What Happens When You Slice a Golf Ball?

That frustrating left-to-right banana ball, the one that flies majestically into the trees on the next fairway over, is one of the most common and confidence-sapping shots in golf. The slice steals distance, ruins scorecards, and makes the game feel incredibly hard. We’re going to get to the bottom of what's happening when you slice a golf ball, identify the real reasons behind it, and most importantly, give you a clear, step-by-step plan to straighten out your ball flight for good.

What a Slice Actually Is (And Isn’t)

Before we can fix it, we have to understand the opponent. A slice is a ball that curves excessively from left to right for a right-handed golfer (or right to left for a lefty). It’s not a simple push, where the ball starts right and flies straight on that line. A slice starts left or straight and then takes a sharp turn away from the target, often losing a lot of yardage in the process due to excessive backspin and sidespin.

This unwanted curve comes from a simple mismatch in golf swing physics, governed by two main factors:

• Club Path: This is the direction the club head is moving through the impact zone. For most slicers, the club path moves from outside the target line to inside the target line - an "out-to-in" path. Imagine cutting across the ball from right to left.
• Club Face Angle: This is where the club face is pointing at the exact moment of impact. For a slice, the club face is open (aimed to the right) relative to that out-to-in swing path.

When the out-to-in path "cuts" across the ball while the face is open to that path, it creates sidespin. Think of how you’d slice a tennis ball with a racquet - it’s the same gliding, glancing blow. This spin is what causes the ball to curve dramatically in the air. The mission, then, is simple: we need to get your club path moving from the inside and get your club face square to that path at impact.

Diagnosing the Slice: Finding the Sickness Before the Cure

So, why is your path moving out-to-in and your face open? It’s almost never just one thing, but usually a chain reaction a handful of common issues. Let’s look at the most common culprits, starting from before you even swing.

It Might Be Your Grip

The way you hold the club is the steering wheel for your shot. Many golfers who slice have what’s called a "weak" grip. Despite the name, this has nothing to do with grip pressure. A weak grip is one where your hands are rotated too far to the left (for a righty) on the club.

How to Spot a Weak Grip:

• Look down at your left hand at address. If you can only see one knuckle, or none at all, your grip is likely too weak.
• The ‘V’s formed by your thumbs and index fingers are probably pointing more toward your chin or left shoulder, rather than your right shoulder.

When you hold the club this way, it’s much harder for the club face to naturally rotate and square up through impact. It tends to just stay open, which is a primary ingredient for a slice. Your hands will want to return to a natural position, and if they start too far left, they will return with an open face.

Your Setup Could Be the Problem

Many golfers try to "fix" a slice by aiming way left of the target, hoping to give the ball room to curve back. This is a temporary band-aid that often makes the root problem worse. Aiming your body to the left but your clubface at the target creates an open stance. From here, the only natural way to swing is to pick the club up and swing it "over the top" and across your body - entrenching that out-to-in swing path.

Signs of a Poor Setup:

• Open Shoulders: Your feet might be square to the target, but your shoulder line is often aimed far to the left. This is a very common issue. The shoulders dictate the swing path more than anything else.
• Ball Position: With irons, the ball might be too far back in your stance. This can promote a steeper downswing, making an outside path move more likely.

The Swing Lioan: The “Over-the-Top” Move

This is it. The single biggest, most destructive move that causes a slice. The infamous "over-the-top" swing happens at the very beginning of the downswing. Most amateurs struggling with a slice have a perfectly fine backswing, but the transition from backswing to downswing is where everything goes wrong.

Here’s the breakdown of the move:

1. You finish your backswing.
2. Instead of letting the lower body start the downswing, your shoulders and arms fire first.
3. Your right shoulder pushes outward, toward the ball, throwing the club outside the correct swing plane.
4. From this position, the only way to hit the ball is to swing down steeply and from out-to-in, cutting across the ball.

This move is a pure power leak and the absolute factory for a wicked slice. It happens because we instinctively want to hit the ball hard with our arms and shoulders, treating the swing like a chopping motion instead of a rotational one.

Fixing the Slice, One Step at a Time

Alright, you know the causes. Now it’s time for the solution. We'll rebuild your swing from the ground up, focusing on a few key feels and drills that will transform your out-to-in path into an in-to-out path.

1. Fix Your Grip Foundation

Before you do anything else, you have to get a neutral grip. This will feel strange at first, especially if you’ve been slicing for years, but stick with it.

• Left Hand (for righties): Place the club in your fingers, not your palm. When you close your hand, you should easily be able to see at least two knuckles (your index and middle finger knuckles). The ‘V’ between your thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder.
• Right Hand: Your right hand should cover your left thumb so the ‘V’ on your right hand also points to your right shoulder. It should feel like your palms are facing each other.

This new grip will make it much more natural for you to release the club and let the face square up without you having to manipulate it.

2. Get Aligned for Success

Ditch the habit of aiming left. We want to align our body parallel to our target line, creating space for the club to swing from the inside. Think of train tracks: the right rail is the line for the ball, and the left rail is the line for your body (feet, hips, and shoulders).

• Step 1: Stand behind the ball and pick an intermediate target just a few feet in front of it on your intended line (a discolored patch of grass, a leaf, an old divot).
• Step 2: Walk up to the ball and aim your clubface squarely at that intermediate target. This is the most important part. First square the clubface.
• Step 3: Set your feet parallel to the clubface and aget an equal distance from the track of target line to the ball. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should all be pointing parallel to the target line, not at the target itself.

3. Drills to Re-Route Your Swing Path

Getting your club to attack the ball from the inside, or "shallowing," is the antidote to the over-the-top move. It will feel completely different, like you’re going to swing out to the right. Trust the process. Here are two drills to get you there:

Drill 1: The Headcover Guard

This drill provides immediate, unmissable feedback. Place your driver's headcover (or a rolled-up towel or empty basket) on the ground about a foot outside of your golf ball. If you make your old over-the-top swing, you will hit the headcover on the downswing. To avoid it, you have no choice but to drop the club to the inside to start your downswing. This drill forces you to find the correct path.

Drill 2: The Right-Elbow Tuck

A major reason the club gets thrown outside is that the right elbow flies away from the body in the downswing. This drill fixes that. Place a small towel (or a glove) in your right armpit. Make swings at about 50% speed with the goal of keeping the towel pinned against your body until after impact. You can't do this if your arms disconnect and swing on their own - you have to rotate your torso to move the club. This promotes a connected, body-powered swing, which is naturally an inside-out swing.

Final Thoughts

We’ve learned that a slice is fundamentally an out-to-in swing path paired with an open club face, often caused by your setup, grip, or an 'over-the-top' move. By addressing these building blocks and practicing simple drills to ingrain a new 'inside' swing path, you can finally tame that slice and start hitting the powerful, reliable shots you know you're capable of.

Getting rid of a stubborn slice can feel isolating and complex. Sometimes, what you need is a reliable second opinion right when you’re struggling. We developed Caddie AI to be that instant, on-demand golf coach in your pocket. You can ask what might be causing your slice and get immediate, actionable advice, or even snap a photo of a poor lie in the rough to learn the smartest way out, helping you turn frustrating moments into learning opportunities.