Photo by Lo Sarno on Unsplash Statistical analysis of amateur golf performance consistently reveals a counterintuitive finding: distance control errors on approach shots cost recreational golfers more strokes than directional errors, even though most golfers practice and worry about direction far more. The Statistical Pattern Shot-tracking data from systems used across recreational and competitive golf shows that amateur golfers are typically far more likely to miss an approach shot short or long of their intended distance than they are to miss significantly left or right of their intended line. A shot that's 15 yards short or long frequently finds trouble — a bunker, water, or simply a much longer subsequent putt — in a way that a shot 10 yards left or right of the pin, but still on the green, does not. Why This Happens Directional misses are usually caused by face-to-path errors, covered in our ball flight laws article , which tend to be relatively consistent for an individual g...
The slice is the most common shot fault in amateur golf. If your ball curves sharply from left to right (for a right-handed golfer), you are not alone — and more importantly, it is entirely fixable. At The Birdie Putt, we break down exactly why slices happen and give you a step-by-step plan to eliminate yours permanently rather than just bandaging it round to round.
Why You're Slicing: The Root Cause
A slice is caused by one thing above all else: an open clubface relative to your swing path at impact. When the clubface points right of where the club is traveling, sidespin is imparted on the ball that causes it to curve right. This is physics, not bad luck. Most slicers compound this with an outside-in swing path — swinging across the body from right to left — which adds even more left-to-right spin.
Understanding the cause immediately changes how you fix it. Slicers often try to swing harder or aim further left to compensate, which actually makes both problems worse. The real fix is in your grip, your setup, and your swing path — not your aim.
Fix 1: Strengthen Your Grip
The most immediate slice fix for most golfers is strengthening the grip. Grip the club and look down at your left hand (for right-handers): if you can see fewer than two knuckles, your grip is too weak and is causing the clubface to open through impact. Rotate your left hand clockwise until you can see 2.5 to 3 knuckles. Your right hand should move with it, closing both palms more against the club.
A stronger grip naturally squares or closes the clubface through impact without requiring any conscious manipulation. Many golfers fix 80% of their slice in a single round simply by adjusting their grip before anything else.
Fix 2: Change Your Swing Path
A classic slice comes from swinging over the top — starting the downswing with the shoulders rather than the hips, which throws the club outside the target line and creates that cutting, outside-in path. The fix: feel like you're swinging the club from inside to outside, almost as if you're trying to hit the ball to right field (for right-handers). This feeling is exaggerated, and the actual result will be a straighter path.
A useful drill: place a headcover about 6 inches outside and slightly behind the ball. Practice swings where you miss the headcover. This forces you to swing on an inside path to avoid hitting it. Repeat 20 times and your path memory will begin to change.
Fix 3: Check Your Alignment
Many slicers aim left to compensate for their curve, then swing across their body to the left even more aggressively — which is exactly the opposite of what they need. Lay two clubs on the ground parallel to each other at your setup: one along the ball-to-target line, one along your feet. Your feet should be parallel to the target line, not aiming left of it. Square alignment gives your swing path a chance to work properly.
Fix 4: The Towel Drill for Feel
Take a headcover or golf towel and tuck it under your right armpit at address. Make half-swings keeping the towel in place through the hitting zone. This teaches you to keep your right arm connected to your body through impact, which prevents the over-the-top move that creates outside-in paths. The moment your elbow flares out, the towel drops — instant feedback.
The Long-Term Fix
Work on grip, path, and alignment simultaneously rather than cycling through them one at a time. These fixes reinforce each other. Give it 3–4 practice sessions before expecting the slice to disappear on the course — swing changes take time to become automatic. Be patient, commit to the changes even when they feel awkward, and your slice will become a controlled draw before summer is over.
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