How to Fix Your Golf Slice: 3-Step Guide

For years, golfers blamed swing path for slicing. But modern ball-flight research has changed our understanding completely. Studies using launch monitors like TrackMan show that ball direction is determined roughly 75-85% by face angle at impact, not swing path. Here's what this means: when your clubface is open (pointing right for right-handers) at impact, your ball starts right and curves even further right. The open face creates the sidespin that produces that familiar banana slice. Most slicers compound this problem with an out-to-in (over-the-top) swing path, which adds even more slice spin. The good news? Once you understand that face angle is the primary factor, you can focus your practice on the grip and release mechanics that square the clubface. Path and alignment matter too—they complete the picture—but fixing your face angle first gives you the biggest improvement fastest.

Your grip is the foundation of clubface control. Start by placing your lead hand (left hand for right-handers) on the club and rotating it clockwise until you can see 2-3 knuckles when you look down. Then match your trail hand so both Vs formed by your thumbs and forefingers point toward your trail shoulder. This stronger grip position helps the clubface rotate closed naturally through impact, counteracting the open face that causes slices. This may feel "too strong" at first if you're used to a weak grip—that's completely normal. Stick with it through a few practice sessions and it will begin to feel natural.

This step might seem counterintuitive, but it's incredibly effective: deliberately practice hitting hooks. Learning to produce the opposite ball flight teaches you what a closed clubface feels like at impact. Start with your stronger grip from Step 1. Take some practice swings where you aggressively rotate your forearms through impact, feeling your trail hand cross over your lead hand. The goal is to hit exaggerated hooks that curve dramatically right to left. Don't worry about where the ball goes at first—you're building the sensation of closing the clubface. Once you can reliably produce a hook, you've developed the most important skill for eliminating your slice. You can then dial back the exaggeration to hit straight shots or controlled draws. Watch Pádraig Harrington explain this exact technique in the video below—it's one of the most effective drills for fixing a slice.

Now that you can close the clubface and hit hooks, it's time to refine your swing path and alignment for consistency. Many slicers unknowingly aim their body left of the target to compensate for their slice, which actually encourages an out-to-in path. Set up with your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to your target line—not at the target itself, but parallel left of it (like railroad tracks). Place the ball slightly forward in your stance, just inside your lead heel for driver shots. During your downswing, feel like you're dropping the club into a shallower plane rather than coming over the top. Imagine swinging toward right field (for right-handers) rather than pulling across toward third base. This inside-out path, combined with your stronger grip and hook practice, will deliver the clubface square or slightly closed at impact. Practice with alignment sticks to groove this path. The ball should start slightly right of your target and either fly straight or draw gently back to center.