Slice
Also known as: banana ball
A slice is a shot that curves sharply away from the target — to the right for a right-handed golfer. It happens when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact.
A slice is the most common miss in amateur golf. Ball flight laws say the ball starts roughly where the face points and curves away from the path; a slice means the face is open to the path through impact, imparting left-to-right sidespin (for a right-hander). The usual causes are a weak grip, an out-to-in (over-the-top) club path, or both. Because face angle dominates start direction and face-to-path dominates curve, the fastest slice fixes usually address the grip and face before the path.
Example
A drive that starts left of the fairway and curves hard back to the right into the trees is a classic over-the-top slice.
Why it matters
A slice costs distance and accuracy at once. Knowing whether yours is face-driven or path-driven decides the fix — and SwingVantage diagnoses that for free, so you train the right thing first.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I slice my driver but not my irons?
The driver has the least loft and the longest shaft, so the same open-face-to-path tendency produces far more sidespin and a longer lever to mistime. The pattern is usually the same; the driver just exaggerates it.
Related terms
- Face AngleFace angle is where the clubface points at impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. It determines roughly 75–85% of the ball’s starting direction.
- Club PathClub path is the horizontal direction the clubhead is moving through impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. Positive is in-to-out (a draw bias); negative is out-to-in (a fade or slice bias).
- Face-to-PathFace-to-path is the difference between face angle and club path at impact. It is the single number that determines how much, and which way, the ball curves.
- GripThe grip is how your hands hold the club. It is the only contact you have with the club, so it controls the clubface more than any other fundamental.
Related guides & benchmarks
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