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what makes you slice a golf ball

by Prof. Maci Sporer PhD 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. ... The most common cause of an open club...
  2. Thumbs too on-top of the grip. One of the more common misconceptions when it comes to a “weak” grip causing an open...
  3. Arms separating from body. One of the great stabilizers of a square club face is...

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

How to cure a golf slice?

May 29, 2020 · 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. ... The most common cause of an open club... 2. Thumbs too on-top of the grip. One of the more common misconceptions when it comes to a “weak” grip causing an open... 3. Arms ...

How to stop slicing the golf ball?

Jul 07, 2019 · 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. The Lesser-Known Issue Not many people know this, and it’s only really an issue with bigger headed clubs (almost negligible with irons) but…… You could be slicing it because of a strike issue.

What causes golf ball slice?

May 02, 2016 · Golf tips: Why you slice the ball, and how to fix it Published on Monday, May 2, 2016 For most new golfers, the first frustration to overcome is usually how to make consistent contact with the ball.

How to fix a slice in golf?

This visual challenge, called parallax, is caused by your eyes being to the side of the ball at address. Parallax makes slicers try to pull the ball to hit their target. But the more you swing...

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How do I stop my golf ball from slicing?

3:598:16How to: STOP slicing the golf ball | REALLY EASY TIPS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLine more to the outside. So you can see it's a very different angle.MoreLine more to the outside. So you can see it's a very different angle.

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.29 May 2020

How do you not slice a ball?

One of the easiest ways to do this is to drop your right foot back slightly at address. This will naturally create an inside to outside swing path and give you more room to swing out toward your target. Again, most slices are caused by an over the top motion on the downswing.

What causes me to slice the ball?

This visual challenge, called parallax, is caused by your eyes being to the side of the ball at address. Parallax makes slicers try to pull the ball to hit their target. But the more you swing left, the more likely the clubface will be open to that path at impact, which causes a slice.9 May 2017

Can standing too close to the golf ball cause a slice?

Standing too close to the ball causes a loss of posture, reduction in arm extension, loss of balance, loss of speed, toe hits, slices, low hooks and a change in swing path. Always check you setup first when you start hitting errant shots.22 Feb 2013

Can ball position cause a slice?

The forward ball position shifts the shoulders open to the target, which leads to an out-to-in swing and usually a slice. Standing too far from the ball pulls the upper body downward, leading to a compensating stand-up move through impact, another common cause of the slice.28 Jul 2009

Does a weak grip cause a slice?

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.8 Feb 2018

What causes slice with driver?

What causes a slice? The most common cause of a slice is an outside-in swing path. This means that through the initial part of your downswing, your club is outside the line of the ball (or further away from you than it should be).

What's the difference between a slice and 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.

Why do I slice with my driver but not my irons?

The general problem with a slice is that your stance is too open. This means that your leading foot is behind the trailing foot when facing the target. To exacerbate this, golfers tend to open their stance aiming further left and increasing the angle of the out-to-in swing path.

How do you hold a driver not to slice?

TIP FOR YOUR GRIP: Set your left thumb on the back side of the grip and your right one on top. If you hit a lot of slices, you should "strengthen" your left-hand position on the club. All you have to do is grip it more in the fingers, as opposed to the palm.21 Nov 2013

How do you stop a driver slice?

8:0436:09Stop Slicing Your Driver | Complete Guide - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow the traditional way of saying stop the slice is by saying let's swing more inside-out or to theMoreNow the traditional way of saying stop the slice is by saying let's swing more inside-out or to the right get that inside-out path get this Club in the slot.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to hit a golf ball in slow motion?

Take the club back on an exaggerated outside path on the backswing, then loop it down to the inside at the start of the downswing. And do it in slow motion. You can hit balls, but make sure you’re swinging no-more than 40-50%. If the ball travels 30 yards that’s absolutely fine.

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.

What is the first frustration in golf?

For most new golfers, the first frustration to overcome is usually how to make consistent contact with the ball. But once that's accomplished, it usually leads to a second, sometimes life-long frustration. No matter what they do, every shot slices off to the right. And the harder they try to hit the ball straight, the worse it becomes.

What does an outside in swing do?

And an "outside-in" swing robs you not only of direction but distance as well. It's an easy fix, and will remove a lot of the inherent frustration for beginning golfers. Here's an excellent video by King describing the swing plane and what causes hooks and slices.

What does it mean when a golfer is over the top?

The golfer at top of the page—the one who sees the target to the left—tries to pull the ball and, therefore, comes over the top. That means the downswing is over the top of, or steeper than, the backswing. Problem is, this move inhibits arm rotation through impact.

