Golf Tips: Stop the Slice
Getting off the tee with a good shot is a challenge that many beginners and occasional golfers face. The tee shot is crucial because it sets the tone for the hole and puts you in position for a good or a bad round. Many golfers that struggle off the tee box do so because they hit a “slice.”
What makes a ball slice? A slice occurs when the club approaches the golf ball with outside-to-inside motion with an open clubface. For a right-handed player, the ball will start to the left of the target and spin to the right, losing distance and accuracy. A slice is often called a “banana ball” due to its curved path.
Follow these tips to stop the pesky slice:
- Adjust your address or your playing position. Make sure that your shoulders are square and parallel to your target line. Avoid setting up open, or left of your target, a stance that frequently creates a slice.
- Aim straight. Slicing the ball sometimes makes you want to aim further left, but this actually opens your stance and creates a bigger slice. Reposition your aim and your address to be in line with your target.
- Tilt your shoulders. Your right shoulder should be lower than your left, creating a tilt that will encourage your body to take the club back on a slightly inside path. Setting up with your shoulders level to the ground will cause you to swing away from the target line and produce the outside-to-inside downswing that often causes the slice.
- Focus on first. Hit the ball with an inside-to-outside motion; it will feel like you are hitting the ball down the first baseline on a baseball field. When you slice, your ball will look like it is traveling to third base.
- Keep your eye on the ball until it is hit. Looking up too soon will cause the clubface to open which will give the ball a left-to-right spin. Focus on making solid contact with the ball before looking up.
The next time you are struggling to hit a solid tee shot, remember these simple tips to eliminate your slice and have more fun on the golf course.