Here are five simple steps to help you stop slicing the golf ball

 

In golf, a slice is a common problem that can negatively impact your score. While not as damaging as a hook, it still poses a challenge to overcome. Unfortunately, fixing a slice is not always a quick and easy solution. This is because there may be several underlying causes behind your big left-to-right shot (assuming you are right-handed). To help, PGA professional Keith Williams offers five tips on how to prevent slicing the ball.

Work on the correct weight shift 

I frequently observe that many people who slice the ball tend to transfer their weight incorrectly or inefficiently. This usually happens when they reach the top of their backswing and then initiate the swing with their shoulders and arms. This is commonly referred to as "coming over the top." In such cases, the feet tend to remain stuck on the ground, and too much weight remains on the back foot. 

For an effective weight shift, proper sequencing is essential. The lower body - feet, knees, hips - should initiate the movement, followed by the upper torso, arms, and hands in that order. While it all happens very quickly, this sequence is critical. Although I wouldn't teach it as a basic one-to-six point method, correct sequencing enables the hands and arms to drop the club down, keeping the right elbow closer to the body.Almost all slicers have an incorrect or inefficient weight transfer – I see it all the time.  

It’s common to see players get to the top of their backswing, and then the first move is from the shoulders and arms. This is where the expression ‘coming over the top’ often comes from. 

The feet get stuck in the ground and there’s too much weight on the back foot. 

With good weight shift, the correct sequence of movements starts with the lower body – feet, knees, hips – and then the upper torso, arms, and hands follow, in that order. 

It all happens rapidly, of course, and I wouldn’t teach it as basic one to six points. But when the sequencing is right, the hands and arms will almost certainly have the chance to drop the club down, keeping the right elbow closer to the body. 

Turn through impact 

A skilled golfer who shifts their weight effectively will smoothly rotate their body during impact, without experiencing a slicing problem. When observing the top players, you'll notice that their shoulders are typically angled 15-30 degrees to the left of the target, while their hips can be angled anywhere from 30-60 degrees to the left. This means they've already shifted their weight forward and begun turning to the left before making contact with the ball. To cure a slice, it's important to focus on the motion of the body rather than other factors.

Don’t aim for a slice  

Many of us have witnessed it and even attempted it, hoping it would solve our problem. Unfortunately, that's not the case! When playing with a left-to-right wind, the slice becomes more pronounced. It's even worse when facing a wind from the left, as the ball doesn't move forward and only slices up against the wind. Trying to aim further left won't help you make progress. In fact, it will encourage you to swing from left to right, which can lead to opening the face even more. The swing path will only improve if you can learn to square up the face. To do this, you need to commit to slightly squaring up your stance and focus on the correct weight shift and turning the body through impact.

Try a stronger grip to make it easier to square up the clubface 

As the clubface approaches impact, it naturally wants to rotate closed. However, some players struggle to let this happen effectively, causing issues with their shots. Professional golf coaches don't enjoy teaching players to consciously rotate the clubface in order to square it up at impact, as it's almost impossible to master. Some golfers overdo the rotation, which can lead to a pull left or other bad shots. Despite the difficulty, golfers must try to square up the clubface. One way to achieve this is to slightly strengthen your grip, which can deliver the club more closed. For right-handed players, this means exposing more knuckles on their left hand and, if necessary, lowering their right hand slightly under the shaft. However, this isn't a guarantee for success. For instance, Dustin Johnson has a strong left-hand grip and a shut clubface, yet he still produces a fade, meaning he hits the ball with a slightly open face at impact.

Use softer flex shafts  

When a player swings down, even a poor player will see the clubhead lagging behind their hands. However, a top professional can keep the clubhead lagging right down near the ground behind their hands. Stiffer and heavier shafts make it much more difficult to catch up correctly, while a light and flexible shaft helps kick the clubhead forward pre-impact. This kick forward creates more rotation of the face, which helps square the face up and adds loft to the clubface, minimizing the sidespin applied to the ball at impact. 

Contrary to what people may think, a softer, lighter shaft can minimize a slice, rather than acting like a fishing rod and encouraging a bigger slice. Therefore, a softer shaft should be recommended for someone who slices. On the other hand, a player who has real problems with a hook should probably try a heavier, stiffer shaft, which would minimize the tendency to turn the face over. 

For those mid handicaps who really suffer from a slice, switching to hybrids instead of using 4 and 5 irons is recommended. Nowadays, a 5-iron loft is at least equivalent to a 3 or 4-iron of yesterday. My 3-iron when I played on Tour in the eighties is now the 5-iron in your set, but we didn't have the option of hybrids then. Loft is great for the average player – they'll get a better ball-flight, more control, and longer, straighter shots.

Best Guide: why golf balls go to the right