In Golf, What Is a Slice?
- Slicing It Up. A slice will happen when the club face comes in contact with the ball from an outside-to-inside stroke.
- Take It Away. From address, start your backstroke by taking the golf club away from the ball and scrape the top of the grass.
- Bring It Back. ...
- Get Hippie. ...
- Smack Attack. ...
Full Answer
What does a "slice" mean in golf?
· A slice is a type of golf shot that curves the same way as a fade, but it curves a lot more and it’s harder to control. While a slice is played intentionally at times, it’s more commonly the result of a mishit! For righties, a slice will start left and curve to the right; for lefties, a slice will start right and curve to the left.
What is the difference between Slice and hook in golf?
· There are a few different factors, but one of the most common is your grip. A “weak” grip causes an open clubface, so if you’re slicing the ball and trying to …
How to cure a golf slice?
A slice is a golf shot that curves off to the right (for right-handed golfers). It is one of the most common mis-hits for amateurs. Many golfers struggle …
How to correct a golf slice?
· For a right-handed golfer, a slice is a golf shot that curves dramatically toward the right. A slice is never controlled and never intentional. It takes you off course and adds strokes to your game. Trust us. You enjoy a round much more when you learn how to fix a slice in golf. What’s Happening when You Slice the Golf Ball
What is a slice in golf?
A slice is a type of golf shot where the ball veers sharply off target in a banana-shaped curve that goes far right for right-handed golfers and far left for left-handed golfers. As a mishit, a slice occurs as a result of several swing faults including an outside-in swing path and an open clubface.
How to fix a slice in golf?
Alter the Orientation of Your Alignment – Golfers who suffer from a slice often think they have to aim further left for righties or further right for lefties but this often exaggerates the severity of the slice. Try closing your stance, or shifting your aim, across the target line to bring your outside-in swing closer to parallel to the target line.
What causes a golf ball to slice?
A slice is caused by the combination of a straight or outside-in swing path and a clubface open to the swing path at impact. The open clubface adds loft to the golf ball’s trajectory and exaggerates the side spin placed on the ball.
What is a closed club?
Closed – A closed club refers to the degree to which the clubface is pointed left of the swing path for a right-handed golfer and or right of the swing path for a left-handed golfer. A closed clubface decreases the trajectory of the golf ball and exacerbates the golf ball’s tailing spin.
What is an open clubface?
Open – An open clubface refers to the degree to which the clubface is pointed right of the swing path at impact for a right-handed golfer or left of the swing path for a left-handed golfer. When a golfer’s clubface is open at impact, it adds loft to the trajectory of the golf ball and accentuates the golf ball’s spin.
What is the clubface of a golf club?
The clubface is the part of the golf club that makes contact with the golf ball. The clubface is a flat surface with horizontal grooves that, at the moment of impact, will affect spin as well as the initial direction of the golf ball towards its target. The clubface can be one of three things at impact: Neutral (also called Square), Open or Closed.
What is outside in golf swing?
Outside-In – An outside-in swing path starts outside the target line and then after impact, it moves back inside the target line. When combined with clubface orientation, the resulting ball flight types are Pull, Pull Hook, and Fade.
What is a slice in golf?
The slice is an errant shot that lands up in trouble more often than not, but there is more to a sliced golf shot than what meets the eye. Below we are going to take a closer look at the different causes of a slice and how to fix it.
Why does my golf ball slice off the fairway?
If your grip is the cause of your slice it will normally mean that your grip is weak which prevents your hands from releasing the clubhead through impact. If your club head isn’t released your clubface will be open at impact which will cause the golf ball to slice off to the right-hand side of the fairway or green.
What is the grip of a golf club?
The grip is the only point of contact that a golfer has with the golf club therefore it is of utmost importance to grip the club correctly since it has a direct implication on the angle of your clubface at impact.
How to tell if your swing path is too much to the inside?
