What is a slice shot in Golf?
A slice shot is when the ball makes a curve from left to right. This curve might be from right to left. It depends on the golfers’ hand status. If you are a right-hander, your slicing tendency will be to the right. If you are left hander, your slicing tendency will be to the left. Generally, slicing is the combination of an open clubface’s impact with a straight or outside-in swing path. When you are slicing, again and again, stop hitting the ball, take your time, find the reason, and correct the fault.
Types of slice shot:
According to the angle and curves after hitting the ball, a slice shot can be named three types. If the golf ball started from the left of the target and ended up to the right, it called A pull slice. If the golf ball started from the right and ended up slicing more right-side of the target, it is called a push slice. The last one is the standard slice. The classic slice shot starts following the target but ended up on the right or left.
What Causes a Slice in Golf:
- Open clubface
- Keeping the thumbs on the top of your grip
- Miss movement of the arm
- Move away from the shoulder line.
- Straight Leading arm
- Bad posture
- Bad flexibility
- Switching from left-handed to right-handed
- Bad ball positioning.
- Wrong foot flare.
How to get rid of a slice shot?
Straightforward Aim:
Most of the amateur golfer make this common mistake. They don’t keep concentration on the aim and alignment. When your purpose is not straight, you hit the ball as your eyes go. These mistakes force you to make a slice shot.
Good grip:
Gripping has a strong connection with a slice shot. If you grip the golf club weakly, there is a chance of making a slice. That’s why a firm and good grip is highly recommended to avoid the slice. However, a firm grip is not holding the club tightly and firmly with full pressure. Hold the club, maintaining the tightness, be comfortable with gripping but don’t keep slippery.
Shoulder Tilting:
A useful technique to avoid slicing in golf is tilting your shoulder with the swing of the club. Make your shoulder parallel with the target. Now tilt down your shoulder when you swing forward from the back. This technique will help you to adjust the clubface with your body.
Do not make chicken wing:
It sounds a little weird but happens to some golfers. They made a shape of a chicken wing with the leading arm while making the golf shot. That action causes the slice. You can use the atm card technique to avoid the chicken wing. Put a card in the underarm of the leading hand and hit the ball without dropping it.
Hand Splitting:
This attempt to avoid the slicing is so simple. Hold the club grip with one hand and put another hand on to the shaft. Now make swings. The hand will split with the backward and forward swing. Practicing this drill will help you the disappear your slicing tendency.
Setup and ball position:
Your standing setup and ball position are related to slicing shots. Standing setup includes your body position, shoulder, arms, legs should be parallel with the ball’s target and position. If all set correctly, your tendency to slice the ball to the right or left will be decreased.
Let’s Watch a Video: What is a slice in golf? How To Fix a golf slice?
Are fades and slice are the same?
Output after hitting the ball is the same for both fade and slice. Both can create the same curve from left to right or right to left. But there is a tricky difference between a fade and a slice. In slice shot, the golf ball takes the curves unintentionally, but a shot golfer makes the curve intentionally and controlled in a fade. Sometimes a perfect fade shot can save extra shots to find the target.
Will a weak grip cause slice?
Yes, one of the recognized causes of a slice is a weak grip. In a weak grip, you keep your thumbs on the top of the grip, making the clubhead open. This fact is directly responsible for the slice shots.
Is it better to slice or hook?
Slice and hook are directly opposite to each other. If you are a righty, in slice shot, the golf ball will curve to the right. But in a hook shot, the ball will tend to make a curve to the left. When you make a slice or hook intentionally, it will be better for your game. But if these shots happen unintentionally, it might be a disadvantage for your game. You may find it in a place where you don’t want it.
Can stand too close to the ball cause slice?
Standing too close to the ball will make you uncomfortable to make a shot. You will feel congested, crowded, and stacked. Your arm will be so close to your body when you swing the club, and this will force you to the slice shot.
Conclusion:
Golf is a game of tricky shots. You can play different types of golf shots with your playability when you need it. Qualified and professional golf players apply shot variations. But for beginner and amateur golfer, some golf shots are unknown. They make those shots unintentionally in the wrong way. For their mistakes, those happen. Slice is one of these shots. So, it’s better for you if you know about the causes of slicing. Practicing and avoiding the reason behind the slice shots may help you to get rid of making slice shots.
