Stop Aiming Left To Fix Your Slice!

Most golfers try to fix a slice by aiming further left.

The problem is, that usually makes it worse.

A slice isn't really an aiming problem. It comes from what your clubface is doing compared to the direction your club is moving through impact.

Two Things Control Your Curve

There are two simple things that decide which way the ball curves:

Club path – the direction the club is moving through the ball

Face angle – where the clubface is pointing at impact The below image illistrates this well:

It's not about one or the other. It's the relationship between the two that curves the ball.

Coach's Note: If the face is open compared to the path, the ball curves right (for a right-handed golfer). If the face is closed compared to the path, it curves left. That's it — that's the whole slice.

This is why aiming further left rarely works. You can aim as far left as you want, but if your face is still open compared to your path, the ball will still curve away from you.

The Classic Slice Pattern

For a right-handed golfer, a typical slice looks like this:

Path moving left

Face open compared to that path

Ball starts left, straight, or slightly right

Ball curves hard to the right

(Left-handed golfers — flip it.)

The ball doesn't slice because of where you aim it. It slices because the face is open compared to where the club is travelling.

The Fix

Aiming left treats the symptom. To actually fix a slice, work on closing the gap between your face and your path — get the face more in line with where the club is moving, or swing more out to the right rather than across the ball. If you are a player that has a path that is 5 degrees open, to get that clubface 5 degrees closed, that is a 10 degree swing. This is a significant change in feel and will require adjustments in grip, takeaway feeling more closed, as well as more release through impact.

Once corrected, the next step is to work out the ideal curve that suits your game. I specialise in working on this crucial decision with players and I have this as a high priority strategy decision that I prioritise with players of all abilities.

Coach's Note: With trackman data available, the trial and error can be directed at the tiles: Club Path, Face angle, Face to Path. Keep exaggerating either the face or the path to acheive the desired numbers.

Easy Drill

Lay an alignment stick or club on the ground, aimed slightly right of your target.

Make small half swings.

Try to start the ball close to that line.

The key here is to ensure the face is inside the path (negative face to path). This will ensure the left curve which gives you confidence to drive through the outward path.

If the ball starts straighter and curves less, you're closing that gap, eventually curving left — and building a better relationship between face and path.

Why I Use TrackMan For This

Guessing at your swing is frustrating, and it's easy to fix the wrong thing.

TrackMan shows us exactly whether your issue is path, face, or both — so we stop guessing and start fixing the real cause of your curve.

Want To Understand Your Own Shot Shape?

My Shot Shape Blueprint is designed to help you understand and work out the ball flight that best suits your game.

You'll complete a short questionnaire and upload your swing video. From there, I'll review your swing, your ball flight tendencies, and your answers to identify what's really causing your current shot shape.

You'll then receive a personalised video analysis and a detailed report explaining what your ball flight is doing, why it's happening, and what to work on next.

The goal is simple: give you clarity, confidence, and a clear plan — so you can stop guessing and start building a shot shape you can trust.

Start Your Shot Shape Blueprint __________________________________________________________________________________ About Jack MacLeod

I'm a Melbourne based golf coach and PGA Professioanl who helps golfers understand their ball flight improve their swing and play better golf through a combination of coaching experience and TrackMan data.

Whether you're struggling with a slice looking to improve your driver accuracy or wanting to build a reliable draw or fade I help players identify the real cause of their shot patterns and create a clear plan for improvement.

I work with golfers across Melbourne Victoria and also offer online golf coaching for players throughout Australia. My coaching focuses on understanding club path face angle face to path relationships and the shot shapes that best suit each player's game.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start understanding your ball flight check out the Shot Shape Blueprint and discover the shot shape that gives you the most confidence and consistency on the course.