Your Ball Goes Right // Here's Why — And How to Fix It

Fix Your
SLICE

The ball starts at the target and curves hard right. Every recreational golfer has experienced it. Most try to fix it with grip and swing thoughts — wrong approach. Here's what actually works.

Why It Happens Book Analysis

The Real Causes of a Slice

Everyone knows the feeling: good contact, solid swing, ball starts straight — then drifts right. The slice is a face-path problem at impact. Not a backswing problem.

Outside-to-In Path

The club approaches the ball from outside the target line and crosses over through impact. This is the most common cause of a slice. The clubface is open relative to the path at the moment of impact.

Open Face at Impact

The clubface is pointing to the right of where it's moving at impact. Combined with an outside-in path, this creates the maximum slice spin rate. Simply "closing the face" doesn't work — it needs to close relative to the path.

Swing Path vs. Face Angle

TrackMan shows these as separate measurements. The face can be perfectly square to the target but if the path is outside-in, the ball still slices. Or the path can be correct but the face is open. The combination matters.

Early Release / Casting

The wrists release the club too early in the downswing. The clubhead lags behind the hands and arrives at the ball with an open face. Timing-related slices are common in players who try to "help" the ball.

The Fix Sequence

Work through these in order. Each drill targets a specific part of the slice pattern. Use a 7-iron for all drills until the pattern changes.

Path Drill

Place two alignment rods on the ground — one along the target line, one parallel to it outside the ball. Swing between them. Forces an inside-out path.

Face Control

At address, hold the clubface so you can see the logo. Check it at the top of the backswing — does it stay open? The face angle at the top predicts face angle at impact.

Impact Tape

Apply impact tape to the clubface. A slice pattern shows marks on the heel side of the center. Track your progress: marks moving toward center = improvement.

Half Swing

Make 50% swings focusing on path and face. Don't try to hit it far. The 50% swing forces you to control the path because you can't overpower the drill.

TrackMan Removes the Guesswork

The difference between a fade (controlled left-to-right) and a slice (panic-inducing right) is about 5° of face-to-path at impact. TrackMan reads it immediately. You see the number, you know the cause, you drill the fix.

One session gives you: face angle at impact, swing path, attack angle, and ball flight data. No more guessing whether it's "my grip" or "my swing plane." The data tells you exactly.

Book Swing Analysis →

"I've had a slice for 15 years. Three sessions and it's gone. Turns out I was practicing the wrong thing — same as most people."

— Client, 18-handicap, Johannesburg