Six years in, I finally fixed my SLICE!

[Fat Slice]

I have tried everything to fix my slice. Sometimes I can stop slicing but then end up with some other worse set of problems from the 'solution'. Well, after six years, I finally made four changes that have cured my slice. I pretty sure they will stick as I have played 3 rounds of 18 and have been nailing fairways, nice and long.

Here's what I did. I have no idea if these will help anyone, but they worked for me:

Grip: I rotate my left hand clockwise 45-50 degrees, leaving the right hand where it naturally falls. It's important to find the right amount of rotation and to repeat it as closely as possible. Too much and you start hooking, too little and you get a push/block. This is easy to do - set it and forget it.

Takeaway: I bring the club back inside and let my backswing wrap behind my body. I can't measure it, but I can feel the right place to bring it back. Too much is a hook, not enough (too vertical a takeaway) and the slice comes back. This is very easy to remember while swinging.

Hands: I keep my hands quiet during the swing. I don't try and use my wrists for extra power - I focus on returning the clubhead to the position at setup and the best way to do that is to keep my wrists set and not cock/uncock them.

Shaft: I have always played with a stiff shaft and have used all kind of manufacturers/models. I switched to a VS Proto "Byyou" in an X-Stiff and it feels like that shaft is loading and unloading at the same place in the swing. I don't know what my swing speed is and, for now, I don't care. With this shaft and the setup and mechanics above I am hitting it straight and quite a bit longer (on average).

What's ironic is that since my (first) child came, 3 months ago, I have not played or practiced very much and my already iffy short game has disintegrated. However, with the new driving accuracy, my score is about the same. Go figure!

Anyway, that's what worked for me after years of frustration and tinkering.

[kpaulhus]

I too cured my slice, but its only been 3 years for me I rotate my right hand to a stronger grip and imagine hitting the bottom right corner of the ball and it has helped me bring about a nice draw to my drives.

[Zeph]

How can you let the left hand fall where it naturally does and rotate it at the same time? Regardless, rotating the left hand clockwise helps shutting the clubface, so you're more likely to hook than slice. Of course, with a weak grip to start with, turning it back might be correct.

I prefer a neutral grip. If I take a neutral grip and pull or push the ball, it means I'm cupping the wrist, turning the arms or something which change the clubface angle. Turning the arms (and wrists) over has been a big problem for me. I could have taken a stronger grip, but I know that's just putting a band aid on and not really fixing anything. It would not help me get better in the long run, even though it prevents an open clubface.

I don't know if you were push-slicing or just slicing, so exactly what you fixed I can't say, but it sounds like you fixed an over the top swing by taking the club more to the inside.

Quiet wrists sounds good. It means you won't flip and turn them in any direction, changing the positions you made at address.

My biggest problem is still swinging over the top, but this too I've managed to get a whole lot better.

There are only two things that cause a ball to slice, or to push-slice. That's an open clubface and/or a swing path going out-to-in. Eliminate both and you have a straight shot.

[jamo]

I guess you need to change your username then! A slice is one the the most debilitating shots, for me at least. I would much rather hit a snap hook that hit is lazy high fly ball into right field. Of course, i'd much rather hit neither, but thats a different story...

[Fat Slice]

How can you let the left hand fall where it naturally does and rotate it at the same time?

Sorry, I meant I rotate the left hand clockwise on the grip while letting the right hand lay where it does naturally!

[Fastrack]

Many small problems I've been dealing with including slice has been corrected after adopting S & T swing that help to have square club face on the bottom of swing arc.