That weak, frustrating shot that peels off to the right (or left for you lefties) is the single most common headache in golf, and it can feel impossible to fix. You’re not alone in wondering, Why do I keep slicing my golf shots? The good news is that a slice isn't a complex mystery, it's a predictable result of a couple of specific issues in your swing. This guide will walk you through exactly what causes the slice and give you clear, actionable steps to finally start hitting straighter, more powerful shots.
Before we can fix it, we need to understand it. Your slice is the result of putting left-to-right sidespin on the golf ball (for a right-handed player). This spin happens for two main reasons acting together:
When you combine an open clubface with a swing path that cuts across the ball from out-to-in, you create the perfect recipe for that ugly, power-robbing slice. To fix the slice, we need to address these two problems, and the best place to start is before you even swing the club.
Your hands are your only connection to the golf club, and how you hold it has an enormous influence on where the clubface is pointing at impact. The most common cause of an open clubface and a slice is a "weak" grip. This doesn't mean you aren't holding on tight enough, it's about the rotational position of your hands.
For a right-handed player, a weak grip is when the left hand is turned too much to the left (toward the target), so you can barely see one knuckle, if any, when you look down. Your right hand then tends to sit on top of the grip. This position makes it very difficult for your hands and wrists to naturally square the clubface through impact, instead, it encourages the face to stay open.
Let's neutralize that grip and give you control of the clubface again.
Fair Warning: This new grip will feel extremely weird and "closed" at first. You will likely feel like you're going to hook the ball off planet. Trust it. Hit some small, easy shots with this new grip to get used to it. Your brain has been making compensations for your old grip, so it needs time to adjust.
Many golfers who slice have a subconscious habit: to compensate for the ball flying right, they start aiming their body further and further left. You might think this is a smart correction, but it actually makes the slice worse. When you aim your body left of the target, you pretty much guarantee an out-to-in swing path, as you'll have to "pull" the club back across your body to get it to the ball. It's a vicious cycle.
Proper alignment is the foundation of a good swing path. Imagine a set of train tracks running from your ball to your target.
Next time you practice, take your setup. Then, place your club across your shoulders. Where are your shoulders pointing? Most slicers are stunned to find their shoulders are wide open, pointing far left of the target. Then, place a club on the ground aligned with the tips of your toes. Where is that pointing? Get your body lines parallel to your target line, and you've built the foundation for a better swing path.
"Over-the-top" is the classic slicer's move. It happens during the transition from the backswing to the downswing. Instead of the lower body starting the downswing and allowing the club to "drop" down on a good inside path, the slicer's first move down is with the arms and shoulders. This aggressive upper-body-led move throws the club outside or "over" the correct swing plane, forcing that dreaded out-to-in cut across the ball.
We need to retrain the sequence of your downswing so your lower body leads the way. The goal is to feel the club swinging more from in-to-out, an opposite feeling to your slice.
This provides instant feedback on your swing path.
Start with half swings at slow speed. Once you can consistently miss the headcover, you are on the right track.
This is less about hitting balls and more about ingraining the correct feeling of the transition.
Fixing long-ingrained habits takes patience and repetition. Don’t expect to nail it perfectly on the first try. Start on the driving range and focus on just one thing at a time.
By systematically addressing your setup and swing sequence, you aren't just putting a band-aid on your slice - you're getting to the root of the problem and building a fundamentally sounder, more powerful golf swing.
As you can see, the frustrating slice is not a random event, but the direct result of an open clubface and an out-to-in swing path. By diligently checking your grip, verifying your alignment, and re-training your downswing sequence, you can turn that weak slice into a strong, straight shot or even a powerful draw.
While structured work on the range is the best way to make permanent changes, we also know that an old habit can creep back in on the course. We designed Caddie AI to act as your personal on-demand golf expert, helping you avoid those big mistakes under pressure. If you're standing on a tricky tee box and worried about the slice sending your ball out of bounds, you can get instant strategic advice on the smartest, safest way to play the hole, letting you swing with a clear mind and more confidence.
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