Understand What a Slice Is
A slice happens when your ball curves dramatically to the right for right-handed players, or to the left for left-handed golfers. It’s not just a gentle fade—it’s an aggressive curve that sends your ball into trees, water, or the wrong fairway entirely.
Three main culprits cause slicing:
- Open clubface at impact – Your clubface points right of your target
- Outside-in swing path – Your club approaches the ball from outside the target line
- Poor grip and setup – Weak grip or misaligned stance compounds the problem
Picture this: a proper golf shot travels in a straight line toward your target. A slice starts straight but quickly veers off course due to sidespin created by that open clubface and poor swing path combination.
Check Your Grip and Setup
Your grip controls the clubface. Get this wrong, and you’re fighting an uphill battle.
Fix your grip first: Place your left hand (right hand for lefties) on the club so you can see 2-3 knuckles when looking down. Your right hand should sit naturally on top, with both thumbs pointing down the shaft. This neutral grip helps square the clubface at impact.
Next, check your setup. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should align parallel to your target line. Ball position matters too—place it just inside your left heel for drivers, moving it slightly back for shorter clubs.
Left-handed golfers: Mirror these instructions. Your right hand goes on top, and you’ll see knuckles on your right hand when looking down.
Correct Your Swing Path
An outside-in swing path is slice poison. Instead of attacking the ball from the outside, you need to swing from inside the target line.
Think of it this way: imagine your ball sits on a clock face. Slicers typically swing from 2 o’clock to 8 o’clock. You want to swing from 4 o’clock to 10 o’clock—that’s an inside-out path that promotes straight shots or even a gentle draw.
Try this drill: Place two alignment sticks or clubs on the ground forming a gate. Position them so your club must swing through the opening on an inside-out path. Start with slow swings, focusing on the correct path rather than power.
Left-handed adjustment: Your swing should move from 8 o’clock to 2 o’clock for that inside-out path.
Square the Clubface at Impact
Even with a perfect swing path, an open clubface still creates slices. This is where many golfers struggle most.
Your clubface needs to point at your target when it strikes the ball. In our fitting sessions, 70% of slicers had an open clubface at impact—it’s the most common issue we see.
Practice this drill: Use an impact bag or old pillow. Focus on rotating your hands through impact, feeling the clubface square up as you strike. Your right hand (left for lefties) should rotate over your left hand through the hitting zone.
Another checkpoint: at waist-high in your follow-through, your club’s toe should point up to the sky. If it points ahead of you, your face was likely open at impact.
Practice Smart: Drills and Training Aids
Smart practice beats mindless range sessions every time. These drills target specific slice causes:
Towel drill: Place a small towel under your right armpit (left for lefties). Keep it there throughout your swing. This promotes the connected, inside-out swing path you need.
Half-swing pause: Make half-swings, pausing at the top and at impact. Feel the correct positions before adding power and speed.
Low-to-high path drill: Practice making the club move from low to high through impact. This helps create the upward angle of attack that reduces slice spin.
Use X-Golf simulators for instant feedback: Our launch monitors show your exact swing path, clubface angle, and ball flight in real-time. One member improved his slice by 35 yards after just a 20-minute simulator session by seeing his swing data immediately.
The simulator’s shot tracer shows you exactly where your swing goes wrong, making corrections faster than traditional practice.
Track Progress and Adjust
Improvement takes time and measurement. Keep a simple practice log noting your ball flight patterns and what adjustments you’re working on.
Focus on one change at a time. Don’t try to fix your grip, stance, and swing path simultaneously—that’s a recipe for confusion and frustration.
Remember: even small changes yield big results. A clubface that’s 2 degrees more closed at impact can turn a 30-yard slice into a straight shot. Be patient with yourself as these new movements become natural.
Track your progress using our simulator’s shot dispersion maps. You’ll see your improvement over time as your shots cluster closer to your target.
Key Takeaways
Stopping your slice comes down to four fundamentals: grip it neutrally, set up properly, swing inside-out, and square that clubface.
Consistency beats perfection. Regular practice with these fundamentals will serve you better than occasional perfect swings followed by old habits.
X-Golf simulators provide the objective data and immediate feedback you need to make lasting changes. No more guessing whether your adjustments work—you’ll see results instantly.
Ready to slice less and score more? Book your simulator session at X-Golf Frisco today and start hitting the straight shots you’ve been dreaming about. Our state-of-the-art technology will show you exactly what’s happening in your swing so you can make the right adjustments fast.
