How to Adjust a Slice in Golf

That dreaded banana ball - the high, weak shot that curves wildly offline and robs you of distance - can be one of the most frustrating parts of golf. It turns potential pars into double bogeys and makes you nervous about pulling out your driver. But you don't have to live with it forever. This guide will walk you through the real reasons that slice happens and give you straightforward, actionable steps to finally straighten out your ball flight, transforming that slice into a powerful, controlled shot.

First, Understand Why You Slice

Contrary to popular belief, a slice isn’t just one big, complicated problem. It’s almost always the result of a specific combination: an out-to-in swing path combined with a clubface that's open to that path. Let's break that down, because understanding it is the first step to fixing it.

Imagine a straight line running from your ball to your target.

• Out-to-In Swing Path: This is the 'over-the-top' move you may have heard about. It means your club is approaching the ball from outside that target line and cutting across it to the inside after impact. This path is what starts the ball to the left of your target (for a righty).
• Open Clubface: As your club cuts across the ball, your clubface is pointing to the right of your swing path. This open face imparts the sidespin that makes the ball curve dramatically back to the right.

The result? A shot that starts left and then curves weakly to the right, landing in the trees or the next fairway over. To fix the slice, we need to address both these issues. We need to get your swing path working from the inside-to-out and learn to square the clubface at impact.

The Grip: Your Steering Wheel for the Clubface

Your hands are your only connection to the golf club, which makes your grip the number one influencer of where the clubface points. A "weak" grip, where the hands are rotated too far to the left on the club (for a righty), is a huge A-list celebrity in the world of slice offenders. It actively encourages the clubface to stay open through impact. Here’s how to check and correct yours for a more neutral, slice-busting hold.

Step 1: The Top Hand (Left Hand for Righties)

Take your normal stance and let your left arm hang naturally at your side. Notice how your palm isn't facing directly forward, but is slightly turned inward. This is the natural position we want to replicate.

• Place your left hand on the grip so that when you look down, you can clearly see two to three knuckles. If you can only see one, your grip is too weak. If you see all four, it's likely too strong.
• Check the "V" formed by your thumb and index finger. It should be pointing somewhere between your right ear and your right shoulder.

Step 2: The Bottom Hand (Right Hand for Righties)

Once your top hand is set, it's time to add the bottom hand. Its job is to support the club and work with the top hand, not against it.

• Like with the left hand, let your right arm hang naturally to find its neutral position.
• Bring your hand to the club so the palm of your right hand covers your left thumb. Think of the lifeline in your right palm fitting snugly over that thumb.
• The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should mirror your left hand, also pointing somewhere up toward your right shoulder.

A Quick Note: This new grip will probably feel incredibly strange. That’s normal and, honestly, it’s a good sign. It feels weird because it’s different from what was causing your slice. Stick with it. Hit short, easy shots at the range until it starts to feel a little more familiar. Holding the club this way makes it much, much easier to naturally square the face at impact without you having to manipulate it.

Your Setup: Don't Preset a Slice

Many golfers who slice do something unconsciously that makes the problem even worse: they aim their entire body to the left to play for the slice. It seems logical, but this alignment actually encourages the ‘over-the-top,’ out-to-in swing path we want to get rid of. It creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We need to get your body aimed correctly so your swing has a chance to work on the proper path. Use this simple train-track alignment method:

1. Stand behind your ball and pick out an intermediate target - a leaf, a discolored patch of grass, something just two or three feet in front of your ball that lies directly on your target line.
2. Walk up to your ball and aim your clubface squarely at that intermediate target. This is the "ball-to-target" track.
3. Now, set your feet, hips, and shoulders on a line that is parallel to your clubface's line. This is your "body" track. Both tracks should point parallel to each other, like railroad tracks running toward your target.

Also, check your posture. Make sure you're bending from your hips, not your waist, keeping your spine relatively straight and letting your arms hang down freely from your shoulders. Good posture a good athletic foundation, helping you rotate properly and maintain your balance - both of which help prevent the lunge that leads to a slice.

The Swing Path: Banishing 'Over the Top'

This is the big engine behind the slice, the move that creates that ugly cutting-across motion. The 'over-the-top' action happens in transition - when you move from your backswing into your downswing. Instead of the club dropping down onto a good path from the inside, the right shoulder, arms, and club lunge outward and forward, forcing the club onto that steep, out-to-in path.

Changing the path isn't easy, as it's a long-standing habit. But drills and 'feels' can rewire your motor patterns. Here are two fantastic ones.

Drill: The Headcover Gauntlet

This drill provides immediate, cannot-be-ignored feedback if you come over the top.

• Take your normal address.
• Place a spare headcover (or a rolled-up towel) about six inches outside your golf ball and six inches behind it. It should be in the "danger zone" - right where your club would travel on an extreme out-to-in path.
• Your one and only goal is to hit the golf ball without hitting the headcover. In order to miss it, you will be forced to drop the club to the inside on the downswing. The first few attempts might be clumsy, but soon you'll start to feel your club approaching the ball from a much shallower, more inside angle.

Feel: The Right Elbow Tuck

Most slicers have a right elbow that "flies" away from their body at the start of the downswing, kicking the club outside the line. To fix this, you need a different feeling.

At the top of your swing, feel like your first move is your right elbow dropping down and tucking in close to the right side of your torso. Imagine you have a towel tucked under your right armpit and you want to keep it there until impact. This feeling keeps the club on a path behind you, setting you up to swing from the inside out and attack the ball from the a powerful position.

Controlling the Clubface: Allowing It to Release

Once you’ve started to correct your swing path, you might find you’re hitting the ball straight right. This is actually progress! It means your path is now in-to-out, but your clubface is still open at impact. This is called a "push." The final step is learningto let the clubface release so it’s square (pointing at the target) when it meets the ball.

This release isn’t a violent, jerky hand action. It’s a natural result of your body rotating and your arms unwinding. Your stronger grip will help facilitate this immensely. The feeling you want is for the toe of the club to "beat" the heel to the ball. As you swing a proper in-to-out path, feel your hands and forearms naturally rotate through the impact zone, allowing the face to square up. Good players apear to be chasing the ball down the target line with the clubhead after they hit it.

Final Thoughts

Straightening out a slice involves checking your setup fundamentals like grip and alignment, and then patiently re-training a new swing motion that moves from the inside out. By systematically addressing the root causes step by step, you can replace that weak, frustrating slice with a solid, powerful, and consistent ball flight.

Understanding the "why" behind your slice is a huge step, and these drills provide a great roadmap for the "how." But sometimes you need personalized feedback on your specific swing. When you’re at the range or on the course, we designed Caddie AI to be your swing coach on-demand. Instead of guessing if you're coming over the top or leaving the face open, you can get instant swing analysis and targeted advice to guide your practice sessions right when you most need it.