Golf-FAQ.com

what is slicing a golf ball

by Nicolette Rau Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

A "slice" is a type of golf shot in which the golf ball curves dramatically in flight from left to right (for a right-handed golfer). The slice can be played intentionally, but is usually the result of a mishit. Slices are the most common problem for recreational and high-handicap golfers.

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.

Full Answer

What does slicing the golf ball mean?

  • Open the clubface at address;
  • Open your stance and align your body to the left of the target line, but otherwise grip and swing normally;
  • Weaken your grip (see video linked above for more on strong/weak/neutral grips). For a righthander, this means turning your hands to the left on the handle of the club.

How do you stop slicing the ball in golf?

  • As you start your takeaway, rotate the tee towards the ground, pointing straight down
  • When you get to the top of the backswing, make sure the tee is pointed toward the sky If the tee is pointed forward or down, the club face is ...
  • As you transition down to impact, rotate the tee back towards the ground, maintaining flexion

Why am I slicing the golf ball?

  • If you drive the ball 250 yards
  • Have an 5 degree left swing path (and square face)
  • The ball will curve 50 yards to the right

How far can a golfer slice a golf ball?

  • Great for golfers with lots of extra spin on their ball
  • Can fix a slice by more than 25 ft
  • Aerodynamic dimple pattern

image

How do you slice a golf ball?

0:552:03Golf Swing Tips : How to Slice a Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight. Which it did that sliced about 20 25 yards started out straight sliced to the right literallyMoreRight. Which it did that sliced about 20 25 yards started out straight sliced to the right literally by just taking my good golf swing making the swing i make always make except instead of rotating.

How do I stop slicing a golf ball?

4:108:16How to: STOP slicing the golf ball | REALLY EASY TIPS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo picture this if i draw a line going straight towards my target which is pretty much over thatMoreSo picture this if i draw a line going straight towards my target which is pretty much over that bunker a slicer will come in from the outside of that line. And then swing to the inside of that. Line.

What does splicing mean in golf?

As a verb "to splice" means to join the shaft to the clubhead. But its use is specific to scared joints. As a noun "the splice" was the point where shaft actually mated with the clubhead.

What is hooking and slicing in golf?

In simple terms, a slice is a fade that never came off right. While a hook is a draw gone wrong. In reality, it is far more complex than that, as multiple factors can induce a slice or a hook. A slice is when the ball curves off to the right and a hook is it when it curves off to the left, generally speaking.

Can standing too close to the ball cause a slice?

Standing too close to the golf ball will result in a posture that's too upright, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too close to the ball can result in slices and shanks, which are very common among average players.

Can a strong grip cause a slice?

5:187:06Strong Right Hand Grip Yet Your Slice Your Golf Shots! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you're slicing the golf ball. And you're thinking okay well I need to go stronger. With myMoreSo if you're slicing the golf ball. And you're thinking okay well I need to go stronger. With my grip to stop my slice. Don't please stop that straightaway.

Is it better to hook or slice?

Since your distance is affected as well as your direction, a slice sets up a lot of bogeys. Another reason the hook is considered to be a better miss is that, with the hook shot, a player has usually released the club, but their timing was just off. The player's clubface could also be closed slightly, causing the hook.

What is the most common cause of a slice in golf?

The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn't square and often feels like a “side swipe.” The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face.

Whats the difference between a shank and a slice?

Now, as I mentioned above, a shank occurs when you hit the ball off the hosel of your golf club. In a slice, you hit the ball fairly close to the center of the club face. This means that while a shank feels bad from the very beginning, a slice initially feels like a clean, solid shot.

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.

What's the difference between a draw and a slice?

A hook or a draw is a golf shot that goes from right to left, whereas a fade or slice is a shot that goes from left to right. This applies to right-handed golfers, if you're a left-handed golfer please reverse all techniques within this article.

What is a slice in golf?

Brent Kelley. Updated May 24, 2019. A "slice" is a type of golf shot in which the golf ball curves dramatically in flight from left to right (for a right-handed golfer). The slice can be played intentionally, but is usually the result of a mishit. Slices are the most common problem for recreational and high-handicap golfers.

