Golf is a wonderful game, but one that can be incredibly frustrating. Being off by even the slightest of margins with your swing can often yield disastrous results on the golf course.

When I first started playing golf, I fought a huge banana slice that caused me to lose more than my fair share of golf balls. Luckily, with some time and instruction, I was able to correct it and start hitting straighter shots on a more consistent basis.

Not sure what the difference is between a hook and a slice? You’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll teach you the differences between a hook and a slice, the common causes of each, and tips on how to fix each one. Hopefully, after reading this article you’ll be well on your way to hitting straighter shots and shooting lower scores.

Hook vs Slice: Understanding the Difference

Most beginner golfers struggle with slicing the golf ball, especially with the larger clubs like the driver and fairway woods. But hooking is common too.

What exactly is the difference between these types of golf shots? It’s the way that the ball curves.

For a right-handed golfer, a slice occurs when your shot starts straight but then takes a wicked right turn. Severe slices usually end up in the trees, a water hazard, or just plain lost! Needless to say, this can be immensely frustrating to any golfer since losing a ball or hitting one into the water results in a one-stroke penalty.

The opposite of a slice is a hook. Again using our right-handed golfer example, a hook happens when the golfer’s shot starts going straight but then takes a sharp left-hand turn about halfway through. This also can result in lost golf balls or shots that end up in the trees or water.

What Causes a Slice?

There are several different reasons why golfers slice the ball. We’ll cover a couple of these in detail below.

Improper Grip / Too Weak

The grip is one of the most vital parts of the golf swing. Think about it – your hands are the only link between you and the golf club. Having a grip that is “too weak” will often cause you to slice the golf ball because you have an open clubface at impact.

When we say weak grip, we are not referring to grip pressure. We are talking about how many knuckles you can see on your top hand while holding the golf club. With a grip that is too weak, you’ll only see one knuckle on your top hand. Here’s a good picture to illustrate a grip that is too weak and may cause slicing.

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Out to In Swing Path

Slicing is also caused by an out to in swing path. This often occurs due to an improper takeaway when starting the golf swing. Folks with an out-to-in swing path often activate their hands, wrists, and arms way too soon instead of simply turning their shoulders away from the target.

What’s the result of an out-to-in swing path? The golfer ends up cutting across the golf ball and putting that notorious spin on the golf ball that causes a slice.

What Causes a Hook?

Just as with slicing, there are plenty of reasons why golfers hook the ball. Here are the two main reasons for hooking.

Improper Grip / Too Strong

We talked above about the dangers of having a grip that is too weak and how it’ll often lead to slices. Along those same lines, a grip that is too strong will usually lead to hooks because the clubface is too closed at impact.

Again, we’re not talking about how hard you’re gripping the golf club but the position of your hands. Here’s a picture of a grip that is too strong. Notice that you can see three knuckles on the left hand.

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In to Out Swing Path

Those infuriating duck hooks often happen because of an in-to-out swing path. This also happens because of an improper takeaway during the beginning of the golf swing.

An in to out swing path starts when the golfer pulls the club too far inside near their body. When this happens, the golfer will hit more of the inside of the golf ball and the result will be a hook.

Is it Better to Hook or Slice?

To play at your best, you need to eliminate both hooks and slices from your golf game. Both types of mishits can be detrimental to shooting a good score consistently. Both types of swing flaws should be worked on at the range with lots of practice time.

If we had to pick one over the other though, we’d choose the hook over the slice. Hooks can usually be corrected by some slight tweaks while slices often need some major swing adjustments. An interesting observation is that newer golfers often fight a slice while seasoned golfers sometimes fight a hook.

How to Fix a Slice

Here is a list of several tips to try when fixing your slice.

1. Don’t Swing So Hard

I’ve seen it time and time again on the course. Golfers who walk up to the tee and try to “kill” the golf ball usually end up slicing it to “hell and gone” as Will Smith said in The Legend of Bagger Vance.

The reason is that when you overswing, you often grip the club way too tight and the hands cannot turn over properly at impact. This makes it too difficult to square the clubface. The next time you’re on the tee box, act like you’re just trying to clip the tee, not murder the golf ball.

2. Correct Your Grip

Slicers normally have a grip that is too weak. If that is you, try strengthening your grip just a tiny bit. You don’t have to go overboard but try to see two knuckles at address instead of only one. This will give you better control of the club head and make it easier to hit the ball squarely.

