How to Fix a Golf Slice: The Most Common Cause and How to Correct It
If there’s one shot that frustrates golfers more than any other, it’s the slice.
You stand over the ball, picture a clean straight shot down the fairway, take your swing and watch the ball peel off to the right, disappearing into the trees or the next fairway over. It’s demoralising. And the more you try to fix it in the moment, the worse it seems to get.
Here’s the thing about a slice in golf: it’s one of the most common problems I see, but it’s also one of the most fixable. Once you understand what’s actually causing it, the corrections are straightforward. This guide walks you through exactly that – what a slice is, why it happens, and how to fix a golf slice for good.
What Is a Slice in Golf?
A slice in golf happens when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact. For a right-handed golfer, the ball curves sharply from left to right. While it can happen with any club, it’s most noticeable and damaging when it occurs with the driver.
Many golfers get used to slicing and accept it as just part of their game which only adds strokes to the scorecard. Don’t accept it. A slice is a fixable swing fault, not a permanent feature of your game.
The Root Cause of a Golf Slice
Before we get into the golf slice fix, it helps to understand what’s actually happening at impact.
Two main factors cause a slice. First, an open clubface – where the face of the club is pointing to the right of your swing path at impact. Second, an outside-to-inside swing path, where your clubhead moves from outside the target line to inside during the downswing. This combination puts clockwise sidespin on the ball, which causes it to curve left to right in the air.
The good news is that both of these issues almost always trace back to the same few fixable causes. Let’s go through them.
Why You’re Slicing – The Most Common Causes
Weak Grip
This is the number one cause of a slice in golf, and the first thing I check with any student who comes to me with this problem.
Most slicers have what’s called a weak grip. This doesn’t mean you’re not holding it tight enough – it refers to the position of your hands on the club. In a weak grip, the hands are rotated too far to the left. With a weak grip, the clubface naturally wants to be open at the top of your backswing and through impact. To get it square at swing speed requires an incredible amount of hand and forearm manipulation – possible, but not consistent.
The fix: rotate both hands slightly to the right on the grip until you can see two to three knuckles on your left hand. The V shapes formed by your thumbs and index fingers should point toward your right shoulder. This stronger grip position makes it far easier to return the clubface square at impact – without any extra effort.
Out-to-In Swing Path
An out-to-in swing path – often called coming over the top is where the club approaches the ball from outside the target line and cuts across it through impact. This path, combined with an open clubface, produces the classic slicing spin.
This usually happens because golfers try to hit the ball hard from the top of the backswing with their arms and shoulders, rather than starting the downswing from the ground up. The result is a steep, cutting motion across the ball.
The fix: think about swinging the club from the inside as if you’re trying to hit the ball toward right field on a baseball diamond. It will feel strange at first, but that’s usually a sign it’s working.
Poor Alignment
Poor stance and alignment – such as an open stance where your feet and shoulders are aimed left of the target naturally leads to an out-to-in swing path. Most golfers who slice aim further left to compensate, which actually makes the problem worse.
The fix: lay two clubs on the ground – one along your toe line, one pointing at your target. Check that they’re parallel. You might be surprised how far off your alignment has drifted.
Ball Position Too Far Forward
Positioning the ball too far forward in the stance can lead to an open clubface at impact. When the ball is too far forward, the clubface has already started rotating back to the left before contact – leaving it open when it reaches the ball.
The fix: for most irons, ball position should be roughly in the centre of your stance. For the driver, just inside your lead heel is correct – not off the toe of your front foot.
How to Stop Slicing Driver Specifically
The driver is where a slice does the most damage – and it’s also the club most golfers struggle with most.
A few adjustments that make a real difference when you’re trying to stop slicing driver shots:
Tee the ball higher. A higher tee encourages an upward strike and a more in-to-out path – both of which reduce slice spin.
Widen your stance slightly. A wider base encourages better rotation and reduces the steep, over-the-top motion that produces the slice.
Focus on a smooth tempo. Most sliced driver shots happen when golfers try to muscle the ball. The harder you try, the more the sequence breaks down. Smooth it out and let the club do the work.
Golf Slice Drills to Try at the Range
The best way to correct a slice in golf is through deliberate, focused practice – not just hitting ball after ball hoping it straightens out. Here are two golf slice drills worth working on.
Drill 1 – The Headcover Drill Place a headcover just outside the ball on the target side. If you’re swinging out-to-in, you’ll clip it. The goal is to swing through without touching it which naturally encourages a more inside-out path. Simple, immediate feedback.
Drill 2 – The Alignment Stick Drill Push an alignment stick into the ground at a 45-degree angle just outside your lead hip, angled away from you. Practise swinging without hitting the stick. This creates the same inside-out path feeling and prevents the over-the-top move that causes most slices.
Do these drills slowly at first. Build the feeling before adding speed.
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Golf Slice?
It depends on how deep the habit runs – but don’t be discouraged. With the right adjustments and consistent practice, most golfers start seeing improvement within a few sessions.
By correcting the mechanics that lead to an open clubface and out-to-in swing path, you’ll not only straighten your shots but likely gain extra yards off the tee.
The key is to work on one thing at a time. Start with the grip – it’s the most impactful change and the easiest to make. Once that feels natural, move to swing path. Trying to fix everything at once usually leads to confusion and frustration.
Final Thoughts
A slice in golf is not a life sentence. It’s a swing pattern with specific causes – and specific fixes. Address the grip first, check your alignment, work on swinging from the inside, and give yourself time to build the new habit through practice.
If you’ve been slicing for years and can’t seem to shake it, a golf lesson makes all the difference. Sometimes an outside eye can spot the root cause in minutes – saving you months of trial and error at the range.
Struggling with a slice and based in Alberta?
Book a lesson with Harmeet Kahlon, Asian Tour Winner with 35 years of experience.
Book here → 🌐 harmeetkahlon.com
📞 +1 587-597-1999 ✉️ harmeetkahlon@aol.com ✉️ harmeet.kahlon@strathcona.ca