What causes the slice?

Swinging over the top: Your upper body or hands initiate the transition early, throwing the club outside the target line on the downswing. This creates an outside-in swing path that cuts across the ball and generates side spin. Leaving the clubface open: You prevent the clubhead from releasing through impact by holding the face open relative to your swing path. This open alignment adds dynamic loft and causes the ball to flare off to the right. Opening your shoulders at address: Turning your chest toward a forward ball position or aiming left of your target shifts your upper body out of square alignment. This open shoulder posture forces your downswing path across the ball from out to in.

The slice: why it happens, and what fixes it

The right-curving ball flight that gets worse the harder you swing. Usually a face problem first, a path problem second.

1,577 videos by 113 coaches set out to fix the slice.

What the slice looks like

You will see your ball start left and curve heavily to the right. Impact feels like a weak, glancing blow that lacks power and leaves your shots flying short and off line.

Why it happens

Swinging over the top Your upper body or hands initiate the transition early, throwing the club outside the target line on the downswing. This creates an outside-in swing path that cuts across the ball and generates side spin. How to tell: Look at a video from down the line to see if your hands and shaft pitch forward past your target line during transition. The idea: Club Path. From That's One!, Face First Golf, Bob Menzies Golf, Get Good At Golf!, Warren Bennett Golf Academy, WhyGolf, GRF Golf.
Leaving the clubface open You prevent the clubhead from releasing through impact by holding the face open relative to your swing path. This open alignment adds dynamic loft and causes the ball to flare off to the right. How to tell: Examine your lead arm through impact to see if your elbow pulls outward in a chicken-wing position rather than rotating. The idea: Face Angle. From Alistair Davies Golf, Steve Pratt Golf, Face First Golf, Eric Cogorno Golf, Matt Fryer Golf.
Opening your shoulders at address Turning your chest toward a forward ball position or aiming left of your target shifts your upper body out of square alignment. This open shoulder posture forces your downswing path across the ball from out to in. The idea: Setup. From Danny Maude, Athletic Motion Golf.

The fix

The drills that fix the slice

Most-taught first, each with the coaches who teach it.

Path Gate Drill: Two objects (headcovers, cones or alignment sticks) set a foot or two in front of the ball, or alongside it, as a channel the club must swing along; swing through without touching either. 3 coaches teach it.
Feet Together Drill: used by 8 coaches in 15 videos that fix the slice.
Pump Drill: used by 7 coaches in 10 videos that fix the slice.
Towel Drill: used by 6 coaches in 9 videos that fix the slice, and we filmed it.
Step Drill: used by 6 coaches in 6 videos that fix the slice.
Motorcycle Drill: used by 5 coaches in 6 videos that fix the slice.
Wall Drill: used by 4 coaches in 6 videos that fix the slice.
Alignment Stick Path Drill: used by 4 coaches in 5 videos that fix the slice.
Chair Drill: used by 4 coaches in 4 videos that fix the slice.

Who to watch first

The coaches who fix it most

Ranked by how much of their library is this miss.

Meandmygolf, PGA Pro · US: 88 videos on it.
AlexElliottGolf, PGA Pro · GB: 63 videos on it.
Alistair Davies Golf, PGA Pro · GB: 63 videos on it.

The videos

The videos that fix the slice outright

Ranked by fit: this is the miss each one sets out to fix.

Fix Your Slice The Ultimate Golf Swing Path Secret! by Alistair Davies Golf. Over-correct your swing path by taking practice swings at an extreme inside-out angle (up to 90 degrees right of target).
85% of Golfers Can't Hit Driver Straight Because Of This Trap by Danny Maude. The curve of a golf ball is determined by the relationship between the clubface angle and the swing path at impact.
Part 3️⃣ of building a functional golf swing 🏌🏽‍♂️ Static 🆚 Dynamic fundamentals 🎯 The best by Rob Cheney Golf. Place the ball behind the center of your stance to help control the low point (contact).
How to fix your slice - day 212 of 24 handicap to scratch golfer in 365 days #golf by That's One!. Slices are primarily caused by an out-to-in, over-the-top swing path.
Start Driving it Like a Pro by Fixing This ONE Thing! by Steve Pratt Golf. The club face angle accounts for 80-83% of the ball's starting direction on a drive.
👉 90% of Golfers are Timing the WRONG Move by Face First Golf. Timing is inevitable in golf; the goal is to time a sequence that delivers efficiency rather than a glancing blow.
His Weak Right Drives DISAPPEARED With This! by Milo Lines Golf. Execute a full shoulder turn by feeling your lead shoulder move over your trailing foot.
Fix Your Slice FAST (Steal This From Tennis) by Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach. The slice is often caused by an 'over the top' move where the club swings across the ball.
Comment TOP To Improve Your LAID OFF Top Of Swing Position To Stop SLICING! by Bob Menzies Golf. A laid off position at the top often leads to the shaft pitching forward and causing an outside-in slice.
How to Hit "Old Guy Bombs" (No Swing Changes) by Face First Golf. Switch to a stronger (closed) grip by placing the club in the fingers and seeing 3-4 knuckles on the lead hand.
STOP Turning Your Shoulders LIKE This!! by Get Good At Golf!. Avoid flat shoulder turns; the left shoulder should work down toward the right knee in the backswing to maintain posture.
You'll Never Struggle With Slices or Hooks After This by Good Golf Coaching. Face-to-path is the most critical metric for controlling ball flight curvature; a positive value indicates a slice, while negative indicates a hook.