3. Correct Your Swing Path

If you’re struggling with a slice, try correcting your swing path. Most of the time, slicers have an out-to-in swing path. Practice a smooth takeaway that is neutral, meaning not too far in and not too far out.

If you are fighting a nasty slice, a great drill that will help correct your swing path is called the Headcover Drill. Head to the practice range with a bucket of balls but put one of your headcovers (or a towel) under your left arm (for a right-handed golfer).

When you go to hit your shots, keep your arm close to your body so the headcover won’t slip out. It will feel a bit weird at first but hang with it. This simple drill will help you keep your arms closer to your body and will help you get used to swinger on a more proper path.

Here’s a video that demonstrates this drill:

4. Try to Hook the Ball

We know this sounds weird but stay with us here. Golf can be a game of opposites. Most of the time you can fix one problem by exaggerating a few things in your swing.

Slicers usually cut across the golf ball at impact. Instead of cutting across and hitting primarily the outside of the ball, focus on making contact with the inside of the ball. You may end up hitting the ball super straight by doing this!

Further reading: How to fix a slice

How to Fix a Hook

Here are a few tips for fixing your hook.

1. Weaken Your Grip a Tad

The typical root cause of a hook is due to a grip that is too strong. This results in the golfer making contact with the ball with a closed clubface. This creates that spin that causes the right to left ball flight.

Grip the golf club like you normally would and do an honest assessment. If you can see three or four knuckles, weaken your grip by one knuckle to see if that cures your hook.

2. Slow Everything Down

Another big reason that golfers hook the ball is being too quick with the hands or hips. Again, this can cause a shut clubface at impact and cause that all too familiar right to left curve.

Practice taking slower, smoother backswings. This should help you keep a steadier pace throughout your swing and may straighten out your hook.

3. Correct Your Swing Path

Just like with slices, be sure to check your swing path when trying to correct a hook. Hooks often come from swinging on a path that is too in to out. Practice a swing path that is more neutral and not too inside out.

Golfers who struggle with hooking the ball can try an easy fix that may quickly fix this common issue. While on the practice range, experiment with standing one to two inches closer to the golf ball at address. This will take some getting used to because you’ll think you’re standing too close to the ball.

When you stand a little closer to the ball, you won’t have enough room to swing from in to out. This will make you swing on a more vertical plane and should help eliminate those annoying hooks.

4. Check Your Alignment at Address

Lots of golfers who struggle with a hook tend to aim way too far to the right of their targets to overcompensate. While this may work okay for a while, consider aiming straight down the middle of the fairway. If you’re trying out a new grip, you might as well try the proper alignment.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Amateur golfers often struggle with a slice. It leads to the ball starting right of the target and viciously curving further away from where it should be. While you cannot play successfully with a slice, you can optimize your control with a fade. 

In this post, I am answering whether it is better to fade or slice. My aim is to teach you the difference and how to fix these shots. Plus, I will offer some guidance on how you can identify what is causing you to fade.

(Those who have no time for a fade or slice golf shot should read our step-by-step formula on how to hit a draw golf shot.)

Fade vs Slice: Understanding the Difference

A fade and slice may look like the same shot to the naked eye. However, despite their similarities in ball-flight, they are different. A fade shot is typically a controlled shot that starts left of the target line and gradually shapes from left to right for right-handers. 

A slice shot starts right of the intended target and continues to shape away from it for right-handed golfers. The side spin generated can cause the ball to kick further right and into trouble.

Basically, a fade shot shapes from left to right less than a slice. When you pull off a fade, your club follows a controlled outside-in path. Plus, the ball is sent on a stable flight. Conversely, your golf ball travels right of the target line and continues offline.

The ability to play a controlled power fade can help you escape sticky situations and optimize your distance performance from left to right dog-legs. Tiger Woods is an ideal role model to base your power fade tee shot off. Thanks to this shot, he achieves maximum distance and control on dog-legged holes:

What Causes a Fade?

Grip

Although the determining factor in a fade or slice is an open club at impact, several factors prompt this action. The first of which is your grip. Golf Magazine suggests you set up a weak grip if you wish to get the club face open at impact.

Their advice is to position your right hand on the club handle with your palm and rotate your hand to the left until you see two knuckles. Then swing as you normally would, and watch the ball fade.

If you are unintentionally fading the ball, try to gain a firmer grip on the club to generate a draw shape to compensate.

Golf coach Hank Haney conversely explains that if your grip is too tight, you will find it challenging to release through the ball at impact. That leads to you stabbing at the ball instead of following through, causing the ball to slice into oblivion.

