How to Cure a Push Slice in a Golf Swing

The push slice is one of the most frustrating shots in golf, sending your ball starting right of your target and then curving even further away into trouble. It feels powerless and out of control, but the good news is that it's an incredibly common issue with a very clear cause. This article will break down a push slice to its core components and provide you with a step-by-step blueprint of actionable drills to straighten out your ball flight for good.

What Exactly is a Push Slice and Why Does it Happen?

Before we can fix it, we have to understand the two pieces of the swing puzzle that create this shot. A push slice is not one single problem, but the combination of two distinct issues happening at impact: your club's swing path and your clubface angle.

The "Push" Component: Your Swing Path

The "push" part of the name refers to the initial direction the ball starts. For a right-handed golfer, this means the ball starts to the right of the target line. This happens because your swing path is moving too much from inside-to-out through the impact zone.

Imagine your target line is a straight railroad track pointing directly at the flag. An inside-to-out path means your clubhead approaches the ball from inside that track and, at impact, is still traveling outward, away from your body and to the right of the track. Think of it as swinging out towards first base instead of straight down the fairway. This path shoves, or "pushes," the ball to the right from the very start.

The "Slice" Component: Your Clubface Angle

The "slice" part refers to the spin that makes the ball curve. A slice spin is created when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at the moment of impact. When that open face makes contact, it imparts a left-to-right sidespin (for righties), causing the ball to bend dramatically to the right during its flight.

When you combine an inside-to-out path with a clubface that's open to that path, you get the double-whammy of a push slice. The path starts the ball right, and the open face adds the wicked slice spin to send it even further right. Now that we know the cause, we can begin to work on the cure.

Your Step-by-Step Plan to Eliminate the Push Slice

We're going to tackle this systematically, starting with the simplest fixes at setup before moving onto the swing itself. Don't skip ahead! Your setup can often be a major contributor to a bad swing path.

Step 1: Get a Grip on Reality

Your grip is your only connection to the club, making it the steering wheel for your clubface. Many amateurs who slice have a "weak" grip, which promotes an open clubface and is a primary cause of that slice spin.

A weak grip (for a righty) typically involves the left hand being turned too far to the left, towards the target. When you look down, you might only see one knuckle, or maybe none at all. This position makes it very difficult for your wrists to release properly and square the clubface through impact. Instead, it tends to keep the clubface coming through wide open.

Grip Checkup:

• Take your address position. Look down at your left hand without moving your head. You should be able to clearly see at least two, and preferably closer to three, knuckles.
• Check the "V" formed by your thumb and index finger on your left hand. It should point roughly toward your right shoulder or right ear. If it points more at your chin or left shoulder, your grip is too weak.
• Now add your right hand. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point towards your right shoulder. It should cover your left thumb so it's not visible.

Fixing your grip will feel very strange at first. Stick with it. A more neutral or "stronger" grip gives your forearms and wrists a far easier job of squaring - and even closing - the clubface through the ball, which is exactly what you need to fight a slice.

Step 2: Fix Your Alignment and Ball Position

This is an incredibly common trap golfers fall into. Because you watch your ball slice to the right, your brain intuitively tells you to aim further left to compensate. You might set your feet and shoulders pointing way left of the target.

The problem is, when your body is aimed left, your arms have to swing "out to the right" just to make contact with the ball. This act of swinging across your body all but guarantees the inside-to-out path that causes the "push." You've accidentally reinforced the very move that creates half of your problem!

Alignment Drill: The Railroad Tracks

1. Get two alignment sticks (or two golf clubs).
2. Place the first stick on the ground aiming directly at your target. This is the ball-to-target line - this track represents where you want the ball to start.
3. Place the second stick parallel to the first one, but a few feet closer to you. This is the track for your body. Your heels should be right up against it.

This simple visual forces you to separate your clubface aim (on the outer track) from your body alignment (on the inner track). For square alignment, your feet, hips, and shoulders must be parallel to your target line, not pointing at the target itself. Practice hitting shots with this setup until aiming square feels natural.

Also, double-check your ball position. Playing the ball too far back in your stance can also encourage that inside-to-out move as you're catching it too early in the swing arc. For a mid-iron, the ball should be in the center of your stance. For longer clubs, it moves progressively forward.

Step 3: Correcting the Swing Path

With an improved grip and alignment, we're ready to work on swing path. Our goal is to train your swing to deliver the club more squarely down the target line rather than too far out to the right.

Path Correction Drill: The Headcover Gate

1. Address the ball as normal.
2. Take a golf club headcover or an empty plastic bottle and place it on the ground about a foot outside and slightly behind the ball. It should be just far enough away so if you swing the club with your normal inside-out path, it would miss.
3. The purpose of this drill is to give you instant feedback if your path is still moving from the inside to out. To prevent hitting the cover, you must allow the club to come more down the target line, or even slightly more to the left, which will naturally aid your swing.

Step 4: Mastering the Release

The final piece is training your hands and forearms to rotate through impact. A "slice" spin happens when the clubface fails to rotate closed to square at impact.

Clubface Control Drill: The Split-Hands Drill

• Grip your club fully but set your hands a few inches apart on the handle. This gives you the feel of where each hand goes through the impact zone.
• Make slow half-swings to waist-height. Notice how your bottom hand (right hand for a righty) must work under your lead hand to rotate the club through the ball. You'll physically feel the head of the club passing your hands. This drill helps teach the release mechanism necessary to prevent slicing.

Putting It All Together: Your Checklist

• Grip: Get a neutral or slightly strong grip, seeing 2-3 knuckles on your lead hand.
• Setup Alignment: Use the railroad track drill so your body is parallel to the target line.
• Swing Path: Start with slow half-swings and gradually build up to full-speed swings. Be patient, it takes time to retrain your old movement patterns. With consistent practice, you can create the new swing you desire.

If the slice persists and seems tricky, sometimes having an expert opinion can make all the difference. With Caddie, you have a personal golf coach in your pocket ready to answer your questions about any golf drill or concept, so you can easily see improvement on the course. It's like having a personal advisor to help tailor your practice and track your progress, leading to better shots and more enjoyment on the course.