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 ...
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.
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.
Who is Luke Kerr?
Luke Kerr-Dineen. Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
Who is Luke Kerr-Dineen?
Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF .com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
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;
What is swing path?
Swing path refers to the direction the club is moving through impact (more right or left). All else being equal, a swing path that is more left will send the ball more right – a game of opposites.
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.
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.
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.
Who is Bill Herrfeldt?
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic.". He graduated from the University of Louisville.
Why does my golf club slice?
In this case, the player holds their club with too much force that it causes the ball’s sudden swing. Another term that is commonly used in golf is a “Weak grip.” In this, the player puts his/her thumb on the clubs top , and when he swings his/ her club, it causes their clubface to open, resulting in the form of the slice.
How to correct a slice in golf?
To correct this, you first have to look in your club’s direction after you hit the ball. If your club is on the lift side, your slice direction will be on the right side. The solution for this is that you have to take your club more than 18 inches than the ball and then throw it back to the same position and focused on the swing’s plane. After this, you have to make the downswing. For this, you have to make sure that your plane is inside like during the backswing. Repeat the process and, at this time, hit the ball, straight and without any slice.
What is the slice in golf?
Over-the-top is another mistake that most players do and thus resulting in the form of the slice. In this case, when the player tries for a backswing shot, they move their club to top when they hit the ball in this stance. The ball will land right to its target. In some cases, the slice also occurs when they stop their downswing rotation early or over-rotate their shoulders.
Why is slice horror?
Sometimes slice is horror for so many players. The reason behind this horror is that it reduces the player golf score. Below this, we have given some reasons that can cause a slice, and we have also provided a method through which you can correct your slice.
How to correct improper grip?
For right-handed players, they need to position their hand in the clockwise direction, and for a left-handed player, their hand position will be in an anti-clockwise direction. By adjusting your hand position, you will see a left hand (Right-handers) or right hand (left-handers) knuckles.
How to correct over the top slice?
To correct over-the-top slice, you first have to make your right foot 10 inches back and then swing your club to hit the ball. You can do this procedure for normal swings also. You need to check your position when you are going to hit the ball. During the impact, your shoulders above from knees and knees have to be above from feet. After this, on the downswing, you have to Shift weight down to your left foot.
What is the common mistake most players make when they swing their clubs too fast?
When they swing their club fast, most players think they would be able to achieve great distance. But by doing this, they face the horror of the slice.
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 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.
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.
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.
Who is Sharon Penn?
Writer Bio. Sharon Penn is a writer based in South Florida. A professional writer since 1981, she has created numerous materials for a Princeton advertising agency. Her articles have appeared in "Golf Journal" and on industry blogs.
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 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 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.
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.
Is it hard to fix a slice in golf?
Most amateur golfers are dying to know how to fix a slice in golf. It’s an incredibly common problem. But not because a slice is hard to fix. It’s because most golfers don’t know what to do to get rid of this miserable shot once and for all. The truth is, the slice is the easiest shot to fix.
Is a slice a golf shot?
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.
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.
How far does a golf ball go when you slice it?
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. Another way to diagnose it is to consider how much you have to adjust your aim to keep the ball on the fairway.
What are the two main elements that influence the path of your ball flight?
There are two main elements that influence the path of your ball flight: The orientation of the club face at impact . The angle of the swing path. Now, the club face is in one of three positions at impact. Open: The club face is angled to the right of the target (if you’re right-handed)
What is the swing path?
The swing path describes the path of your club head as you swing through. Your swing path will always be oriented in one of three directions. In to out: The swing path travels toward the right of the target (if you’re right-handed) Out to in: The swing path travels toward the left of the target.
Where does the swing path go in golf?
In to out: The swing path travels toward the right of the target (if you’re right-handed) Out to in: The swing path travels toward the left of the target. Straight down the line: The swing path travels directly toward the target. The combination of these two factors can really make or break your shots.
