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what causes a golf ball to hook or slice

by Dr. Emory Pollich Sr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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10 reasons why you keep slicing the golf ball

  1. Open club face. The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. ...
  2. Thumbs too on-top of the grip. One of the more common misconceptions when it comes to a “weak” grip causing an open club face is golfers thinking their thumbs ...
  3. Arms separating from body. ...
  4. Keeping lead arm straight too long. ...
  5. Bad posture. ...
  6. Not flexible enough. ...

More items...

Correct Your Swing Path
Hooks often come from swinging on a path that is too in to out. Practice a swing path that is more neutral and not too inside out. Golfers who struggle with hooking the ball can try an easy fix that may quickly fix this common issue.

Why do I slice my golf ball?

There may be no greater power loss than a slice. The ball sometimes starts out ok and then makes this depressing curve, robbing you of all of your potential distance and power. You can fix that slice, but it starts with understanding what causes it in the first place… 1. Open club face The most common cause of a slice is an open club face.

How to fix a slice or hook on a golf swing?

This drill will help you fix the slice and fix the hook. This drill is all about checkpoints and getting the feel of proper form. Take your setup. Swing back until your lead arm is parallel to the ground. Check that the club face is square.

How to hook a golf ball?

When you hook the golf ball, it lands well to the left of the target. If you are left-handed, reverse that. A hook starts to the left of the target and curves drastically towards the right. A hook happens when you deliver a closed club face to the golf ball at the moment of impact.

How do I stop slicing the ball in golf?

If you slice the ball try the opposite. Flare your back foot and square your forward foot. This will help increase your ability to rotate back and also slow your body rotation down on your forward swing, both helping with path and sequencing of body and arms. It is time to stop slicing the ball.

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What makes a golf ball hook or slice?

Slices and Hooks are both golf shots that curve too much sideways. The difference when comparing a slice vs a hook is the direction that the shot curves. For a right-handed golfer, a slice curves too much to the right. A hook curves too much to the left.

Why am I hooking and slicing the ball?

Our review of a hook vs slice in golf has demonstrated that multiple factors cause you to play these torrid shots. Your equipment, grip, swing path, angle of attack, and clubhead position at impact are all factors that can cause you to slice and hook your ball.

Do most golfers hook or slice?

The most common ball flight for amateur golfers is typically the golf slice. The out to in swing path move is very normal and you shouldn't feel bad if this is your usual miss. One way to try and lessen the common golf slice miss is to try to work your swing path more towards the in to out movement.

How do you fix a hook and a slice?

1:204:54This is Why You Slice and Hook Golf Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipReal quick as some of my golf instructor fellow friends out there watching this video and they mightMoreReal quick as some of my golf instructor fellow friends out there watching this video and they might be hey Todd you can have a closed Club face and still slice of golf ball that is true and if you

How do I stop hooking the golf ball?

1:204:34How To Stop Hooking The Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe club face is going to face more down to the ground on the toe is going to be pointing. More overMoreThe club face is going to face more down to the ground on the toe is going to be pointing. More over there okay. So if we're hooking the golf ball the club face is closed.

How do I correct a slice in my golf swing?

6:528:185 simple ways to fix your golf slice (they work) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut if you want to fix your slice you don't want to hit the heel you want to hit the middle. Or ifMoreBut if you want to fix your slice you don't want to hit the heel you want to hit the middle. Or if anything slightly more towards the toe.

What swing path causes a hook?

Taken together and to summarize, a hook is caused by the combination of a: Severe inside-out club path, Clubface that is closed to that path and. Clubface that is pointing to the right of the target at impact.

Why am I hooking all my golf shots?

The upper body obstructs or interferes with the club's path to the ball. The most common reason players get stuck is, they don't keep the arms and club in front of the chest as they turn back and through. When the club trails the upper body on the way down, the hands have to flip the clubhead over to recover.

What swing path causes a slice?

A slice happens when a sidespin is put on the ball, causing it to curve to the right for a right-handed player and to the left for a left-handed player. Sidespin to the right is caused when the clubface is open (pointed right) relative to the path the club is traveling as the club impacts the ball.

Can ball position cause a hook?

