Why Am I Slicing the Golf Ball? (And How To Fix It)

If you’re reading this, chances are your golf ball has a mind of its own. You stand over the ball, swing what feels like a decent shot, and watch it start left… then violently curve right into the trees, water, or OB. Welcome to the dreaded slice—the most common ball flight problem in golf.

At King Golf Lab, we’ve helped thousands of golfers turn their banana balls into straight (or even draw) shots. The good news? A slice is almost always fixable once you understand the root cause.

What Exactly Is a Slice?

A slice is a ball that starts relatively straight or slightly left (for right-handed golfers) and then curves sharply to the right. It’s caused by sidespin created when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact.

• Push-slice: Starts right and goes further right
• Pull-slice: Starts left and curves right (most common)

The bigger the difference between your clubface angle and swing path, the bigger the slice.

The 5 Most Common Causes of a Slice

1. Swing Path Too Out-to-In (“Over the Top”) Most slicers swing the club on an outside-to-inside path. This is often the result of trying to “hit” the ball with the arms instead of rotating the body.
2. Open Clubface at Impact Even with a good path, if the face is pointing right of the path at impact, the ball will slice. This is frequently caused by a weak grip or poor wrist rotation.
3. Weak Grip If you can see only one or two knuckles on your left hand (right-handers), your grip is likely too weak. This makes it hard to square the face.
4. Poor Setup / Alignment Open shoulders, ball too far forward, or weight on the back foot at address all promote an out-to-in path.
5. Tension and “Arm Domination” Gripping the club too tightly or swinging with just the arms prevents the club from releasing properly.

How to Diagnose Your SliceQuick Self-Test:

• Film your swing from down the line and face-on (phone on a tripod works great).
• Check where the ball starts and how much it curves.
• Note your divot direction — if it points left of your target, you’re swinging out-to-in.

Launch Monitor Clues (if available at King Golf Lab or your range):

• Swing path: +4° or more out-to-in
• Clubface: Open to the path
• Spin axis: Positive (right spin for right-handers)

Proven Fixes: Stop Slicing for GoodFix #1: Strengthen Your Grip

Rotate both hands slightly to the right on the handle (right-handers). You should see 3–4 knuckles on your left hand. This helps the clubface close naturally through impact.

Fix #2: Fix Your Swing Path – The “Gate Drill”

Place an alignment stick or headcover just outside the ball and another a few feet ahead on the target line. Practice swinging so the club comes from slightly inside the first stick and exits between the sticks. This promotes an in-to-out (or neutral) path.

Fix #3: The Release Drill

Practice half-swings focusing on rolling your right forearm over your left through impact. Feel like you’re “closing the door” with the clubface. Start with slow motion and gradually add speed.

Fix #4: Setup Adjustments

• Ball position: Move it slightly back in your stance (especially with driver)
• Shoulders: Make sure they’re square or slightly closed to the target line
• Weight: Feel 55% on your lead foot at address

Fix #5: King Golf Lab’s Favorite Anti-Slice Drill – “The Towel Drill”

Place a small towel under your right armpit (right-handers). Make swings keeping the towel pinned there until waist high on the follow-through. This keeps your arms connected and encourages proper body rotation.

Equipment ConsiderationsSometimes the fix isn’t just swing-related:

• Driver: Consider a more closed face angle or higher loft
• Shaft: Stiffer or lower torque shafts can reduce face twisting
• Grip size: Oversized grips can promote a weaker grip for some players

Our fitters at King Golf Lab can quickly identify if equipment is contributing to your slice.

Final Thoughts: Be Patient and Consistent

Fixing a slice rarely happens in one range session. Pick one fix at a time—usually grip or path—and work on it for at least two weeks before moving on.

The reward is massive: longer drives, more fairways hit, and lower scores. Imagine stepping up to the tee with confidence instead of fear.

Ready to take your game to the next level? Book a slice-busting session at King Golf Lab. Our instructors and launch monitor technology will pinpoint your exact issues and give you a custom plan that actually works.

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