The dreaded golf slice. What is a slice? Its a golf shot that curves to the right for a right handed player and curves left for a left handed player. Many golfers find themselves off the fairway after the slice. The slice shot is the one golfers most common golf shot miss hits . How to correct a golf slice can and often is easily fixed.
The slice is a very fustrating shot for many golfers and most don’t try to correct it. Most golfers make the mistake of not setting goals on improving their golf game. Then is it no wonder why their scores never improve.
A slice most commonly happens when a golfer’s swing is too much from the left to the right. This causes the club face to be open too much and drives the ball right or slices it.
So what are the problems a golfer does that causes the slice? A slice shot is often caused by the following factors either 1 or more:
1) The golfer swings his club not in the target line
but to a target line that goes to the right.
2) A slice can be caused by a bad grip on the club.
3) An open club face (meaning the club face points
to much to the right with a right to left (right-hander) movement of the club (again off target line).
Ball Position
Make sure the golf ball is in line with your forward shoulder (left shoulder for right-handers). Many golfers that have a slice problem have the position of the ball to far back in relation to their front shoulder. With the position of the golf ball in line with the front shoulder you will be allowing the club face to hit the ball at a more aligned or square angle
as opposed to the club face being angle to the right if the ball is positioned further back from the front shoulder. Also with the ball in position of the front shoulder will give your club more of an ascentioned on the hit as opposed to a descention on a ball that’s positioned too far back(resulting in a divot).
The Grip
The grip is very important. Especially in how open the club face is when you strike the ball. That would mean is the club face going to strike the ball dead on or cocked too much too the right. If the club face is on the other hand cocked too much to the left a hook shot would happen.
If the grip is too far too the left the club face will be more open pointing the tip of the club face too far to the right. So when lining up to take your shot pay close attention to the grip and the position of the club face. Make sure your club face is in position that the club face will hit the ball straight on. Also make sure your club face stays in the correct position throughout your swing.
The Stance
Slicing and the Golfer’s Stance most often is caused by by a shift too far to the right will cause the golfer to swing in a direction to be to far to the left. That is the the golfers swing instead of being straight on would be from the left to the right (kind of a catywhompus swing). Many golfers do not realize what a correct stance is and what a correct swing is. Checking a stance with a grip can many times correct a slice.
Make sure your club face is square to the target line to the hole. Also what can be helpful is to have your shoulders and feet lined up to the hole. Sometimes the stance alone will correct the slice.
Another tiip as your looking down your club shaft you want to be able to see two or more knuckles. Take some practice shots and let the line of the ball be your guidance with these tips.
Back Swing
Another factor to consider when the ball is slicing is your back swing. If your back swing is too steep or at an angle coming to the ground. Many times the golfer will hit the ground. To adjust the golfer will then adjust his club face out. Again wrong. Too see if your hitting the ball to steep make sure on the back swing the club face is over the back of the shoulder and not over the head (which is to high).
The Downswing
The last thing to check to correct a slice is for the golfer to check the downswing (after grip, stance, and back swing). Correcting the grip, stance, and back swing explained earlier will collect a large percentage of slices. Another trick would be to keep the right arm next to the rib cage as long as possible throughout the golf swing.
Get on the correct swing plane
You want your takeaway to have the club head on the outside of your hands. Mentally focus on keeping the club head outside your hands. This may feel strange but you are forcing swing and the club face to be on a more inside path.
Also visualize which direction you want the ball to go in. Try visualizing if you were a batter at the plate playing baseball. Try to hit visualize hitting the ball to left field.
Practice and then see where the ball goes. It might start to go straight instead of a slice to the the right. Practice your swing without hitting the ball with this new swing until it feels comfortable.
Conclusion
Let the flight of the ball be your guide to adjustments. Get out there on the golf course or driving range (or other) and practice correcting your golf slice by making adjustments using the tips in this article. You may be surprised that just a minor correct may correct your slice. You have seen many tips on how to correct a golf slice in this article, (Polara golf balls are designed to correct hooks and slices.)
Once you correct your slice with the right adjustment (grip , stance, holding of the club face) the new swing movement may feel a little awkward. But be re-assured that after time your new adjustment will feel natural. If you wan to learn more about correcting a golf slice visit the article on Jack Moorehouse on this website.
