Hitting a slice off the tee is a shot that plagues most golfers. ESPN Golf Schools instructor John Stahlschmidt says about 85 percent of golfers hit that left-to-right flying ball. Teeing up to the far right and aiming left may help get you through a round, but the only real solution to help you play better is to fix that banana ball. The goal is to deliver the clubhead from a slightly inside path, with the club's face striking the ball squarely.
Check Your Grip
Step 1
Count the knuckles. Take your address, and look straight down at your left hand, or right hand if you hit left-handed. If you see two knuckles or fewer, your grip is too weak, leaving an open club face as you hit the ball.
Step 2
Rotate your left hand clockwise on the club until you see three knuckles. That gives you a stronger grip.
Step 3
Hit practice balls with this new grip and check the results. Experiment with a stronger grip until your shots fly straighter.
Check Your Alignment
Step 1
Square up. It may seem that aiming farther left will cure a slice, but it actually can make it worse, promoting a move that cuts even more across the ball. Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' former coach, says to place two clubs on the ground a few feet apart, parallel and pointing to a target.
Step 2
Address a ball placed between the clubs, lining up your toes, hips, shoulders and eyes to the line of the club on the ground closest to you. (ref3)
Step 3
Hit practice shots with this squared alignment and note the flight of the balls.
Fix the Path
Step 1
Reverse the loop. Instead of starting the backswing yanking the club inside, do the opposite and route the clubhead to the outside on your backswing. Exaggerate the move at first to help you feel the difference from your slice swing.
Step 2
Complete the backswing. At the top, your left arm should be on the same plane as the shaft was at address. The face of the club should be on the same plane, as well.
Step 3
Start the downswing from the ground up. If you start with your arms, the normal action is your right shoulder to come around and over--a classic over-the-top move. Start the swing feeling the weight shift from your ankles up. You want to feel the club is continuing the loop you started--out and up to the top, and down and to the inside to the ball.
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