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FIX MY @%&*! SLICE!
7 STEPS TO STOP SLICING
Step 1
Letting Go Of Your Old Swing
Most golfers who slice do so because they refuse to let go of the swing that's causing it. The reason for that is simple, the over the top move that causes a slice feels like a powerful, more natural golf swing. It's very similar to swinging a baseball bat or chopping wood. It's hard to break away from because it's all you know, and while it's obviously not working, you've managed to hit enough straight shots over the years to convince yourself that somehow this swing can work.
Changing or breaking any bad habit is difficult, and your game may well get worse before it gets better breaking this one. But if you're goal is to not Suck at Golf, you have to gut it out now and make a commitment to not go back to your old swing even if the transition gets tough. Does 20% more distance and playing from your own fairway sound good? Then you're ready for Step 1, admitting you have a problem...
"Hi, My name is "John", and I am a Slicer." (group)"Hi John!"
Congratulations, you have made it through Step 1. Help yourself to a free cup of coffee and take a moment to gather yourself. Losing an old friend is never easy .You're now ready for Step 2.
Step 2
Strengthen Your Grip
Slow hands are a major factor in slicing. To help cure your slice speed up your hands by rotating them to the right when gripping the club. (both hands rotate to the right together, palms always facing each other.) The further to the right you rotate the faster your hands will be and the easier it will be to square the club at impact. Try 1/4" to 1/2" at first and see how that goes. You'll need to experiment at bit to find what works best for you. If you're already have a very strong grip then work on the other Steps below as your grip is already ok and not the problem. Check the drawings below to see a good example of a neutral grip.
(a good rule of thumb is a weak grip will have the V's made from your thumb and fore finger pointing at your chin. A neutral grip the V's point between your chin and your right shoulder, and a strong grip the V's point to the right of your right shoulder. All these when at address.)
GOOD NEUTRAL GRIP
This is a good "Neutral Grip". V's formed from your thumbs and forefingers point between your chin and right shoulder at address. To speed your hands up to help correct a slice, rotate both hands a bit to the right. 1/4" or so at a time. Do not go "under" the club too much. An inch or so outside the right shoulder is as far as you'd want the "V's" to point. Check in a mirror to see where your "V's" point.
If you're still not comfortable with how to grip the club, this detailed video will get you on the right track. If your grip is ok, then skip the video and move on to Step 3.
You can also check out our article "Get A Grip", which will give you even more details on the strong grip.(it will open up in new window )
Step 3
Right Elbow In
A slice is the result of the club head approaching the ball from outside the target line, striking the ball with a glancing blow as it cuts across the ball back inside the target line, imparting slice side spin to the golf ball.
The diagram to the right shows the correct swing path. The club head comes rom inside the target line, strikes the ball when square to the target and returns naturally back to the inside again. Looks easy, so how to we do that?
One way is to make sure to drop your right elbow into your right side as your first move on the downswing. This move is the best move in golf! Your first move on the downswing is "DOWN", not out. When you get to the top of your back swing your first upper body move should be to let your right elbow drop down into your right side. (left for lefties of course) Feel as though your right elbow is brushing against your shirt as you PULL the club down. This one move cures a whole lot of ills that can ruin your shot.
As always remember to release your hands hard at impact to square the club face! You'll know you released correctly if you can see the back of your right hand when waist high AFTER you hit the ball. Check this with a few half practice swings to get the feel for it.
Step 4
Relax
In order to swing fluidly you need to relax your muscles, especially those in your arms and hands. Let the club relax in your fingers, keep your arms nice a loose as well. A waggle or two can go a long way to keeping everything loose. Don't tighten up on the downswing! Think "nice and easy" as you start your downswing. I'm not talking "slow", I'm talking "relaxed". You've got a lot of time to pour on the power as the downswing progresses, let the first move be that aforementioned elbow into the side, and from there let her rip. Always make sure you turn your hands over at impact. Concentrate on dropping that elbow into your side and turning the hands over on your practice swing. Never take a swing, even a practice swing without thinking why you're doing it.
