If you're a golfer who's tired of watching your ball banana-slice off into the rough (or worse, the next fairway), you're not alone. The slice is one of the most common swing faults, especially with the driver, and it can turn a fun round into a frustrating one. Fortunately, tools like Trackman—a high-tech launch monitor—can provide precise data to diagnose and correct it. In this blog, we'll break down how to use Trackman to fix your slice, drawing insights from this informative video by Texas Wedge. We'll focus on the four key Trackman numbers that hold the secrets to straightening out your shots. By understanding and adjusting these metrics, you can transform your ball flight and gain more distance and accuracy.
Before we dive in, a quick note on what causes a slice: For right-handed golfers, it's typically an out-to-in club path combined with an open clubface at impact, imparting sidespin that curves the ball sharply to the right. Trackman measures this in real-time, giving you actionable numbers to work with. Let's explore the four essential ones.
1. Attack Angle: The Foundation of Your Launch
Attack angle refers to the upward or downward direction of your swing at impact. It's measured in degrees, with positive numbers indicating you're hitting up on the ball (ideal for drivers) and negative numbers meaning you're hitting down (more common with irons).
- Why it matters for your slice: A steep, negative attack angle (e.g., -5 degrees or more with a driver) often encourages an over-the-top swing path, which exacerbates slicing. It can also lead to low launch and high spin, making the curve even worse.
- Ideal range: For drivers, aim for +3 to +5 degrees to maximize distance and reduce spin. If your Trackman shows a negative angle, you're likely delofting the club and promoting that unwanted fade or slice.
- How to fix it: Focus on teeing the ball higher and positioning it forward in your stance (just inside your left heel for right-handers). A drill from the video: Practice swinging with a slight upward motion by imagining you're skipping a stone across water. Track your numbers session by session—small changes here can lead to big improvements in ball flight.
2. Club Path: The Controller of Curve
Club path tracks the direction your clubhead is moving through impact relative to the target line. Positive numbers mean an in-to-out path (promoting a draw), negative means out-to-in (hello, slice), and zero is straight.
- Why it matters for your slice: A negative club path (e.g., -4 to -8 degrees) is a slice's best friend, as it creates a glancing blow that adds left-to-right spin.
- Ideal range: For a straight shot or slight draw, target 0 to +4 degrees. Anything more negative than -2 often signals trouble.
- How to fix it: The video emphasizes drills to shallow your swing plane, like starting your downswing with your lower body instead of your shoulders. Try the "pump drill": Take half-swings focusing on dropping the club inside, then check Trackman to see your path shift positive. Over time, this can neutralize that out-to-in motion and straighten your shots.
3. Face Angle: The Director of Start Line
Face angle measures where the clubface is pointing at impact relative to the target. Positive means open (pointing right), negative means closed (pointing left), and zero is square.
- Why it matters for your slice: An open face (positive number) relative to your path is the primary culprit for starting the ball right and letting it curve further. Even if your path is neutral, an open face will push the ball off-line.
- Ideal range: Aim for slightly closed (-1 to -3 degrees) to counter a slice, especially if your path is negative. The key is the face-to-path relationship—face should be closed relative to path for a draw bias.
- How to fix it: Strengthen your grip (rotate hands right on the club for right-handers) and focus on releasing the club through impact. A tip highlighted around the 7:24 mark in the video: Use alignment sticks to visualize squaring the face. Hit shots while monitoring Trackman, adjusting until your face angle closes enough to match or undercut your path.
4. Smash Factor: The Efficiency Checker
Smash factor is the ratio of ball speed to club speed, indicating how solidly you're striking the ball. It's a measure of contact quality—1.50 is perfect for drivers, but anything below 1.45 suggests mishits.
- Why it matters for your slice: Off-center hits (especially toe strikes) can twist the face open, adding extra sidespin and amplifying a slice. Low smash factor often correlates with inconsistent path and face control.
- Ideal range: 1.48 to 1.50 for drivers. If it's dipping below 1.45, you're losing power and control.
- How to fix it: Prioritize center-face contact with drills like hitting off a tee with foot spray on the face to see impact marks. The video suggests slowing your swing tempo to improve consistency—rush the transition, and smash factor suffers. As you dial this in, your other numbers will stabilize, reducing slice tendencies.
Putting It All Together: Your Trackman Action Plan
Start by getting on a Trackman (many ranges and fitters offer sessions). Hit 10-20 drivers, note your averages for these four numbers, and compare them to the ideals. If your path is -6, face +2, attack -3, and smash 1.42, you've got classic slice symptoms—focus on path and attack first.
Incorporate the video's bonus drills: For path and face, try the "gate drill" with tees set up to guide your swing inside. For attack angle, use a tour striker or impact bag to feel hitting up. Re-test after adjustments, and remember, consistency comes with practice. Small tweaks, like 2-3 degree shifts, can eliminate your slice entirely.
Once you've straightened out your swing, it's time to equip yourself with gear that complements your improved technique. Check out our range of drivers at Rising Sun Clubs—we've got options from top brands designed for maximum forgiveness and distance, perfect for slicers turning the corner.
Happy golfing, and here's to more fairways hit! If you try these tips, drop a comment below with your before-and-after Trackman numbers.