Golf Glossary
Slice
In short
A slice is a golf shot in which the ball curves strongly to the right in the air, as seen by a right-hander. It happens when the clubface is open relative to the swing direction at impact. The ball picks up sidespin and loses distance at the same time. The slice is considered the most common ball-flight fault among club golfers.
Slice in golf: what is it?
A slice is a ball that bends clearly to the right after it starts. The details here are for right-handers; for left-handers the ball curves left. Unlike the push, a slice often starts towards the target or even left of it and only curves to the right in the air. It often ends in the rough, in trees or out of bounds.
You can recognise a slice by these features:
- The ball curves clearly to the right in the air.
- The flight is high and the ball loses speed towards the end.
- The distance is shorter than a straight shot with the same club.
- The ball lands steeply and runs very little.
The slice is a sidespin problem. The ball spins around an axis that is tilted to the side. The curve comes from this tilted spin axis. More on this under spin axis.
In golfers’ slang a very strong slice is also called a banana. A mild slice that a player plays on purpose is called a fade. The difference lies in size and control: a fade is a wanted, small curve, a slice is an unwanted, large one.
How does a slice happen? Clubface and swing direction
Today’s ball-flight laws are based on measurements with radar devices. According to them the clubface mainly decides the start direction of the ball. As a rule of thumb, TrackMan puts its share at about 85 per cent with the driver and about 75 per cent with irons. The curve comes from the difference between face and swing direction.
A slice happens when the clubface points further right than the swing direction at impact. Experts say the face is open to the path. The ball then spins to the right, away from the swing direction.
There are two typical combinations:
- The swing direction goes from outside to inside, that is left across the target line, and the face points roughly at the target. This is the classic slice.
- The swing direction is roughly straight but the face is clearly open.
The bigger the difference between the two, the stronger the slice. As a rough guide, a difference of a few degrees makes a fade and six to ten degrees or more a clear slice.
The effect is greatest with little loft and high speed. With the driver the slice is therefore usually strongest, with a wedge often hardly visible.
Practical example: a slice with the driver
Picture a player using the driver who wants to find a 30-metre-wide fairway.
His swing direction is 4 degrees left, so from outside to inside. The face points 2 degrees right of the target at impact. The difference between face and path is therefore 6 degrees. The ball starts just right of the target, because the face decides the start direction. Then it curves strongly to the right in the air.
At a distance of about 200 metres the ball lands well right of the fairway in the rough. The player hits from the rough, gets only 100 metres and plays a fourth shot to the green. A par 4 easily turns into a double bogey.
The figures are simplified examples. They show that it is the combination of face and path that produces the slice.
A player who just aims against the curve and keeps swinging from outside makes the problem worse. It is better to fix the cause.
Causes: why do I slice?
There are many causes of a slice. These are the most common.
A grip that is too weak: if the hands are turned too far left on the club, the face can stay open at impact. With a neutral grip you see, as a guide, about two to three knuckles of the left hand from above.
An outside-to-inside swing path: the club comes from outside the target line in the downswing and pulls across to the inside. This is the over-the-top pattern. Very often the upper body opens too early.
Lack of rotation: the club does not turn over at impact. The forearms do not roll and the face stays open.
Poor alignment: a player whose body is aimed left automatically swings from outside to inside. The ball starts left and then curves right.
Wrong ball position: if the ball is very far forward, the shoulders often open at address and the club tends to come from outside.
Unsuitable equipment: an unsuitable shaft or too little loft can make the slice worse. A fitting can clarify this.
Usually several causes work together. A coach can separate them with measured data.
Fixing a slice: drills and tips
A few steps usually reduce the slice.
Step 1, the grip: check that your grip is neutral. Turn the left hand a little to the right until you see about two to three knuckles. The right hand then completes the grip to match.
Step 2, alignment: lay an alignment stick parallel to the target line in front of your feet. Check that feet, hips and shoulders are parallel to the target line and not aimed left.