Bonus Tip: Make an extra effort to relax your left arm on the back swing. Ever notice that the notable "faders" of the golf ball almost all have a very rigid left arm at the top of their swing. (Tiger and Jack Nicklaus for example.) The best "drawers" of the ball often had a slight bend in that left arm at the top of the swing. (Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan.) So if you want to draw the ball or hit it straighter, try relaxing that left arm a bit and see if it doesn't help.
Step 5
Throw it!
Take a break from the computer and walk out in the yard and throw a football or baseball. You could also just roll up a piece of paper and stand up and pitch one hard into the wall. Now do it again and notice how your arm "hangs back" as your body weight shifts to your front foot. If you pay close attention you'll notice that when you rear back to pitch a ball that your weight is shifting to your front foot even before your arm makes it all the way back! There's your lag! If you do this in your golf swing you almost can't slice!
Most slicers tend to "shoot from the top", meaning the first move on the down swing is with the shoulders, arms and hips pretty much all at the same time. What should happen is a fluid motion of lower body, shoulders then arms, in a nice flow like you're throwing a baseball. Practice this without a club until you get the feel of it. Just put your hands out in front of you in a semi golf stance, palms facing each other but not necessarily touching. Take your back swing and feel your arms "lag" at the top as your lower body starts shifting to your left side a fraction before the upper body completes the back swing. Take it to the range and start off with short wedges and work your way up as you gain confidence in the feeling.
Step 6
Switch Shoulders
Try concentrating on your shoulders rather than your arms during the swing. Start the club back thinking about rotating that left shoulder back rather than thinking about your arms and hands. At the top of your back swing make sure you are looking over your left shoulder (made a full shoulder turn). Now instead of thinking "pull" with your arms, think "get that right shoulder to replace that left one as quickly as possible. So you're just exchanging shoulders, the arms will do their thing all on their own.
My pro gave me that tip on the range one day when I was lamenting how I could hardly fly to the net at the back of the range. (maybe 260 out) He told me my timing was off, and to stop over swinging and do the above. After a couple swings I was halfway up the net pretty routinely. I had gotten into a habit of not completing my shoulder turn and just trying to muscle it with my arms. Result, much less built up power on the back swing, and a weak fade was the best I could muster with just my arms. Try it, it'll help your slice and definitely add some distance.
STEP 7
Utilize a Simple Swing Path Trainer
A lot of golfer's woes come from an inability to visualize what they're doing wrong. An out to in swing path that's been grooved for weeks, months, or years is hard to get rid of. Most of the time a swing path correction will leave you feeling like you're swinging from way too far inside, or too flat. Your mind just can't imagine that the adjustment you just made is only 25% better than it was before. All the tips about keeping your elbow in, or swinging "inside to out" will do you little good if you just can't feel or see what the right swing looks like. A good way to learn this feeling is a simple device called the Slice Eliminator - Swing Path Trainer
The key is to practice some of all of the above tips at the range and stick to it. A golf lesson with a PGA or LPGA pro will also help, especially if you can get it with video. Sometimes it's impossible to feel what you are doing wrong, especially if you're at a stage where you've never done it right! (no offense.) So take at least some of these tips to the range and really work on them. It won't be long before you get the hang of your new swing and can finally experience the view of the golf course from the middle of the fairway!
Good luck!
One day at a time.
Also check out our article on "how to hit a hook". It'll help cure that slice as well!
SWING EXPERT BILL CROWLEY'S BEST SLICE CURE TIP
 Swing Expert Bill Crowley |
Get A Grip As I've said in previous articles there can be many factors that lead to slicing. With most of the flaws being found in the setup or back swing. It's simple physics: the path of the club on the downswing is coming from out to in and/or the club head doesn't release(the rotation of the right forearm over the left forearm) because of a poor grip. Through years of teaching I can tell you that verbalizing what makes up a good grip rarely works and being hands on with the student will work momentarily. The golfer usually sneaks back to his old grip pretty quickly. What is needed is proper positioning with lots of repetition. So go out and spend $10 and re grip a 7-iron with a grip that positions your hands in the exact spot. Enjoy the new found power and the feeling of truly releasing the club. |
