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What causes slice in golf?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 13, 2026

A slice happens when a sidespin is put on the ball, causing it to curve to the right for a right-handed player and to the left for a left-handed player. Sidespin to the right is caused when the clubface is open (pointed right) relative to the path the club is traveling as the club impacts the ball.

How do you get rid of a slice in golf?

You need to attack the ball from the inside—not the outside— to cure a slice. Many golfers, however, come too far around the ball to get very much inside on the swing. To remedy this, try presetting your hips in front of the ball.

What is the main reason for slicing a golf ball?

The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn't square and often feels like a “side swipe.” The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face.

How do I stop a slice in my golf swing?

How To Fix Your Slice: 7 Simple Steps To Straight Golf Shots

  1. Don't Aim Left.
  2. Position Your Golf Ball Properly in Your Setup.
  3. Take Note of Your Divots.
  4. Fix Your Grip.
  5. Keep Your Elbow Tucked During Your Backswing.
  6. Transfer Your Weight.
  7. Release the Club Prior to Impact.

Why do I slice my irons in golf?

Again, most slices are caused by an over the top motion on the downswing. When adjusting your setup, make sure to check your grip as well. Most players have a grip that is too weak with thumbs down the handle. Make it stronger by turning your hand to the right when you grip the club.

31 related questions found

Why do I slice my irons but not my driver?

Incorrect Stance

The general problem with a slice is that your stance is too open. This means that your leading foot is behind the trailing foot when facing the target. To exacerbate this, golfers tend to open their stance aiming further left and increasing the angle of the out-to-in swing path.

Does a weak grip cause a slice?

You might have a so-called "weak grip," which means your thumbs are more at the top of the club. When you swing with this type of grip, your hands resist their natural tendency to return the clubface square at impact, and instead, they leave the clubface open which causes a slice.

Why do I keep slicing my driver?

A slice shot is caused by a poor grip and setup, an outside-to-in downswing path and an open clubface. An outside-to-in path occurs when the golfer reaches too far on the downside, bringing the club down to the right of the ball (outside), relative to the target line.

Can a strong grip cause a slice?

The ball will always leave the clubface, at a right angle to the clubface, regardless of the path the club is swung on unless there is enough time and force to alter what's known as the Venturi Effect. 2. A strong grip eliminates a slice.

What driver helps with a slice?

Callaway Big Bertha B21 Driver

A driver aimed specifically at those who slice the ball, the BB21 is one of the best anti-slice drivers for 2022. This driver provides distance, forgiveness and allows the ball to travel down the fairway, rather than across it as many slicers experience.

How do I stop slicing?

Strengthening your grip by rotating your lead hand clockwise (so you can see more knuckles) will prevent you being able to open the face so much on the downswing. And it will also promote a closed (or closing) face. Sometimes that's all it takes to fix a slice.

Can ball position cause a slice?

The forward ball position shifts the shoulders open to the target, which leads to an out-to-in swing and usually a slice. Standing too far from the ball pulls the upper body downward, leading to a compensating stand-up move through impact, another common cause of the slice.

Can standing too close to the golf ball cause a slice?

Standing too close to the ball causes a loss of posture, reduction in arm extension, loss of balance, loss of speed, toe hits, slices, low hooks and a change in swing path. Always check you setup first when you start hitting errant shots.

What's the difference between a slice and a hook?

A slice is when the ball curves off to the right and a hook is it when it curves off to the left, generally speaking.

What grip fixes a slice?

TIP FOR YOUR GRIP: Set your left thumb on the back side of the grip and your right one on top. If you hit a lot of slices, you should "strengthen" your left-hand position on the club. All you have to do is grip it more in the fingers, as opposed to the palm.

Do you use same grip for driver and irons?

Yes, you should use the same grip for all of your shots with the exception of putting. It is important to have a solid grip and one that returns the clubface to square whether you are putting, chipping, pitching, hitting bunker shots or making full swings with your woods or irons.

Why do I hit a push slice?

A push slice happens when the clubhead is traveling directly down the target line or slightly inside-to-outside at impact, while the clubface is pointed right of this path. The rightward sidespin causes the curve.

What does a slice look like in golf?

A slice is a ball that curves away from the players dominant hand. So for a right handed golfer a ball that curves right. The key word here is “curves”. A ball that simply goes straight right is a push, and is caused for different reasons.

Will a stiff shaft fix my slice?

If you are struggling with a hook it might be because your shaft is too flexible, try a stiffer shaft, this will help keep the face square at impact, and prevent the face from turning over. If you are struggling with a slice you might be playing with a shaft that is too stiff for you.

What swing plane causes a slice?

Plane Is Too Flat

Often, beginners have a swing plane that's too flat — when viewed from the side, their club shaft is far too horizontal (or like swinging a baseball bat). As they go through impact, they lack the strength and skill to close the clubface and they send the ball curving on a slice.

What causes an outside to inside golf swing?

If you stuff the club way inside right from the start, an outside-in swing path is almost inevitable. What happens is this – you start the swing way to the inside of the target line, likely by using your hands and wrists actively in the takeaway.

Does driver loft affect slice?

Driver loft to reduce a slice

More loft equals more backspin, this backspin creates a more stable flight and minimises any negative effects of side-spin. Some golfers may argue that a 12-degree driver will lose them too much distance.