What Causes a Slice?

Series Summary

Although it is a popular game amongst people of all ages, the game of golf can be challenging. Whether you are an absolute beginner, or someone who has been playing for a while, golf lessons can help you improve your game at any stage. Golf, like most sports, is one where practice makes perfect. Unfortunately though, it is a sport where practice can often be expensive. Since you can’t practice your game in the backyard, it is necessary to be able to maximize your time at the range or on the course so you can see the most improvement.

In this free golf video series, expert PGA member Jay Golden gives you tips for fixing your slice. You can cure a slice with any or all of these excellent tips, and your game will improve for sure. Try taking a lesson from tennis. Try using a hook to fix your slice. Use the toe of the club. Release hands prior to impact. There are over a dozen simple tips like these to help you cure your slice in the series. Jay shows you everything and demonstrates just how a slice works and how to correct it.

Video Transcript

"In this segment I'm going to talk about the slice grip. Many, many people slice the ball simply because of the way they hold the club. They almost have to slice the ball. Especially beginners and intermediates. If you have this grip, you're probably going to slice automatically and thats related mostly to the left hand grip. If you just stood comfortably, people would have their hand, their left hand in this position right here. And if you look down, you could see one, two, three, four knuckles in the back of your left hand, just standing comfortably. Now, if you turned your hand so that your thumb was straight on top, you feel twisted and uncomfortable. And if you just let yourself go, you would immediately go back to that position. This is a weak and uncomfortable position and you immediately go back to that position. That is the number one reason for slicing. Many people start with their left hand, with their thumb going straight down the grip. Sometimes there's a line, sometimes there's little dots. And people are under the impression that their hand should be in that position. Well, what happens when their hand is in that position, is that even though the club faces square or facing a target when they start. When they come into the ball, their arm and their hand goes back to that normal, natural position and the club faces open, aiming to the right. So they start like this and then when they come into the ball, it's like this. So what that does even though it started straight, when they come into the ball and their hand goes to the other position, it's open so the club faces aiming to the right in relation to the direction that it's moving and thats what causes a slice. Thats what puts slice spin, see that would be straight but if a club keeps moving in that direction but it opens, you see how that would spin the ball in that direction with a glancing blow. So the first place to look is your left hand grip and if you have that thumb straight down, that could be the only reason for your slice. Turn your hand, more, more, more, more, more. And that right there could cure your slice."