
By Marcus Bell, PGA Teaching Professional
How to Stop Slicing the Golf Ball: A Step-by-Step Guide
A slice is caused by a clubface that is open relative to your swing path at impact. To stop slicing, strengthen your grip so two to three knuckles show on your lead hand, swing more from inside to out, and close the clubface through impact. Most amateur slices disappear within a single range session when those three fixes are applied together.
Key Takeaways
- A slice is almost always a clubface problem, not a power problem.
- Check your grip first. A weak grip causes 70% of recreational slices.
- Swing path matters less than face angle, but both must work together.
- The "headcover drill" and "split-grip drill" fix most slices in 30 minutes.
- If your slice persists, your shaft flex may be too stiff for your swing speed.
What Causes a Slice in Golf?
A slice happens when the clubface points to the right of the swing path at impact (for a right-handed golfer). That open-face contact puts left-to-right sidespin on the ball, sending it curving hard to the right. The bigger the gap between face angle and path, the bigger the slice.
Three things create that gap:
- A weak grip that returns the face open
- An out-to-in swing path that swipes across the ball
- Poor body rotation through impact that leaves the hands lagging behind
You can have one of these and still hit reasonable shots. Combine two or all three and you get the classic banana ball.
How Do I Fix My Golf Slice Step by Step?
Step 1: Strengthen Your Grip
Set up to the ball with a club in your lead hand. Look down. You should see two to three knuckles on the back of that hand. If you only see one, your grip is too weak and the face will return open.
Rotate your lead hand clockwise (for right-handers) until the V formed by your thumb and index finger points toward your trail shoulder. Match the trail hand to that V. This is a neutral-to-strong grip and it is the single highest-leverage change most amateurs can make.
Step 2: Check Your Alignment
Slicers compensate by aiming further and further left. That makes the slice worse because it forces an even more out-to-in path.
Lay a club on the ground parallel to your target line. Set your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to that club. Square is uncomfortable at first because your eyes are used to seeing left. Trust the alignment stick.
Step 3: Train an In-to-Out Path
Place an empty headcover about six inches behind the ball, just outside your target line. To miss the headcover, your downswing must approach from inside the line. Hit short pitches first, then build up to full swings.
This is the headcover drill, and it is the fastest way to feel a neutral path without thinking about it.
Step 4: Release the Clubface
Hit half swings with one focus: the toe of the club must pass the heel through impact. Exaggerate it. Your right forearm should roll over your left (for right-handers) just after contact.
If you cannot feel the release, try the split-grip drill: grip with your hands separated by two inches and hit slow half swings. The separation forces the trail hand to rotate the club, which is exactly what needs to happen in a real swing.
Step 5: Rotate Your Body Through Impact
A stalled body forces the hands to flip, and flipping with an open face produces a slice. Practice finishing every swing with your belt buckle facing the target and your chest pointing left of target. Hold the finish for three seconds. If you cannot hold it, you stopped turning.
Why Am I Slicing My Driver But Not My Irons?
Drivers magnify face-to-path gaps because the ball is teed up, the clubface is long, and the shaft length amplifies any mistake. A two-degree open face with a wedge is almost invisible. The same two degrees with a driver curves 25 yards offline.
If you slice only the driver, try these adjustments:
- Move the ball forward to your lead heel. Late ball position lets you hit up on the ball and helps square the face.
- Tee the ball higher. Half the ball should sit above the crown.
- Tilt your spine slightly away from the target at address. This pre-sets an in-to-out path.
- Check your shaft flex. A shaft that is too stiff will not load and unload in time, leaving the face open. Most golfers with swing speeds under 95 mph should not be playing stiff flex.
What Drills Stop a Slice the Fastest?
These three drills, done for 15 minutes each, will straighten most slices in a single session.
Featured snippet target: The 3 Best Anti-Slice Drills
| Drill | What It Fixes | How To Do It |
|---|---|---|
| Headcover Drill | Swing path | Place headcover 6" behind and outside the ball. Swing without hitting it. |
| Split-Grip Drill | Face release | Separate hands 2" on the grip. Hit slow half-swings. |
| Towel Under Trail Arm | Connection and rotation | Pin a towel under your trail armpit. Hit 50-yard wedges keeping it in place. |
Spend five minutes on each, then go hit normal shots. Most golfers see their ball flight straighten or even draw within 30 balls.
How Long Does It Take to Cure a Slice?
For most recreational golfers, a slice that has been ingrained for years can be substantially improved in one to two range sessions and largely eliminated in three to six weeks of consistent practice. The grip change is instant but feels strange for about 100 swings. Path and release changes require more reps because they involve motor learning.
Track progress by hitting 10 drivers and counting how many curve more than 15 yards right. When that number drops from 8 of 10 to 2 of 10, you have cured the slice.
Want to track your progress over time? [LINK: How to Calculate Your Golf Handicap] will show you how to turn ball-striking gains into an official number.
Should I Get Fitted to Stop Slicing?
Yes, if your slice persists after you have fixed your grip and path. Two equipment issues create slices that no swing change will fully solve:
- Shaft too stiff: The clubhead arrives open because the shaft never kicks. A regular or senior flex may fix this overnight.
- Driver face too open at address: Some drivers have adjustable hosels. Setting the face one or two degrees closed counteracts a residual slice.
A 30-minute fitting at a reputable shop usually pays for itself in shots saved.
FAQ: How to Stop Slicing the Golf Ball
Q: Why do I slice the ball even with a good grip? A: Grip is necessary but not sufficient. If your grip is correct and you still slice, the problem is almost always swing path. Use the headcover drill to train an in-to-out path.
Q: Can the wrong driver cause a slice? A: Yes. A shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed, or a driver with a square or open face setting, can produce or worsen a slice. Get fitted by a professional if you suspect equipment is the issue.
Q: Is a slice or a hook worse? A: Neither is worse, but slices typically lose more distance because the sidespin reduces carry. A controlled draw is the most efficient ball flight for distance.
Q: How do pros avoid slicing? A: Tour players combine a neutral or strong grip, an in-to-out path, and full body rotation through impact. They also play equipment matched to their swing speed and tempo.
Q: Should I swing easier to stop slicing? A: Sometimes. A 70% effort swing reduces compensation and lets you feel the correct path and release. Once your fundamentals are solid, you can ramp back up to full speed.
Q: Can I fix my slice on the course mid-round? A: Yes. Aim slightly right of your target, strengthen your grip on the next tee shot, and focus on rotating your chest to the target through impact. These three quick fixes can save you strokes immediately.
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