Cut Your Slicing Out
A slice is a common golfing mistake that affects most casual golfers. A slice hit starts to the left of the hole but curves through to the right.
When you hit dead center on your driver or woods, the ball should go straight towards your intended target. This, of course, doesn’t happen all the time if you are new to golf or are inconsistent.
You may assume this is due to your swing pass cutting against the ball. Unfortunately, if you slice, it is because of your club angle and swing path. Both your swing and club angle must work together to get the perfect shot.
Don’t aim left
I know, if you are constantly ending up far right from the target it makes sense to aim left to counter this. All aiming left does is add another mistake to fix the first mistake. The problem with slicing isn’t in the aim, it is in angles.
Driver
Before practicing, ask yourself if you have the right clubs. Most slicers are using the wrong driver for their level of ability. If the loft on the driver is too low, you will react to the weak ball flight, leaving you unbalanced. Having a driver at 10.5-12 degrees will add backspin that will help keep your ball straight.
Some drivers are specifically made for people looking to fix their slice. Offset drivers have more weight at the heel, which helps the toe feel lighter. This causes the swing to come through faster and squarer upon impact.
I don’t always recommend these drivers, as they are like a band-aid on a bigger problem. Make sure you do the work to fix your swing and hit straight on. If the problem is not getting better, consider an offset driver like the Cobra Air X OS Driver.
Grip
Your grip has a significant effect on your angle of attack. You may instantly fix your slice if you shift how you hold the club 4-5 degrees. The left hand is the problem for most golfers. The correct grip should feel like you are holding the shaft with your fingers instead of in the middle of the palms. This allows you to hit square up on impact while hinging your wrists on the backswing.
Some slicers have a wrist hinge that messes up their grip. When your wrist on your left hand is too cupped, you are throwing off the angle of attack. Instead, bow the wrist away from the shaft. Here is a video to help you visualize: Correct Golf Grip to Fix Your Slice.
Release
Release becomes a problem when there isn’t proper grip. If the grip is wrong, you will feel the need to flick up the ball with your wrists. In a good release, there is no wrist movement. Instead, the forearms have full rotation through impact.
Practice this swing before a mirror, or have a friend record you. You should see that forearm control allows for more consistent contact with the ball.
Golf simulators have become popular in recent years; you can now use that technology at home or on the range. Golf monitors allow you to track your ball flights, shots, and swing. One of the best on the market is available through us. Garmin approach r10 launch monitor is a portable tool to help you get the most out of your game. This monitor tracks more than a dozen metrics and allows you to play golf virtually from home.
Posture
Check your posture if you have implemented all the advice above and still find yourself slicing—the correct angles for hitting start with how you set up your body. Many slicers I know have too much knee flex and not enough flex forward from the hips. This leaves less room between your hands and body, which keeps your downswing from rotating down through impact. Your swing has no room to go straight back, so a new path is created off the center of the backswing. The out-to-in swing is never helpful.
Also, ensure you don’t have too much weight on your toes or heels. Your weight should be equally distributed on both feet.
Lots of golfers slice. Try not to get too hung up on it. Instead, do your best to fix your bad habits and create good ones.
In summary,
- Use the right driver
- Get the angle of your grip correct
- Make sure your wrists don’t move on release
- Avoid out-to-in swing
- Check your posture
If you follow the advice we have laid out, you are on your way to becoming the golfer you are meant to be!