What Is a Golf Slice Shot?

For a right-handed golfer, that frustrating banana-shaped shot that sails uncontrollably to the right is called a slice, and it is easily one of the most common issues in the game. It’s a shot that steals distance, lands you in trouble, and can ruin an otherwise great round. In this guide, we will break down exactly what a slice is, look at the common causes behind it, and most importantly, give you a clear, actionable plan to straighten out your ball flight for good.

What Exactly Is a Slice? (And Why It Robs You of Distance)

A golf slice is a shot that curves excessively away from the golfer's body. For a right-handed player, the ball will curve dramatically from left to right. For a left-handed player, it will curve from right to left. It’s important to distinguish a slice from a controlled fade, a fade is a shot that curves gently to the right with far less sidespin, and is often played intentionally by skilled golfers to navigate a hole.

A slice, on the other hand, is almost always uncontrolled and undesirable. The physics are simple: the slice is caused by a significant amount of sidespin on the golf ball. Instead of the backspin that creates loft and forward momentum, the ball is spinning on a tilted axis. This sideways spin acts like an airplane's wing, creating lift on one side of the ball, forcing it to curve dramatically.

This unwanted sidespin is a massive power leak. All the energy that should be propelling your ball forward is wasted making it spin sideways. This is why a sliced drive might feel powerful off the tee but ends up 50 yards shorter and in the next fairway over compared to a shot hit straight.

The Two Core Causes of a Slice: The 'What' and the 'Why'

At its heart, the slice boils down to the relationship between your clubface angle and your swing path at the moment of impact. Virtually every slice can be traced back to one or both of these two factors. By understanding them, you can start to diagnose your own swing.

Cause #1: The Open Clubface at Impact

Think of your clubface as the steering wheel for your golf ball. Whichever way it’s pointing at the moment of contact, that’s the primary direction the ball will start, and that’s where the spin will come from. An “open” clubface means it’s pointing to the right of your target line for a right-handed golfer.

When the clubface is open at impact, it strikes the ball with a glancing blow, imparting that signature left-to-right sidespin. Even if your swing path is perfect, an open face will produce a weak shot that veers right.

What causes an open face? The most common reason is your grip. A “weak” grip, where the left hand is rotated too far to the left (counter-clockwise) and the right hand is too far underneath the club, makes it very difficult to square the face at impact. The club naturally wants to return to an open position through the hitting zone.

Cause #2: The "Over-the-Top" Swing Path

Your swing path is the direction the clubhead is traveling as it approaches the ball. An ideal path for most shots moves from slightly inside the target line, to the ball, and then back to the inside after impact - an "in-to-out" motion. This is the natural result of a rotational swing powered by the body.

The slice is most often associated with an "out-to-in" swing path. This happens when a player initiates the downswing with their arms and shoulders, throwing the club "over the top" of the correct swing plane. The club travels from outside the target line to inside it, cutting across the ball from right to left.

This "over-the-top" move is a classic sign that the arms and hands are leading the swing, rather than the body. The golf swing should be a rotational action, with the club moving around the body in a circle. When the arms take over and try to hit *at* the ball instead of allowing the body to unwind, the club is thrown outward, producing that slicing motion. When you combine this out-to-in path with an open clubface, you get the classic, weak, high-flying slice.

Your Action Plan to Fix the Slice: A Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding the causes is the first step, but now it's time for action. The good news is that fixing a slice doesn’t require enormous, athletic changes. It’s about correcting your fundamentals and re-training your swing to move more efficiently. Follow these steps patiently.

Step 1: Check and Correct Your Grip

Your grip is your only connection to the club, so we have to start here. A neutral grip will make squaring the clubface feel natural instead of forced.

• Left Hand (for right-handed players): Place your left hand on the club so that when you look down, you can clearly see the knuckles of your index and middle fingers. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point roughly toward your right shoulder. If you only see one knuckle or none, your grip is likely too weak.
• Right Hand: Now place your right hand on the club. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point towards your right shoulder. The palm of your right hand should essentially cover your left thumb.

Heads Up: If you've been slicing for a long time, a correct, neutral grip will feel bizarre. It might feel like you're going to hook the ball miles to the left. Trust it. Learning the correct hold is one of the strangest feelings in golf, but it's fundamental to fixing your slice.

Step 2: Correct Your Setup and Alignment

Many slicers subconsciously try to fix their shot by aiming far to the left of the target. This actually makes the problem worse. Aiming left encourages your shoulders to open up, which promotes an over-the-top, out-to-in swing path. You have to aim correctly to swing correctly.

Use alignment sticks or a couple of golf clubs on a driving range mat.

• Place one stick on the ground pointing directly at your target. This is your target line.
• Place the second stick parallel to the first one, just inside the ball, pointing in the same direction. This is your body line.
• Set up to the ball so that your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders are all parallel to that second stick. This ensures your body is aimed properly, not aiming left to compensate for your slice.

Step 3: Fix Your Swing Path with Simple Drills

With a good grip and proper alignment, you can now work on retraining your swing path from out-to-in to in-to-out. Here are two fantastic drills for that.

Drill #1: The Headcover Blocker

This drill gives you instant feedback about your swing path.

1. Place your ball on a tee (even with an iron).
2. Take your driver headcover and place it on the ground about a foot outside of your golf ball and slightly in front of it.
3. Your goal is to hit the ball without hitting the headcover. If you come over the top, you will inevitably hit the headcover on your downswing. To avoid it, you are forced to drop the club to the inside and approach the ball from the correct path. Start with slow, half-swings until you can consistently miss the headcover.

Drill #2: The Feet-Together Drill

This drill is all about getting your body and arms to work together in the proper sequence, which is a major factor in fixing an over-the-top swing.

1. Set up to the ball but place your feet so they are nearly touching.
2. From this narrow stance, take very easy, smooth, 50% swings.
3. Because you have no base for support, your body can’t lunge or heave at the ball with your arms. You’ll be forced to simply rotate your chest and torso around a stable center point to make contact. This drill promotes fantastic balance and rhythm, helping your arms simply "go along for the ride" as your body turns.

Final Thoughts

A slice is primarily caused by two issues working together: an open clubface and an out-to-in swing path. By addressing your fundamentals - building a neutral grip, setting up square to your target, and practicing drills that promote a body-led, rotational swing - you have a clear roadmap to turn that frustrating slice into a powerful, straight shot.

While these pointers are your foundation for improvement, we know old habits can be tough to break on the course. That’s why we designed an on-demand coach like Caddie AI. If you suddenly start slicing mid-round, you can get instant, simple advice on how to manage it, or even snap a photo of a tricky lie to get a smart strategy. It’s about having a judgment-free expert in your pocket, taking the guesswork out of your game so you can stop wrestling with your swing and start playing with more confidence.