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.
How does a golf ball slice?
In simple terms, the ball will slice if the clubface is open to the club’s path at impact. Which means that even if your clubface is pointed left of the target line (closed) at impact, if your club is travelling on a path that’s even further left your golf ball is going to curve to the right. image: GolfTec. And the more the clubface is open ...
What is a slice in golf?
What Is A Golf Slice? A slice in golf is when the ball curves excessively to the right (right handed golfer) or to the left (left handed golfer). Note: For the rest of this guide I’m going to use right handed examples. If you’re left handed, then just reverse the instruction.
How to stop shoulders from spinning out of the way?
Start your downswing with a small shift (hip bump) to the left before swinging your arms through. That will stop your shoulders from spinning out way over the swing plane, and help to neutralize your path. If you’re still out-to-in, then you should see more of a fade than a big ugly slice.
What is the square part of golf?
The square part is when you hit the ball. The first two fixes are bandaids to stop you slicing. But working on your path is actively trying to improve your golf swing (with the associated benefit of eliminating your slice). Rather than focusing on the how here, I’ve found it’s best to give your brain a task.
How to hit a golf ball with a headcover?
Place a headcover just behind and outside the golf ball. If you swing over the top and come out-to-in , you’ll hit the headcover. To hit the ball, you’ll have to come from the inside. There’s no other way to do it.
What does it mean when the ball is open shoulders?
And open shoulders means a club path to the left, which of course combined with an open clubface, leads to a slice.
What does "open shoulders" mean in golf?
And open shoulders means a club path to the left, which of course combined with an open clubface, leads to a slice. Important: before taking your final address position hover your club at the height of the ball directly behind it and make sure that you’re aligned to the middle of the clubface.
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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 side of the target line does a push slice start on?
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 side does a push slice start on?
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.
Does a slice of a ball go as far as a straight shot?
You’ll Lose Distance – a slice will often provide much less distance compared to a straight shot. If you think about this, it makes sense. 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.
Why does my golf ball land right?
With the common over-the-top or outside-in slice, the path of your club from the top of the backswing to impact is causing the ball to land right. Over-rotating your shoulders or stopping the downswing rotation too soon can cause this.
What does it mean when the ball starts off to the right and ends up farther to the right?
If the ball starts off to the right and ends up even farther to the right, you may have a “push” slice with an inside-out swing. In all cases, your club face is open, not square, when you hit the ball, causing the ball to fly right.
How to get exaggerated feeling in golf swing?
This exaggerated feeling can be adapted to your normal swing with your feet in the regular position. Check your position at impact so your shoulders are above your knees, and your knees are above your feet. Shift your weight smoothly to your left foot on the downswing.
What happens if the ball flies straight?
If your ball flies straight and then curves to the right, your club face may be open at impact, forcing the ball off course. On the other hand, if the ball starts to the left and then curves right, you have a “pull” slice and your swing path could be outside-in.
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 happens if you slice a golf club?
If you have a slice you cannot control, you might not be shifting your weight properly from your back foot to your front foot when you take a full swing. That will cause your club face to be open as it hits the ball.
How to tell if you are swinging outside in golf?
Take your club to the top of your swing and look at the direction the club is pointing. If it is pointing to the left of the target (if you're right-handed), you are swinging outside-in.
How far above the ball should you take your golf club?
If it is pointing to the left of the target (if you're right-handed), you are swinging outside-in. Cure that by taking your club to about 18 inches above the ball, then take it back from there and pay attention to the plane of your swing.
What does it mean when your grip is weak?
A weak grip means your thumbs are more on top of the club, so when you swing it, you will tend to open the club face and hit a slice. To correct this, turn your hands (clockwise if you are right-handed) so you see more of the knuckles of your left hand.
Can a precarious course ruin a golf score?
Precarious courses are difficult to navigate without controlling your slice. It's insidious, and it can ruin a golf score. You have a chronic problem, and you have probably spent time and money to correct it. But in the end, it always comes back to haunt you. It's the dreaded slice.
Why is a slice considered a golf shot?
Because it misses the target it is considered a golf shot error that should be avoided. Note that technically, a slice can also be referred to as a pull slice since similarly to that shot, the ball will start left of the target. Continue reading in order to find out what causes slices and for advice on how to stop slicing shots.
What is a slice in golf?
In golf a slice – or a sliced shot – is one that sees the ball beginning its flight left of the target initially but then curving aggressively to the right as a result of strong clockwise sidespin. Because it misses the target it is considered a golf shot error that should be avoided. Note that technically, a slice can also be referred ...
What is side spin in golf?
In order for a shot to feature considerable side spin the clubface must hit the ball with an angle that doesn’t match that of the club path. Or in other words, the clubface will not be perpendicular to the direction of the club at impact if the ball is to spin sideways.
What direction does the clubface go in a slice?
Or in other words, the clubface must aim to the right of the direction of the club path itself. In addition to this, because the ball starts its flight left of the target initially it means that the club was closed relative ...
What does it mean when the ball starts flight left of the target?
In addition to this, because the ball starts its flight left of the target initially it means that the club was closed relative to the target, meaning that is was aiming to the left of it. And finally, the only way the club can be aiming to the left of the target at impact yet be open relative to the path is through a severe outside-in club path.
What is slice in stance?
A slice is strongly associated with an open stance. Indeed, it is very likely that your feet are aligned to the left of the target at address whenever producing slices.
Why is my golf club open at impact?
The reason your club is open to the path at impact is probably because you are using a grip that is too weak for your swing. Indeed, a grip that is of the weaker variety promotes a lazy release of the hands and club at impact, which effectively leaves the clubface open to the path. Moving to a stronger grip can be done easily.