Strong Shaft Flex

The flex of your shaft may cause you to slice your shots. The lack of flex on stiff shafts makes it difficult for slower swingers to produce enough whip on their downswing to get the club-head on plane. Typically, golfers cannot get their clubface square at impact, leaving it open and prompting a fade.

Swing Path

The next factor that causes you to fade your ball is your golf swing path. An out-to-in path causes your clubface to cut across the ball at impact, generating left to right spin, which prompts a fade shape.

If you want to induce a draw vs a fade you need to start your backswing on an inside line. Then, on your downswing, take the clubhead on an outside path.

Open Clubface

The ultimate reason you hit a fade is the position of your clubface at impact. When your clubface is open to the club path at impact, your ball will start on a straight line before fading back to the target before descending.

What Causes a Slice?

Grip

As with a fade, a weaker grip can prompt a slice. Less control of the club throughout the swing can cause the clubface to open on your downswing and stay in that position through impact. 

Before altering any mechanics of your swing to eradicate a slice check if your grip is firm enough. If it is too weak, you will struggle to keep the club on plane.

Insufficient Offset

Those struggling to shake a slice may find that their equipment carries insufficient offset. Using a driver or fairway wood with a high level of offset combats fade side spin and allows for a straighter shot to help you spend more time on the fairway.

Alignment

When you set up for a controlled fade, your stance is open, and you are aiming to the left of the target to account for the curve at the end. A slice, on the other hand, is not planned. Because it is unplanned, you are generally aiming directly at your target. 

That is one of the reasons why the results of a fade are far better than a slice.

Swing Path

The swing path for a sliced shot is the same as a fade. It starts outside and travels on an inside line to impact. That causes the face to cut across the ball and generate a side spin that sends the ball right of your target if you are right-handed.

Clubface Open To The Path

Slicing your shot stems from the same action that causes you to fade your ball, an open clubface at impact. In both circumstances, your clubface is open to the path. That means that the clubhead moves along an out to inline while the face remains open.

Clubface Open To The Target

Keeping your clubface open to the target is what separates a fade from a slice. When your clubface is open to the target, it causes a push slice, which starts the ball right of the target and curves further to the right during its flight.

Is It Better To Fade Or Slice? 

A fade is far better than a slice on any day of the year. It follows a more conservative line, curves less violently, and can give you more control. A slice on the other hand is out of control and leaves you powerless. 

Simply put, you have no business engaging with a slice. If slices are a recurring problem in your game, consider hiring a coach to help you fix it.

How to Fix a Fade

Grip

A firm grip on your golf club is vital to prevent the face from opening at impact. If you feel you have limited control over the club, tighten your grip slightly. 

Be careful not to tighten it excessively, as that can prevent you from releasing it through the ball. Failure to release through the ball at impact will cause you to stab at the ball and prompt a push slice.

Stance

Close your stance for a more flat setup. That means that you will now be aiming parallel to your target and not to the left. Some players automatically aim left because they are used to compensating for the curve.

Putting your body in this position promotes a neutral swing path to help you get the clubface square at impact. 

Club Path

The next area to fix is your club path. A fade is caused by swinging from out to in. This causes the clubface to cut across the ball and generate a sidespin. To prevent any future left to right shape, work on delivering a straighter club path.

Square Clubface

If you correct the above areas of your address and swing, you should have the clubface on plane to square up at impact. When you get your clubface square, it encourages straighter ball flight for added accuracy and consistency.

How to Fix a Slice

While we have written a detailed guide on how to fix your slice, I will leave you with a few key points  here to work on.

Grip

As with a fade, you should tighten your grip if you find that the club is too loose in your hands. Conversely, if you are gripping it too tight, it can also cause you to stab at your shots, producing a push slice.

Club Path

You need to eradicate the inside outside-in swing path from your game if you are to fix your slice. Work on sending your club back on a straight route and through along the same line. If you execute this shot your clubface will remain square at impact. As a result, your ball will fly long and straight.

Square Clubface

The principal solution to your slice woes is an open clubface at impact. This generates left to right side spin and starts your ball left of the target. Following the above tips help you get your clubface to square up before impact.

Offset Golf Clubs

Although I recommend improving your grip, club path, and face position at impact, it does no harm to have game improvement equipment. Clubs that feature exaggerated offset are an ideal companion to help you overcome your slice. 

Manufacturers offset the hosel to reduce side spin that worsens the outcome of a slice. If you are a high handicapper or beginner, it’s worth considering anti-slice clubs with excellent offset. 

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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