Step 3, the feeling from the inside: imagine hitting the ball deliberately to the right of the target. This feeling brings the club to the ball from the inside. Do not exaggerate it.
Step 4, the towel: tuck a towel under both upper arms and practise half swings. Arms and body stay connected.
Step 5, turning over: practise rolling the forearms after impact. The clubface closes, and at hip height in the follow-through the toe of the club points roughly upwards.
Step 6, measuring: use radar data to watch where the ball starts and how far it curves. Change only one thing per session.
Change takes patience. A well-practised slice is rarely cured in one lesson.
Typical mistakes when fixing a slice
Players who want to get rid of their slice often make these mistakes.
Aiming left: this feels logical but strengthens the outside-to-inside path. The slice stays or gets worse.
Yanking with the hands: a player who tries to shut the face quickly with the hands often gets a hook or the pull hook. The aim is teamwork between body and arms.
Too many changes at once: changing grip, stance, swing and equipment together means you do not know what worked.
Using more force: the slice usually gets bigger with more speed, because the difference between face and path has a stronger effect.
Practising only the driver: the slice also shows with irons, only weaker. Working on the basics with short clubs makes the driver easier later.
Until then a simple tactic helps on the course: allow for the curve and pick a target from which the ball still finishes in the fairway after curving. Align body and face to this new line. On the range you work on the cause.
Comparison: slice, fade, hook and draw
The terms can be ordered by the curve and the reason. All details are for right-handers.
- Slice: strong, unwanted curve to the right
- Fade: mild, intended curve to the right
- Hook: strong, unwanted curve to the left
- Draw: mild, intended curve to the left
- Push: straight shot that starts right
- Pull: straight shot that starts left
The slice is the mirror image of the hook. With a slice the face is open to the swing direction, with a hook it is closed. Players who fix a slice sometimes swing to the other extreme and hit a hook.
The slice also has consequences under the Rules. A ball that curves far right may end up out of bounds or be lost. If that is possible and it is not known to be in a penalty area, Rule 18.3 allows you to play a provisional ball. More on this under provisional ball.
A single slice is no cause for concern. Even experienced players hit them now and then, especially under pressure.
Try it at Golf Lounge
You can measure and understand your own slice at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg. On the TrackMan range you see launch angle, ball speed, carry and dispersion after every shot, in other words how far your ball drifts to the right. The range has 32 tee bays on two levels and is covered, heated and usable all year round. With the numbers you can check changes to grip or alignment at once. For the cause in your swing, a private lesson with a PGA professional based on TrackMan data helps.
Frequently asked questions
What is a slice in golf?
A slice is a shot in which the ball curves strongly to the right in the air, as seen by a right-hander. The clubface is open to the swing direction at impact, so the ball picks up sidespin. It loses distance and often ends in the rough or out of bounds. The slice is regarded as the most common fault among club golfers.
Why do I slice the driver?
With the driver the difference between face and swing direction has the strongest effect. Common reasons are a grip that is too weak, an outside-to-inside swing path, too little forearm rotation and aiming left. A coach can use radar data to show which cause dominates for you.
How do I avoid a slice?
Check grip, alignment and ball position first. Then practise half swings with a towel under your upper arms and train turning the forearms over after impact. Change only one thing per session and watch the start direction of the ball. With measured data you see more quickly what works.
What is the difference between a slice and a fade?
Both shots curve right. A fade is a mild, intended curve with a controlled landing, a slice is a strong, unwanted curve with a loss of distance. The difference lies in the size of the angle between face and swing direction. As a rough rule of thumb, a few degrees make a fade and six to ten degrees or more usually a slice.
Will a different club help against a slice?
Partly. A club with more loft or a suitable shaft can reduce the curve somewhat but does not replace technique. So-called anti-slice or draw clubs have more weight towards the heel or a slightly closed face. A fitting shows whether your equipment suits you. First, though, it is worth checking grip, alignment and swing.
As of: October 2026