What Is a Slice Shot in Golf?

Learn what a slice shot is, how its ball flight looks, and why it often costs distance and accuracy off the tee or fairway.

Coach Ross Eves 0 min read Updated on Jun 2026

What Is a Slice Shot in Golf?

Q: What is a slice shot in golf?

A slice shot is a ball flight that starts relatively straight and then curves excessively away from the golfer’s dominant side. For right-handed golfers, it curves to the right; for left-handed golfers, it curves to the left.

Q: What does a slice look like?

A typical slice starts on or near the intended target line, curves strongly to the right for a right-handed player or left for a left-handed player, and often finishes well away from the fairway or target.

Q: Why is a slice a problem?

A slice can cause missed fairways, lost distance, and more difficult approach shots because the ball curves away from the intended line and often produces a glancing impact.

A slice shot is one of the most common ball flights in golf. For a right-handed golfer, a slice is when the ball starts relatively straight and then curves excessively to the right during flight.

For a left-handed golfer, the direction is reversed: the ball starts straight and curves excessively to the left.

What Does a Slice Look Like?

A typical slice shot will:

Start on or near the intended target line
Curve strongly to the right for a right-handed player
Finish well right of the fairway or target
Often lose distance because of the sidespin and glancing impact

In many cases, the ball may appear to begin correctly, but as it travels, the curve becomes more pronounced and carries it away from the target.

Why Is a Slice a Problem?

A slice can make it difficult to keep the ball in play. Because the shot curves away from the intended line, it often leads to missed fairways, lost distance, and more challenging approach shots.

Key Takeaway

A slice shot is a ball flight that starts fairly straight and then curves excessively away from the golfer’s dominant side. For right-handed golfers, that means the ball curves to the right; for left-handed golfers, it curves to the left.