An easy way to check your swing path is to look at the angle of your divots. If your divots are facing towards the left of your target and the golf ball is slicing off to the right this will mean that your swing path is too much to the inside and vice versa if your divots are pointing to the right of your target.
What is the swing path of a golf ball?
Swing path refers to the angle of your golf swing in relation to your target. If your swing path and clubface angles are both 0 degrees at impact the golf ball will go straight. If your swing path is – 3 degrees but your clubface is 5 degrees, the golf ball will start to the left of your target and curve to the right.
What is golf alignment?
Alignment is a basic fundamental of the golf game. Proper alignment might seem easy and intuitive but even some of the best golfers in the world struggle with alignment on an on-going basis.
How to put your right pinky on a golf club?
With the club behind the ball proceed with adding your right hand to the club, you can either overlap or interlock your right pinky depending on your normal grip. Wrap the fingers on your right hand around the grip with your right thumb pointing down the shaft and with your right palm covering your left thumb. The V’s between your thumb and the rest of your hand should both be pointing at your right shoulder.
What percentage of golfers hit a slice?
They found that about 60 percent of all golfers hit a slice, with an average score of 101, and higher-handicaps tend to miss to the right of their target more than half the time. Sound like you? Turns out, there’s once cause above all else that’s probably causing you to slice so many shots.
What happens if you slice a golf ball?
If you're slicing the ball, your clubface is probably open. Here's how to fix it.
Why is my club face open?
So, why is your face open? There are a few different factors, but one of the most common is your grip. A “weak” grip causes an open clubface, so if you’re slicing the ball and trying to figure out why, that’s where you should look first.
Who made the grip change?
Finau made this grip change himself. Here’s a picture of his before (slice) grip and his after (power fade) one.
Is the clubface open at impact?
Your clubface is probably open at impact. What may seem obvious to some isn’t to others: The clubface is king in golf. The direction the clubface is pointing at impact will influence the ball’s direction more than anything else in your swing. Instruction.
What is a slice in golf?
By John Wagner. A slice is a golf shot that curves off to the right (for right-handed golfers). It is one of the most common mis-hits for amateurs. Many golfers struggle with a slice because they don't understand the cause. The physics that cause a slice revolve around two things: the club face and the swing path.
What causes a slice in golf?
A standard slice is caused by an open club face and an outside-to-in swing path. These combine to create the sidespin that causes the ball to go right. The more open the club face is at impact, the more sidespin the ball will have. The swing path determines the starting point of the slice.
How to fix a slice in golf?
To fix a slice, the golfer has to square the clubface and swing on the correct path. Closing your clubface more during your swing is one way to correct that element. The golfer must also fix a downswing that comes over the top, causing the club to swing across the ball from an outside-to-in path. Try closing your stance and swinging along ...
Why is a slice shorter than a properly hit shot?
Having more backspin causes a slice to be much shorter than a properly hit shot. The sidespin causes the ball to curve to the right in the air and then bounce and roll even further right when it hits the ground.
What are the different types of slice?
There are three different types of slices: a pull slice, push slice and standard slice. The pull slice starts left of the target and slices back to the right. A pull slice will end up the straightest of the three because it starts left.
When to slice a golf ball?
When to Slice. There are some instances where slicing can be beneficial. One would be when playing a hole that has a severe dogleg to the right. A controlled slice allows the ball to follow the design of the hole. You might also want to hit a slice when your ball is in the woods and you have to curve the ball around a tree.
Where does a push slice start?
A push slice starts right of the target and slices even further--it is the most detrimental. A standard slice starts down the target line and then goes right.
What is a slice in golf?
For a right-handed golfer, a slice is a golf shot that curves dramatically toward the right. A slice is never controlled and never intentional. It takes you off course and adds strokes to your game. Trust us. You enjoy a round much more when you learn how to fix a slice in golf.
What is the key to fixing a slice in golf?
