I asked ChatGPT to fix my slice. This is what it told me.

“Hi everyone, my name’s Alex, and I’m a slicer.”

Imagine a support group for golfers who “power fade” the golf ball. For golfers who don’t know what the left-hand side of a golf course looks like. For golfers who yell “FORE RIGHT!” so often it’s become their catchphrase.

You’d have to hold sessions in Wembley Stadium.

So it’s for that very reason, I imagine, that you’re here, reading these words that you hope – pray – might just give you something – anything – to not only save your vocal chords but find some tips on being able to play at least some approach shots from the short grass.

Me? I’ve been a fader since I can remember. Duck hooks don’t exist in my world. I am persistently haunted by that oh-so familiar feeling of the ball coming sweetly off the face of the driver only to watch it sail off at 45 degrees.

A draw-biased driver – the Ping G425 SFT, to be precise – has helped somewhat. But there’s only so much the straight flight technology can do.

Now, I’m turning to AI to see what if it can help.

I opened up Chat GPT and, practically begging through my keyboard, punched in four words: Please fix my slice!

Thankfully, it knew what I meant.

“Sure, I would be happy to help you fix your slice,” came the instantaneous reply.

Despite being unnerved by this automaton software speaking in the first person, I power on.

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“A slice in golf is when the ball curves dramatically to the right, for a right-handed golfer, or left, for a left-handed golfer,” it continues.

Yes, I’m very aware of that, thank you.

“Let’s figure out what’s going wrong,” it adds, before moving into a checklist which – before we get into it – all seems to be aimed at right-handed golfers (sorry, lefties)…

Grip

The problem: A weak grip can lead to an open clubface at impact, which causes a slice. Make sure you’re not gripping the club too much in your fingers. Your hands should rotate slightly to the right to strengthen the grip.

The fix: Try rotating your hands a bit to the right so you can see two or three knuckles on your left hand when you grip the club.

Setup and Alignment

The problem: An open stance. If your body is aligned left of the target, your clubface might be open at impact, causing a slice.

The fix: Make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned square to the target line or slightly closed (right for right-handed golfers). Check that your ball position is not too far forward in your stance, as that can also promote a slice.

Clubface at Impact

The problem: An open clubface at impact is one of the main culprits of a slice.

The fix: Focus on keeping the clubface square to the target at impact. You can practice with some small swings or half swings to get a feel for what a square face feels like.

Swing Path

The problem: If your swing path is coming too steep and over the top, it can cause an outside-in motion, which promotes a slice.

The fix: Focus on swinging more from the inside to out. This will help close the clubface and promote a draw, which can fix your slice. You can try the “gate drill” where you set up two tees just outside the ball, encouraging a more inside-to-out path.

Release

The problem: If you’re not releasing the club properly, it can leave the face open at impact, resulting in a slice.

The fix: Work on releasing your hands and wrists through impact, which helps close the face.

Equipment

The problem: A driver with too much loft or the wrong shaft flex can make slicing worse.

The fix: Check your club’s specs and make sure they’re suitable for your swing speed and style. A professional fitting can help.

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Chat GPT even offers a quick drill for you to work on at the range.

“Focus on starting the backswing with your arms and body moving together in one piece,” it says. “This keeps the club from getting too steep and setting you up for a better path through impact.”

Then, it concludes, “by working on your grip, swing path, body alignment, and clubface control, you can significantly reduce or eliminate your slice. It takes time and practice, but by focusing on these areas and incorporating specific drills, you can make progress toward hitting straighter shots and even adding a little draw to your ball flight.”

My conclusion?

While the advice is generally sound, I’m going to stick with listening to bunkered‘s performance panel for my tips – including Steve Johnston’s recent advice on fixing your slice.

And – while I’m on my soapbox – nothing beats a session with your local PGA pro.

But what do I know? I’m a mere human.

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor