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A slice is a shot that curves sharply to the right for a right-handed golfer (to the left for a left-hander). It happens when the clubface is open relative to the path the club is travelling on at impact, and for most beginners the cause is a grip that holds the face open, a setup that aims too far left, or an outside-in swing. Check the grip first, then the setup, then the path. If the slice is still there after a few sessions, a lesson with a PGA Professional is the quickest way to see what your own swing is doing.
What a slice actually is
Two things decide where the ball goes: where the clubface points and which way the club is moving when it hits the ball. A coaching glossary defines the face-to-path relationship as the angle of the face against the swing path at impact. An open face (open to the path) sends the ball curving right for a right-hander, a closed face curves it left (a hook), and a square face flies straight. GOLF.com says more than 80 percent of the starting direction comes from where the face points at impact.
The usual beginner slice pairs that open face with an outside-in path: the club comes from outside the target line, cuts across the ball and finishes to the left. GOLFTEC, a coaching company, reports that mid-handicap slicers typically have a face about 4 to 7 degrees open to the path and a path about 3 to 6 degrees outside-in with a driver. These are the company's own unpublished figures, so treat them as a rough picture, not a standard. The Keiser University College of Golf, whose coaching article is written by a PGA member, says the path should ideally stay within about 3 degrees of the target.
One consequence: a slice does not always start right. With an outside-in path, the ball often starts left of the target and then curves back right, which is why aiming further left does not fix it (the Keiser University College of Golf explains face-to-path versus face-to-target).
Check 1: the grip
The grip controls the face more than any other part of the setup. The PGA of America describes three grip types:
- Weak grip: the back of the lead hand is flat and the trail hand sits on top. The club tends to end up open and encourages an outside-in path, so most golfers slice with it.
- Modern grip: the standard recommendation. Both hands sit slightly right of centre and the face has a better chance of staying square, with less side spin.
- Strong grip: the hands sit well to the right and the face tends to close, which can produce a hook.
A quick check at address: look down at your lead hand (left hand for a right-hander). GOLFTEC says to turn it until two to three knuckles show. If you see one or none, the grip is probably weak. In a PGA of America coaching piece, PGA Professional Vinnie Manginelli says a grip that is too weak leaves the hands unable to turn through impact, so the face is open, and that moving the trail hand further away from the target leaves room for the face to square up.
Go in small steps: the PGA of America grip article says a grip that is too strong can bring a hook.
Check 2: stance and alignment
Most beginners who slice know it, and aim left to make up for it. PGA of America coaching says this backfires: aiming further left promotes the cutting swing that causes the slice. Instead:
- Set feet, hips and shoulders square (parallel to the target line). Lay a club or alignment stick on the ground along your toes while you practise.
- Check ball position. The same article says a ball too far forward or too far back sets the face position before you swing; a ball too far back tends to meet the face while it is still open. Start by checking where the ball is against your front foot and see if a small move changes the flight.
- Mind your shoulders. In a GOLF.com article, GOLFTEC's Nick Clearwater says chronic slicers tend to set up with shoulders open and level, while players who hit it straighter have the lead shoulder slightly closed and tilted. Ask a coach to check this one.
Check 3: swing path, outside-in or inside-out
An outside-in path is hard to feel on your own, so use a simple marker. Place a second ball or a headcover just outside the target ball and try to swing without touching it. GOLFTEC describes a similar drill, the two-ball check, for the face. For the arms, the PGA of America piece says to keep the trail elbow close to the trail side: when it drifts away, the club gets too far out and arrives outside-in. The GOLFTEC article also recommends a towel under the trail arm to keep the arms connected.
You cannot see path well with the naked eye. Ask a friend to film you from behind the ball, down the target line, or use a range with a launch monitor. Look for the clubhead coming from outside the line you set with the stick.
Quick check table
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check | Fix first? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball curves hard right | Face open to path | Lead hand shows 2-3 knuckles | ✅ Yes |
| Ball starts left, then curves right | Outside-in path | Trail elbow, headcover drill | Next |
| You aim left to compensate | Setup, not swing | Feet and shoulders square | ✅ Yes |
| Ball starts right and stays right | Face open to the target | Grip, ball position | ✅ Yes |
| Fixed grip, now it hooks | Grip too strong | Back off one step | ✅ Yes |
| Slice only with driver | Path or loft | Loft and club fit | Later |
Practice checklist
- [ ] Count the knuckles on the lead hand before every shot
- [ ] Lay an alignment stick along your toes
- [ ] Take half swings first and keep the ball position fixed
- [ ] Put a headcover just outside the ball
- [ ] Film one swing from behind and compare with a friend or coach
- [ ] Change one thing per session and write down what the ball did
- [ ] Stop if anything hurts
PGA of America says grip experiments, such as trying stronger and weaker hand positions, are worth doing to feel the difference.
Equipment: what to check
You do not need new clubs to start, but a few things can make a slice worse. The PGA of America coaching piece lists properly fitted equipment first: shaft length and flex, grip size and club loft should suit your body and skill level, and a PGA Professional can fit you. If you are unsure, ask a PGA Professional or a club fitter to check whether the clubs you have suit you before you buy anything. Our guide to buying sports clothing and footwear online covers shoes for grip on the course.
Left-handed golfers
Everything above flips. A left-hander's lead hand is the right hand, a slice curves to the left, and "outside-in" means the club comes from outside the line and travels towards the right. Mirror the knuckle check on the right hand.
UK and US terms
In Great Britain and Ireland, lessons are given by members of The PGA (PGA Professionals) and found through PGA Play, which lists around 8,000 PGA Professionals with their coaching services, location and contact details. In the US, the PGA of America offers a "Find a Coach" service. In the UK, "golf club" usually means the members' organisation and its course as well as the stick, so "book a lesson at a golf club" and "book a lesson with a PGA Professional" can mean the same booking. Both countries use "slice" for a right-curving shot (for a right-hander).
When to see a coach, doctor or physio
- The slice is still there after several weeks of the checks above.
- You cannot tell if the problem is grip, setup or path.
- You want a club fitting.
- If you feel pain in your back, shoulder, elbow or wrist when you swing, stop and see a doctor or physiotherapist before you carry on. A coach cannot treat an injury.
A PGA Professional can use video and a launch monitor to show you the real numbers, and set a plan for your swing, not an average one.
What to buy, if anything
For many beginners, the answer is nothing: the fixes above are free, and a group or single lesson with a PGA Professional is the best-value way to start. A PDF and video guide, such as the ClickBank title "Stress-Free Golf Swing", is a different thing. We have not tested it. A guide like that can show you drills at your own pace, let you replay a video, and cost less than a run of lessons. It cannot see your swing, tell you whether your path is outside-in, watch you for pain or adjust to your body. If you buy a digital product, read the seller's page and refund terms first; our guide on refunds and chargebacks explains your options. Use any guide alongside, not instead of, feedback from a coach or a video of your own swing.
Disclosure: If you buy a digital product through our partner link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We have not tested the guide, so check the seller's description and refund terms.
