How to Fix a Slice in Golf: Causes, Steps and Drills

How to fix a slice in golf? A slice happens when the clubface is open to the path the club is swinging on, so the ball curves hard to the right for a right-handed golfer. To fix it, check your grip first (hold the club in the fingers, not the palm), aim your feet, hips and shoulders square to the target, take the club back on the inside, play the driver off your lead heel and swing a little slower so the face can square up.

This guide walks through why a slice happens, how to fix a slice in golf step by step, the drills that help and a few equipment notes. If you are still building your swing, start with our golf swing basics for beginners.

What causes a slice?

England Golf, quoted in a Golfshake guide to stopping a slice, sums it up: "A slice happens because the club face is open to the direction the club is swinging." The path is usually out-to-in (cutting across the ball) and the face is open to that path, which puts left-to-right sidespin on the ball.

The same Golfshake article calls the slice "perhaps the most destructive shot in golf" for club golfers because "you lose a huge amount of distance." The good news is that most causes are in the setup, which you can check before you ever swing.

How to fix a slice in golf step by step

1. Fix a weak grip

Golfshake describes a weak grip as one where you "can see no knuckles" on your lead hand. A neutral grip shows "between one and two knuckles" on the lead hand, with the V of the trail hand pointing just inside the trail shoulder. England Golf adds that holding the club "in the fingers of your hand rather than your palm" helps encourage a neutral to stronger grip. Our guide on how to grip a golf club shows the full routine.

2. Relax your grip pressure

Squeezing hard makes it difficult for the forearms to rotate and square the face. Golfshake notes that holding the club too tightly "is also going to encourage a slice."

3. Aim square, not left

Many slicers aim their feet, hips and shoulders left of the target without knowing it, which encourages an out-to-in swing. Lay a club on the ground along your toes to check that your body lines are parallel to the target line. England Golf's advice is to stop aiming down the left side to allow for the slice and to trust a square setup.

4. Check ball position with the driver

Golfshake recommends the ball "in line with the heel of your left foot" with a driver (for a right-handed player). Teeing it far ahead of the lead foot tends to open the shoulders and the face. See more setup tips in how to drive a golf ball farther.

5. Take the club back on the inside

A takeaway that goes outside the hands sets up a swing that cuts across the ball. England Golf suggests focusing on "an inside-out club path," turning your body and swinging the club away from you.

6. Slow down

Swinging as hard as possible often leaves the face open at impact. Try a smooth, three-quarter tempo and let the face rotate closed through the ball.

Drills to stop slicing the golf ball

1. Alignment stick check: place one stick along your toes and another along the target line. Make swings with both parallel.
2. Headcover gate: set a headcover just outside and slightly behind the ball. An out-to-in path will hit it; an inside path misses it.
3. Half swings with a mid iron: hit low, waist-high to waist-high shots and watch the start line. Build speed only once the ball starts straight or slightly right and curves back.
4. Grip mirror check: before each range ball, look down and count one to two knuckles on your lead hand.

Iron contact feels different from the driver, so practice both. Our guide to how to hit irons covers ball position by club.

Can equipment help a slice?

Golfshake mentions offset clubs as an option for golfers who do not have time for lessons, since they are designed to help reduce a slice. Equipment can reduce the curve, but it will not fix an open face caused by grip or setup. A lesson with a PGA professional is the fastest way to find your exact cause.

How much distance do you lose with a slice?

It depends on how much the ball curves, but because a slice adds spin and sends the ball sideways instead of forward, it costs noticeable carry and roll compared with a straight drive. That is why fixing the face and path usually adds more yards than swinging harder.

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FAQ

How do I correct my slice in golf?

Check a neutral grip in the fingers, square your alignment, play the driver off your lead heel, take the club back on the inside and swing smoother so the clubface can close at impact.

Why do I slice my driver but not my irons?

The driver has less loft, so the same open face creates more sidespin and a bigger curve. A ball teed too far forward can also open your shoulders with the driver.

Does a stronger grip fix a slice?

A neutral to slightly stronger grip helps many slicers because it makes it easier to square the clubface. Change it gradually and check ball flight.

What driver fixes a slice?

Offset or draw-biased drivers are designed to reduce a slice, but they cannot fully fix an open face caused by grip, aim or swing path.