Play The Lie

If you want to know how to stop slicing a golf ball you first need to understand why the golf ball slices or what causes it to slice.

I have heard so many incorrect explanations on how to stop slicing a golf ball that I could write a book entitled What Not to Do If You Want to Learn How to Stop Slicing a Golf Ball. I could use all the wrong tips I have heard over the years as the content for my book.

The first thing you need to be aware if is whether your problem is indeed a slice and not a push slice that you are trying to correct. These are different problems and both are caused by only two things - albeit different for each.

Quite simply there are only 2 things that cause a golf ball to slice. Yes, only two, despite what your well intentioned golfing mates or any teaching pro will tell you to the contrary.

The two things that cause a golf ball to slice occur at point of impact. They are the swing path of the club and the club face angle at impact.

The swing path is the determining factor in the primary direction of the flight path of the ball. So with a slice (outside to inside swing path) the ball will start off left of the target (right handed golfers). If your club is coming from outside to in there is no way the ball flight can start off anywhere except left of target. But with a slice it finishes up way right of target. So how can this be? Let me explain.

The primary direction, which is left of target, is determined by the swing path of the club. When the clubface is open at impact (as it must be for a slice) it effectively cuts across the ball causing it to spin in a clockwise direction which will in turn get the ball to fly off to the right. So the ball starts off left (primary direction) and immediately starts spinning to the right (slice).

Just to clarify: if your ball starts off to the right and keeps goes further right this is a push slice. A push slice is caused by an in to in swing path with an open club face.

There are only three possible swing paths - they are: In to Out, Out to In and In to In.

There are also only three possible clubface angles through impact - Open, Square and Closed.

Each of the three possible swing paths in combination with each of the clubface angles means there are only nine possible flight patterns - they are: Push, Draw, Hook, Slice, Fade, Pull, Push Slice, Straight and Pull Hook.

There could be several reasons why you have an outside to in swing path and an open clubface at impact. And you need to know what is causing these two things if you want to learn how to stop slicing a golf ball.

There are several combinations of errors possible:

The first is the grip. This will determine the angle of the clubface at impact. A weak grip will encourage an open clubface.

Another common error is to lift the left shoulder too early through impact. Try this now. Get up from the computer, grab a club and address a ball. Take a slow motion swing and just before the contact area lift your left shoulder and stop at this point. Notice the clubface - it will be open.

The swing path is usually determined by poor alignment or incorrect aiming. I am amazed at how often I ask people what they are aiming at and discover that what they think they are aiming at, and what they are actually aiming at, are two different things. When this happens the brain will automatically try to compensate and will cause an incorrect swing path.

Another common error is trying to hit the ball too hard. In doing this it is natural to swing from outside to inside as this is the feeling of the most power.

With the correct grip and correct alignment you should be in a position where you can decide what shape shot you want to play. Most players favour a draw or a fade. The hardest shot in golf is a straight shot.

The golf swing is really a lot simpler than people make out. There is far too much technical and confusing information bandied about for the average golfer. Keep it simple I say.

I trust the above explanation of what causes a golf ball to slice will help you determine what you need to do to learn how to stop slicing a golf ball.