Slicing the ball can be frustrating, especially because it often causes a significant loss of distance. You might see your ball start straight, only to curve off in that annoying slice. The good news? You can eliminate the slice by better understanding how your hands and arms control the clubface throughout your swing.
1. Grip: the foundation of a square clubface
Your grip directly controls the clubface at impact and throughout your swing. The first step to stopping the slice is placing your hands correctly on the club. Let your lead arm hang naturally. Your hand should turn down so your palm faces the ground. You should see the same number of knuckles on your lead hand when gripping the club as when your arm hangs naturally. Your thumb shouldn’t be centered on the grip but slightly off to match that natural position. This ensures your arm swings in its natural path, keeping the clubface square at impact.
2. Grip in your fingers, not the palm
Holding the club in your fingers — not your palm — is crucial for releasing the clubface properly. If your grip is too palm-heavy, you’ll likely squeeze too hard to keep the club from slipping, which can cause a slice and loss of distance. Signs you’re gripping too much with your palm include wear holes or marks on your glove or even blisters on your hands. Your lead hand’s heel pad should rest on top of the grip, with the club sitting in the crease between your fingers and palm. When done correctly, you won’t need to grip tightly. The club will naturally stay in place, allowing you to swing relaxed and generate more speed.
3. Arms swing freely
Allowing your arms to swing naturally helps square and close the clubface on the downswing. Be willing to really swing your arms forward. If your arms lag behind your body, the clubface will likely remain open, causing a slice. If your arms lead the downswing, you might hook the ball, but for slicers, this arm dominance can be a positive adjustment. Plus, swinging your arms adds speed and power, so embrace it.
4. Keep your lead arm close to your body
Keeping your lead arm close to your chest throughout the backswing and downswing stabilizes the clubface and promotes a proper swing path. On the backswing, this prevents you from rolling the clubface open. On the downswing, a close lead arm encourages an inside-to-out swing path, helping you produce a draw rather than a slice.
5. Relax your elbow
Once your grip is correct and the club is held in your fingers, keep your elbows soft to reduce tension. Relaxed elbows allow your lead elbow to fold naturally, preventing the clubface from staying open due to tension. A great drill to feel this natural release is the split-hand drill — place your hands apart on the grip and swing, which encourages your lead elbow to fold and your trail arm to release properly. This helps you develop the feel for a natural clubface release.
