The Push-Slice: How to Fix Golf's Most Destructive Miss

Of all the bad shots in golf, this is the one that finds the deepest trouble. It’s a combination of two separate errors happening in the same swing, and it can feel completely hopeless to fix. But like any other fault, it has a clear cause and a clear solution.

So what's happening? A push-slice is born from two distinct flaws:

1. The Path: Your swing path is travelling from in-to-out. This is what makes the ball start to the right of your target (the "push").
2. The Face: Your clubface is open relative to that path. This is what imparts the sidespin that makes the ball curve even further right (the "slice").

You're hitting a glancing blow from the inside. It’s the worst of both worlds, and it’s a sign that your swing sequence and clubface control are seriously out of sync.

The Unfortunate Combination That Creates a Push-Slice

This miss is almost always caused by the body getting "stuck" in the downswing, which then leaves the clubface lagging far behind.

• Getting the Club Trapped Behind You: The sequence often starts with the club dropping too far to the inside on the downswing. It gets trapped or "stuck" behind your body. From this position, the only way to get the club to the ball is to swing out to the right, creating the in-to-out path.
• A Stalled Body Rotation: Because the club is stuck, the body's rotation often stalls. The hips and chest stop turning to give the arms a chance to "catch up." But here's the problem: an efficient swing uses body rotation to help square the clubface. When the body stalls, the hands and arms are left on their own. They can’t do it alone, so the clubface is left wide open at impact.
• Early Extension as a Cause: Early extension (when the hips move towards the ball) is a huge contributor. This forward thrust can both trap the club behind you and stall your body's rotation, creating the perfect storm for a push-slice. Your body gets in the way of your arms, and from there, it's almost impossible to deliver a square clubface on a good path.
• A "Weak" Grip: A weak grip (hands rotated too far left) naturally makes the clubface want to be open. When you combine this with a stuck, in-to-out path, a push-slice is almost guaranteed.

How to Sync Up Your Path and Face

To fix the push-slice, you have to address both problems. Trying to fix only one will just turn your push-slice into a different miss (like a push-hook or a pull-slice). The key is to work on getting your swing path more neutral first, and then work on controlling the face.

• Neutralize the Path: Let's stop the "push" part first. To prevent the club from getting stuck, work on the feeling of keeping the club "in front of your chest" on the way back and on the way down. This promotes a wider, more connected swing that is less likely to get trapped behind you. Check your alignment, too. Make sure your body isn't aimed out to the right.
• Get Control of the Clubface: Once the path is better, you can tackle the slice. The simplest way to do this is to check your grip. Try strengthening it slightly by rotating both hands a little to the right. You should see 2 to 2.5 knuckles on your lead hand. This will make it much easier to square the face without any extra manipulation.
• Feel the Rotation: To stop your body from stalling, focus on a full and continuous rotation through the ball. A great swing thought is to feel your belt buckle and chest finishing the swing pointing at the target. This active rotation will help pull the club through on the right path and will help square up the clubface naturally.

The push-slice feels complicated, but the fix is about simplifying. Work on getting your swing path less extreme. Then, work on your grip to gain control of the face. By syncing up these two elements, you'll turn that weak, frustrating miss into a powerful and reliable shot.