A Rearward Ball Position Those who swing out-to-in often have more forward ball positions, and they're usually players who slice the ball. It's no coincidence, because ball position can determine the hook or slice spin that occurs during the shot, as well as dynamic loft.

How do I stop slicing?

SET YOUR HANDS SO THEY CAN RELEASE Two grip mistakes make a slice almost inevitable. Many players use a grip that's too weak--with the thumbs pointing straight down the handle. Make your grip stronger, so your hands are turned away from the target and your palms are parallel with each other.

How do you cure a slice?

3:1410:54How To Cure A Slice Fast and Easy - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you think about every year in all the major magazines. They've always got a tip how to cureMoreSo if you think about every year in all the major magazines. They've always got a tip how to cure your slice. And what they try to get you to do is they try to get you to square the face at the ball.

What is a golf slice?

The dreaded golf slice – a ball that can start any direction, but curves dramatically to the right (for a right-hander) – often into the trees or out of bounds. Amateurs try all sorts of things to fix their slice;

Can you draw a slice with a left swing path?

Sure – you can’t draw the ball with a left swing path (barring some wild gear effect – see later), but you can manage it and turn a slice into a fade (like Hogan, Nicklaus etc) by having the face LESS OPEN to the path. An “out-of -control” slice is created by a combination of a left swing path AND a face that is too open (to the right of) that path.

What does it mean when a golf ball is a hook?

A hook happens when you deliver a closed club face to the golf ball at the moment of impact. “Closed” means the club faces is rota ted in towards your body.

What is the most common way a golf ball slices?

The most common ball direction for an amateur golfer is without question the slice. The way in which the ball slices is an open club face or an out to in club path. The push slice is the result of both of these causes occurring at once.

What is the most common ball flight for amateur golfers?

The most common ball flight for amateur golfers is typically the golf slice. The out to in swing path move is very normal and you shouldn’t feel bad if this is your usual miss. One way to try and lessen the common golf slice miss is to try to work your swing path more towards the in to out movement.

What is the best position to hook a golf ball?

Upper Body Position. If you tend to hook the golf ball, you might be tilting your upper body too far away from the target at setup. While a little tilt in this direction is a good thing and can even help you hit a nice, high draw, too much tilt is a recipe for disaster.

What is the difference between a right and left hook shot?

If you are a right-handed golfer, a hook shot starts to the right of the target then veers toward the left mid-flight. When you hook the golf ball, it lands well to the left of the target. If you are left-handed, reverse that. A hook starts to the left of the target and curves drastically towards the right.

How to tell if you're cupping a golf ball?

To determine if you’re cupping, use the logo of your golf glove for a reference point. If the logo points toward the sky on the takeaway, your club face is open. You are going to slice the golf ball. If the logo points too far downward at the top of your backswing, once again, you’ve opened the club face.

Why does the golf ball start out to the right of the target?

For a right handed golfer, the ball starts out to the right of the target because the golf face is open and continues to move right due to the out to in club path. The pull slice has the out to in club path but differs from the push slice because it has a shut face rather than an open one.

Why does a ball slice?

Because the ball is traveling in a curved line, it will not go as far as a ball that travels in a straight line, assuming all else is equal. The picture below helps you get a better idea of why this is: You’ll Be Less Accurate – the reason a ball begins to slice is that it has too much sidespin.

Why does my golf club slice?

Having the ball too far back in your stance can also sometimes cause a slice. That’s because the club will have less time to release before reaching the ball, resulting in a slightly open clubface at impact.

How many times should you backswing a golf swing?

It’s recommended that the speed of your swing follows a 3:1 ratio. Your backswing should take three times as long as your downswing. For that reason, I would recommend choosing a 3-syllabal word to say in your head for your backswing, and a 1-syllabal word for your downswing.

What is a push slice?

Push Slice. For a righty, a push slice starts on the right side of the target line before traveling further to the right. In this case, a double negative does not make a positive. A push slice will likely result in a lost ball or an unfavorable lie on your next shot.

What is a slice in golf?