How to swing past your body?

A good drill for learning to swing past your body is to drop your back foot away from the target line so you're in an exaggerated closed stance. Practice from that position, and you'll learn to swing into the ball from the inside before the club exits to the left.

How to find your ideal left hand grip?

Slice City! Here's how you find your ideal left-hand grip. Stand with your arms at your sides and tilt into your golf posture.

How to hit a steep downswing?

The only way to hit it from a steep downswing is to pull your arms in and drag the grip to the left. That's why over-the-top swingers slice: The arms don't rotate, so the face stays open. Try the split-grip drill to feel arm rotation ( below ). Set up with a 6-iron, then separate your hands six inches on the grip.

Can you hit balls on a golf swing?

You can hit balls, too. You'll naturally keep the club to the inside on the downswing, and your left arm will fold against your side as you go through. You'll feel the top of the grip slow down into impact as the right arm rotates over and rehinges the club into the follow-through.

Can you draw a golf ball?

You'll be hitting from the inside with the clubface closing at impact for a draw. Yes, a draw. For the grip, a lot of golfers have heard two things: (1) Point the thumbs down the shaft, and (2) The palms face each other.

Understanding The Ball Flight Laws

Why? If you understand the ball flight laws you can start to become your own swing instructor and make corrections on the range or the course by reading the flight of your golf ball. Understand the ball flight laws is step one in fixing your slice.

The Different Types of Slices in Golf

In example 1 above, the pull slice is the most common swing fault and slice issue that high handicap golfers face. This is a result of a swing path that is way too far to the left and the club face can’t possibly get left of the swing path.

Solution to Fix Your Slice

Many books have been written and videos created to help golfers fix their slice. I believe the number one swing issue that causes a slice is an overactive upper body that turns and twists and the arms stay connected to the body, resulting in a major pull slice. The most dreaded shot in golf.

Know Your Numbers: Consider a Launch Monitor

The prices of launch monitors today make owning one much less expensive than even 5 years ago. For between $500 and $2000 you can own your very own launch monitor that can be used indoors or outdoors.

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.

Can Standing Too Close to the Golf Ball Cause a Slice, Yup

Standing too close to the ball results in a bad posture, balance loss, reduction of arm extension since it does not give you enough space and a change in swing path resulting in a slice. It makes you lose your balance, and your weight is not evenly distributed on the feet, resulting in inconsistency.

How to Correct the Slice

Correcting the slice of your ball is not always easy when you start, especially when you are alone with your problem. The more your golf ball goes slice, the more you try to make it go to the left and the more it turns to the right. It gets worse and worse!

Our Final Thoughts!

Now you know that why standing too close to the ball can cause a slice, a not-so-appreciated shot in golf, often associated with beginners or amateur golfers. But with the right posture and the right distance, you can avoid it. All it takes is more practice until you realize the right stance distance according to your height.

When hitting a golf ball with an iron, do you want to hit it?

When you hit the ball with an iron, you want to hit it just as the “plane” (your club head) is landing. The opposite is true of your driver. When you hit the ball with your driver, you want to catch the ball on an ascending motion. This would be just after the low point of your swing, when the “plane” is taking off.

What does it mean when your club head hits the ball?

When you swing your iron, you hit the ball before you hit the low point. This means your club head is maintains whatever aim you set up through the moment of impact. In other words, all you have to do is aim and swing through. But your driver is different.

What happens if you use the same golf swing for both shots?

If you don’t account for that and instead use the exact same golf swing for both shots, you’re going to have trouble with one or the other. This is why one of the most common complaints throughout the history of golf is, ...

How to play golf with a club?

The next time you step up to the tee: 1 Bump your lead head toward the target and keep your head back. 2 Aim your stance slightly to the right (left if you’re left-handed). 3 Hover your club head behind the golf ball.

When to hit a golf ball with a driver?

With your driver, you hit the ball after the low point, when club head starts traveling more to the left ( if you’re right handed). This is why you have a much easier time hitting straight golf shots with your irons . . . and why you have to have to adjust for your driver.

Can you use the same swing for both irons and driver?

You can’t use the exact same swing for both your irons and your driver. Those two types of clubs are designed differently, with different shaft lengths and different lofts. They are made to achieve different goals. And until you understand those differences, you’re going to hit the ball into the weeds again and again.

Can you do a deep dive in golf?

You can do a deep dive, uncovering all the secrets of why you slice the ball and practicing drills to fix it. As a golf coach, I’m all about his option, because I think golf is fascinating and drills are fun.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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