Why does my golf ball slice?

At its root, a sliced shot is caused by the clubface arriving at impact with the golf ball in an open position. This may be due to setup or swing issues that cause the face to open, or to an outside-to-inside swing path that effectively opens the face by "wiping" or "swiping" across the golf ball, imparting "slice spin.".

How to solve a golf problem?

It's always best to solve a problem in golf by fixing the root cause, such as a clubface position, swing path or setup issue. But equipment can help, and making equipment changes can be of benefit to golfers who slice. See:

How to play a golf swing with a curve?

There are several ways, and you may need to combine two or more depending on how big a curve you are trying to play: Open your stance and align your body to the left of the target line, but otherwise grip and swing normally; Weaken your grip (see video linked above for more on strong/weak/neutral grips).

What is a push slice shot?

Or the ball can begin on the correct target line before swerving right. A shot that starts right of the target line and then curves farther right is a " push -slice.".

What is the difference between a slice and a fade shot?

A slice and a fade shot share the same shaping (curving to the right for a right-hander), except that a slice is more severe. A slang term for a slice is " banana ball .". The slice is the opposite of a hook shot . A sliced shot may start left of the target line and then bend dramatically back to the right of the target.

What is it called when you cut across the ball?

Cutting across the ball at impact on an outside-to-inside swing path is also called "coming over the top.". Those are the two primary causes of a slice, and in combination can create a much more severe slice.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why do I keep slicing the 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.

Why do I slice my golf club?

1. Open club face. The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn’t square and often feels like a “side swipe.”. The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face. You can make this adjustment by turning one of both ...

What are the challenges of golf?

One of the great challenges when studying golf is knowing when information is correct for you. The foot positions that are great for the the tour players, might not be appropriate for anyone with flexibility limitations. A square back foot and a flared forward foot will affect the swing path and produce a slice for many golfers who have limitations.

What is the purpose of a square face golf club?

One of the great stabilizers of a square club face is to keep your underarms relatively close to your body throughout your golf swing. If on your backswing or your downswing your underarms move away from your body, it is very easy to open the face.

How to rotate back on a golf swing?

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. 1. Open club face 2. Thumbs too on-top of the grip 3.

What happens if you move your ball too far back?

Ball position that is too far back can cause a slice and/or a pop up. As your move your ball more forward it is also important that you allow your shoulders to tilt back and away from the target. Your lead shoulder should get higher and your back shoulder lower.

How does width affect golf swing?

If the lead arm stays too stiff for too long on your forward swing, this will not only hold the club face open and making the ball s lice, but also delays the release of the club face and the speed associated.

What direction should you aim the ball when shooting a slice?

If you're shooting for a flag, aim left of the flag. That way the ball will curve toward the flag, not past it.

Where is the target on a golf club?

Remember, the target is to the left of the spot where you want the ball to end up. Instructors differ on the best way to grip the club. Some prefer normal hand placement and a tightened grip; this helps you hold the face open at impact. Others recommend a weaker grip and a normal swing.

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.

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 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 ...

What is a Sliced Golf Shot?

The slice is the #1 most common mistake in golf. Typically people will hit a slice with their driver which results in lost golf balls and bad results, due to its uncontrollable nature. For right-handed golf swings, a slice will cause the golf ball to move from left to right.

Common Causes in a Sliced Golf Shot

Like any mistake in golf, there is never one specific cause that results in an error. Nonetheless, there are some common mistakes that you should be aware of. A sliced ball is caused by an ‘out-to-in’ swing path. How far right the ball travels depends on how open your club face is at impact.

How to Fix a Slice with a Driver or Irons

Your set up is such a basic fundamental of the golf swing but so easy to get wrong. Ensure your feet are aligned parallel to the target. An easy way to do this is to place an alignment rod on the ground that you can align your feet to.

Hang in There!

With practice and a little experimenting you’ll find what works for you and by sticking to the basic golf tips mentioned above you’ll find a more consistent, improved ball flight that will be sure to improve your golf game one shot at a time!

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9