If you’ve ever stood on the tee, lined everything up perfectly, and still watched your drive curve helplessly off to the right, you’re not alone. It’s time to stop the slice.
The dreaded slice is one of the most common problems in golf, and one of the most frustrating. It can feel unpredictable, inconsistent, and at times completely uncontrollable. One moment you think you’ve cracked it, and the next the ball takes off sideways again.
But here’s the truth: a slice is not random.
It’s actually one of the most predictable ball flights in golf. Once you understand why it happens, you’re already halfway to fixing it.
As a coach, it’s a fault I see almost more than any other, but there’s a simple adjustment you can make to your setup and swing that can dramatically reduce, or even stop the slice.
Let’s break it down.
Understanding the Slice: It’s All About Path and Face
Every golf shot is controlled by two key factors:
- Club path – the direction the club is travelling through impact
- Club face angle – where the face is pointing relative to that path
When it comes to a slice, both of these elements are working against you.
Most golfers who slice the ball tend to swing with an out-to-in path (swinging left of target as a right handed golfer). That means the club is travelling across the ball from outside the target line to inside it.
At the same time, the club face is open relative to that path.
This combination creates sidespin, specifically, spin that sends the ball curving to the right. If you’ve ever played tennis, the feeling is easy to produce and even see with the racket aiming to the sky as you cut across the ball.
To put it into perspective, a typical slicer might produce something like:
- Club path: 8° out-to-in
- Club face: 13° open relative to path
That gap between the path and the face is what creates the excessive curvature.
The bigger the gap, the bigger the slice.
Why It Feels So Hard to Fix
One of the reasons slicing is so difficult to overcome is because golfers often try to fix the symptom instead of the cause.
You see the ball going right, so you instinctively try to swing more left… or manipulate the club face at impact.
Unfortunately, that usually leads to more inconsistency.
The real issue isn’t just direction, it’s the relationship between the club path and the club face.
Until those two elements are working together, the slice will always be lurking.
The Most Common Mistake: Aiming Left
Let’s talk about one of the biggest traps golfers fall into.
When your shots keep going right, it’s tempting to aim further left to compensate. It feels like a logical solution. if the ball curves right, just start it more left.
But this approach often makes things worse.
Here’s why:
When you aim left, your body tends to adjust your swing direction accordingly. Instead of fixing your path, you actually exaggerate it. Your swing becomes even more out-to-in, and the club face remains open relative to that path.
The result?
An even bigger slice.
This is why simply changing your aim doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it often reinforces the very movement patterns causing it.
The Simple Fix: Align Your Body Right, Keep the Face at the Target
Now for the good news.
There’s a simple move that can help you start reversing your slice almost immediately.
Set your body slightly to the right, while keeping the club face aimed at the target.
That’s it.
It might sound counterintuitive at first, especially if you’re used to seeing the ball curve right, but this adjustment can completely change how your club moves through impact.
Why This Works
By aiming your body to the right (closing your stance), you naturally encourage a swing that travels more from the inside.
Instead of cutting across the ball, the club starts to approach it from a better angle.
At the same time, because your club face is still pointing at the target, the gap between your face and path begins to shrink.
This is the key.
When the face and path are closer together:
- The sidespin is reduced
- The ball flies straighter
- The curve becomes more controlled
You’re no longer fighting the slice, you’re removing the cause of it.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply This Move
To get the most out of this adjustment, follow these steps carefully:
1. Start with a Square Setup
Begin as you normally would, with your feet, hips, and shoulders aligned parallel to your target line.
This gives you a neutral reference point.
2. Set the Club Face First
Aim the club face directly at your target.
This is crucial.
The face largely controls the starting direction of the ball, so you want this locked in before making any other adjustments.
3. Adjust Your Body Alignment
Now, without moving the club face, turn your feet, hips, and shoulders slightly to the right.
This creates a closed stance relative to your target.
It may feel uncomfortable at first, but that’s a good sign. It means you’re doing something different.
4. Swing Along Your Body Line
As you swing, feel like the club is travelling along the direction your feet and body are pointing.
This encourages an in-to-out path, which is the opposite of the slicing motion.
5. Don’t Manipulate the Club Face
Resist the urge to “flip” your hands or force the club face closed.
Let the improved path and setup naturally square the face relative to your swing.
6. Commit to the Motion
Trust the process and swing through the shot.
Half-committed swings often lead to mixed results.
What You Should Expect to See
When you apply this move correctly, you’ll start to notice some key changes:
Straighter Ball Flight
The big, sweeping slice should begin to disappear, replaced by a much straighter shot.
Reduced Curve
Even if the ball still moves slightly right, the curvature will be far less dramatic.
Improved Contact
With a better path, you’re more likely to strike the ball out of the centre of the club face.
Increased Distance
Less sidespin means more efficient ball flight, which often leads to more distance.
More Confidence Off the Tee
Perhaps most importantly, you’ll feel more in control, knowing that your ball flight is no longer a mystery.
A Realistic Expectation
It’s important to understand that this isn’t a magic overnight fix, but it is a powerful step in the right direction.
At first, you might see:
- Shots starting slightly right of target
- A small draw or reduced fade
- Occasional straight shots
These are all positive signs.
They show that your club path is improving and your face-to-path relationship is getting closer to neutral.
Stick with it, and those improvements will become more consistent.
Quick Recap: Stop The Slice – Checklist
Before your next round or range session, run through this simple checklist:
- Don’t aim further left
- Set up square first
- Keep the club face pointing at the target
- Align your body slightly to the right
- Swing along your body line
- Don’t force the club face, let it happen naturally
Keep it simple. Don’t overthink it.
Take It to the Range
The best way to build this into your game is through repetition.
Head to the range and give yourself time to experiment with the setup. Don’t worry about perfect shots straight away, focus on the pattern of your ball flight.
Ask yourself:
- Is the curve reducing?
- Is the ball starting closer to target?
- Does the swing feel more natural?
Progress in golf is about trends, not perfection.
Final Thoughts
A slice can feel like one of the hardest problems to solve in golf, but in reality, it comes down to a simple relationship between club path and club face.
Once you start to understand and influence that relationship, everything begins to change.
This simple move, aligning your body right while keeping the club face at the target, can be a game-changer for golfers of all levels.
So next time you step onto the tee, don’t fight the slice.
Change the setup. Trust the swing. And give yourself a real chance of finding the fairway and maybe even stop the slice altogether.