Why do I slice the ball?

(Updated December 7, 2025)

The notorious slice! What leads to this? It occurs when the club face is open relative to your club path (the direction the club is moving at impact). Refer to the various relationships in the right column of the table below provided by Golftec to understand the different Face to Path relationships. The greater the difference between the open club face and your path, the more pronounced the slice becomes.

Source: Golftec (for right handed golfers)

If you experience this shot curve, what should you do? Effective clubface management is crucial for good golf and achieved through a proper grip and release of the club at impact. Release is defined as the top hand turning over at impact with the club head leading the handle. The clubface accounts for approximately 80% of the direction, and the difference between the clubface and the path creates the curvature. The left path is the compensation for poor face control. The face-to-path relationship is crucial for eliminating the slice.

Definition of the "over the top" term in golf

The term "over the top" in golf refers to a specific swing characteristic that occurs during the downswing. The player's club is moving excessively outside to in (path left for a right handed golfer) of the ideal swing path, which typically results in a steep angle of attack (deep divots) and can lead to various undesirable shot outcomes including the top row in the table above: Pull Draw, Pull Straight and Pull Slice. This swing characteristic can stem from several underlying issues, including incorrect grip, physical limitations, poor backswing and incorrect sequencing (upper body leads the downswing). Golfers who struggle with this characteristic may find that their shots lack distance and accuracy, as the over-the-top motion leads to inconsistent contact with the ball causing excessive side spin and weak short shots. To diagnose and correct the over-the-top swing, players will benefit from professional coaching offered by Golf 4 Life Grandview which includes a TPI physical assessment, video swing analysis, and drills focused on promoting a more neutral swing path and learning better club face control (face-to-path). The face-to-path relationship is easier to address when you get instant feedback from the launch monitor. By addressing this swing characteristic, golfers can improve their overall performance, leading to straighter and more powerful shots on the course and less lost balls. Get started today by booking your Initial Assessment with us. Winter is a great time to take this on!

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