How to Stop Slicing the Golf Ball (Beginner Plan That Actually Sticks)

If you want to know how to stop slicing the golf ball, start with the real cause: the clubface is too open relative to the direction the club is moving. A slice is not random, and it is not a personal flaw. It is a ball-flight pattern that can be improved with the right sequence.

Most beginners try to fix a slice by making the swing feel different. That can work for one bucket of balls and disappear the next day. A better approach is to build the fix in this order: grip, face awareness, then path.

For hands-on help in Austin, visit:
Beginner Golf Lessons in Austin
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First, define your right miss

Not every right miss is a slice.

• Push: starts right and stays right

• Slice: starts near the target or left of it, then curves right

That distinction matters because the fix is not exactly the same. A push often points more to face direction. A slice usually involves both face and path.

Step 1: fix the grip

If your grip is weak, you are making it hard for the face to close. For many beginners, grip is the fastest way to reduce slice curvature.

Use this checkpoint:

• see 2 to 3 knuckles on the lead hand at address

Read:
Golf Grip for Beginners
/blog/grip-for-beginners-stop-slicing/

Step 2: learn what a square clubface feels like

A lot of new golfers do not know where the face is during the swing. That is why face-awareness drills help so much.

Drill: toe-up to toe-up half swings

How to do it:

• swing back to waist high

• check that the club is roughly toe-up

• swing through to waist high

• see toe-up again

Checkpoint:
If the face is pointing too much toward the sky or staying open through the motion, you are likely leaving the face open into impact.

Step 3: reduce the cut-across path

Even with a better grip, an extreme out-to-in path can still produce a slice.

Drill: headcover barrier drill

Setup:
Place a headcover just outside the ball and slightly behind it.

Goal:
Make swings without hitting the headcover.

Why it works:
It gives you a simple external barrier that discourages cutting across the ball.

Common slice mistakes beginners make

Aiming left to play the slice
This may help you survive a round, but it does not solve the problem. It often hides poor setup and makes your path even more left.

Read:
Beginner Golf Setup & Alignment
/blog/beginner-golf-setup-alignment/

Trying to roll the hands hard
Aggressive hand action is timing-based. It may work when you are relaxed and fail when you are under pressure.

Only practicing with driver
If you cannot control face and path with a 7-iron, driver usually will not be easier. Build control with shorter clubs and then transfer it.

30-ball beginner slice practice plan

Use this range plan:
1. 10 balls: toe-up to toe-up half swings
2. 10 balls: slow barrier-drill swings
3. 10 balls: normal swings to a specific start-line window

Rule:
If you cannot start 6 out of 10 balls in the same general window, do not swing harder yet.

Does grip or path matter more?

For many beginners, the first win comes from grip because the face has the biggest influence on start direction. But if the path is very far left, the slice will still show up. That is why the best long-term plan includes both.

Best next reads

Beginner Driver Tips:
/blog/beginner-driver-tips-no-bad-habits/

How to Use the Driving Range as a Beginner:
/blog/how-to-use-driving-range-beginner/

Austin beginner golf tip

If you are taking beginner golf lessons in Austin and fighting a slice, ask your coach one simple question: is my problem mostly face or mostly path? Once you know that, practice gets much more efficient.

Final takeaway

To stop slicing the golf ball, fix the grip first, learn where the face is, and then clean up the path. That sequence is beginner-friendly, easier to practice, and much more likely to stick than chasing random swing tips.

Ready for a slice diagnosis in person? Book Beginner Golf Lessons in Austin:
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FAQ Section

Why do beginners slice the golf ball?
Beginners usually slice because the clubface is open relative to the swing path. Weak grip, poor face awareness, and an out-to-in path are common causes.

Can grip alone fix a slice?
Grip alone can reduce a slice for many beginners, especially if the face is staying open. But severe slices may also require a path change.

What is the best drill to stop slicing?
Two of the best beginner drills are toe-up to toe-up half swings for face awareness and the headcover barrier drill for path.