How to Cure a Slice in Golf

That big, curving slice that lands two fairways over is one of the most frustrating - and common - shots in golf. But it isn't some random curse that only affects your game. A slice has clear, mechanical causes, and understanding them is the first step toward fixing it for good. This guide will walk you through the real reasons you slice, and give you step-by-step instructions and simple drills to transform that banana-ball into a powerful, straight shot.

First, Why Does a Slice Actually Happen?

Before you can fix the problem, you need to understand it. Your slice isn't bad luck, it’s a result of two specific things happening at impact: an open clubface in relation to your swing path, and an out-to-in swing path. Think of it like this:

• The clubface angle at impact primarily determines the ball's starting direction. A slice happens when your clubface is open (pointing to the right for a right-handed golfer). This sends the ball starting left or straight, with side-spin that will make it curve hard to the right.
• The swing path determines the curve. An "out-to-in" path means the club is moving from outside your target line to inside your target line as it strikes the ball. When you combine this path with an open face, you get that classic, weak, high-right ball flight.

The "over-the-top" swing you’ve heard about is the main cause of this out-to-in path. It’s an aggressive move from the top of your backswing where your shoulders and arms lunge forward toward the ball, sending the club on that steep, cutting path across the ball. Our goal is to fix the clubface first and then "shallow" the swing path, creating an in-to-out motion that produces powerful draws or straight shots.

Step 1: Get a Handle on Your Grip

Your hands are your only connection to the club, making your grip the steering wheel for the clubface. A "weak" grip is by far the most common reason for an open clubface and a slice. Weak doesn’t refer to pressure, it refers to the position of your hands rotated too far to the left (for a righty). Let's build a proper, neutral-to-strong grip.

The Lead Hand (Left Hand for a Righty)

Place your lead hand on the club so you can see at least two knuckles - ideally two-and-a-half to three. This is a game-changer. Slicers often only see one knuckle or even zero.

1. Start with the clubface square to your target.
2. Hold the club primarily in the fingers of your left hand, running diagonally from your first index finger knuckle to just below your pinky finger.
3. Close your hand. When you look down, you should be able to see the knuckles of your index and middle fingers.
4. Check the "V" formed by your thumb and index finger. It should point toward your trail shoulder (your right shoulder for a righty), not straight up at your chin.

This may feel incredibly strange at first, like you’re going to hook the ball off the planet. Trust the process. This stronger hand position makes it much easier to naturally close the clubface through impact without you having to consciously manipulate it.

The Trail Hand (Right Hand for a Righty)

Your trail hand is more of a support hand, but it still has a huge influence. A trail hand that’s too much on top of the grip will encourage your right shoulder to lunge forward, promoting that over-the-top move.

1. Your trail hand should also hold the club in the fingers.
2. Place it on the grip so the "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger also points towards your right shoulder. It should essentially mirror your left hand.
3. Let your right palm cover your left thumb. Whether you use an overlap, interlock, or ten-finger grip is a matter of personal comfort, all can work as long as the hand positions are correct.

Commit to this new grip. Hit short shots at the range until it feels less foreign. It is the single biggest step you can take toward curing your slice.

Step 2: Correct Your Setup and Alignment

Many golfers slice because they are unknowingly set up for it. Poor alignment forces you to make a compensation during the swing just to get the ball to the target, and that compensation is almost always an over-the-top move.

The number one mistake slicers make is aiming their feet and body directly at the target. Your target is where you want the ball to finish, not where you stand.

Use the "Railroad Tracks" Method

Imagine two parallel railroad tracks running away from you.

• The outer track is the line from the ball to the target (the target line).
• The inner track is the line your feet, hips, and shoulders are on (the body line).

For a straight shot, your body line should be perfectly parallel to your target line. A common fault is aiming the feet correctly but opening the shoulders, so they point left of the target. From this open position, the only path your arms can swing on is out-to-in. It baked the slice into your setup.

To fix this:

1. First, aim the clubface directly at your target. This is the single most important part of alignment.
2. Second, set your feet so they are on a line parallel to the left of your target line (for a righty).
3. Lastly, and this is the important bit, make sure your hips and shoulders are also aligned with your feet - square to the body line, not open to the target line. You should feel like your upper body is aiming slightly right of where you think it should be.

Step 3: Shallow Your Swing Path

With a good grip and a square setup, we can now attack the real engine of the slice: the swing path. The goal is to get the club moving from inside the target line, to the ball, and back to inside the target line (in-to-out). This is the opposite of your current out-to-in slice path.

The Backswing's Role

Your slice path often begins with an incorrect takeaway. Many slicers snatch the clubhead far inside on the backswing with their hands a little bit 'stuck inside'. Alternatively, slicers lift the club straight up with their arms. Both errors lead the body to reroute the club over the top on the way down.

A good feeling for the takeaway is "low and slow." Let your torso turn away from the ball and feel the clubhead stay outside your hands for the first couple of feet. The club, hands, and chest should all move away together as one unit. A full shoulder turn is your friend - it creates space so you don't have to lunge forward on the downswing.

The Transition: The Magic Move

The transition from backswing to downswing is where slicers go wrong and good players get it right. Slicers initiate the downswing with their shoulders and arms. Game over. You need to start the downswing from the ground up.

At the top of your swing, feel your first move be a slight shift of your weight to your front foot. This shift in the lower body will make the club feel like it is "dropping" down behind you. This is the "shallowing" move that gets the club onto an inside path. Great players feel like their back is still to the target as their arms start to fall. It’s a sequence: hips turn, then torso, then arms, then the club.

Think of it like throwing a baseball. You wouldn't throw a ball by lunging your shoulder forward first. You’d step with your lead foot, start to turn your hips, and your arm would just come along for the ride. The golf swing is the same motion, just tilted over.

Drills to Rewire Your Swing

Feel is everything. You can understand the concepts, but these drills will help you bake them into your muscle memory.

1. The Gate Drill

This is a fantastic drill for immediate feedback on your swing path. Place your ball down and then put two headcovers or water bottles on the ground to create a "gate."

• Place the first headcover about a foot behind and slightly outside your ball.
• Place the second headcover about a foot in front and slightly inside your ball.

To hit the ball cleanly, you have no choice but to swing the club from in-to-out. If you come over the top, you'll hit the first headcover on your downswing. This drill forces you to feel the correct path.

2. Towel Under the Trail Arm Drill

This drill helps fix the "flying elbow" and the over-the-top lunge. Tuck a small towel or an empty glove under your right armpit (for a right-handed golfer). Make practice swings, focusing on keeping the towel in place throughout the swing until after contact. This keeps your trail arm connected to your body's rotation and prevents it from firing out and away from you, promoting a more rounded, inside path.

Final Thoughts

Curing a slice involves a few key changes: strengthening your grip, squaring up your alignment, and re-routing your swing path from out-to-in to in-to-out. It takes patience, but by checking your grip, setup, and swing sequence systematically, you will replace that slice with a confident, powerful ball flight.

Sometimes, seeing what's wrong is the hardest part. As you work on your swing, getting instant, objective feedback can make all the difference. That’s what we designed Caddie AI to do. If you're stuck somewhere on the course - with an awkward lie or a shot that keeps getting you into trouble - you can get immediate strategic advice. You can even take a photo of your ball's lie to get a clear recommendation on how to play it, helping you avoid those big mistakes that often start with trying to overcorrect a slice.