Why do I hook the golf ball?
Ball flight
All golf questions
Ball flight
Why do I slice the golf ball?
The short answer
A slice curves strongly toward the trail side: right for a right-handed golfer, left for a left-handed golfer. With centred contact, the face pointing to the trail side of the club's path at impact helps explain that curve. The ball flight does not, by itself, prove an over-the-top swing.
What to check first
01
Separate start direction from curve
Record whether the ball starts left, near the target or right, then which way it bends. For a right-hander, a shot can start left and still slice right. Simply aiming farther left may keep the final ball in play occasionally without resolving the pattern.
02
Check impact location
Use an appropriate face-impact marker during practice and inspect a small group of shots. Off-centre driver contact can change curvature through gear effect, so do not assume every curved drive has the same cause. If strike location moves around, include it in the review.
03
Establish a reliable setup reference
Set the clubface to a clear target and check where your feet and shoulders are aligned. Use a ground reference safely outside the hitting area. Setup is something you can verify; it is not proof of the delivery you produce at impact.
04
Use video for a specific question
A steady down-the-line view can help you inspect the movement of the hands and shaft during the downswing. It cannot reliably supply exact impact face-to-path numbers. If you have a launch monitor, combine measured delivery with strike location rather than judging path in isolation.
Try this in practice
Use one mid-iron at comfortable speed. Hit five balls to the same broad target, noting start direction, curve and strike. Change only one setup or movement variable with a clear reason, then repeat. Choose the change that improves the observed pattern rather than the best-looking rehearsal.
What to measure
Count how many shots finish inside your chosen playable corridor, and how much curve remains. Compare groups of shots under similar conditions; a single straight ball is not enough to confirm a fix.
Keep the conclusion proportionate
An open face-to-path relationship is an impact description, not a diagnosis of grip, wrist action or body sequence. Avoid assuming that swinging farther from the inside will automatically solve the problem.
Sources and further reading
The definitions and coaching principles above draw on these primary resources. Practice tasks and numerical examples are STROKES GPD educational illustrations.
Bring evidence to your next review.
Review your swing on video for a movement question, or use the free golf scorecard to identify a recurring on-course pattern.
Related questions
Why is my golf so inconsistent?
Practice