A slice is one of the most common — and frustrating — shot shapes among recreational golfers. Go to your local range and you’ll be sure to see plenty of golfers wailing away at the ball only to watch in horror as it slices off the planet.
Not only is the slice difficult to control, it’s also devoid of almost any power. Once you start cutting across the ball and putting tons of spin on the shot, it barely gets any distance. Simply put, a slice is both ugly and unplayable.
A slice typically occurs when an out-to-in swing path meets an open clubface. When those two ingredients are present, the ball will always slice.
But why do so many golfers produce these two conditions during their swing? Recently, I sat down with Josh Troyer, GOLFTEC‘s Director of Teaching Quality, to find out.
2 reasons golfers hit a slice
Reason No. 1: Poor setup
As we’ve harped on many times before, a good setup is crucial for consistent ball striking. That rule holds true when it comes to preventing a slice as well.
When a pro sets up to the ball, their hips and shoulders are nearly square to the target at address. However, when a chronic slicer of the ball sets up, they have their hips and shoulders much more open.
“They’re basically pointing their chest more toward the target and aligning everything too far left,” Troyer says. “That setup encourages a swing path that’s more out-to-in.”
The cruel irony at play here is that slicers often open up their stance and try to aim left because they lose the ball to the right so often. But when they do this, they’re only exacerbating the set-up problem which leads to a swing path that produces a slice.
How to fix it: When you head to the practice range, be sure to lay down some sort of guide (club shaft or alignment stick) at your feet pointing directly at your target line, then orient your hips and shoulders so they are parallel to it. It will likely feel like you are aiming well to the right, but in reality you will be perfectly aimed at the target. By fixing this setup mistake, you’ll be able to swing on a more neutral path.
Reason No. 2: Incorrect transition sequence
Once you get to the top of your swing, it can be tempting to uncoil as quickly as you can in an effort to generate speed. But when you do this, not only are you limiting your clubhead speed, you’re also creating conditions for a slice.
When a pro transitions from the top of the swing until their lead arm is parallel to the ground, they shift their hips about two inches toward the target. By doing this, they keep their shoulders closed longer during the downswing.
“That forward movement helps keep the torso closed longer and keeps the club more behind the body,” Troyer says. “What many poor players do instead is open up their body too early and shift their hips away from the target. That causes the hands and club to move out and away from the body, steepening the swing path.”
When your hand path gets out away from your body, the clubhead has nowhere to go but across the ball through the impact zone. And with that out-to-in path, you have to leave the face open to keep the ball from hooking to the left.
How to fix it: When you get to the top of the swing and initiate your downswing, feel like you are keeping your shoulders closed a touch longer before uncoiling. This will help keep the clubhead behind your a bit more during the downswing and promote an in-to-out path.
If you want to get some expert insights into your swing — and help curing that nasty slice — book a swing evaluation with GOLFTEC below.
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