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Why Do So Many Golfers Slice The Golf BallThe most common golf shot that is hit by golfers is definitely a slice. A slice golf shot is one where the golf ball is initially hit to the left of the target and then it curves left to right during its flight, finishing on the right of the target.
This type of ball flight is caused by a combination of the club heads swing path and the club faces aim as it moves through impact.


If you hit a slice, you are swinging the club head so that it is moving across the target line rather than directly along it. The direction that you swing the club head in through impact is known as your swing path. If you place an alignment pole or the shaft of a golf club on the ground to represent the target line, then the far side of the line is the outside and the side that you stand on to take your address position from is known as the inside. A slice golf shot is produced when the club head travels towards the golf ball and then through impact from the outside to the inside of the target line.

If you have this swing path and your club face is aiming to the right of this direction, but to the left of the target, then the golf ball starts its flight on the left of the target but curves to right. This happens because tilted axis spin is imparted on to the golf ball when it is struck, so the ball spins around this axis which is tilted and the ball curves to the right of its initial starting line.

This type of swing path and club face combination occur when the golfer is not rotating enough during their golf swing. Ideally, you want to rotate your shoulders 90 degrees to the right (for right handed golfers) on your back swing.

If you do not do this, but use your arms to lift the golf club back, then the club head does not swing away from the target line enough and the club head gets thrown over it to the outside on the down swing. This swing path also occurs when the golfer does not instigate their down swing in the correct kinematic sequence. Ideally, you should rotate towards the target on your down swing from the ground upwards. Your knees, hips, waist, then shoulders should rotate towards the target in that order. Most golfers instigate their down swing by turning their shoulders first and this throws the club head on to the outside of the target line.

Once the club face is approaching from the outside of the target line, the golfer then has to pull their arms in towards them to hit the golf ball and as a product of this action, the club face does not rotate as the golfers body is not rotating correctly and the face stays open to the swing path, producing a slice.

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Swinging the club head directly along the target line gives you the opportunity to hit a straight golf shot directly at the target. If the club face is aiming at the target, the ball will fly straight. If the face is closed, the ball will curve left of target. If it is open, it will curve right of target but it will not start on the left so it does not slice.

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If the club face is closed at impact, the golf ball will miss the target on the left side, whereas a slice golf shot misses the target on the right hand side. A closed club face does not produce a slice.

Sorry Try Again! - See Explanation Below

Making a correct golf swing means that the club head swings directly along the target line through impact, with the club face aiming along the target line at the target. This golf swing will produce a straight golf shot. Golfers only slice the golf ball when they swing incorrectly and the club head cuts across the target line with the club face aiming to the right of the swing path, but left of the target.