by Jessie Bahrey

Created on: April 11, 2009   Last Updated: April 14, 2009

Slicing is the bane of golfers everywhere. A slice is caused by striking the ball with an open club face creating a left-to-right spin on the ball, causing the ball to go to the right. Many golfers have endured years of slicing, which can cause havoc to your score.

In order to cure your golf swing slice, you first need to thoroughly understand the three basic tenets of a golf swing:

1) Ensure that your grip is neutral, i.e. your thumbs should line up, on top of the club.

2) The takeaway is back, away from the ball. You need to try to take the club back on a straight line, as far as your flexibility will allow. Then the club starts up towards the top of the swing.

3) The forward swing needs to follow the same path as the back swing; therefore, if you notice yourself lifting your front foot or going onto your toe during your back swing, then you are not shifting your weight, you are rearing back instead. So the first thing to work on is keeping your front foot flat during your back swing. Shift your weight. This will go a long way to ensure your swing follows the same path as your back swing.

According to some golfers who have struggled with the dreaded slice, there are two main methods to cure that slice:

1) Lay a spare club down at your toes, aiming at your target; lay another club on the other side of the ball, parallel to the club at your feet. Practice taking the club back along the line of the club behind your ball. The club should travel along that line so when bringing it back, it will square up at the ball; all the while, you must be keeping in mind the previous tip on weight shift. Many slicers will take the club back along a line increasingly above the parallel club, resulting in an open club face when it makes contact with the ball.

2) A second, and a bit more radical, approach is to move your rear foot back away from the club at your toes, so that when you swing, it forces you to take away the club in an inside out swing path. The goal is that when you make contact with the ball, the club face is slightly closed, creating a right-to-left draw spin.

And, with any luck, no more slice! Now you won't be embarrassed by a weak, sickly ball off the first tee. You'll be able to talk about drawing the ball into the wind, impressing your friends and colleagues. Just don't get too cocky, because the next lesson is the power fade!

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