How to Correct a Golf Swing Slice
By Steve Silverman
The slice is one of the primary errors a golfer will make when his swing is not correct. Nearly all new golfers have this problem at one time or another and even experienced golfers will fall into bad habits and slice the ball. The slice is a shot that curves from left to right for a right-handed golfer. The cause includes a poor grip, an uneven stance and a sloppy golf swing.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Adjust your stance so that the side of your left foot and your left shoulder is facing your target. If you have been slicing the ball, you are probably opening your stance with the idea of getting a full follow through. That's always a great aspect to your swing, but if you line up incorrectly the follow through will hurt you.
Make sure your grip is correct. If your grip is causing you to slice the ball, your grip is probably not tight enough and the club head is not solid as you make impact with the ball. While it is important not to choke the club with your grip, you must make sure the club head does not "wobble" on impact.
Make sure you are about 18 to 24 inches from the ball on address. If you are slicing the ball, you may be too close to the ball and too upright. If you are not bending your knees comfortably and you are reaching for the ball, you are not making square contact with the ball and it will slice off banana style left to right.
Tee the ball up about 1-inch when you are using your driver or 3-wood from the tee and at least 1/2-inch if you are using an iron from the tee. Not teeing the ball up high enough will impact your swing and you will feel like you are reaching for the ball. In that case you will almost always slice it.
Follow through all the way with a full hip and shoulder turn after impact. Not finishing your shot will almost always cause a slice. New golfers have a tendency to want to admire their shot and they pick their head up prematurely and stop their swing.
Tips & Warnings
Go through a mental check list as you address the ball. Make sure you are square to the target and that your grip is firm without being too tight. Take one practice swing and then hit the ball.
Don't worry about your last shot. It's the next one that matters.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