We told you club face is key for how to fix a slice in golf. Now we’re going to teach you a great drill that will help you prevent the most common error in face orientation.
How to swing a golf club from your lead thigh to your trail high?
Focus on the journey of the club handle. You want to swing the handle from your lead thigh back to your trail high, at which point the club shaft should be parallel to the ground. Before the handle reaches your trail thigh, the logo on your golf glove should point down at the golf ball.
What are the most common mistakes that slicers make?
One of the most common mistakes we see among slicers is their setup . Interestingly, problems in the setup often occur as an instinctual effort to fix the golf slice. Golfers see their ball veering to the right, so they make subconscious changes to aim more to the left.
What to do if you keep hitting the same slice with the same driver?
If you keep hitting the same awful slice with the same driver or iron, consider scheduling a golf fitting. If your club isn’t the right fit for your golf swing, the lie angle of your club face is going to be off.
How far does a golf ball curve when hitting a fade?
When you hit a fade, the golf ball curves only about 5-7 yards from the target line. When you slice it, the golf ball curves farther . . . around 15 yards to the right of the target line. If your ball flight resembles a peeling banana, you’re dealing with a slice.
What is a lie angle in golf?
Lie angle refers to the angle between the toe and the heel in normal playing position. We’ll spare you the breakdown on the physics of golf. Just know this: if your lie angle is off, the club face is going to make contact with the ball at a tilt. This often results in a slice.
What is slice golf?
Very simply, the slice is a shot wherein the clubface angle at impact was aimed further to the right of your swing path. That combination of face and path make the ball spin left to right on its tilted axis. The shape of the resulting ball flight looks similar to a left to right curve found in a ‘banana’. Hit enough banana’s into the right woods and your friends will start calling you Tarzan.
What is the problem with a block and slice?
The original problem for both a block and a slice likely lies in your clubface, which is more open than you think it is.
Why is my club face open?
Work with a PGA-certified golf coach to help you understand the root cause of your open clubface issue: Often, the open- face position can be caused by your lead-hand grip.
What is a block shot?
A block is generally the miss of lower handicaps and professionals. People typically block a shot when they are concerned about the ball going left. Because they don’t want their clubface to close, they will ‘hold onto a square clubface’ through impact.
What causes a golfer to slice his shots?
The second step, according to golf instructor Hank Haney, is to check your grip. A weak or tight grip may cause you to slice your shots.
What is a hook slice?
A hook or a slice are two shots that you never want to hit, yet everyone from professionals to amateurs has done it. And will continue to experience them.
What is the difference between a slice and a hook?
A slice starts out right and moves left. While a hook starts left and veers to the right.
What is an anti slice tee?
Anti-slice tees are designed to prevent the clubhead from imparting sidespin that could induce a slice.
What is the third factor that prompts your slice?
The third factor that prompts your slice is your swing . Golfers with this challenge tend to swing from inside out and attack the ball from a steep angle, causing you to connect the ball with an open face.
What grip is best for a slice?
According to Hank Haney, the best grip to mitigate a slice is a neutral grip.
What happens when a right hander slices his shot?
When a right-hander slices their shot, the ball starts straight and makes a sharp right in an uncontrolled manner. Obviously, if you are a leftie, a slice will send your ball left.
Explanation of A Slice
Different Causes of A Slice
- Before we take a closer look at the different causes of a sliced golf shot it is very important to understand that every golf swing is unique and what causes one golfer to slice the golf ball might be completely different from that of another golfer. Ideally, if you struggle with getting rid of a dreaded slice the best option is to seek the help of a qualified PGA Professional golf coach. Wit…
How to Fix A Slice
- Now that we have a better understanding as to what tends to cause a slice let’s take a look at how these different problems can be fixed.
Final Thoughts
- A slice is most golfer’s worst nightmare, but with the right plan of action, you can get rid of it. Keep in mind that adjustments to your golf swing take time and practice, don’t be deterred if you don’t see results instantly.