A slice is a type of shot in golf where the ball starts on a straight line and then immediately veers off to one side. For a right-handed golfer, a slice travels from left-to-right. For a left-handed golfer, the shape is right-to-left. For the remainder of this article, I’ll refer to directions based on what a right-handed player would see as ...

How to fix a golf ball that is spinning?

How to Fix It. Set up in your stance like you’re about to hit a drive. Now, tilt your upper body so that it leans behind the golf ball. This is called the “reverse-k” position. The reverse-k position will help you stay behind the golfball and make contact on an upward angle, reducing the amount of spin on the ball.

What happens if you spin a golf ball sideways?

If it’s spinning sideways as it comes off the tee, the air will catch the dimples on the ball and cause it to drift off to the right. A High, Weak Ball Flight – another consequence of putting too much spin on the ball is that sometimes it has a tendency to rise up into the air.

Hook vs Slice: Understanding the Difference

Most beginner golfers struggle with slicing the golf ball, especially with the larger clubs like the driver and fairway woods. But hooking is common too.

What Causes a Slice?

There are several different reasons why golfers slice the ball. We’ll cover a couple of these in detail below.

What Causes a Hook?

Just as with slicing, there are plenty of reasons why golfers hook the ball. Here are the two main reasons for hooking.

Is it Better to Hook or Slice?

To play at your best, you need to eliminate both hooks and slices from your golf game. Both types of mishits can be detrimental to shooting a good score consistently. Both types of swing flaws should be worked on at the range with lots of practice time.

What Does Slicing in Golf Mean?

Slicing is a common issue amongst most golfers. However, hitting the wrong shots during a game can turn out to be annoying. If you are right-handed, you hit a slice whenever your golf shot bends far to the right. Similarly, you hit a slice when your golf shot bends far to the left if you are left-handed.

Why Does Slicing Happen in Golf?

If you are concerned about why your shots are bending to the far right or left, here are eight reasons why slicing happens in golf:

How to Fix a Slice in Golf?

Now you know why and what causes a slice in golf. Your next big question may be what to do about it. Here are six tips on how to fix slicing issues in golf.

What Causes the Slice in Golf – Final Thoughts

The answer to “What causes a slice in golf?” is pretty straightforward. Weak handgrip and posture are some of the reasons why most golfers fall victim to golf slices. Of course, you can’t become a master without passing through the learning phase.

What does it mean when a ball pulls left?

A hook occurs when the ball pulls left if you are right-handed and right if you are left-handed. Often this is caused by players closing their clubface at impact and it causes the ball to fly off to the left.

What is the third factor that impacts hook shots?

Rotation is the third factor that impacts hook shots. If you do not transfer your weight through impact. Your hands will take over, and it will lead to a closed clubface.

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 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 are the two S words in golf?

There are two “S” words that golfers dread more than any other: The first is the dreaded “shank.”. The second is the slightly less-dreaded, but far more common “slice.”. Our partners at GOLFTEC have spent countless hours diving deep into the causes — and effects — of the most widespread problem in golf. They found that about 60 percent of all ...

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Hook vs Slice: Understanding The Difference

What Causes A Slice?

  • There are several different reasons why golfers slice the ball. We’ll cover a couple of these in detail below. Improper Grip / Too Weak The gripis one of the most vital parts of the golf swing. Think about it – your hands are the only link between you and the golf club. Having a grip that is “too weak” will often cause you to slice the golf ball be...
See more on golfworkoutprogram.com

What Causes A Hook?

  • Just as with slicing, there are plenty of reasons why golfers hook the ball. Here are the two main reasons for hooking. Improper Grip / Too Strong We talked above about the dangers of having a grip that is too weak and how it’ll often lead to slices. Along those same lines, a grip that is too strong will usually lead to hooks because the clubface is too closed at impact. Again, we’re not t…
See more on golfworkoutprogram.com

Is It Better to Hook Or Slice?

  • To play at your best, you need to eliminate both hooks and slices from your golf game. Both types of mishits can be detrimental to shooting a good score consistently. Both types of swing flaws should be worked on at the range with lots of practice time. If we had to pick one over the other though, we’d choose the hook over the slice. Hooks can usually be corrected by some slight twe…
See more on golfworkoutprogram.com

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