One of the most, if not the most asked question in golf is “how to fix a golf slice”. A sliced shot will start off somewhat to the left (for a right hander), then burrow right in some cases running parallel and off the fairway and into trouble.
golf with Mt Shasta in the background
In less extreme cases, some players will adjust their set-up by aiming proportionately left of the target, compensating for their slice. This not only takes away many shot possibilities, (teeing off on a narrow dog-leg left) but robs you unnecessarily of valuable yardage. The backspin produced from a slice will take ten, twenty, thirty yards off a drive.

Fixing a golf slice is simple. The ball slices (back spins) because it is hit with an open club face. You can “square up” or close your club face by a few simple swing adjustments, and will cost you about $3 at your local driving range. Take a bucket of balls and work on these subtle changes. You’ll discover the right combination of adjustments before you know it.

Grip: Grab a club and grip it with your left hand (righties). The shaft should be just touching the top of the palm with the fingers closed around the shaft. Your thumb, if placed on the shaft, should be right on top. Many grips have a design for this alignment. If you have been gripping the shaft with your palm, like a softball bat, place the club in a gloved hand as described above, and draw lines on both sides of the shaft with a felt pen. This is a great reminder, and before you know it, your new grip will be automatic. golf glove with grip lines

Adjustment: To adjust the flight of the ball, turn this grip ever so slightly (1/8”at a time) in clockwise (lefties counter clockwise). This will automatically close the club head at contact and straighten out that slice.

Stance: Make certain you are not addressing the ball with an open stance. This will create a fade or a slice. Your feet should form a parallel line to your intended flight path. To draw the ball, conversely, place your front foot slightly forward or closer to the ball. This is closing your stance. Remember, you only need slight adjustments to see and feel results.

Swing: Finally, the plane of your swing should travel inside/out. Probably, the most common cause of a slice is an outside/in swing. The backswing is the key. As you draw the club back, try to keep the club head close to the ground as long as you can while rotating from the waist. Your front shoulder should rotate under your chin. Practice feeling the difference of an inside/out and outside/in swing. Hit some balls with these swings so your body can feel the difference. Feel the swing, and then swing the feel.

With today’s club technology, fixing a golf slice is simple. Your job is simply to let the club do the work. The rotation speed of your body should be the same from your wedges through to your driver. For this exercise use no more than a ¾ swing, but make sure you follow through. Don’t block your wrists. A well struck ball with a ¾ swing will travel straighter and farther. In this instance, less really is more. Enjoy!