It all comes down to physics. The way our club approaches impact, the angle of the club face at impact, the speed in which we swing the club, how solid we strike the ball, and the path in which we swing the club contribute to the distance and direction the golf ball flies. These are the 5 laws of impact: angle of approach, club face angle, speed, centeredness of the hit, and swing path. In the world of a slice the two we need to concentrate on are the swing path and the club face angle. You may argue that angle of approach is a factor but it is normally corrected when the swing path is corrected.

Club Face Angle

Club face angle is the biggest factor in determining ball flight whether you slice, hook, fade, or draw the ball. Many believe that the path the club travels, or path, is the main factor that causes the slice. For the majority of golfers their club face angle at impact, the moment of truth, is open or facing slightly to the right.

Definition: the angle the leading edge of the club is in relation to the path the club is traveling at impact measured in degrees.

To get the ball in the air the ball must have some backspin. To create backspin the club face must come into contact with the ball creating friction. The friction between the club and ball create backspin. Similar to the wings in a plane the backspin creates a mini vacuum above the ball causing it to rise. The axis in which the ball spins is determined by the club face angle. If the ball is struck with a square club face the axis of the ball will be vertical and the vacuum created will be above the ball. With an open club face the axis will tilt so the top of the axis points slightly to the right. After impact the momentum of the initial ball speed will cause the ball to start along the path the club was swinging and the backspin will cause the ball to lift and the sidespin from the axis tilt will cause the ball to fade or slice.

To simplify the above paragraph, the ball curves in the direction the club face points at impact, in relation to the swings path. So if the club is pointing right, or is open at impact the ball will curve to the right. This applies to both right and left handed players.

What can a golfer do to correct an open club face? First and foremost the factor that determines club face angle is your grip. Our hands are the only part of the body that remains in contact with the club through the entire swing. The way we position our hands on the club will determine how the club is delivered at impact. A slicer has what is called a weak grip. This has absolutely nothing to do with how light or tight you grip the club. A grip can be called weak, neutral, or strong based on its position on the golf club. A neutral grip with a perfect swing will create a straight shot.

Swing Path

The second biggest swing flaw that creates a slice is the path the golf club travels while it is approaching and as it passes the ball at impact. In a perfect world the path the club takes through this impact zone is an approach from inside the target line to along the line to inside the target line again, otherwise known as the inside-to-square-to-inside swing path. The most common swing path for slicers is an outside-to-inside swing path. Notice it did not say outside-to-square-to-inside path, because 1) the club face is open to cause the curvature, and 2) at no point during the outside-to-inside path does the club face become perpendicular to the target line and create a straight shot. In an outside-to-inside swing, if the club face is perpendicular to the target line then the ball will slice. For the ball not to slice the club face would need to be square to the path the club has traveled.

So basically it is difficult to create a slice from only an outside- to-inside swing path. Often the outside-to-inside swing path is a compensation golfers create to counteract the open club face. New golfers when they first set up to hit a ball usually have great aim and after hitting a few errant shot learn to compensate by aiming differently.

So in my humble opinion a good way to attack the slice is to correct the club face angle first and then correct the path.