How to Fix a Cut Golf Swing

That weak, left-to-right cut shot is one of the most frustrating and power-sapping problems in golf, but it’s entirely fixable. You don't need a massive swing overhaul, just a clearer understanding of what’s causing the unwanted curve. This article will show you exactly why you’re cutting the ball and give you actionable checklists and drills to start hitting straighter, more powerful shots today.

First Things First: What Exactly Is a Cut and Why Does It Happen?

Before we can fix it, we have to understand the problem. A cut, or its more dramatic cousin the slice, isn't random. It’s a predictable outcome based on two specific factors at the moment of impact: your swing path and your clubface angle. Understanding this relationship is foundational to fixing your shot shape for good.

The Simple Physics of the Slice

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

• Your swing path is the direction the clubhead is traveling as it strikes the ball. For a cut, your club is moving from outside-to-inside&mdash,or swinging to the left of the target line (for a right-handed golfer).
• Your clubface angle is where the face of the club is pointing at impact. For a cut, your clubface is open relative to a square position facing the target line.

When the club swings to the left but the face is pointing to the right of that path, you impart "cut" spin or "sidespin" on the ball. The ball starts left (following the path) and then curves dramatically to the right (following the open face). The more drastic the difference between your path and face, the more severe the slice.

It's important to distinguish this from a fade. A fade is a controlled, gentle left-to-right shot shape used by skilled players. A cut is an unintentional, steep, high-spinning shot that robs you of distance and lands you in trouble. Our goal is to eliminate the unintentional cut.

Diagnosing the Root Cause: The Three Main Swing Cut Culprits

Now that you know the “what” (out-to-in path, open face), let's find the “why.” The cut is rarely just one thing, it's a chain reaction. For most golfers, it starts with a problem in the setup that forces a compensation in the swing itself. Let’s go through the most common offenders.

Culprit #1: A “Weak” Grip That Leaves the Face Open

Your hands are your steering wheel. If they’re positioned incorrectly on the grip, the club will naturally return to an open position at impact, no matter how good the rest of your swing is. The most common grip fault for slicers is a “weak” grip.

• The Fault: For a right-hander, a weak grip means the left hand is rotated too far to the left (under the club) and the right hand is too far on top. You might only see one knuckle on your left hand when you look down. This position makes it very difficult to square the clubface through impact.
  1. Lead Hand (Left Hand for Righties): Place your left hand on the club so you can clearly see two to three knuckles when you look down. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder or right ear.
  2. Trail Hand (Right Hand for Righties): Let your right-hand side up against the handle. The palm should face the target. Close your fingers around the grip so the "V" aformed on this hand also points toward your right shoulder area. The palm of your right hand should cover your left thumb.
-

We need to strengthen your grip to a more "neutral" position.

This will feel strange at first - possibly like the club is going to go left - but stick with it. This new grip gives your hands the leverage they need to release and square the clubface naturally through impact. No forced manipulation required.

Culprit #2: Poor Setup and Alignment

This is a sneaky one. After hitting a few slices, what does your brain tell you to do? Aim farther left! This is a classic compensation that unfortunately only makes the slice worse. By aiming left, you are encouraging an even more "over-the-top" swing path as you subconsciously try to swing the club back toward the target.

• The Fault: Setting up with your shoulders, hips, and feet aimed left of the target. This pre-programs an out-to-in swing path before you even start your backswing.
• The Fix: Use alignment aids to check your setup.
  1. Lay two clubs or alignment sticks parallel on the ground. Place one stick just outside your golf ball, pointing directly at your target.
  2. Place the second stick parallel to the first, just outside your heels. This is your body line.
  3. When you take your stance, ensure your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders are all parallel to that second stick. This ensures your body is aimed parallel-left of the target, which is the correct alignment, allowing you to swing the club down the target line.
  Many golfers are shocked to find that what felt straight was actually aimed 20-30 yards left. Use the sticks until a square setup feels normal.

Culprit #3: The "Over-the-Top" Move

This is the actual swing move that causes the cut path. It’s an aggressive, upper-body dominant move from the top of the backswing. Instead of the lower body starting the downswing and allowing the club to "drop" into the right position, the shoulders and arms lunge forward, throwing the clubhead *outside* the target line. From there, your only option is to chop across the ball from out-to-in.

• The Fault: An incorrect sequence where the arms and shoulders start the downswing before the lower body. It's often driven by an impulse to "hit" the ball hard rather than swinging the club.
• The Fix: Promote the right sequence with targeted drills that create the feeling of swinging from the "inside-out."

Grooving a New Swing: Actionable Drills to Get You on Plane

Reading about the fix is one thing, feeling it is another. These drills are designed to give you instant feedback and retrain your body to deliver the club from the inside, neutralizing your path and eliminating the cut.

Drill 1: The Headcover Gate Drill

This is a fantastic drill for instant feedback on your swing path.

1. Address the ball as you normally would.
2. Place an object, like a headcover or a rolled-up towel, about a foot outside of your golf ball.
3. Place another object a few inches behind and slightly inside of your golf ball. You’ve now created a “gate” that your club must swing through.
4. The goal is simple: swing and hit the ball without hitting either object. If you hit the outside object, you came over the top. If you hit the inside object, you came too far inside (which is rare for a slicer!). This drill forces you to find the correct path to the ball.

Drill 2: The “Tuck the Elbow” Feel

This is less of a drill and more of a feeling to ingrain during practice. An over-the-top move happens when your trail elbow (right elbow for a righty) flies away from your body on the downswing.

1. Take your regular stance and make some slow, deliberate practice swings.
2. As you start your downswing from the top, your only thought should be to get your right elbow to feel like it’s tucked in close to your right hip.
3. Imagine you have a towel trapped under your right armpit, and you don’t want to let it drop until after impact.
4. This feel forces the club to drop "into the slot" behind you, promoting a powerful in-to-out path instead of a weak out-to-in cut.

Drill 3: The Pump Drill for Proper Sequencing

This drill helps you separate your lower body and upper body movements, creating the correct downswing sequence.

1. Take your normal setup.
2. Start your backswing and stop at the top.
3. Now, "pump" the club down three times by starting the downswing just with a slight hip bump toward the target, allowing the club to drop to about waist high. Feel the club get behind you.
4. After the third pump, continue the swing and hit the ball.
5. This drill exaggerates the feeling of the lower body leading the downswing, making it a habit that will quiet the over-the-top move.

Final Thoughts

Fixing your cut isn’t about some secret move, but about understanding the simple relationship between your swing path and clubface. By systematically checking your grip, alignment, and shallowing out your downswing with targeted drills, you can quiet that left-to-right curve and replace it with a powerful, straight ball flight.

As you work on these changes, getting objective feedback is immensely helpful. We developed Caddie AI to be your personal coach in your pocket, ready 24/7. When a new feel isn't quite translating on the range, you can ask for immediate analysis of what might still be going wrong. If you get stuck with a tricky lie that brings your slice-miss into play, you can even snap a photo of your ball to get an instant, smart recommendation for how to navigate the situation and avoid that big number on the scorecard.