by Chad Rogers, Teaching Professional
Talking Stick Golf Club
Note* This article is written from a right-handers perspective, so lefties should reverse any directional in the text below.
What is a Golf Slice?
A Slice is a specific left-to-right trajectory shape for a golf ball which is caused by clockwise spin. A slice usually ends up right of the target line, and the term is often used when the curve in the trajectory is extreme and unintentional. The less extreme version of a slice is called a "fade".
What Causes a Golf Slice?
The only factor that will determine if a golf ball will slice, is the alignment of the clubface at impact. In the case of a slice the clubface at impact is “open”(looking off to the right). Imagine that the ball is on a peg, and that all it can do is spin one way or another. To spin the ball clockwise, the club has to swing more to the left with the clubface looking slightly to the right. In a golf shot, this is exactly what happens to make the ball slice. This can often be confirmed by looking at the divot. The divot produced by a slice swing is often pointing well left with the ball ending up well right of the divot's direction.
How to fix a Golf Slice.
The Grip
As I just mentioned that the clubface looking to the right at impact is what causes a slice, now let’s talk about the number one factor that determines where the clubface is looking at impact, and that is your grip. Grips can be very individualized. A grip that produces a perfectly straight shot for one player can cause a huge hook or a slice for another. That being said, you can make certain generalizations about the grip regarding slicing. If your hands are turned too far to the left on the club, it's much more likely to return with the face looking to the right at impact.
Here's the guideline: In your stance, with the clubface square to the target, you should be able to look down and see at least two knuckles on your left hand. If you see three or even four, that's fine. Your grip is not contributing to your slice. Another guideline is to look at the "V’s" formed between the thumb and the base of the hand. These should point up to somewhere near your right shoulder.
The Stance
It seems logical that if a golfer is missing to the right, then before too long he or she would aim more to the left to compensate. With slicers this is, in fact, the case. But aiming to the left will cause the swing's circle to be too far to the left, exacerbating the slicing motion.
Double check that your aim is not too far to the left, especially with your shoulders. You can lay a club on the ground, parallel to your target line, to check your aim. Or you can have a friend check your alignment. Just make sure that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are parallel to that club on the ground and to your target line.
Checking your stance and grip can often eradicate any slice without changing the hitting motion at all. Let the ball's flight be your guide. If it's curving less to the right, then you're on the right track. If it's flying straight or curving left, then your slice is cured.
The Backswing
If your backswing is too much up and not enough around, then the club is going to approach the ball on an angle that is too steep. In other words, too sharply toward the ground. A steep downswing tends to have an opening effect on your arms. Whereas, a flatter swing will have a rolling effect on your arms.
To fix this issue, take a look at your backswing at the top. Make sure the shaft is over your shoulder at the top, not over your head. To achieve this position, you may have to feel your left arm cross your chest just a bit, creating a flatter or more rounded backswing. You may feel a bigger turn this way too.
The next important element of the backswing will be the clubface position. One of the biggest mistakes slicers make is to turn the club clockwise to begin the backswing (i.e., immediately opening the clubface on the takeaway). This movement feels like the club is going around properly, creating a good turn. Unfortunately, this opening of the club simply creates an open face at impact. True, the clubface should "open" on the backswing, relative to the target line. However, this natural opening is done with the turning of the shoulders and torso, not because of a twist in the hands.
When you are making your backswing, just hold onto the club. No effort to twist or hinge the wrists should be made. When you get to the top, you can check for the proper position by looking at your left wrist. You should be able to lay a ruler underneath the face of your wristwatch and have it touch both your arm and the back of your hand. In other words, the back of your left wrist should be flat.
The Downswing
With a good grip and stance as well as a good backswing position, I'd be surprised if your slice is still here. If these first few areas check out, you're 90% of the way to eliminating the slice.
To begin the downswing, you want to feel the arms drop in a relaxed fashion. The club is going to feel as though it is swinging on an inside-out track. In other words, if we think of it in baseball terms, and you were the batter, you would want to swing out to right field.
If the ball still has a tail to the right, you can add this sensation: Try to get the feeling that the club is closing a bit too soon. Feel as though the clubface is closed by the time it gets to your right leg. This should be done through softness in the wrists, with a feeling of letting the club swing. It should not be done by forcing the club to turn over with your hands. Some practice swing should give you the feeling. Keep in mind, it is a golf “swing” and not a golf “hit”.
Final Thoughts
Make sure to be patient as you are making any changes. It will not become a new habit overnight. Also, use the golf ball as feedback. The ball will never lie. If it is still curving to the right you will know the clubface is still open at impact. You'll want to remember that you are improving if your 30-yard slice is now a 15-yard slice. No matter how strange a new move feels, always listen to what the ball tells you. You may be sure that the clubhead is turning over soon enough, but if the ball is still tailing to the right, then you'll have to feel the club close sooner still. Not until you curve the ball to the left, have you closed the clubface too soon! The feel can trick you, but the ball won't.
Teaching Professional
Talking Stick Golf Club
Chad Rogers
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