Fix Your Slice and Slash Strokes Off Your Golf Score

One of the most common challenges that many golfers face is learning how to fix a slice. Most of us, unfortunately, are familiar with the looping path of a shot fading off center and into the rough (or worse) because of a severe slice.

A slice is caused by the clubface being slightly open at the point of impact. There are two major causes of this unhappy occurrence-your grip or your swing path. Often it's a combination of both.

Many times, the reason that people slice is that they begin with an improper grip. When the hands are turned too far to the left on the grip, your hands tend to open too far when you come back to impact, which causes the ball to slice.

To get the correct grip on the club, what you want to do is turn your hand around so that your left thumb is more to the back of the shaft. Also, make sure that your left hand is more on top of the grip and position the right hand so that it is facing the direction you want the ball to go.

A good way to check to make sure that you have the correct grip is to use the "two-tee" drill. Insert a tee into the gap between your thumb and first finger of your left hand. Do the same with another tee for the right hand. If both tees are on line over the top of the grip, your grip should be correct to fix a slice. If not, adjust your hands until the tees are aligned correctly with the top of the grip.

The other major culprit causing your ball to slice is the path of your swing. Many golfers are guilty of "coming over the top" of their downswing and hitting across the ball at the point of impact with an "outside-in" swing path. This creates a spin on the ball causing it to slice.

There are a number of drills that can correct this. The underlying principle behind all of them is to insure that the clubface is square at the point of impact. Practicing these drills at home or on the driving range can help you once you actually get out on the course

Many golfers try to compensate for a slice by lining up too far to the left (or right, if you're a lefty). This can inadvertently cause the circle of your swing path to be even farther outside which just exacerbates the slice on the ball. While this strategy may seem like a viable short-term "fix," it is ultimately a poor choice down the road.

It's best to find and practice (... this is the key, you MUST practice) drills that can help you to correct the habits that are causing you to slice. While it's a relatively simple fix, it can be extremely discouraging and frustrating if the root of the problem is not addressed and corrected.

Go for the root of the problem instead of trying to find a "quick fix." This is the best and most effective way to fix a slice.