Tell me if this sounds familiar…
You place your golf ball on the tee, take a practice swing or two, make sure your stance, aim, and technique is correct, go into your backswing, and crush the ball. It takes off pretty good but quickly starts to slice right into the rough or behind a tree line. Now you’re faced with hitting over or under trees to get back on the fairway.
I don’t know about you, but this is incredibly frustrating.
For right-handed golfers, slicing the ball off to the right and for left-handed golfers, slicing the ball off to the left is a common problem.
To this day, I still have to focus on some of the techniques I”ll be discussing below to ensure I don’t fall back into old habits, that caused my drives to slice.
In this post, I’ll discuss a few common things golfers do to cause their drives to slice, as well as some drivers that can help prevent slicing your drives.
What Causes a Golf Slice
Unfortunately, there are a few things that can cause you to slice your ball. If you’re lucky you’re only doing one thing wrong and it may be a simple fix. If you are like me, I was doing a few things wrong, so I had to assess my swing completely to figure out how to make adjustments.
The driver is the longest club in the bag and typically has the lowest loft. These two components are also conducive to slicing the ball. This is why your irons might not slice at all or nearly as bad as your driver. Below are some common errors that I had to fix and some that you may need to adjust.
Open Clubface
An open clubface is one common error that causes you to slice the ball. For the ball to sail straight you need to have a square clubface at impact. If the club is twisted open (meaning it’s angled away from you) the ball is likely to start off good, but will eventually slice off to the right.
Bad Swing Plane
Figuring out the correct swing plane (Best Golf Swing Trainers for Beginners) can be difficult. For me, this one an area I still need to focus on. If you’re swinging your club from out-to-in, it’s likely to cause the clubface to be open. As mentioned above an open clubface will cause your drives to slice.
Weak Golf Grip
I’m going to assume you’re already generally familiar with how to hold the golf club. But a weak grip is characterized by having your left hand turned a little too far left when gripping the club.
If you were to place a tee in the crevice of your thumb and index finger and grabbed your club, the tee should be pointing up or towards your right eye or ear. The overlapping hand should have the crevice pointing in the same direction. This will help square the clubface during your swing.
Starting With Shoulders
Another common mistake is not getting your hips involved soon enough. For guys, in particular, it’s easy to try and “strong-arm” the swing, meaning we use too much upper body to start the swing.
The downswing should start with the hips, then shoulders, arms, and finally hands. If you start with anything other than the hips, you’re likely to have an open clubface, which will slice off.
How to Stop Slicing the Golf Ball
Correcting a golf slice isn’t as bad as you may think. It’s a common ailment in golf and there are tips and tricks you can do to help prevent a golf slice.
Golf Club Shaft
Golf clubs are made with a variety of flex built-in. For golfers with slow swing speed, a flex shaft is more appropriate. For golfers with a natural fast club speed, a stiffer golf shaft should be selected.
Additionally, if you’re using a driver that is capable of multiple settings (draw or fade) you want to make sure it’s set appropriate for your swing. A natural slicer with a fade setting is likely to cause you to toss your club in frustration.
Swing Plane Correction
A golfer with an over the top swing needs to work on keeping that elbow down and tucked in. Some instructors will go so far as telling you to place a dollar bill in your armpit, and if it falls out, you need to start over. Another trick is to drop your right foot back a touch. This will help neutralize that over the top swing.
Adjust Your Grip
To give yourself a stronger grip, rotate your right hand clockwise a bit. If this works, great, if not, do the same with your left hand. You should only be able to see the top knuckle on your right hand. Also, avoid the death grip. The actual force of your grip on the club should be the lightest with the driver. If you’re squeezing too hard the tension in your hands or forearms can cause all sorts of problems.
Thankfully, golf club technology has evolved too. Golf club manufacturers have offset drivers specifically designed to help alleviate a golf slice. Below are some of the best drivers available to prevent the golf slice.
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Best Driver for a Slice
1) PGX Offset Golf Driver – Pinemeadow is a lesser-known brand, but is making quality clubs at very affordable prices. Their offset driver is perfect for those with a natural slice in their swing. It has the max allowable clubface creating a giant sweet spot, combined with an offset head to help square the club at impact. The Anti-Slice technology is sure to help you out.
2) Cobra Golf 2019 F-Max Superlite Offset Driver – Cobra also has an offset driver that has built-in anti-slice technology. The added heel weight to deliver straighter launches and added distance. The ultra light weight helps generate more club speed resulting in more distance. Current users are loving the extra 20-30 yards in distance. Check it out for yourself.
3) Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo Draw Type Driver – Cleveland has a driver that fits the anti-slice bill too. Their unique draw-biased design features a 2A closed face and redesigned bulge and roll to improve look at address. Available in a few different shafts, you’ll be able to find one that fits your swing. It’s a unique club that can deliver.
4) TaylorMade Golf M6 D-Type Driver – If TaylorMade is your go-to brand, they’ve got a club for those slicers. The M6 D is available in three different shafts and three different lofts. It has a built-in draw design to help counteract the natural slice. The Twist Face technology features a revolutionary face curvature that has been engineered to reduce sidespin and deliver straighter shots on off-center strikes. The draw design is completed with the heel weight to provide about 15 yards of draw, which could put you in the middle of the fairway vs the rough.
Conclusion of How to Fix a Slice
With the addition offset drivers and shifted weight into the heel of the club combined with draw inspired drivers, getting rid of your slice should be easier than ever. The look of these offset drivers can take a little getting used to. For me, aesthetics or looks is pretty low in comparison to performance. If the club can get the job done, I won’t complain about the low score. Work and practice (Golf Practice Net Reviews) on your technique and enjoy longer, straighter drives.
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FAQ of How to Stop a Golf Slice
What causes a slice in golf?
The biggest culprit is an open clubface. By hitting the ball with a square club the ball will go straight vs off to the right.
How do I get rid of my slice?
There are a variety of reasons of why you might be slicing your driver. Making sure the club head is square vs open will be the most common fix.
What kind of shaft is best for golf slice?
If you have a fast club speed a stronger shaft could help you square the face of the club with the ball. If you have a slower club speed a flex shaft might help.