Golf Swing Faults FAQ

A slice is caused by an open clubface at impact relative to the club path. This imparts sidespin that curves the ball left-to-right (for right-handed golfers).

The most common reasons the face stays open:

• Weak grip -- hands rotated too far toward the target, making it hard to square the face
• Over-the-top swing path -- the club approaches from outside the target line, creating a glancing blow
• Poor wrist conditions at impact -- insufficient ulnar deviation or wrist flexion to close the face

Fix it by strengthening your grip, working on an in-to-out path with alignment sticks, and practicing face-control drills like the gate drill.

A hook is caused by a closed clubface at impact relative to the swing path. The ball starts right of the target and curves sharply left (for right-handed golfers).

Common causes include:

• Grip too strong -- hands rotated too far away from the target
• Excessive forearm rotation through impact
• Early release -- casting the club and flipping the wrists before impact

To fix a hook, check your grip strength, focus on maintaining wrist extension through impact, and practice half-swing drills that train controlled face rotation.

Fat shots happen when the club bottoms out before the ball. The swing's low point is behind the ball instead of in front of it.

The main causes:

• Early extension -- standing up and losing posture in the downswing, which drops the hands
• Hanging back -- weight stays on the trail foot instead of shifting forward
• Casting -- releasing wrist angles too early, adding length to the club's arc

The fix is to get your weight forward at impact (feel 80% on the lead foot) and maintain your wrist angles longer into the downswing. The "towel drill" -- placing a towel 4 inches behind the ball -- gives instant feedback.

Thin shots occur when the leading edge of the club strikes the ball at or above its equator. The result is a low, running shot with no spin.

Common causes:

• Standing up through impact -- losing your spine angle lifts the club
• Trying to lift the ball -- scooping instead of compressing down into the turf
• Ball position too far back -- catching it on the upswing

Focus on maintaining your posture through the hitting zone and making a descending strike. A good drill: place a tee 4 inches in front of the ball and try to clip it after contact.

A shank happens when the ball strikes the hosel (the neck where the shaft meets the clubhead) instead of the clubface. The ball shoots sharply right.

The two main causes:

• The club moves toward the ball -- your hands push outward in the downswing, moving the hosel into the ball's path
• Weight shifts to the toes -- falling forward at impact pushes the club further from your body

To fix shanks, practice hitting balls off the toe of the club intentionally. Place a headcover just outside the ball as a gate -- if you hit the headcover, the club is moving too far out.

An over-the-top move means the club swings outward at the start of the downswing instead of dropping down. This creates an outside-in path that produces pulls and slices.

The fix involves two key changes:

• Proper transition sequence -- the lower body must lead the downswing. When the arms start first, the club gets thrown outward.
• Arm shallowing -- the trail elbow needs to work down toward the hip in the downswing, not out toward the ball.

A great drill: make slow-motion swings where you pause at the top, feel your hips start first, and let the arms drop. The "motorcycle" wrist move (rotating the lead wrist toward flexion) also helps shallow the club.