If you struggle with a slice when playing golf, this article will help you on your quest to eliminate slicing the ball.
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A slice can be defined as a golf ball which moves with excessive slice/cut spin. A slice for a right handed golfer starts right of target and continues further right. the opposite for a left handed golfer.
The below reasons are contributing factors as to why a slice could occur.
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CLUB FACE CONTROL
How is your grip?
FAULT: WEAK GRIP
FIX: NEUTRAL GRIP
A neutral grip for a right-handed golfer should see at least two and a half knuckles on the left hand when gripping the club and the crease created between the thumb and index finger should aim between right eye and right shoulder on both hands if checked in a mirror.
Why does a weak grip matter?
A weak grip in golf will provide the tendency to hit the ball to the right for a right-handed golfer which results in the club face opening. This means the ball will start further right from the point of impact but also that this will also cause the ball to spin away from the target causing at best a push fade.
Flipping your hands
Are your hands passive to your body during your downswing? It’s unlikely that your hands follow the movement of your arms and body through the ball. It is however likely that you swing to the left to stop the ball from going right, but in golf to some degree you must swing in the opposite direction of what you want to get the desired result. If you want the ball to shape consistently right to left, you must swing the club to the right as this will put right to left spin on the ball allowing the ball to curve to the left. Slicers will swing to the left putting more of the spin they don’t want on the ball making it curve further offline.
Likewise, to subdue a slice many slicers tend to 'cup' their lead wrist at impact towards the target to close the face down to get the ball to travel into the shape of a draw. This will encourage an open face and an even bigger slice.
This is likely the result if you have a weak grip. But if the club face is square and you swing in to out then you will see a draw biased shot and not a slice.
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SWING DIRECTION
Out to in or in to out
FAULT: SWINGING AWAY FROM THE DIRECTION YOU DON’T WANT THE BALL TO GO
FIX: SWING THE CLUB IN THE DIRECTION OF WHERE YOU DON’T WANT TO FINISH
Steep or shallow
A common trait of slicers is to swing the club out to in – so that means that the club works towards their lead foot (foot nearest the target). This motion will promote a fade biased shot pattern.
To promote a draw biased shot shape, you should try to work the club head away from your body on the downswing. This may also feel like you try to hit your lead hand on your trail leg on the way down, which will promote a draw biased swing pattern.
As stated previously in an ideal world to remove the likelihood of a slice you would need to swing the club in the direction of the miss, enabling more draw/ hook spin to propel the ball to its desired location, eliminating the likelihood of a slice.
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AIM
FAULT: AIMING IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES A SLICE
FIX: AIMING STRAIGHT AT TARGET OR FOR DRAW BIAS
Many slicers will attempt to aim away from the direction of where their slice will finish. As famously stated, ‘every action has a reaction’. If you aim away from the fault, subconsciously you will have to react and resultantly leave the club face open. This method may work short term, but it will only produce a worse and worse slice as your slice will continue to get bigger and bigger until it becomes unplayable.
So when on the range, aim straight and if anything more towards where the slice is likely to finish and this will alter the direction of your swing. Over time you will likely see a decrease in ball movement and an increase in ball control.
INTENT
FAULT: TRYING TO AVOID A BAD SHOT
FIX: HAVING CLARITY ON A POSITIVE WELL THOUGHT OUT SHOT
Intent is massive in golf. Your intent will change your understanding of ball flight laws and what you are trying to do with the ball. Your, understanding about the variables that effect slicing in golf will become much clearer when you have clear intent about the shot shape you are trying to hit. An example question being: What shot do you have in front of you and how will you successfully hit the shot? If the shot has a fair wind promoting the slice you will see that you may need to hit the ball against the wind so that the ball does not move as much and get taken by the wind. This intention may also give you the feel that you need to hit the desired shot too.
SETUP
FAULT: SETTING UP TO AVOID SLICE BUT ACTUALLY SETTING UP PROMOTING IT
FIX: SET UP NEUTRALLY AIMING AT TARGET OR WITH A DRAW BIAS
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You may have gotten into bad habits such as opening your shoulders to combat the slice but in essence this means that the club face will likely be open at impact to combat the open shoulders. Give yourself a good set up and in turn that should provide you with the best building blocks to hit better and more consistent shots.